Arroyo Monthly June 2022

June 2022

Fine living in the greater Pasadena area

A Time OF REBIRTH

YAAMAVA' RESORT & CASINO IS THE PERFECT STAYCATION

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SHARING HIS VOICE JASON ISBELL TO HEADLINE 1ST PALOMINO FESTIVAL

+ PASADENA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 6/3/22 12:52 PM

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Photo By Ryan Garvin

Our finely tuned design/build process minimizes stress involved with home building and maximizes more appealing opportunities – for building trust, having fun and bringing your ideas to life.

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arroyo

VOLUME 17 | NUMBER 06 | JUNE 2022

06 06 A Time of Rebirth

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino is the perfect staycation —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

10 Sharing His Voice

Jason Isbell to headline 1st Palomino Festival with Kacey Musgraves —By Jordan Houston

14 From History to Wildlife

Alaska’s beauty is best viewed from a cruise ship —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

18 SoCal, So Easy

Ontario International Airport is leading the charge for recovery —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

20 Army of Support

Singer-songwriter Cole Gallagher thankful for his mentors —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

22 ‘Cookies & Milk’

Blues musician Shawn Amos creates family traditions —By Bliss Bowen

24 Vroman’s Live

Home and garden design sees earth-friendly trends —By Arroyo Staff

26 Passionate About Film

Annual festival returning with summer lineup —By Connor Dziawura

27 Smart Homes

The latest technology can update your space —By Kamala Kirk

DEPARTMENTS 28

CULINARY CUPBOARD Summer berry custardy confection

arroyo

fine living in the greater pasadena area

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco-Karasinski DEPUTY EDITOR: Luke Netzley ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres CONTRIBUTORS Bliss Bowen, Emily Chavez, Connor Dziawura, Jordan Houston, Kamala Kirk 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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S U M M E R L I V I N G / T R AV E L Yaamava’ Pool

A Time of

Rebirth

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino is the perfect staycation Chingon Kitchen Blackberry and Sage

W

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

hen San Manuel Casino guests suggested improved accommodations, and additional entertainment, dining and gaming options, the staff and the San Manuel Entertainment Authority got to work.

“We said, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s go for it and build this resort expansion,’” says Peter Arceo, general manager.

“We wanted to position ourselves to be the best in the market. The hotel is five-star service level. We’re going for that five-star in the spa and steakhouse now. It’s something that the market was asking for: more premium experiences that would allow people to enjoy themselves with their gambling dollar.”

San Manuel Casino has become Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San

Manuel. Located 70 minutes from Downtown Los Angeles in Highland, the casino was certified as a Great Place to Work by the global authority on workplace culture.

Yaamava’

Three-phased effort Its rebirth was unveiled in three phases: the casino expansion opened in July 2021, bringing the total slots to more than 6,500 and adding a fifth high-limit gaming room.

Additional bars, retail outlets and the casual Serrano Vista Café coincided with the casino’s bow.

The hotel followed in December with a 17-floor tower with 432 guest rooms and suites, and in April 2022, the intimate, state-of-the-art

Yaamava’ Lobby

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel/submitted

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K-N Unit Model Rooms 525 Night Ow

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oramic views of the San Bernardino Mountains and surrounding areas.

“We recognized that going after a premium player who is expecting a five-star level of service needs more premium amenities,” Arceo says.

“The Y Lounge is exclusive.

Guests who order from the Collection 86 menu will see their drinks poured into Versace glassware. Not only are you getting a premium drink, you’re getting it served in premium glassware as well.”

Waterfall Celebrate the night For further entertainment, there’s the 3,000-capacity Yaamava’ Theater, the casino’s crown jewel. The sound, lights and video mirror exquisite experiences found elsewhere on the property.

“We wanted to engineer it, so we had the sound right,” he says. “It needs to sound right. From there, we worked on the comfort of the seats and the layout of the theater.”

The Yaamava’ Theater has nine luxury VIP suites, complete with private bathrooms.

“We understand that VIPs who stay in our suites have been to other stadiums and arenas,” he says.

“We know they’re going to compare them to their other experiences. We want to exceed their expectations, so we put together an entertainment schedule that’s going to bring in artists who will perform to that level.”

Upcoming shows include Erykah Badu (Saturday, June 11); Sam Hunt (Saturday, June 25); Sammy Hagar & the Circle (Saturday, July 16); Elvis Costello & the Imposters (Saturday, September 3); Staind (Saturday, September 17); and Alice Cooper (Friday, October 7).

“Getting people to come from Pasadena for a staycation won’t be able to pass up this experience,” Arceo says.

“They don’t know we have this outstanding theater experience. I think it’s going to blow people away.”

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel 777 San Manuel Boulevard, Highland 1-800-359-2464 yaamava.com

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel/submitted

theater celebrated its opening with a private Red Hot Chili Peppers concert.

Arceo says the facelift was a logical move, as the area lacks five-star casino hotels.

“We wanted to position our resort product to be appealing,” he says. “We knew it was appealing to the individual who lives along the 210/Foothill Freeway corridor, where Pasadena and all the Foothill cities are.

“We draw from Orange County and LA. LA is so diverse that we have to stand out, yet how do you stand out in a city like LA that has Hollywood and Slots beaches and anything you could ask for?”

The team started with a five-star service experience and a creative menu for The Pines Modern Steakhouse.

“Our steaks are wonderful, but the highlight of our selection is our olive wagyu offering,” he says.

“We’re one of nine restaurants to have that in the United States. We’re not aware of any other restaurants in Southern California that offer olive beef wagyu.”

To accompany the rarest steak in the world, The Pines Modern Steakhouse boasts a “jaw-dropping collection of wines and spirits,” Arceo says.

Most notably, The Pines Modern Steakhouse carries every vintage of Screaming Eagle for guests, a rarity for restaurants.

“Our rare spirits, which we call Collection 86, has bottles that are $150,000 a bottle,” he adds. “We’re really trying to stand out against a huge market like LA and offer a ton of great options. Still, you have to really, really, really be the best at what you do.”

The hotel rooms are decadent, with linens and amenities found in five-star-quality hotels around the world.

“Guests say our rooms have the most comfortable beds they’ve ever slept on,” he explains.

“We have turn-down service every night. Who does that anymore?

We’re going that extra mile for our guests. There’s a slightly different design for each category of room. You have to see it to understand the nuances of it.”

Premium players and guests in the 135 suites are invited to the Y Lounge on the 17th floor, which serves handcrafted cocktails to pan8 | ARROYO | 06.22

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S U M M E R L I V I N G / T R AV E L

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will headline the new Palomino Festival alongside Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson & Family, and others.

Sharing His Voice

Jason Isbell to headline 1st Palomino Festival with Kacey Musgraves rammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Isbell says he’s excited for his upcoming performance at Goldenvoice’s first Palomino Festival on Saturday, July 9.

