Arroyo July 2021

July 2021

Fine living in the greater Pasadena area

Legacy

BUILDING ON A

LAGERLOF LLP HELPS CLIENTS SUCCEED IN LEGAL MATTERS

+ DEN URBAN DOG RETREAT

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arroyo

VOLUME 17 | NUMBER 7 | JULY 2021

28 06 BUILDING ON A LEGACY

Lagerlof LLP has helped clients succeed in legal matters for more than a century —By Kamala Kirk

10 Healing the Soul

DEN Urban Dog Retreat is an oasis for pets and their owners —By Claire Spinner

14 LUXURY EXPERIENCES

Le Méridien Pasadena introduces cultural offerings —By Kamala Kirk

18 PERSPICACIOUS PASTA PURVEYOR An epiphany leads to Leah Ferrazzani’s Semolina —By Frier McCollister

26 ENGLISH CHARM

This San Rafael Tudor is filled with character and memorabilia —By Kamala Kirk

28 JUST DANCE

Life has taught me this…

The Stevens sisters are back in the swing of things —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

32 VIRTUALLY VROMAN’S

Bookstore boasts stellar lineup for July —By Arroyo Staff

34 CALDERA HONEY

Couple moves from retirement to full-time beekeepers —By Christopher Nyerges

D EPARTMENTS

24 CULINARY CUPBOARD Fluffy and Flourless Dessert 25 COCKTAILS Lost in the Jungle Juice

arroyo

fine living in the greater pasadena area

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco-Karasinski ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres CONTRIBUTORS Emily Chavez, Kamala Kirk, Claire Spinner, Frier McCollister, Christopher Nyerges PHOTOGRAPHER Luis Chavez 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

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F E AT U R E

L egacy BUILDING ON A

LAGERLOF LLP HAS HELPED CLIENTS SUCCEED IN LEGAL MATTERS FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY

BY KAMALA KIRK

Partner Jonathan D. Primuth

Partner Thomas S. Bunn III

Partner William F. Kruse

L

agerlof LLP, Pasadena’s largest law firm, is grounded in tradition and focused on innovation. The result of a strategic merger in 2020, the firm continues its mission of helping clients succeed in a complex legal world with its diverse team of trusted legal advisors and their combined experience and knowledge. Last year, Primuth, Driskell & Terzian LLP; Lagerlof, Senecal, Gosney & Kruse LLP; and the Phelps Group APC merged to form Lagerlof LLP. “Each firm brought a unique set of skills to the table, but they all shared a similar approach to the practice of law, as well as their values, integrity and focus on being a team,” says managing partner Joshua Driskell.

“Lagerlof, Senecal, Gosney & Kruse had been around the longest and had built a reputation for their great work and their tremendous focus on the clients. The Phelps Law Group were experts on special subjects like special needs trusts and highly specialized elder law matters. Primuth, Driskell & Terzian was a younger firm focused on transforming client experiences through the fundamental values of integrity, hard work, excellence and team. Our combined specialties and backgrounds have been a great match and we all solve problems for each other.”

While the three firms were all within a short distance of one another, after the merger they relocated to a new office building on North Lake Avenue so they could work together under one roof.

“We designed and built a beautiful, brand-new location that was unique and new to all staff members,” Driskell explains. “We really wanted everyone to feel like this was an opportunity for them to start fresh. Company culture is extremely important to all of us and is the key component to client happiness and success. Our team is like one big family.”

Driskell, who joined Primuth, Driskell & Terzian in 2014, specializes in the areas of tax, business law and estate planning. For years he has worked with individual clients, as well as small businesses and corporations, to help them achieve their goals.

“I love that I get to set the strategy and build the firm from a business perspective while also getting to practice law,” Driskell says.

“Estates, trusts and corporate law are the lifeblood of what goes on in our community and one of the most exciting areas in law. I love the ability to impact people’s lives in a positive way. Whether it’s from an estate planning or litigation perspective, being able to help people achieve their goals and make a difference is so important. It’s what I love to do.”

Lagerlof LLP has multiple specialties including all areas of corporate and tax law, estate and trust and public agency representation.

They work with families, local businesses and public agencies, providing clients with strategic support through all stages of their business, from acquisitions and intellectual property to business litigation and more. Estate planning is another important service the firm offers to clients, helping them with various aspects including will and trust preparation, asset protection and powers of attorney, among others.

“There isn’t a single area of the estate and trust world that we don’t cover,” Driskell says. “We have certified specialists in estate continued on page 8

Photos by Luis Chavez

Partner Vanessa M. Terzian

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ABOUT US Lagerlof Cares is the philanthropic entity of Lagerlof, LLP, the largest law firm in Pasadena. Lagerlof, LLP is dedicated to serving the community in an impactful and meaningful way. With this belief in mind, we created Lagerlof Cares in an effort to give back through fundraising and community-based volunteerism, pro bono work, and active nonprofit board leadership.

CONTACT US: (626) 793-9400 www.lagerlof.com 155 N Lake Ave. 11th Floor Pasadena, CA 91101

FOLLOW US:

25 GOLF OCT

TOURNAMENT

JOIN US! La Cañada Country Club Lagerlof Cares is holding their First Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser. All proceeds to this event will benefit The Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena.

Tickets and sponsorship packages available.

To purchase tickets, please visit: www.lagerlofcares.afrogs.org

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Partner Rebecca J. Thyne

Partner Andrew D. Turner

Managing Partner Joshua R. Driskell

Partner James D. Ciampa

planning, and our team includes attorneys and partners that have written the book on special needs and special needs trusts. We’re well-regarded in the litigation area for trust and estate work. We also have a corporate practice which encompasses real estate, tax and bankruptcy. We have state experts in water law, and represent some of the state’s best water agencies and districts. We really practice as a team, not a group of lawyers sharing space.”

The diverse team at Lagerlof LLP consists of more than 70 people, 32 of whom are attorneys. The firm, which is the largest in the San Gabriel Valley that specializes in trusts and estates, is focused on continuing to grow a team of diverse and dynamic legal professionals. They also place great emphasis on providing an exemplary client experience and customer service.

“Usually, to get this kind of expertise, you’d have to go to Downtown Los Angeles or Century City,” Driskell points out. “We have a robust client services group, which isn’t typical of a law firm of our size. We are unyielding in our desire for clients to be satisfied with our work and the people they’re working with. We tirelessly work to make the experience of dealing with the court system and legal matters easier and more tolerable.”

Despite its size, Lagerlof LLP offers the personalized experience of working with a smaller firm so that clients never feel lost in the shuffle.

“We’re big enough in that we have the capabilities to do everything you want, but we’re small enough to be able to talk to you about what it is you want to achieve,” Driskell says. “That’s something that we work really hard at by making sure that no client feels left behind, ignored or unheard.”