Isbell, who has won Grammys for Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song, and the 400 Unit will headline the new alt-country festival at Brookside at the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, alongside Kacey Musgraves and Willie Nelson & Family.

“I’m feeling good. I think it’s a great lineup, and I’m looking forward to it,” the Alabama native says.

“We haven’t played in Pasadena a whole lot, and this gives us a good opportunity to get out there and play with other artists that are really good.”

The Palomino Festival, backed by the team behind Stagecoach, adds to Southern California’s already eclectic music festival scene. It seeks to appeal to longtime country fans, brand-new Americana lovers, and everyone in between.

Fused with sounds of country, folk, pop and bluegrass, the lineup features industry talents like Orville Peck, Turnpike Troubadours, Old Crow Medicine Show and Charley Crockett.

Isbell, having built a reputation for his introspective and nuanced songwriting, says he prefers to refrain from pigeonholing his band’s musical style.

“I get distracted when I start trying to (define) the type of music I make,” he says. “I’m a singer-songwriter, and the most important thing to me is writing songs. I think that is something I have in common with Kacey and Willie, and most of the other people on the bill. We focus on the songs first, and everything else sort of follows.”

Longtime fans of Isbell, named Artist of the Year in 2015 by the Americana Music Association, might be pleasantly surprised by the band’s Pasadena gig, the singer and guitarist says.

“I think the audience might be surprised. It’s much more of a rock ’n’ roll feel we put on,” Isbell says. “Our albums are a lot of writing. Somebody who hasn’t listened to my whole catalog — it’s soft, quiet music.”

Isbell and the 400 Unit are promoting their 2021 album “Georgia Blue,” which honors artists from Georgia.

Isbell during the 2020 presidential campaign pledged that if Joe Biden triumphed the Peach State’s election, he would record an album of songs by his favorite artists from there. A share of the proceeds would also be donated to nonprofit progressive organizations.

The star-studded covers album is a 13-song set comprised of Southern rock jams, R&B classics, folk sounds and college rock hits. It includes tunes made famous by R.E.M., Otis Redding, the Black Crowes, James Brown, Cat Power, the Allman Brothers Band and others.

Artists Brandi Carlile, Béla Fleck, John Paul White of the Civil Wars, and Adia Victoria are also featured guests on the LP. But “Georgia Blue” isn’t the only album Isbell and the 400 Unit are celebrating.

“Reunions,” produced by Dave Cobb and including contributions from David Crosby and Rival Sons singer Jay Buchanan, was first released in independent record stores in May 2020.

The album aimed at helping small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Isbell says.

“I put ‘Reunions’ out right in the middle of lockdown, so we couldn’t tour behind that,” he adds. “Now, I feel like the touring we are doing is really the initial tour for the album because we spent so much time in the house, either playing to screens or doing those kinds of shows like Zoom and a few socially distanced shows.”

A “more production-savvy set that mixed introspective personal numbers with songs addressing larger political and social concerns,” “Reunions” is the fourth album Isbell has written and recorded since getting sober.

At least one theme is prevalent throughout the album, according to Isbell.

“A lot of the songs, I didn’t really set out with a goal other than just to write a set of good songs. Once I got started, I started to see some themes continued on page 12

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit/Submitted

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By Jordan Houston

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continued from page 10

reemerge,” Isbell says. “One of the things that made itself pretty obvious to me was the presence of ghosts, and not in a mystical way, but in a way of people I used to be in contact with reemerging in my mind after some years.”

“A lot of situations I used to be in where I wasn’t working as a musician, and I normally was just hanging around rooms with my friends and playing songs — we would play each other what we were working on. A lot of those people who were sitting in these rooms with me are ghosts now — some of them have passed on, some aren’t in my life anymore. This is a way to reconnect.”

In the early 2000s, Isbell made a name for himself as a member of the Southern rock outfit the Drive-By Truckers. He left the band in 2007 to pursue a solo career, marked by Southern grit and raw and rootsy sounds.

He released his first solo album, “Sirens of the Ditch,” in 2007, a “bluesy, punk-infused lesson in guitar tones and Southern swagger.”

But Isbell’s knack for songwriting quickly dominated the stage after he publicly came to terms with his journey and dependence on alcohol and drugs. His first album after getting sober, 2013’s “Southeastern,” has been described as a major “critical and commercial” breakthrough in his career.

“The thing that makes me the happiest is when I write a song or just a line or lyric that says exactly how I feel,” Isbell says. “I think that the longer I go on writing songs the better I get at communicating. I don’t necessarily get better at writing hit songs or popular songs; I get better at communicating how I feel more accurately. That is what makes me feel the proudest.

“Sometimes it can make me feel worse because some of the things I’m writing about aren’t necessarily happy things. I think the catharsis comes from when I realize there are people out there who are similar to you, and that’s the magic of it. It’s not necessarily in the writing of the songs, but when you see it resonates with people that have the same emotions and concerns.”

For his upcoming Pasadena performance, Isbell says he is most eager to perform once again in the presence of longtime country music legend Willie Nelson.

“I love Willie, and any opportunity I get to be around him and see him play is very special to me,” Isbell says. “I’ve done quite a few shows with him in the past, and I think he’s one of probably the top 10 greatest songwriters that has ever lived. To even live in the world at the same time as somebody like Willie is a special thing.”

Isbell will also join Nelson’s rotating lineup for the 2022 Outlaw Music Festival Tour. The bill includes the ranks of ZZ Top, Larkin Poe, Steve Earle & the Dukes, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, the Avett Brothers and Gov’t Mule.

Palomino Festival WHEN: Noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 9.

WHERE: Brookside at the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena COST: Tickets start at $179 INFO: palominopasadena.com

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S U M M E R L I V I N G / T R AV E L

From History to

H

Wildlife

eidi Hoehn loves connecting cliwould best fit their needs. Just like differAlaska’s beauty is best viewed from ents with their dream vacations. ent hotels, there are different budgets and a cruise ship “We do live on a beautiful tastes. Cruise lines are the same way.” planet, and it’s a pleasure for me to share The TravelStore prides itself on conBy Christina Fuoco-Karasinski necting travelers with the right product. these special places with people,” says The staff, which collectively has more Hoehn, the general manager of TravelStore in Pasadena. than 250 years of experience, interviews One of those destinations is Alaska, a landscape she recommends and consults all clients to determine the perfect vacation for them. seeing by cruise ship.

“In Alaska, one of our favorites is Regent Seven Seas Cruises,” “Any time a client comes to us and wants to go to Alaska, we she says. have a discussion with them about what they’re interested in, what “One of the reasons is it’s all-inclusive and offers excellent dining

The TravelStore /Submitted photo

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and service.”

The typical Alaska cruise itinerary is seven days, either the Inside Passage route round trip from Vancouver or Seattle, or the Gulf of Alaska route, cruising between Vancouver and Anchorage.

There are also 10- and 12-day round-trip itineraries from San Francisco.