One of the things that clients enjoy about working with Lagerlof, LLP is the accessibility and efficiency of the experience they have whenever they need to connect with members of the team.

“Our clients are never kept waiting long when they need information or help with various matters,” Driskell says. “That’s one area where we really shine, we’re focused on getting our clients the answers they need right away. We’re always going to work as hard as we can to make sure that we take care of and handle all of the variables that we can control.”

When the pandemic occurred shortly after the merger took place, Lagerlof LLP was already several steps ahead and geared for success.

“We used COVID as an opportunity to expand our capabilities for remote work and remote client service,” Driskell says. “We transitioned our phone system and technology to a virtual environment pre-COVID, so we were really poised to perform well during the pandemic. We were fully operational without any issues during the whole shutdown.”

Looking ahead, Lagerlof LLP plans to grow its team of attorneys as it continues to expand in Pasadena and Southern California. Giving back and being involved in the community is also another big area of focus.

October 25, the firm is hosting its first golf tournament fundraiser for Lagerlof Cares, the firm’s recently formed nonprofit organization. It will give back through fundraising, community-based volunteerism, pro bono work and active nonprofit board leadership. All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit The Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena.

“Not only do we support and work with many nonprofits regularly, but we really put a focus on our staff and attorneys being part of those nonprofits,” Driskell shares.

“Being a lawyer and helping your clients is important, but it’s just as important to give back to the community. After this past year with everyone staying at home due to the pandemic, we’re excited to welcome everyone back at this event, announce Lagerlof Cares and raise money for a good cause while having a great time. We see it as the beginning of a longstanding tradition for our firm to give back and we look forward to the next hundred years in Pasadena.”

Lagerlof LLP 155 N. Lake Avenue, 11th Floor, Pasadena 626-793-9400, lagerlof.com

Photos by Luis Chavez

continued from page 6

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F E AT U R E

HEALING THE

Soul

DEN URBAN DOG RETREAT IS AN OASIS FOR PETS AND THEIR OWNERS

Dogs and their owners can indulge in rituals and healing processes like reiki, an energy healing technique that uses hand motions on and around the body.

Doga, dog yoga, will help owners improve their posture, stretch out tight muscles, and improve quality of sleep. The pup will benefit from increased circulation, stress relief, and extra bonding time with their human.

oCal is a trendsetter for health and wellness, and DEN Urban Dog Retreat in Los Angeles is doing just that for pets.

Animal lovers Lindsay Velez and Victorious Solomon opened DEN in November 2019, an oasis for dogs and their owners. Since then, the business has been featured on Netflix and has become a word-ofmouth sensation.

“We don’t go around saying we’re in the people service business,” Solomon says. “We say we are in the dog service business. All of our services are perfectly designed for you and your dog to get some relaxation.”

Solomon and Velez strive to become an industry leader and help reshape how people view health and wellness with animals and humans.

“We want to be industry disruptors,” Solomon says. “We don’t feel that the care available to dogs is as up to par as it could be.

“The goal is to have a thriving, healthy space for people and their dogs to get together and learn from each other, as well as create a community that has energy and kindness and creativity. We want to change what people think about both pet and personal care.”

DEN offers doggy day care and grooming Monday through Friday, and it provides shuttle service. During day care, dogs participate in activities like hiking, playtime and massages.

Solomon says energetic trainers ensure dogs are having a good time, regardless of their ability to mingle. Without cages, he says, the dogs can relax.

“It’s really all about keeping them happy and relaxed during day care,” Solomon says. “We have a really great system for socializing the dogs while also letting them do their own thing. They can play and have fun, but with the way we do things they aren’t overstimulated or overexerting.”

In addition to its day care and grooming services, DEN offers wellness services for dogs and their owners, using creative and unorthodox methods. The activities include holistic healing services derived from Eastern traditions.

“We offer a lot of services that a lot of people may have never even heard of,” Solomon says. “With our programs, we really just try to heal and balance our members and their dogs.”

Dogs and their owners can indulge in rituals and healing processes like Reiki, an energy healing technique that uses hand motions on and around the body, sound healing, crystal therapy and “doga,” which is, essentially, dog yoga.

“What we do is really unique, and I think that when people are open to this kind of healing it can do a lot,” Solomon says.

Crystal therapy quickly became one of the most popular services.

Each crystal has its own healing property, and experts work to find the most susceptible spots in the body to guide dogs and people through the healing.

“We like to keep everything really balanced. We offer these services as a supplementary aspect because we want to be this Montessori School for dogs — or even, your dog’s crystal shop,” Solomon says. continued on page 12

Submitted photos

S

BY CLAIRE SPINNER

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DEN has several different methods for dogs to heal, relax, and connect with their owner, as well as doggy day care and grooming services. continued from page 10

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DEN has gained attention and popularity through word of mouth, social media promotions and fliers, allowing it to expand.

The staff work to find what works best for the dogs and the people they serve, and they are always experimenting with new methods.

“We really are aiming to design services to help you and your dog connect, refocus and just know that everything is OK,” Solomon says.

“We want everyone to just take that breath of relief. Dogs literally get sick when they are under too much stress. We get a lot of dogs coming from kill shelters who are actually sick from the environment they’ve been in.

“We work with dogs of all needs levels when it comes to stress, including those who may not have had proper socialization. We try to really meet those needs, even if it takes creativity.”

DEN — which originally stood for “dogs, exercise nutrition,”—focuses on giving people a glimpse of what it does, from a consumer perspective. As a side project, Solomon and his team have taken on the task of documenting what DEN Urban Dog Retreat is all about.

“Dogs, exercise and nutrition is sort of the cornerstone of what we’re doing, but we’ve also started creating this great content and people enjoy it and are asking for more — maybe DEN could stand for ‘Dog Entertainment Network.’”

Through several weeks of filming, DEN is documenting its programs and services, as well as creating helpful videos that could aid DEN’s patrons while at home.

“We have been documenting the process of dog healing in different ways and seeing what people’s reactions look like,” Solomon says.

“We want to capture what we’re doing and make samples of it so that we can create this robust, durable content that we can offer to anyone who does a service with us.”

DEN attributes its success to word-of-mouth “marketing,” as well as Solomon, Velez and the rest of DEN’s team’s effort to spread the word through social media and fliers.

Solomon and Velez plan, organize and decorate everything, so they stay at the facility into the evening. Solomon stays passionate about the business when he sees animals healing.

“Lindsay and I are there until 1 or 2 in the morning every night just planning and making sure everything looks incredible and is ready for the next day,” he says. “But when you see the dogs, it makes everything so worth it, and I think our work really shows in the quality of service we provide.”

This high-quality service and atmosphere are seen throughout DEN’s work and environment. Media attention has allowed DEN to expand, and Solomon says the continued popularity and success stems from the staff’s authenticity and genuineness.