On the Inside Passage cruise, guests enjoy a calm voyage with land on either side of the ship, with the balcony stateroom offering the best views.

The Gulf of Alaska itinerary cruises farther north, up to Whittier/ Anchorage, and includes cruising in open ocean, generally calm during the cruising season. This jaunt allows guests to enjoy a variety of shore excursions from salmon and halibut fishing to hiking.

“While cruising in Alaska, I’ve seen humpback whales and orcas, dolphins, porpoises and bald eagles,” she says. “It’s a really rich feeding area for the whales in the summer months. The naturalists enrich the experience by explaining what visitors are seeing and what the whales are doing.”

In Ketchikan, travelers can visit Native American villages or see a lumberjack show and explore.

“The can experience the history and culture of Native Americans and frontiersmen,” Hoehn says. “Sitka, the Russian capital of the region when Russia owned Alaska, is beautiful, with remnants of its Russian history, especially the Eastern Orthodox Church.”

Adventurous travelers can enjoy helicopter excursions or dog sledding on a glacier, among other things.

One reason Regent is a favorite is because the trip is all-inclusive.

“It makes it much more of a vacation when you don’t have to worry about the cost of a cocktail, the cost of a show ticket, where you’re going to dine. You can have lobster one night and steak the next, and steak and lobster the third night. Everything is included on Regent. It’s a lovely way to go.

“I’ve been there on small expedition ships and traveled through parts of Alaska on a fishing boat. There’s no wrong way to do Alaska.

It’s great to see Alaska from the water. I’ve traveled a bit on the interior as well.

“There are some places on our planet that really need to be seen from the water. Alaska is one of them.”

TravelStore’s strength is the staff’s experience.

“Our tagline at TravelStore is, ‘We’ve been where you want to go.’ We are very well traveled. If I haven’t been there, I have connections with local experts. That’s one of many benefits for people who rely on us.”

The TravelStore 140 S. Lake Avenue, Suite 280, Pasadena 1-800-850-3224 https://bit.ly/TravelStorePasadena

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S U M M E R L I V I N G / T R AV E L

SoCal,

So Easy

Ontario International Airport is leading the charge for recovery

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

G

miles east of Pasadena. The full-service airport offers nonstop commercial jet service to 33 major airports in the United States, Mexico, Central America and Taiwan.

The Ontario International Airport tagline is “SoCal, So Easy,” and Elkadi takes that to heart.

“Your average time from check-in to going through security and getting to the gate is about 13 minutes,” he says.

“It’s a very easy airport to get in and out of. The great thing is we have such a great partnership with the TSA. They do a great job of getting them through security checkpoints.”

The new Aspire premium lounges make traveling comfortable and convenient for passengers.

Officials for the Ontario International Airport Authority and Swissport International AG opened ONT’s two Aspire Lounges — one in each of the airport’s two terminals.

The OIAA Board of Commissioners recently approved an agreement with Swissport to operate the premium lounges under the company’s Aspire Airport Lounges brand.

Swissport, which operates 64 lounges at 38 airports worldwide, expanded into the United States in February with the opening of a

Ontario International Airport/Submitted

ood things are happening at Ontario International Airport, according to Chief Executive Officer Atif Elkadi, thanks to rebounding passenger numbers, new amenities, and the ease of reaching the facility.

“Really, what we’ve seen in the last two months — March and April — are basically above our pre-pandemic passenger numbers,” Elkadi says.

“In March, our passenger numbers were higher than the same month in 2019; a little over 4% of 2019.”

Now he’s gearing up for a busy summer season. Ontario International Airport (ONT) is expecting 1.7 million passengers to pass through the airport through Labor Day. That number also surpasses 2019.

“Throughout this whole process of recovering from the pandemic, we led the charge for recovery on the passenger side,” he says.

“That’s been extremely exciting.”

Ontario International Airport is the fastest-growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a publication for frequent fliers.

Located in the Inland Empire, the airport is approximately 37

Ontario International Airport is gearing up for a busy summer.

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refurbished lounge in San Diego.

The lounges are open to all Ontario International Airport travelers. Guests receive a wide variety of amenities that include hot and cold food and beverages, relaxing seating with ample power outlets, high-speed Wi-Fi and timely flight information.

“We’re pleased to welcome Swissport and Aspire Airport Lounges to Ontario,” says Alan D. Wapner, president of the OIAA board of commissioners.

“These new premium lounges add to the excitement and momentum that has been building at ONT and reflects our commitment to provide our customers with the best amenities and experience possible.”

The Aspire Lounge in Terminal 2 is open from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 8 to 11 p.m., and until midnight Wednesdays.

The lounge in Terminal 4 is available from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

The lounge is open to all passengers for $37 per adult.

Visits can be pre-booked at aspirelounges.com. The Aspire Lounges offer a discounted “thank-you” rate for military and emergency personnel at $30 per adult.

“It doesn’t matter what airline you’re flying, anybody can use the lounge,” Elkadi says.

Throughout the summer and into October, Ontario International Airport will see the addition of Subway, Chick-fil-A, a duty-free shop and a restaurant/brewery with a Topgolf swing suite.

Hudson — which has more than 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks and tourist destinations in North America — is bringing Evolve by Hudson to Ontario International Airport, too.

“Our new Evolve store will transform larger retail footprints, with the existing Hudson convenience model in mind, to curate a multibrand concept that will allow Hudson to continuously innovate for the modern travel retail environment now and into the future,” says Brian Quinn, executive vice president and deputy chief execu-

tive officer of Hudson.

Each Evolve store will be designed with a wide-open storefront, a footprint of at least 2,000 square feet, and digital signage on the store exterior, providing a glimpse into the brand offerings from the concourse.

Once inside the store, guests will navigate to ship-in-shop walls.

Various checkout options will be available.

“It’s really nice to have this opportunity to have an amazing board of commissioners,” Elkadi says.

“They have been very clear on the direction, and we have an amazing group of people who work here. The community has been extremely supportive. They’re big proponents of the airport and the access it gives them to the rest of the world.”

That isn’t limited to humans. During the pandemic, Ontario International Airport acted as transportation for supplies for the western half of the United States.

“Cargo has always been very strong at this airport,” he says.

“It was stronger during COVID. Other communities throughout the country were having challenges with unemployment, jobs, etc.

Our partners here are continuing to hire like Amazon, FedEx and UPS. E-commerce became a big part of everybody’s lives during pandemic. Getting those goods to the final destination was our job.”

As “huge economic driver for the region,” Ontario International Airport employs 50,000 people and boasts a “great partnership” with San Bernardino County.

“It’s very positive, and it’s very exciting to see what the future holds for this airport,” he says.

Ontario International Airport On the web: flyontario.com Socials: @flyont

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The music of legendary rocker Bruce Springsteen inspired singer-songwriter Cole Gallagher to follow his dreams.

Army of

Support Singer-songwriter Cole Gallagher thankful for his mentors

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

S

inger-songwriter Cole Gallagher is an old soul.

His lyrics are wise beyond his years and his understanding of music and the surrounding business is as advanced as adults.

The 20-year-old South Pasadena resident appreciates his fans, his family and the rest of his team.

“I’m extremely grateful for all the support I’ve received along this road,” he says. “I couldn’t have done it without an army behind me.”

He is the new voice of music coming out of the San Gabriel Valley. His latest single, “Chatting Through Steel,” features David Hidalgo from Los Lobos. Each Tuesday, Cole Gallagher & the Lesser Saints serve as the house band for The Mixx’s Tuesday Night Open Jam. At regular gigs, like his Friday, June 24, show at Griffins of Kinsale, fans can anticipate hearing originals.

“They can expect songs from the record that’s coming out soon and stuff that I don’t know if I’ll ever release,” he says.

“I have about damn near 30 songs recorded, and I love them all.

I feel like putting them all out, but that’s a tough move. I’d love to have all the music out, but we’re releasing the songs in small chunks.

That’s the way to do it.”

Inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA,” he is the first person in his family to pursue music. His father, Dan Gallagher, introduced his son to bootleg concerts and Bob Seger.

“I’m into classic rock artists like Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, CCR and, my go-to, Pink Floyd,” Cole says. “I’ve had (CCR’s) ‘The Midnight Special’ stuck in my head for three months now.”

At age 11, he started guitar lessons with John Klof, who continues to mentor him.

“He taught me how to play guitar and has been writing with me since I was a little kid,” says Cole, whose mom is Paula Gibson.

“He’s basically the one who helped me lay the foundation for everything. I went from putting a record together in LA, to going to Nashville, to mixing the album with Vance. If it wasn’t for John, I don’t know where I would be.”

“Vance” is Vance Powell, whom Cole met in the summer of 2020 during the mixing sessions for his first record. For the 16 tracks, the two spent 15 days together.

His live experience started with The Mixx in Pasadena, courtesy of Ed Minassian, in 2016, at 15.

“He’s been a saint to me,” Cole says. “He’s put up with my band for almost three years now. Every Tuesday night we play there. I went from going there and getting yelled at and put down by old-time blues players to being the house band for the joint and working hard to keep the tradition going.

“That’s really where I got my start — onstage at his bar. A couple of kids came up who had never played before onstage recently. It’s great to give that chance to other people.”

Cole says Pasadena has a special place in his heart, as his musical experience stemmed from the city’s venues. He attended South Pasadena Music Center & Conservatory and, in 2020, graduated from South Pasadena High School.

As a student, Cole met videographer Marc Levine in 2017. The family friend has provided the connections for the musician to move forward, setting him up with his first studio sessions in 2020 and an entertainment attorney.

“My dad and I refer to him as the glue,” Cole says.

“He helped me after I did a show in Pasadena at The Rose. After that, Marc helped me land at NAMM after-jam artist showcase at Bobby McGee’s in Orange County.

“Marc Levine got the ball rolling on everything that is going on,” he says.

Levine says he has watched Cole perform since his library gigs.

He describes his music as “cool” at the time, but unsophisticated.

“However, his lyrics were something to sit up and take notice of” Levine adds.

“Here was his precocious little kid speaking in a language much older than himself. He’s an observational songwriter. That was something special. In talking to Cole and others, it’s come up that he is what people call an ‘old soul.’ I was intrigued by it.”

From there, Cole’s team continued to grow. The lead engineer at Tustin’s Voyager Studio, Chris Sikora, came into Cole’s life in February 2020. He produced and engineered Cole’s first recordings.

“He reached out to his friends in Nashville, session players to help create this music,” Dan says. “Chris was going to mix the project’s songs but instead handed it to Vance Powell.”

The six-time Grammy Award-writing record producer, engineer and mixer’s credits include Phish, Chris Stapleton, Jack White, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown, the Raconteurs, the Dead Weather, the White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, Wolfmother, Deadly Apples, Seasick Steve, Black Prairie, the Revivalists, Tinariwen, Jeff the Brotherhood, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes, and Martina McBride.

Powell was assisted by Michael Fahey, whom Dan calls “the ab-

Arroyo/File

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Arroyo/File

solute key person who helped Cole take the major steps toward being able to record with amazing musicians.”

Fahey is Powell’s first assistant at Sputnik Sound. He tracked half of the first recording sessions for Cole.

Nashville session keyboardist John Eldridge hooked Cole up with Jimbo Hart and Sadler Vaden of Jason Isbell’s band, the 400 Unit, for overdubbing bass and lead guitar on this project. Eldridge helped Cole find Powell’s Sputnik Studio in Nashville.

“Jimbo Hart and Cole have become very good friends,” Dan says.

“Jimbo has recorded on both of Cole’s recording sessions.”

Cole considers Hart a mentor.

“When I go to Nashville, the first thing I do is call Jimbo,” he says. “We hang out and play music. He’s a great guy. Working with Jason’s band, I realized the caliber of musicianship in which I had been playing at. It’s pretty far off from what I was seeing happen in the studio.”

In the summer of 2020, Cole took a side trip to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to relax during a three-day break from recording in Nashville. Once again, being in the right place at the right time paid off for Cole. He ran into Barry Billings in a Marriott hotel lobby in Florence, Alabama.

“They found out they had common friends in the guys from the 400 Unit,” Dan says.

“They co-wrote a song together that was demoed by Barry and Cole at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals. Then, Barry traveled to Buffalo to perform with Cole at his first nationally recognized music festival. He also invited Cole down to Florence, Alabama, again to perform with Jason Isbell.”

Cole continues to record with the likes of the 400 Unit’s Hart, Vaden and Chad Gamble, as well as Hidalgo.

“Things have really been a dream come true,” Cole says.

Singer-songwriter Cole Gallagher is expecting to release a full-length album after the unveiling of additional singles.

“I have so many people to thank, and I’ll be repaying them for the next God knows how many years. I’m super, super excited to see this music come out. I can’t even begin to express what the people involved mean to me.”

Cole Gallagher & the Lesser Saints WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday, June 24 WHERE: Griffins of Kinsale, 1007 Mission Street, South Pasadena COST: Call for ticket information INFO: griffinsofkinsale.com, colegallagher.com

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‘Cookies &

A R T S A N D C U LT U R E

Milk'

Blues musician Shawn Amos creates family traditions

By Bliss Bowen

James Freeman/Submitted

I

Shawn Amos/Submitted

A fictionalized take on his ’70s Hollywood childhood as the son of Wally “Famous” Amos, blues musician Shawn Amos’ new children’s book “Cookies & Milk” is his way of documenting his family’s story for his kids.

“Cookies & Milk,” written for middle-grade children, is blues musician Shawn Amos’ first book.

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.