“We want the absolute best for these dogs. The passion and compassion are really at the heart of all of this,” he says. “A Chewy or an Amazon can’t build a company like ours because they don’t have that same heart.”

DEN Urban Dog Retreat 3252 Arroyo Seco Avenue, Los Angeles 1-833-336-7225, denurbandog.com

Submitted photo

Crystal healing therapy can help radiate positve energy and is effective for rescues that tend to be more fearful and stressed.

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F E AT U R E

Luxury EXPERIENCES LE MÉRIDIEN PASADENA INTRODUCES CULTURAL OFFERINGS

BY KAMALA KIRK

T

he newly opened Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia Hotel recently revealed a new series of luxury packages and programs. Located across from the historical Santa Anita Park, the hotel brings Le Méridien’s distinctive European heritage to the Southern California destination.

For art and equine lovers, the Unlock Art Program offers guests the ability to connect with horses, history and art during an architectural tour just steps away from the hotel.

“Through the Unlock Art program, we have partnered with the historic Santa Anita Park for a one-of-a-kind experience to see the worldfamous racetrack, its horses and it beautiful venues,” says Dan Zwirn, continued on page 16

Photo courtesy of Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia Hotel

Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia Hotel recently revealed its roster of unique packages and programs designed for families, culture seekers, travelers and more.

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The luxury offerings range from a VIP horse-racing package to a private shopping experience at Westfield Santa Anita.

Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia Hotel is located directly across from the historical Santa Anita Park, where visitors can take in the town’s heritage.

The hotel is partnering with West Field Santa Anita for a social media giveaway that includes gift cards, gift baskets, dinner and a two-night stay.

general manager of Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia.

“We offer a behind-the-scenes architectural tour perfect for families and adults who want to connect with horses, history and, of course, art. All our guests have to do is make a reservation with our front desk and they will be able to ‘unlock’ the experience with their Unlock Art room key.”

Another equestrian-themed experience is the VIP Horse Racing Package, which includes overnight accommodations, a private behindthe-scenes tour of Santa Anita Park and a deluxe three-course dinner and wine pairing for two. Guests will enjoy a one-hour guided tour of Santa Anita Park, one of America’s most historic sporting venues, learn about the landmark architecture of the grandstand designed by Gordon Kaufmann and see the home of America’s most legendary racehorses.

Tours are available Friday to Sunday and must be scheduled at least one week prior to arrival.

“Our location opposite the historical Santa Anita Park is the perfect opportunity to guide our guests through the nuances of what makes Arcadia unique,” Zwirn says. “We wanted to illuminate the rich heritage of the region and offer guests a memorable experience they can’t get anywhere else. When guests book the VIP Horse Racing Package, they will enjoy a luxe overnight stay at our hotel, a private guided tour of Santa Anita Park, home of America’s most legendary racehorses, and a deluxe three-course dinner and wine pairing for two. We think guests will love this innovative experience and will definitely be a highlight of their travels.”

For guests looking for a special way to pop the question, the Off to the Races Proposal Package provides a memorable proposal. Set against the stunning backdrop of the historic Santa Anita Park, the package includes a private engagement location at the fountain or infield, professional photography to capture the big moment and a celebratory party for up to 10 friends and family in the premier Hospitality Suite with curated

cocktails and cuisine.

Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia Hotel is also teaming up with Westfield Santa Anita to bring guests the ultimate shopping experience with an exclusive social media giveaway. The grand prize winner will receive a two-night stay in a Premium King Guest Room at Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia Hotel; dinner for four at on-site dining destination, Melange; a private shopping experience, a stylist fitting and beauty session at Nordstrom, a Dior Prestige Gift Basket from Macy’s, and a $300 Westfield gift card. For more details, follow @lemeridenarcadia on Instagram.

At the hotel’s grand bar, Longitude 118, guests can enjoy various afternoon tea offerings. The menu offers one’s choice of a classic high tea, champing team, and High Tea and Highballs — the ultimate experience including premium hot tea, the full menu, a cave canape and Hibuki Harmony Highball. A junior high tea is also available for kids ages 6 to 12.

“We’re so excited for guests to ease into their afternoons and evenings at Longitude 118 and be able to experience a tradition-worthy High Tea and Highballs, a twist on the traditional cocktail hour,” Zwirn shares.

“We offer a traditional high tea with special highball cocktail mixology using the centuries-old craft of tea infusion, and it’s all done right in front of you at your table. Our premium teas, finger sandwiches and pastries are also not your average selection, from lobster and egg salad tartine to matcha scones. We even have a Junior High Tea for the little ones so they can join in on the fun!”

Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia Hotel 130 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia 626-777-6699, https://bit.ly/3hpOQCi

Photos courtesy of Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia Hotel

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DINING

Pasta

PERSPICACIOUS PURVEYOR

AN EPIPHANY LEADS TO LEAH FERRAZZANI’S SEMOLINA

BY FRIER MCCOLLISTER

O

Leah Ferrazzani owns Semolina Artisanal Pasta.

Subtle beginnings Her pasta career started in the laundry room of her Mount Washington home. In 2013, while she was on maternity leave with her second child, she noted to her husband, Neal, a software engineer, that she could not find decent, organically sourced dried pasta in local supermarkets.

After months of trying to figure out what she was going to do, she had an epiphany.

“I came down from taking a shower one morning, while I was on maternity leave,” Ferrazzani says.

“I told my husband that I was going to start a business making dried pasta because I couldn’t find any locally made organic dried pasta. He basically said, ‘What do you know about making dried pasta?’ I said, ‘Absolutely nothing!’”

Eighteen months of research and development ensued, including the obligatory trip to Italy. Her destination was Gragnano on the Amalfi coast, south of Naples on the Mediterranean.

“I stayed for about 10 days. It’s one of the only D.O.P. (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta) regions for pasta in Italy,” she said.

The D.O.P. is the national certification of regional authenticity, granted to maintain traditional culinary methods for Italian cuisine.

The designation applies to everything from Italian wine making to pizza preparation.

Back home, Ferrazzani rehabbed the family’s laundry room for the project.

“I tiled the wall, floor and ceiling and brought in a hydrostat and a Vicks vaporizer,” she says.

She positioned box fans around the rooms and her husband figured out how to electrically rewire the room to accommodate the power needs of an industrial extruder.

Ferrazzani checked weather conditions in Gragnano.

“I modeled the climate in my drying room after the weather on the coast of Naples,” she explains.

While monitoring temperature, humidity and wind velocity data from the coastal Italian town, she worked to duplicate the same conditions in the laundry room. continued on page 20

Photo by Luis Chavez

n a placid and warm Tuesday afternoon, the tiny Semolina Artisanal Pasta showroom is well stocked.

It was June 15, and master pasta maker and owner, Leah Ferrazzani, returned to produce fresh batches of her locally renowned pasta. She boasts an impressive list of wholesale clients — all chefs and restaurants revving back up to life at full capacity in their dining rooms.

She had more to celebrate: She returned after recovering from a herniated disk in her neck.

Ferrazzani and her two new assistants, Samuel Schiffer and Noah Sonnenburg, bustled about the gleaming, industrial pasta extruder in lab coats, hairnets, gloves and masks like engineers in a clean room at JPL. For Ferrazzani, her masterful pasta is the result of a subtle alchemical calibration of art and science.

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continued from page 18

Owner Leah Ferrazzani extrudes linguini.

Semolina Artisanal Pasta boasts an impressive list of wholesale clients.

Seeing the light Ferrazzani continued to pursue food writing for various independent outlets in Los Angeles and served as a chief staff writer for K&L Wine Merchants, composing its newsletter for more than seven years.

While she was on maternity leave from K&L, she went through the period of soul-searching that ended when the pasta-making lightbulb went off for her.

“I missed hospitality a lot. I wanted to be somebody who did something. (I wanted) to make something,” she explains.

After nearly two years of experimenting with dried pasta in her laundry room, Ferrazzani landed in her dual storefront space on Lincoln Avenue in Pasadena in November 2017.

Another successful local chef — Christine Moore, the owner of the beloved Little Flower bakery and café — helped Ferrazzani. Moore opened her popular restaurant, the now-shuttered Lincoln, next door and was a part owner of the building.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her (Moore),” Ferrazzani emphasizes. “She’s been a mentor and friend and always encouraged me to trust my instincts with the business. It was very helpful. It can’t be overstated how generous she is with other women in the food business.”

These days, Semolina Artisanal Pasta is a busy wholesale supplier to chefs and restaurants across Los Angeles.

Although dried pasta was Ferrazzani’s original concept, she was persuaded by one of the chefs to produce fresh pasta as well. Matt Molina, whom Ferrazzani met at Pizzeria Mozza when he served as Silverton’s executive chef, made the request. continued on page 22

Photos by Luis Chavez

Semolina Artisanal Pasta is locally renowned for its freshness.

“I used all that information I had gleaned from staring at the actual pasta dryers at the factories that I worked at, and synthesized what the weather was doing in Gragnano, where the pasta was traditionally being dried in the street,” Ferrazzani explains.

At the same time, Ferrazzani sought out contacts and sources for advice and direction. The process called upon the skills she developed as a master’s student in journalism.

“Fundamentally, my journalism degree became most useful, more useful than it ever had, in being able to seek out people and ask questions and find my way,” she notes.

After earning her degree, she took a job as a photo editor for the art world magazine, Bomb. After an unexpected layoff and in need of a job, she worked as a server at a Tribeca restaurant but soon found herself promoted to assistant general manager.

“That really began to cement my interest in food,” says Ferrazzani, who also worked as a food writer and in public relations.

After a stint in publishing at Harper Collins, she took a position at Jason Denton’s wine bar, ‘Inoteca on Rivington Street.

“I learned so much about Italian food there,” Ferrazzani says. “It opened my eyes to regional Italian food.”

Ferrazzani returned to the West Coast and worked as a food writer in Lake Tahoe and a wine and spirits contributor for the San Francisco Chronicle. After working the Sonoma harvest season at Pax Wines, Ferrazzani relocated to Los Angeles to pursue more writing assignments.

Within a couple of hours of her arrival, she got a call from her old general manager in Tribeca directing her to a local job opportunity. Nancy Silverton was about to open her now-famed Pizzeria Mozza and hired Ferrazzani as assistant general manager. Her experience working with Silverton forged a bond that would prove to be helpful.

“Nancy has always been very generous with sharing both her knowledge of the food business and the things she’s passionate about (and) her sense of hospitality with all of the people who worked with her,” Ferrazzani notes.

“Since I have left, she has been very generous with her time, in being a mentor.”

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continued from page 20

“My fresh pasta program is because of Matt,” she says. “Fresh was at his behest.”

It is now 20% of her regular production. Molina moves through 100 pounds of Ferrazzani’s pasta weekly at his restaurant Hippo in Highland Park and Everson Royce Bar in the Arts District.

Tuesday afternoon, she was training Schiffer and Sonnenburg, and the trio were busy extruding fresh linguini for the Sunset Marquis Hotel in Hollywood, The Cloverfield in Santa Monica, Good Clean Fun in Chinatown and Kevin and Kari Irvin’s pop-up Henry Parsons Project in Pasadena. An 85-pound tray of bucatini had already been prepped for Molina’s Hippo.

It all speaks to the vibrant food culture in the area that reveals so many common community connections.

“I just think we have a rich culture of food in Pasadena that I have not been hearing about,” Ferrazzani says.

“Whether it’s a small business manufacturing pasta like mine, or Grist & Toll milling flour down the street or the cobbler shop (Gourmet Cobbler Factory) making those amazing cobblers. There are a lot of really cool mom-and-pop food businesses here that are geared toward delivering great food experiences and great community experiences that people should try.”

On that note, chef Leah Ferrazzani invites Arroyo readers to try her recipe for pasta with salsa di noci and haricots verts.

Semolina Artisanal Pasta 1976-1978 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena 323-352-8564, semolinapasta.com

PASTA WITH SALSA DI NOCI AND HARICOTS VERTS Ingredients 1 pound green beans, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces, blanched and shocked.

1 pound Semolina Artisanal Pasta

Method Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil.

Meanwhile, mash the garlic cloves in a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt into a smooth paste. Add the walnuts and mash until creamy.

Slowly stir in olive oil until you have a smooth sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste, and then stir in the red wine vinegar for brightness.

When the water is boiling, add your pasta and give a quick stir. Cook until al dente — start checking the pasta at 5 minutes until it is cooked through but still firm.

(Artisanal pasta has a wider variation in cook times because we buy smaller quantities of Semolina, and each lot of flour has varying moisture and protein, all of which affect the cook time.)

When the pasta is ready, drain, reserving a little pasta water. Add pasta to the salsa di noci and vegetables, adding a little pasta water as needed to help coat.

Serve immediately.

Photo by Luis Chavez

2 cloves garlic, lightly chopped 1 1/3 cups walnuts 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar salt freshly ground pepper

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CULINARY CUPBOARD

FLUFFY AND FLOURLESS

Dessert

BY EMILY CHAVEZ

F

eaturing chocolate chips and cacao powder, this flourless cake is extremely rich in the best way possible. The addition of fluffy whipped coffee, also sometimes called dalgona coffee, lifts an otherwise dense cake to new levels of luxury. Whipped coffee is made simply by whisking together instant coffee, hot water and some sugar. The airy texture is maintained by gently folding it into the batter right before baking. Coffee notes naturally enhance the chocolate flavo, so enjoying a slice with a cup of coffee for an after-dinner dessert is a perfect match.