But last month, “Cookies & Milk” finally emerged — as a warm, witty novel for middle-grade kids. Published by Little, Brown, the book presents a fictionalized version of Amos’ rocky upbringing as the son of Wally “Famous” Amos, a flashy talent agent turned chocolate chip cookie entrepreneur, and Shirley Ellis, a mentally ill former nightclub chanteuse (who later inspired Amos’ moving 2005 album “Thank You Shirl-ee May,” two years after her suicide).

Laurence Fishburne’s production company has a deal with Disney to develop the book into an animated series.

“I realized when I wrote the Huffington Post (essays), it was sort of everyone’s story but my own in a way. I talked about my father, I talked about my mother, and their experience of moving to Hollywood and how they sat in this lineage of Black excellence. But I really hadn’t written myself into that,” Amos recently recalls, laughing at how he had positioned himself almost as an outsider observing his life.

“To write myself as a character in my own story was the piece I was missing before, and frankly the piece I wasn’t brave enough to do in an adult book.

“But in the context of a middle-grade book, I found it easier to write myself into my own story and to tell a happy chapter (that’s part) of a larger story. … I found it easier to talk about things that were personal or maybe somewhat unresolved in the context of a fictitious moment.”

Grounded (with age-appropriate discretion) in the unglamorous, cracked-sidewalk nether regions of 1970s Hollywood, “Cookies & Milk” is narrated by Amos’ alter ego, 11-year-old aspiring harmonica player Ellis Johnson (named after Amos’ real-life son), and opens shortly after Ellis’ parents have divorced.

Ellis’ mother has left him for the summer with his father, an exasperating Willy Wonka-like character in Ellis’ eyes (“If Willy Wonka was tall, skinny, Black, and had a salt-and-pepper beard”).

His beat-up Rambler smells like brown sugar and cocoa, courtesy of the wrinkled paper bags of homemade cookies he hands out to Ellis and friends, and Ellis admiringly confides to the reader, “I could eat his cookies and nothing else.” But he scorns his dad’s starry-eyed intention to open “the world’s first chocolate chip cookie store” in an empty A-frame littered with cigarette butts, peeling paint and rooftop pigeon poop. Their six-week rush to ready the space for opening drives the plot.

Music pulses behind and between episodes such as a chocolate chip avalanche at the Rock and Roll Ralph’s and a shopping cart drag race down Sunset Boulevard: Sly and the Family Stone, Funkadelic, Howlin’

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Wolf, the Jackson 5, James Brown and especially Muddy Waters.

Away from his dad’s bullheaded nagging and the shop’s “fire-breathing oven,” Ellis finds refuge in playing his harmonica and listening to vinyl blues albums he and his best friend, Alex, pooled their money to buy at Tower Records.

One vivid scene recounts the enchantment of “the drop” — Ellis’ favorite part of listening to records: “It’s different from dropping cookie dough. This is the moment when that needle touches the vinyl and you hear the first sound. It’s like turning on a light switch in a dark room. It feels like magic.”

“It’s really a love letter to music … all aspects of music,” Amos says of the book.

“From how we used to listen to music in a way that was wholly captivating in and of itself, without any visual aid or any other sort of support, to just sitting in a room and being completely consumed by an album and the intentionality of listening to music. And then the harmonica. And the blues. Music got me through so much. Music literally saved my life on multiple occasions. It was such essential company for me to keep when I was a kid, and it still is. I love the idea of giving kids permission for music to be enough and then to learn; the learning of the instrument being joy in and of itself.”

Music is one of the vital traditions passed down through generations in “Cookies & Milk,” along with food and family beliefs coded into acronyms by Ellis’ cane-thwacking grandma. Those traditions represent part of what Amos hopes to pass down to his children via the book — and something he says he didn’t have as a child.

“There are no traditions in my family. I come from a broken family, my father was from a broken home, my mother’s from a broken home, their parents were from broken homes, and you can go all the way back. I just realized for the first time the depth of the damage that’s been done to my family across generations. I don’t have any items of my family past.

“It’s hard for a lot of Black families to know where they’ve come from. The one legacy that existed in my family is the fact that my father started this well-known company, and his story had an unhappy ending that everyone knows about.” (Financial and management troubles forced Wally Amos to sell his Famous Amos cookie company in the 1980s.) “It’s nice to sort of reclaim some of that story that is no longer ours.”

In some ways, Amos has been striving to document and reconcile his tangled family history throughout his career. His song “Hollywood Blues,” from his 2015 album “The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You,” serves as a kind of rough draft of “Cookies & Milk.” It’s also the title track of a compilation Amos released in May, “Hollywood Blues: Songs and Stories From the Family Tree (1997-2022),” that Amos says is almost as important to him as the book.

It embodies his attempts to make his family puzzle pieces fit together, as well as his current search for ways to meld his storytelling and music.

Toward that end, he’s taking his acoustic guitar to promotional readings such as his June 25 appearance at Vroman’s Bookstore, and playing “Hollywood Blues” after a Q&A. But it’s “Cookies & Milk” — “an attempt to create some documented history in the guise of fiction” — that he hopes gives his kids something solid to hold on to from their heritage.

“The traditions that exist in the book, that’s my wish for myself because I wish I’d had that, so I gave that to Ellis in the book,” Amos explains. “I gave a copy of the book to my sister’s daughter, and in the inscription I wrote, ‘This is your story, too.’ And it dawned on me: ‘Oh, my God, I’ve given everyone in my family a chance to have a real document of the family story that they never had before.’ I’m soooo happy about that.”

Shawn Amos discusses “Cookies & Milk” WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturday, June 25 WHERE: Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena COST: Free admission INFO: 626-449-5320, shawnamos.com, vromansbookstore.com

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A R T S A N D C U LT U R E

Vroman’s

Live

Bookstore boasts stellar lineup for June

By Arroyo Staff

T

he bookstore Vroman’s is hosting virtual and in-person programs throughout

publisher without her name.

To register, visit crowdcast. io/e/alex-segura-and-ed-2.

copy of “Happy-Go-Lucky.” Visit eventbrite.com. Masks must be worn.

In-person events

Nina LaCour discusses “Yerba Buena” 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 7 When Sara Foster runs away from home at 16, she leaves behind the girl she once was, capable of trust and intimacy.

Years later, in Los Angeles, she is a sought-after bartender. Across the city, Emilie Dubois is yearning for the community her Creole grandparents cultivated but unable to commit.

On a whim, she takes a job arranging flowers at the restaurant Yerba Buena and embarks on an affair with the married owner.

The morning Dubois and Foster meet at Yerba Buena, it’s clear the damage they carry pulls them apart repeatedly.

June.

Register through vromansbookstore.com. Anyone with questions is asked to contact email@vromansbookstore.com.

Vroman’s Virtual events will be presented through Crowdcast.

Most in-person events are free and held at Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, unless otherwise noted. Register at vromansbookstore.com.