FLOURLESS WHIPPED COFFEE CHOCOLATE CAKE ACTIVE TIME: 25 MINUTES | TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR, 45 MINUTES YIELDS ONE 8-INCH CAKE

INGREDIENTS

1 CUP SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS 1/2 CUP UNSALTED BUTTER, ROOM TEMPERATURE 3/4 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR

1/4 TEASPOON SALT 2 TEASPOONS INSTANT COFFEE 2 TEASPOONS HOT WATER 3 LARGE EGGS HALF-CUP CACAO POWDER

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PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 375 DEGREES F. PREPARE THE CAKE PAN

BY LIGHTLY GREASING IT AND LINING WITH A PARCHMENT CIRCLE CUT TO SIZE. WITH AN ELECTRIC MIXER, WHISK TOGETHER THE INSTANT COFFEE, HOT WATER AND 2 TEASPOONS OF THE SUGAR UNTIL IT IS FLUFFY AND HOLDS ITS SHAPE. SET ASIDE. USE A DOUBLE-BOILER METHOD OR MICROWAVE TO MELT THE BUTTER AND SOFTEN THE CHOCOLATE CHIPS TOGETHER IN ONE BOWL. STIR MIXTURE UNTIL FULLY INCORPORATED. STIR THE REMAINING SUGAR AND SALT INTO THE BUTTER CHOCOLATE MIXTURE. ADD EGGS, BEATING UNTIL JUST INCORPORATED. ADD COCOA POWDER, STIRRING UNTIL JUST COMBINED. THEN, GENTLY FOLD IN THE FLUFFY INSTANT COFFEE MIXTURE. SPOON BATTER INTO THE PAN AND BAKE FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES, UNTIL A THIN CRUST HAS FORMED AND THE INTERNAL CENTER TEMPERATURE REACHES 200 DEGREES. REMOVE FROM THE OVEN AND LET COOL FOR 5 MINUTES BEFORE REMOVING FROM THE PAN.

Photos by Luis Chavez

INSTRUCTIONS

7/2/21 10:17 AM

C O C K TA I L S

Lost in the JUNGLE JUICE A MUCH BOOZIER COCKTAIL

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

“T

he Hard Seltzer Cocktail Book” is for hipsters who love the crack of that slim aluminum can. According to the book, which boasts 55 recipes, at 4% to 6% alcohol, the Lost in the Jungle Juice makes a boozy drink that much boozier.

Get a large dispenser — at least 4 gallons — or an empty cooler and feel free to improvise.

Check out the recipe below for Lost in the Jungle Juice and enjoy!

YIELDS: 30 DRINKS 12 12-ounce citrus-flavored hard seltzer 1 bottle vodka 1 gallon lemonade

1/2 gallon orange juice 1/2 gallon fruit punch 3 oranges, sliced Ice as needed.

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HOME AND GARDEN Richard and Nancy Cole own this Tudor-style property in San Rafael.

Charm ENGLISH

THIS SAN RAFAEL TUDOR IS FILLED WITH CHARACTER AND MEMORABILIA

fter living in San Marino for nearly 27 years, Richard and Nancy Cole were ready for a change. While looking for a new home, they drove through Pasadena’s San Rafael neighborhood and a Tudor-style property caught their eye.

“Our Realtor said that the home might be for sale soon and I knew I wanted it,” Richard says. “I had always wanted a Tudor house. It was built by an Argentinean for himself, and while he didn’t capture all of the Tudor details, I loved the bare bones of the home. We’ve been working on it over the years to make the inside and outside fit together.”

The Coles redecorated almost every room in the house, replaced the carpet with hardwood floors, painted the windows to match the wood, and updated the living room ceiling with wood beams that resemble an old English pub.

They added more half-timbering to the exterior. That’s a signature aspect of Tudor design that features exposed wood framing.

“The key features of our Tudor are the half-timbering in the brick, the pitched roof and the overhang,” Richard explains.

“We’ve painted and paneled almost every room in the house but stayed true to the home’s charm and character. I sent a picture of our home to one of my friends in England and he said that we did a great job achieving the Tudor look.”

The home’s front door was updated to feature reproduction linen-fold panels of proper Elizabethan oak from the Crown Guild of Master Woodcarvers in England. The couple also replaced all the fireplaces in the home and custom designed the living room fireplace with Tudor roses.

Richard has been an Anglophile since he visited England in 1973.

He’s returned numerous times and, on those trips, he brought back various items to display, including a collection of 16th and 17th century maps that hang on one of the living room walls.

“I really love the English countryside and culture,” Richard says.

“I’m also a real fanatic about antique items, almost all the antiques we have are of British origin.

“Our late friend owned an antique shop in Pasadena and we sourced a lot of our items through him. Some of our furniture and items are from our previous residence, which was a Williamsburg home, so we brought them over because they fit this place. The rest we got specifically for this house.”

In their home, the Coles have custom-made items, including their wood bed frame that was shipped over from the Crown Guild of Master Woodcarvers in England. Richard has designed and created many pieces, such as the Tudor arch over the front entrance, as well as wood carvings created in his garage workshop from British oak. The circular carvings depict scenes such as people dancing and a shepherd with his dogs.

Other design touches include an antique pub sign, 18th century wine glasses, enamel boxes, armorial porcelains and 300-year-old tiles from Portugal, England and Holland. The walls of Richard’s home office are also half-timbered and complemented with decorative accents like wood carved furniture and historic paintings.

Richard worked closely with Doug Gibbs of R.D. Gibbs & Co. to design authentic stained-glass windows that depict symbols of English heraldry like a medieval coat of arms and a Germanic crest. They are in almost every room, including the library, which houses Richard’s collec-

Photo by Luis Chavez

A

BY KAMALA KIRK

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The backyard includes a Renaissance garden with brick pathways, symmetrical boxwood hedges, fountains, statues, and topiary plants in various shapes.

Photos by Luis Chavez

Richard and Nancy Cole were ready for a change when they bought their home.

tion of books and Chinese porcelain.

“Our library is one of my favorite parts of the house,” Richard says. “I like to sit in there and look at the stained-glass windows. It’s been fun to put the windows in this space, they are beautiful.”

Aside from her study, Nancy’s favorite spot is a cozy reading nook in a corner of the living room.

“I love relaxing and reading a book in that corner while enjoying views of the backyard and garden,” Nancy says.

The spacious backyard includes a Renaissance garden with brick pathways, symmetrical boxwood hedges, fountains, statues and topiary plants in various shapes, like rabbits. A pergola offers shade and additional space for entertaining. On one side of the backyard is a wood bench that bears a small English crest design in the center. Richard designed it himself.