Alex Segura and Ed Brubaker present “Secret Identity” and “The Ghost in You: A Reckless Book” 6 p.m. Thursday, June 16 “Secret Identity”: It’s 1975 and the comic book industry is struggling, but Carmen Valdez doesn’t care. She’s an assistant at Triumph Comics. Valdez is close to fulfilling her dream of writing a superhero book.

That dream is nearly a reality when one of the Triumph writers enlists her help to create a new character, “The Lethal Lynx,” Triumph’s first female hero. When her colleague is found dead, all of their scripts are turned in to the

David Sedaris presents “Happy-Go-Lucky” 6 p.m. Monday, June 6 As “Happy-Go-Lucky” opens, David Sedaris is learning to shoot guns with his sister, visiting muddy flea markets in Serbia, buying gummy worms to feed to ants, and telling his nonagenarian father wheelchair jokes.

But then the pandemic hits and he’s unable to tour and read for audiences. As the world gradually settles into a new reality, Sedaris is changed.

The opening act is essayist and author of “Mother Noise: A Memoir” Cindy House. Tickets start at $29, and they include one

Carter Bays discusses “The Mutual Friend” 7 p.m. Wednesday June 8 In the summer of 2015, Alice

Quick needs to get to work. She’s 28 years old, grieving her mother, barely scraping by as a nanny, and freshly kicked out of her apartment.

If she can just get her act together and sign up for the MCAT, she can start chasing her dream of becoming a doctor.

She has a number of distractions, however, including love.

Brigid Kemmerer discusses “Forging Silver into Stars” 7 p.m. Friday, June 10 Magic has been banished in the land of Syhl Shallow for as long as best friends Jax and Callyn can remember. They’ve learned that magic killed Callyn’s parents, leaving her to raise her younger sister.

Meanwhile, Jax and Callyn learn magic has returned to Syhl Shallow — in the form of a magesmith who’s now married to their queen. Now, the people of Syhl Shallow are expected to allow dangerous magic in their midst, and no one is happy about it.

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Emily Levesque discusses “The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy’s Vanishing Explorers” 7 p.m. Monday, June 13 Award-winning astronomer Emily Levesque shares the stories of modern-day stargazers in this new nonfiction release.

“The Last Stargazers” is a love letter to astronomy and an affirmation of the crucial role that humans can and must play in scientific discovery.

Lindsey Fitzharris discusses “The Facemaker” 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 14 Mankind’s military technology had wildly surpassed its medical capabilities. Bodies have been battered, gouged, hacked and gassed.

“The Facemaker” tells the story of plastic surgeon Harold Gillies, who dedicated himself to reconstructing the faces of injured soldiers under his care.

Gillies, a Cambridge-educated New Zealander, became interested in plastic surgery after encountering the human wreckage on the front. Returning to Britain, he established one of the world’s first hospitals dedicated entirely to facial reconstruction.

There, Gillies assembled a group of practitioners to heal injured soldiers who were shunned by society.

“The Facemaker” places Gillies’ ingenious surgical innovations alongside the dramatic stories of soldiers whose lives were wrecked and repaired.

James Burrows, in conversation with actor Billy Gardell, discusses “Directed by James Burrows” 4 p.m. Saturday, June 18 Legendary sitcom director James Burrows has spent five decades making America laugh.

“Directed by James Burrows” discusses the casting process as well as how memorable shows were created.

Burrows also examines his challenges, career victories and defeats, and provides advice for aspiring directors, writers and actors.

Sage advice from the man who helped launch the careers of Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Aniston, Debra Messing and Melissa McCarthy, to name a few.

Burrows talks fondly about the inspiration he found during his childhood and young adult years, including his father, legendary playwright and Broadway director Abe Burrows.

This event will be held at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena.

Tickets start at $10 at eventbrite.com.

Robin Benway, in conversation with Abdi Nazemian, discusses “A Year to the Day” “It’s Been a Year: A Year of Missing Nina” 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 21 Leo left a party with her older sister, Nina, and Nina’s boyfriend, East. Now Nina is dead, killed by a drunken driver.

East, who loved Nina almost as much as Leo did, is the person who seems to most understand how she feels, and the two form a friendship based on their shared grief. But as she struggles to remember what happened, Leo discovers that East remembers every detail of the accident — and he won’t tell her anything about it.

Kelly Lytle Hernández discusses “Bad Mexicans: Race, Empire, and Revolution in the Borderlands” 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 22 “Bad Mexicans” tells the dramatic story of the magonistas, the migrant rebels who sparked the 1910 Mexican Revolution from the United States. Led by Ricardo Flores Magón, the magonistas were a motley band of journalists, miners, migrant workers and more who organized thousands of Mexican workers — and American dissidents — to their cause.

Determined to oust Mexico’s dictator, Porfirio Díaz, who encouraged the plunder of his country by U.S. imperialists such as Guggenheim and Rockefeller, the rebels had to outrun and outsmart the swarm of U.S. authorities vested in protecting the Diaz regime.

The U.S. departments of war, state, treasury and justice, as well as police, sheriffs and spies, hunted the magonistas across the country.

Capturing Magón was one of the FBI’s first cases. But the magonistas persevered. They lived in hiding, wrote in secret code, and launched armed raids into Mexico until they ignited the world’s first social revolution of the 20th century.

Natalia Molina, in conversation with Michael Begler, discusses “A Place at the Nayarit: How a Mexican Restaurant Nourished Community” 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23 In 1951, Doña Natalia Barraza opened the Nayarit, a Mexican restaurant in Echo Park.

With “A Place at the Nayarit,” historian Natalia Molina traces her grandmother’s work.

Remembered as Doña Natalia, she immigrated alone from Mexico to Los Angeles, adopted two children, and ran a successful business.

She also sponsored, housed and employed dozens of other immigrants, encouraging them to lay claim to a city long characterized by anti-Latino racism. Together, the employees and customers of the Nayarit maintained ties to their old homes while providing safety and support.

The Nayarit was much more than a popular eating spot: It was an urban anchor for a robust community, a gathering space where ethnic Mexican workers and customers connected with their patria chica (their “small country”).

That meant connecting with distinctive tastes, with one another, and with the city they now called home.

Through deep research and vivid storytelling, Molina follows restaurant workers from the kitchen and the front of the house across borders and through the decades.

Cassidy Lucas discusses “The Last Party” 7 p.m. Friday, June 24 Los Angeleno Dani Sanders is disappointed about turning 50.

Her career has stalled; her

19-year-old daughter with developmental issues is regressing; and her ex-husband Craig, a fertility doctor, upends her life.

Though she doesn’t feel much like celebrating, she can’t say no when her best friend Mia Markle, a flamboyant and strong-willed actress, insists on planning a “creative” birthday weekend in the wild, wealthy bohemian enclave of Topanga Canyon.

On the weekend of the summer solstice, Sanders and her six closest friends gather in the hills above the canyon at Celestial Ranch, where they’ll spend three days hiking, practicing meditation and reiki, and eating.