“It’s so beautiful and peaceful,” Richard says. “I love to enjoy the view of the backyard while sitting here.”

The couple is looking forward to hosting an English tea for friends at their home. They’ve been planning this since just prior to the pandemic.

“We had invitations created with Old English script and were getting ready to send them out when COVID hit,” Richard says.

“Hopefully sometime in the near future we’ll get to have people over and do that. Whenever people come to our house, they enjoy the homey and friendly atmosphere.”

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A R T S A N D C U LT U R E Pictured, from left to right, are co-owner Tami Stevens with her husband, Scott Price, co-owner, Erin Stevens, and her son, Jimmy Key.

THE STEVENS SISTERS ARE BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

continued on page 30

Photo by Luis Chavez

Dance JUST

E

rin and Tami Stevens are known for reintroducing the lindy hop to swing fans around the world.

Now that the world is reopening, they hope to do it again — this time with swing dancing as a whole. Their Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association will kick off its return with a Saturday night dance on July 3. Entertainment features the Pete Jacobs Wartime Radio Revue with a full swing orchestra. Other dances are set for Saturdays July 17 and July. 31. The school and dance spot officially reopens its doors in August.

“I don’t really know what it will be like,” says Tami, who

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Tami Stevens, pictured with her husband, Scott Price, co-owns Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association. continued from page 28

Erin Stevens, co-owner, and her son, Jimmy Key

Classes of all types The Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association opened in 1983.

The Stevens’ father found a building that had a “for rent” sign on it.

“After lunch, the whole family looked at this hall. It had a beautiful stage and floor,” Tami says. “We used it for the first couple of years.

“We had this nice series. On the last day of the series, a woman from the LA Times, Miv Schaaf, sat in the back of the hall. My dad was making lemonade. She wrote an article about this crazy family. We didn’t have a name, other than the Stevens Sisters.”

(Their parents are Jim and Monza Stevens, who owned the Balinese Shop.)

The next series attracted more than 100 people.

“We were in shock,” Tami says. “Our mom helped check us in. My dad set up the equipment. We were young. We had to get a larger hall. We moved again to the hall we’re at now.”

Tami says she hopes to resume classes in August. She says people are much more reticent to touch strangers because of the pandemic. She compares the COVID-19 pandemic to the pandemic of 1918.

“The ’20s began again with the crazy dancing,” she says.

“We’re hopeful that social dance isn’t going to die. People long to hear the music and want to be with people.”

In 38 years, the association has taught swing dancing of all types, including East Coast or the jitterbug and the Lindy Hop. “We’re famous for that—the West Coast swing (Lindy Hop),” Tami says. “We also have ballroom classes, salsa and the tango.

I’m not sure we’ll return to everything full blast right away.”

In the early 1980s, Erin majored in dance at UC Irvine. Erin is best known for her study of and dance expertise in the Lindy Hop. She’s credited with bringing the “Father of Lindy Hop,” Frankie Manning, out of dance retirement in the 1980s.

“I saw his picture in Life magazine,” Erin says.

“I went to the Pasadena Public Library and looked up Frankie Manning. This was pre-cellphones and computers. He answered

Photos by Luis Chavez

shares a birth date with Erin. “There definitely are people dying to get back and pressuring us that it’s past time.

“Other people are very cautious and feeling like they aren’t ready. I appreciate both. At some point, we have to try to do something there. I want to keep going. It’s been such a wonderful thing over the years.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the association hosted swing dances on Saturday nights with 200-plus attendees enjoying the top bands from around the country. Group classes were offered most nights of the week for all levels of dancers.

“Every Saturday night we were getting these amazing top LA and around the country swing bands,” Tami says. “We’d have about 200 people. I don’t expect to open with that sort of number.

“People are eager to come back. I want to get enough to feel like a good dance. I want to continue to get back to normal. Bands are eager to play, too.”

The association uses the hall at Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran Church, which Tami calls “beautiful.” Folks don’t have to dance when they arrive. They can just sit and watch.

“We have a huge dance floor, and everybody tends to dance,” she says. “You don’t have to, though. There are chairs off to the side where people can sit, watch and listen to the music.”

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The school and dance spot officially reopens its doors in August.

Photos by Luis Chavez

the phone and I said, ‘Are you Frankie Manning, the swing dancer? He just laughed. He had this contagious laugh.

“He said, ‘No. I’m Frankie Manning the postal worker, but I used to be Frankie Manning the swing dancer.’ He said if we came to New York he would meet with us.

“He agreed to meet us at a dance club. It was this great moment in time. Nobody was Lindy Hopping. It was virtually extinct. He reintroduced us to this style.”

“When swing dance went out, the whole world changed and the Lindy Hop was forgotten about,” Tami adds.

“Everybody was rock dancing. She encouraged him to have him teach her again. She went to New York and studied under him. She started bringing him out to Arizona and elsewhere for dances.”

From 1986 forward, Manning made twice-annual visits to Pasadena where he continued to teach Erin and Tami in private lessons and conducted workshops for their Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association students.

Manning, who died at 95 years old, referred to the Stevens as “his California family.”

As the resurgence of swing dance blossomed in the 1990s, Erin and Tami hosted their annual June event (the Granddaddy of the American Swing Camps).

From 1994 to 2004, “Swing Camp Catalina” brought thousands of swing dancers from around the world together on Catalina Island. In 1999, the women saw the camp’s largest attendance at 1,800 students.

In 2012, they were contracted to author the textbook: “Swing Dancing.” Featured in various films, news articles and television productions, the two sisters were also honored to dance, two separate years, aboard floats in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Rose Parade on New Year’s morning.

The association uses the hall at Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran Church.

Dancing elsewhere Tami says students don’t necessarily have to dance at the association’s events. They learn how to dance for their weddings, quinceaneras, cruises or anniversary parties.

“It’s a part of American social life,” Tami says. “I can’t imagine it’s a tradition that we’re going to lose.”

Tami explains swing dancing can also be used for exercise.

You don’t even realize you’re working out because we have so much fun,” Tami adds.

“I feel like I can dance literally for hours. The music is moving us. We’re excited about talking to people.

“It seems to be good for the grain, too. We’ve been sitting during the pandemic. I feel like we’ve all aged because we’re not doing the things that keep us young and engaged. This helps the neurons fire when you’re trying to dance with people.”

The sisters are hoping the classes will return to form.

“People really love our concept,” Tami says. “It’s very nonthreatening.”

“We were on a mission to bring back the Lindy Hop. Everyone should know how to Lindy Hop. Nobody knew what it was back then. It’s so cool to look at where we were then and now,” Erin adds.

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A R T S A N D C U LT U R E don’t know is that 30 minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped.

For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die. The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane. Enjoy the flight.

6 p.m. Tuesday, July 13 Matt Haig discusses “The Comfort Book” An essential book from Matt Haig, the New York Times bestselling author of “The Midnight Library,” for anyone in search of hope, looking for a path to a more meaningful life, or in need of a little encouragement.

“It is a strange paradox, that many of the clearest, most comforting life lessons are learned while we are at our lowest. But then we never think about food more than when we are hungry, and we never think about life rafts more than when we are thrown overboard.”

“The Comfort Book” is Haig’s life raft. It’s a collection of notes, lists and stories written over a span of several years that originally served as gentle reminders to Haig’s future self that things are not always as dark as they may seem.

Note: This will be a pre-recorded event.

Vroman’s VIRTUALLY

BOOKSTORE BOASTS STELLAR LINEUP FOR JULY

T

BY ARROYO STAFF

he renowned bookstore Vroman’s is hosting more top-notch virtual programs throughout July.

The Vroman’s Life events are held virtually through Crowdcast.

Register through vromansbookstore.com.

6 p.m. Tuesday, July 6 Dr. Nancy Pine discusses “One in a Billion: One Man’s Remarkable Odyssey Through Modern-Day China” This heart-wrenching story immerses readers in the dramatic survival of one outspoken man who illuminates the souls of a billion ordinary Chinese citizens. An Wei — a stubborn, hardworking peasant who has lived by his values and stood up for his convictions — has succeeded against all odds in the authoritarian environment of China.

Despite grinding poverty, hunger, reeducation campaigns and attacks from jealous peers, An Wei continues to inspire with his daring achievements, such as launching a democratic congress in his own village. His compelling life provides a vivid backdrop for understanding the development of modern China from the unique perspective of an outspoken citizen.

6 p.m. Friday, July 9 TJ Newman discusses “Falling” You just boarded a flight to New York with 143 other passengers. What you

6 p.m. Thursday, July 15 Kimberly B. Cummings discusses “Next Move, Best Move: Transitioning into a Career You’ll Love” Cummings leaves no stone unturned with this thorough, expert guide for professionals seeking to understand how to navigate the world of work, from beginning to end, starting with uncovering personal and professional values to align their expertise and skills to roles and companies that will finally change the trajectory of their career and set them up to be leaders in the workforce.

As a former career development adviser in some of the nation’s top universities and a diversity and inclusion professional in a Fortune 100 company, Cummings has recognized that people work for the sake of working without understanding how to leverage their unique gifts and position themselves for success.

As a result, “Next Move, Best Move: Transitioning into a Career You’ll Love” shares transformational lessons to ensure success and puts the ball back in your court.

6 p.m. Friday, July 16 Gale Sinatra and Barbara Hofer discuss “Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It” How do individuals decide whether to accept human causes of climate change, vaccinate their children or wear a mask during a pandemic? In “Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It,” psychologists Gale Sinatra and Barbara Hofer identify the problem of science denial and offer tools for addressing it.

The authors focus on key psychological issues such as social identity and reasoning biases that limit a public understanding of science — and describe solutions for individuals, educators, science communicators and policy makers.

For those who wonder why science denial exists and how to combat it, this book provides crucial insights.

3 p.m. Saturday, July 17 Thriller panel event featuring Alexa Donne, Laurie Elizabeth Flynn and Kara Thomas “The Ivies,” five prep school elites who would kill to get into the colleges of their dreams, has a showdown after Liv gets into Harvard and queen bee Avery does not.

In “The Girls Are All So Nice Here,” a lot has changed in the years since Ambrosia Wellington graduated from college, and she’s worked hard to create a new life for herself.

But then an invitation to her 10-year reunion arrives in the mail, along with an anonymous note that reads, “We need to talk about what we did that night.”

It seems that the secrets of Ambrosia’s past — and the people she thought she’d left there — aren’t as buried as she’d believed.

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Amb can’t stop fixating on what she did or who she did it with: larger-thanlife Sloane “Sully” Sullivan, Amb’s former best friend, who could make anyone do anything. At the reunion, Amb and Sully receive increasingly menacing messages, and it becomes clear that they’re being pursued by someone who wants more than just the truth of what happened that first semester.

In “That Weekend,” after Claire wakes up alone on a mountain with no memory of how she got there, she learns her best friend Kat and Kat’s boyfriend are missing, and Kat’s past is full of secrets.

6 p.m. Thursday, July 22 Terence Lester discusses “When We Stand: The Power of Seeking Justice Together” It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the injustices that we see in the world. Many of us don’t know what to do and might think that they don’t have anything to offer.

But by using the gifts in collaboration with others, we can do more together than we ever could on our own. Activist Lester knows it’s hard to change the world. But mobilizing and acting together empowers us to do what they can’t do as isolated individuals.

Lester looks at the obstacles that prevent us from getting involved, and he offers practical ways that we can accomplish things together as groups, families, churches and communities.

He will help guests find their place in the larger picture, discerning the unique ways they can contribute and make a difference.

6 p.m. Tuesday, July 27 Willa C. Richards, in conversation with Chia-Chia Lin, discusses “The Comfort of Monsters” In the summer of 1991, a teenage girl named Dee McBride vanished in the city of Milwaukee. Nearly 30 years later, her sister, Peg, is still haunted by her sister’s disappearance.

Their mother, on her deathbed, is desperate to find out what happened to Dee. The family hires a psychic to help find Dee’s body and bring them some semblance of peace.

The appearance of the psychic plunges Peg back to the past, to those final carefree months when she last saw Dee — the summer the Journal Sentinel called “the deadliest … in the history of Milwaukee.” Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer’s heinous crimes dominated the headlines and overwhelmed local law enforcement.

The disappearance of one girl was easily overlooked. Peg’s hazy recollections are far from easy for her to interpret, assess or even keep clear in her mind.

And now, digging deep into her memory raises doubts and difficult — even terrifying—questions.

6 p.m. Tuesday, July 28 S.A. Cosby, in conversation with Kristin Harmel, discusses “Razorblade Tears” Ike Randolph has been out of jail for 15 years, with not so much as a speeding ticket in all that time. But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid.

The last thing he expects to hear is that his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiah’s white husband, Derek.

Ike had never fully accepted his son but is devastated by his loss. Derek’s father, Buddy Lee, was almost as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek was ashamed his father was a criminal. Buddy Lee still has contacts in the underworld, though, and he wants to know who killed his boy.

Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, hardened men Ike and Buddy Lee will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.

Provocative and fast-paced, Cosby’s “Razorblade Tears” is a story of bloody retribution, heartfelt change — and maybe even redemption.

6 p.m. Friday, July 30 Omar El Akkad discusses “What Strange Paradise” More bodies have washed up on the shores of a small island. Another overfilled, ill-equipped, dilapidated ship has sunk under the weight of its too many passengers: Syrians, Ethiopians, Egyptians, Lebanese, Palestinians, all of them desperate to escape untenable lives back in their homelands.