They will also indulge in a little DMT, a short-acting psychedelic drug meant to open their senses and transport them to a higher plain. But as the weekend unfolds, long-buried tensions, unresolved grievances and old secrets emerge, leaving Sanders desperate for clarity about her life.

Cassidy Lucas is the pen name of writing duo Julia Fierro and Caeli Wolfson Widger.

Liz Lawson and Kathleen Glasgow, with E. Lockhart, discuss “The Agathas” 7 p.m. Thursday, June 30 Last summer, Alice Ogilvie’s basketball-star boyfriend, Steve, dumped her. Then she disappeared for five days.

She’s not talking, so where she went and what happened to her is a mystery in Castle Cove.

Now, another one of Steve’s girlfriends has vanished: Brooke Donovan, Alice’s ex-best friend.

And it doesn’t look like Donovan is coming back.

Enter Iris Adams, Ogilvie’s tutor. Adams has her own reasons for wanting to disappear, though unlike Ogilvie, she doesn’t have the money or the means.

That could be changed by the hefty reward Donovan’s grandmother is offering to anyone who can share information about her granddaughter’s whereabouts.

The police are convinced Steve is the culprit, but Ogilvie isn’t so sure, and with Adams on her side, she just might be able to prove her theory.

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The bulk of the Pasadena International Film Festival takes place at the Laemmle Playhouse 7.

The Pasadena International Film Festival runs from Thursday, June 23, to Thursday, June 30.

Passionate About Film

P

Annual festival returning with summer lineup

By Connor Dziawura

asadena International Film Festival’s Jessica Hardin doesn’t like to use the word “curate” when it comes to building a slate of films each year.

“We never curate. That’s a promise that we make to our filmmakers,” explains Hardin, the festival’s director. “Because a lot of film festivals, they take submissions and they give the illusion that a submitter’s shot is fair, when in reality, they’re out there curating and they’re trying to find the hottest film, the best, whatever.

“And we’ve just been so fortunate and blessed. We get so much amazing content, there really isn’t a need for us to curate. And what we really love is when people submit to us, we know they’re passionate about our film festival. We know that they’re passionate about attending, about helping us market and bring people to the festival, and they’re excited to attend the party.”

Cinephiles can show that passion at this year’s Pasadena International Film Festival from Thursday, June 23, to Thursday, June 30. Screenings will once again take place at the Laemmle Playhouse 7, as will Q&As and panel discussions.

“It’ll be similar to what we’ve had in the past where we have over 100

films from a lot of different countries and we have people flying in from all over the world,” Hardin hints, as submissions had not been finalized at press time. Accepted forms include features, shorts, documentaries, music videos, animation and web series.

“We have our horror block and our sci-fi block, our thriller block, our comedy block, we have a lot of fantastic shorts, and we’ve opened up to stage plays this year as well,” she continues.

Hardin says the process to get to that point aims to be free of biases.

The selection process involves more than 50 people, whom she says have different tastes and are asked to rate submissions with no prior information or preconceptions, before films are whittled down and fit into the program.

“So what we really like is to create a nonbiased programming committee,” Hardin says. “It’s all different ages and races and genders and sexual orientations and a wide, wide berth of different types of people who rate the films.”

But even beyond just the screenings, Hardin says Q&As are “super important” to the festival. Each film programming block will end with a moderator-hosted Q&A. “It’s one of my favorite parts about the film festival experience, actually, because anyone can watch anything at home with a million different streaming services, but what makes it really special is you can actually talk to the actors, you can talk to the filmmakers, you can talk to the screenwriters and you can ask them, ‘What inspired you to make this? What’s it like actually making a film?’ Because most people find it fascinating,” she says.

As busy as she is organizing, Hardin says she still tries to make time to check out Q&As, “because there’s so much heart and you just see every filmmaker puts their blood and their heart and their soul into these projects, and they’re just so thrilled and so excited to be able to share this with people.”

Panel discussions will involve industry pros and Hollywood heavyhitters.

“We also work with the Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory in West LA, and I think we’re going to have one of their professors come and give lectures on that. And then possibly … we became friends with a Hollywood agent who’s kindly going to meet with all of our Best Actor and Best Actress winners, which we think is really cool. And if I was new to town, that’s the thing I would be really excited about,” Hardin says with a laugh.

Outside of the Laemmle Playhouse 7, the Pasadena International Film Festival continues to maintain its presence in the community. Lyd & Mo Photography Studio will host the Passholder’s Lounge, an opportunity for networking beside an open bar. And on the final night, The Speakeasy will host the Great Gatsby Gala & Award Ceremony, a 1920s-themed, black-tieoptional affair that Hardin calls “a wild, fun time.” Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required at the door for the gala, which only allows patrons 21 or older.

Coming off the heels of a pandemic-stricken 2020 and work to rebound last year, Hardin says organizers are taking things one day at a time.

“I think the festival’s going to be fantastic,” she says with a hint of trepidation. “We’re thrilled that we still have the Laemmle Playhouse 7 movie theater, because who knows how long we’ll have that. I have no idea what the plans are in terms of how long it’ll still be functioning, but the community’s rallied around and then supported the theater because we lost the ArcLight theater as well.

“So, I’m just hoping that we aren’t getting to a point where movie theaters become obsolete and everybody just stays at home all the time. So, I’m thrilled that we can actually do it.”

Pasadena International Film Festival WHEN: Various times Thursday, June 23, to Thursday, June 30 WHERE: Laemmle Playhouse 7, 673 E. Colorado Boulevard; Lyd & Mo Photography Studio, 27 N. Mentor Avenue; The Speakeasy, 25 N. Raymond Avenue COST: $35 for the day pass; $50 for the Great Gatsby Gala & Award Ceremony; $120 for the screenings, panels and parties pass; and $180 for the all-access pass INFO: pasadenafilmfestival.org

Pasadena International Film Festival/submitted

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DESIGN

Smart

Nicole Michael Designs/Submitted

Homes

The latest technology can update your space

By Kamala Kirk

S

Voice control One of the current trends in smart home features is Josh, a voicecontrolled automation system created by Josh.ai, an American artificial intelligence company. Aside from residential homes, it is also being used in assisted living facilities, as well as commercial and hospitality spaces.

“Voice control is taking the world by storm because being controlled by voice makes it usable by the elderly, children, the visually impaired and people who are mobility impaired,” Torossian points out.

“It allows you to set up scenes using your voice. For example, you say, ‘Good morning,’ and Josh automatically turns on the lights, opens your window treatments and turns your TV on to your favorite news station. The system will also send you alerts letting you know if you have left lights or the air conditioner running for an extended period of time in a continued on page 28

Nicole Torossian, owner of Nicole Michael Designs, incorporated smart features in a client’s Arcadia home, including lighting control, motorized window treatments, speaker control, audio/video control and a universal remote control.