But, miraculously, someone has survived the passage: 9-year-old Amir, a Syrian boy who is soon rescued by Vänna. Vänna is a teenage girl, who, despite being native to the island, experiences her own sense of homelessness in a place and among people she has come to disdain.

Though Vänna and Amir are complete strangers, and they don’t speak a common language, Vänna is determined to do whatever it takes to save the boy.

In alternating chapters, we learn about Amir’s life and how he came to be on the boat, and we follow him and the girl as they make their way toward safety.

“What Strange Paradise” is the story of two children finding their way through a hostile world. But it is also a story of empathy and indifference, of hope and despair — and about the way each of those things can blind us to reality.

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N AT U R E Caldera Bees has 15 colonies and never uses feral bees, instead purchasing Italian bees with a Kona queen for the best results.

Honey

CALDERA

COUPLE MOVES FROM RETIREMENT TO FULL-TIME BEEKEEPERS

M

anuel and Cynthia Caldera were talking about a post-retirement occupation that would be interesting and provide income.

The Calderas thought beekeeping just might be the occupation they were seeking so, in 2011, Manuel purchased “Beekeeping for Dummies.”

In their research, they discovered local beekeeping groups, and joined the L.A. Honey Company beekeepers, which meets monthly.

“We took their basic classes,” Cynthia says. “They actually have a whole year of ongoing classes.”

Within a year, they took the plunge and purchased their first hive.

“It was a lot of work at first, because the only place we could keep that hive was about 30 miles from our home,” she says.

Still, she explains it was exciting to be responsible for their colony and to learn, first hand, how bees do what they do.

“It’s one thing to read about bee activity, and quite another to stand next to the hive and watch them as they come and go,” Cynthia says with a smile.

By 2014, the Calderas expanded to four hives and different locations, and began selling their honey at a farmers market. Today, they sell at four farmers markets, including East LA, El Monte, Highland Park on Tuesdays, and Lincoln Heights on Wednesdays.

“We had a mentor from the L.A. Honey Company, and he told us that we were ready,” she says about the farmers market endeavor.

“We just had to get our certification from the Department of Agricul-

Submitted photo

BY CHRISTOPHER NYERGES

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Find Caldera Bees’ honey at various farmers markets: East LA, El Monte, Highland Park on Tuesdays, and Lincoln Heights on Wednesdays.

Submitted photos

ture and insurance, and we started selling at a farmers market in East LA.” The endeavor has been successful.

In 2014, the Los Angeles County Beekeepers Association dubbed Cynthia Caldera the Beekeeper of the Year. Two years later, the Orange County Fair awarded her the best of show for the white honey entry, and first place for taste, also for white honey.

With their 15 bee colonies, they never use feral bees, those who swarm from an existing colony and then settle in a tree. Rather, they purchase Italian bees with a Kona queen for the best results.

“Yes,” Cynthia says, “there are actually companies that produce and sell queen bees.”

Manuel and Cynthia inspect their hives about once every three weeks for the standard 30 minutes. They look for the development of unwanted queens, wasp infestation, ant problems and anything else that may plague a bee population.

If they find ants, they typically sprinkle a little food-grade diatomaceous earth around the ants, and it usually takes care of the problem in a way that’s nontoxic to the bees.

Bees can create new queens by feeding a larvae exclusively royal jelly.

Because the Calderas want only Kona queens to maintain the health and quality of their hives, they remove the larger queen cells when they see one on their frames. With practice, they learned how to recognize these cells because they are elongated and usually form on the bottom of the frames.

Bees only live a few years, and when the Calderas purchase their queens, the grower color-codes them so the beekeeper knows the year they were developed.

Cynthia Caldera was named Beekeeper of the Year in 2014 and won first place for taste of her white honey in 2016.

The hives are inspected about once every three weeks for 30 minutes to ensure everything is running smoothly.

Each queen is marked with a color corresponding to the year, and they cycle through five colors because bees are never going to live longer than five years.

“I can look into the hive and find the queen, and know by the color the age of the queen in each particular hive,” Cynthia says.

Though they extract honey year-round, most of it is done in the fall.

They take three frames at a time out of the hive, and carefully remove the bees. They then take these honey-filled frames to a separate location, de-cap the wax, which covers each cell, and then they spin it in an electric extractor.

The honey is then strained to remove stray particles, like bits of wood or parts of bee bodies, and is then bottled for sale. The honey is pure and raw. The frames with wax but no honey are then placed back into the hives from which they came, and the bees begin the process all over again.

“It’s really amazing to raise these little insects, and it’s amazing how they affect our health,” Cynthia says.

“Everything that comes out of the hive is good for our health. Remember, it’s not just honey that comes from the hive, but also pollen, and propolis, both of which are used medicinally.”

Caldera Bees 323-243-0756 calderabees@yahoo.com calderabees.com

Caldera Bees offers a range of honey stick flavors, including root beer and raspberry.

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PREPARING FOR HEAT WAVES It is going to be Hot! Real Hot. Our plants and trees (much like you and me) may not be acclimated or prepared for the coming heat wave. Heat damage can cause unsightly plants, slow growth, reduce flower and fruit production or even kill the plant. Some plants are more susceptible to heat damage than others.

Newly planted or transplanted shrubs and trees will be more susceptible to damage as will plants that have not developed deeper root systems. Your vegetable garden may need some added shade, your Eugenia hedge will survive well with a little preparation.

1. WATER DEEPLY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE HEAT WAVE. Watering during or after the heat wave is better than not watering at all but it takes time for the plant to absorb the water in its roots and translocate it to the leaves. A plant under stress will translocate the water much more slowly. The key is to have the plant well hydrated before the plant goes into stress.

2. Water when needed to maintain plant vigor, but not daily: Overwatering can lead to root rot or fungal diseases. when a plant is continuously overwatered, it can deprive the roots of oxygen and promote the growth of fungi in the soil. This is most important if you have slow draining soil. Plants deprived of oxygen over extended periods of time send their roots to the surface looking for oxygen. The smaller roots have less room to hold moisture in their reservoirs and also have less area thus less mini fibrous root hairs to use to tap life sustaining water with.

compost, gorilla hair, or wood chips.

3. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

Prevent moisture evaporation in the soil and disperses water intake slowly over time. This also helps keep the roots cool and breaks down into healthy natural organic nutrients. We recommend putting down a 2” thick (at minimum) layer of

4. Remove ripe fruit. So that the plant can redirect its life saving energy to other vital parts of the plant. The ripe fruit is more susceptible to heat damage than the emerging fruit. Pick it now so you can enjoy the “fruits of your labor” 5. Protect newly planted plants (or high heat sensitive plants): Use temporary screens/shade cloth and protect young bark (especially on fruiting trees like avocado or citrus) by either providing temporary shade or whitewashing trunk.

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