The Sycamore Collective/Submitted

mart homes are a growing trend in homebuilding and design; according to a survey conducted by Statista, a company that specializes in market and consumer data, there are an estimated 175 million smart homes in the world, and that number is expected to pass the 350 million mark by 2023.

The United States has 41.3 million smart homes, the greatest number of smart homes compared to other countries, and 69% of households in the United States have at least one smart device.

There are many benefits to updating a home with smart technology, including customization, improved safety and wellness, greater control of energy use, as well as convenience. From automated temperature settings and lighting control to motorized window treatments and universal remote controls, technology plays a big role in elevating one’s home life.

“People are constantly striving to make their lives easier,” says Christopher Wierer, managing partner and principal at The Sycamore Collective, a Los Angeles-based group of designers, architects, artists and craftspeople that promotes great design and the art of living well.

“With our busy, complicated professional and personal lives, having a smart home can help to create that serene sanctuary you need to recharge and relax. In the not-too-distant past, technology used to frustrate us, but with the quick advances many things are making life easier. With a lot of things now connected to the internet, such as your lighting systems, locks, climate and security systems, you can also be sure your home is safe both when you are and aren’t there, giving you less to worry about.”

Nicole Torossian, owner of Nicole Michael Designs in Pasadena, adds that smart homes are especially practical for vacation homes and contribute to easier maintenance.

“You can set the temperature in your home before you arrive,” Torossian says.

“It allows you to see if you left any lights on or water running. It will also alert you if your smoke alarm is going off. Enhanced security is another benefit, as you can lock your entire house with the push of a button.

It controls indoor and outdoor security cameras, the sensors on your windows and doors, and can close your garage door. This is all very important in a home that you may not go back to for several months.”

According to Christopher Wierer, managing partner and principal at The Sycamore Collective, technology plays a big role in elevating one’s bathroom for a more spa-like experience.

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CULINARY CUPBOARD continued from page 27

room, and it will turn them off if you instruct it to do so. It will also have multilingual capabilities soon.”

Lighting Another quirk of our new normal, according to Wierer, is proper lighting scenarios built into the way we now live.

“While we always used to include lighting presets to set the mood for relaxing, or getting ready in front of the mirror, now we include settings for the all-too-present Zoom meeting, ensuring your smart home is helping to put your best face forward to the world — and your best Zoom background,” Wierer says.

Additional tips For those interested in transitioning to a smart home or incorporating more innovating technology into their daily lives, Wierer recommends starting with something one would use every day.

“For example, upgrading to that smart shower is easier than upgrading to a refrigerator with a built-in screen,” he says. “While many things now have screens and internet built in, who wants to sit in front of the fridge watching a movie when your larger TV is probably within eyesight?

Watching Netflix in the bathroom while relaxing, however, or catching up on the latest news program while you get ready in the morning is a clear way in which smart home technology can save you time.

Torossian also shares her five favorite smart home must-haves: • Smart doorbell (Ring).

• Smart plugs (Eve Brand).

• Smart light bulbs (LIFX Brand).

• Smart thermostat (Eve Brand).

• Security cameras (Eve Brand).

At the end of the day, Wierer reminds people that while there are an abundance of smart home offerings on the market, one should only choose the features that will actually improve and make a difference in their lives.

“Remember, it really is supposed to make life easier, not harder,” he says. “We don’t include technology for technology’s sake, but technology that can help us find more serenity in an increasingly hectic world.”

Nicole Michael Designs nicolemichaeldesigns.com The Sycamore Collective thesycamorecollective.com

Summer berry custardy confection

O

By Emily Chavez

riginating in France, the clafoutis is an elegant baked dessert of cherries and other fruit in a thick batter that gently rises around the fruit.

In fact, while preparing dinner, this delicately sweet dessert can be baked in the oven and ready to enjoy after the main course.

Don’t be discouraged if the clafoutis deflates shortly after coming out of the oven. The batter behaves like a soufflé and makes a perfect spot for ice cream.

This simple batter is also an excellent base for endless combinations with just about any fruit on the counter, in the fridge or freezer.

CHERRY BLUEBERRY CLAFOUTIS ACTIVE TIME: 15 MINUTES | TOTAL TIME: 50 MINUTES YIELDS 10 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 CUPS CHERRIES, FRESH OR THAWED FROM FROZEN 1 1/2 CUPS BLUEBERRIES, FRESH OR THAWED FROM FROZEN 1/2 CUP HEAVY CREAM 1/2 CUP MILK 1/2 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR 3 LARGE EGGS 1 TABLESPOON VANILLA EXTRACT 1/2 CUP FLOUR, ADDITIONAL

FLOUR FOR THE SKILLET 1/2 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER 1/2 TEASPOON SALT 1 TEASPOON BUTTER TO GREASE THE SKILLET 1 TABLESPOON POWDERED SUGAR FOR GARNISH 2 TEASPOONS CORNSTARCH FOR DUSTING BERRIES IF USING FROZEN

INSTRUCTIONS IF USING THAWED BERRIES, GENTLY TOSS WITH 2 TEASPOONS OF CORNSTARCH. ARRANGE FRUIT ON THE BOTTOM OF A BUTTERED AND FLOURED SKILLET OR A 10-INCH CAKE PAN. WHISK TOGETHER CREAM, MILK, GRANULATED SUGAR, EGGS AND VANILLA IN A MIXING BOWL UNTIL SMOOTH. IN A SEPARATE BOWL, MIX FLOUR, BAKING POWDER AND SALT. WHISK THE DRY INGREDIENTS INTO THE CREAM MIXTURE UNTIL COMBINED AND NO LUMPS REMAIN. POUR THE MIXTURE OVER THE BERRIES IN THE SKILLET. PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OVEN PREHEATED TO 375 DEGREES AND BAKE FOR 35 MINUTES UNTIL GOLDEN AND PUFFY. COOL ON A WIRE RACK FOR A FEW MINUTES. DUST WITH POWDERED SUGAR AND SERVE WITH ICE CREAM, IF DESIRED.

Luis Chavez/staff photographer

Elevated bathrooms Wierer shares that many people have been very focused on upgrading their bathrooms at home, incorporating a variety of smart technology features into everything from showers to toilets.

“In the past few years with people not traveling for obvious reasons, a lot of clients have tried to bring that spa-like experience to their private space,” Wierer says.

“Technology can play a big part in taking that previously utilitarian room to a whole new level. Smart showers have become the go-to feature of high-end personal bathrooms. Products such as Thermasol steam showers now integrate everything you could ever need. From the touch-screen panel built into the wall you can use technology to set the mood, whether you need to relax or to wake up and be invigorated.”

According to Wierer, people can control everything from the lighting and music to the scent of their shower experience, and they can also watch Netflix or listen to their favorite podcast. Smart toilets are another feature that take the bathroom experience to the next level by integrating temperature control and hygienic touchless flushing.

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