June 2020
Fine living in the greater Pasadena area
Roxie
MOURNING
PASADENA COUPLE VOWS TO NOT LET ANOTHER CHILD DROWN
+ PIÑA COLADA TART TRY THESE FATHER’S DAY SPECIALS
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arroyo VOLUME 16 | NUMBER 06 | JUNE 2020
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08 ‘KIDS DON’T DROWN THEMSELVES’ Roxie Forbes’ parents stand up for their child and others. —By CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
16 A SPLASH OF CREATIVITY Huntington Pools’ staff enjoys a good challenge. —By CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
20 BLOOMING BUSINESS The Garden Natives have landscape in their blood. —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
22 CELEBRATE DAD Father’s Day specials aplenty in Pasadena. —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
26 THE VIOLYMPICS
Excited to Welcome Our Customers Back. Call for Updated Hours
LA Philharmonic violinist’s lessons go virtual. —BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
28 TRIPLE THREAT Kelvin Harrison Jr. is hitting the ‘high note’ of his career. —BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
DEPARTMENTS
12 HOME AND DESIGN The Home Office is a Must-Have 27 CULINARY CUPBOARD Made for a sunny day
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Editor’s Note
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his month marks the year anniversary of Roxie Forbes’ death. Pasadena’s Doug Forbes and Elena Matyas desperately miss their daughter after she drowned at a local day camp. But they’re not letting her death be in vain. They’re fighting to make sure this doesn’t happen again. We spoke to Forbes and Matyas to learn more about the bill they’re trying to pass. Summer is the season we celebrate flowers and all things beautiful. Two area companies are helping our backyards look their best—Garden Natives and Huntington Pools. The stories of their success are accompanied by gorgeous photos by our photographer, Luis Chavez. Want something sweet that exudes the feeling of summer? Try Emily Chavez’s pina colada tart. Finally, it wouldn’t be June without Father’s Day. Restaurants are just starting to peek out from behind the COVID-19 pandemic curtain. Check out their specials they’re having in honor of dad.
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Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
arroyo
fine living in the greater pasadena area
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco -Karasinski ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Richard Garcia CONTRIBUTORS Emily Chavez, Bruce Haring PHOTOGRAPHERS Luis Chavez, Tim Sealy ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, Javier Sanchez ADVERTORIAL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Bruce Haring OFFICE MANAGER Ann Turrietta
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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 161 South Pasadena, Ste. B, South Pasadena, CA 91030 ArroyoMonthly.com ©2020 Times Media Group All rights reserved.
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‘KIDS DON’T DROWN THEMSELVES’ ROXIE FORBES’ PARENTS STAND UP FOR THEIR CHILD AND OTHERS BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
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Roxie Forbes suffered from CVID, common variable immunodeficiency, a disorder that impairs the immune system. People with CVID are highly susceptible to infection from foreign invaders such as bacteria or, more rarely, viruses and often develop recurrent infections, particularly in the lungs, sinuses and ears. Photo courtesy Doug Forbes
oxie Forbes was the center of Doug Forbes and Elena Matyas’ universe. Some would say she still is. This month marks the one-year anniversary of the 6-year-old Pasadena girl’s death. She drowned at the Summerkids Camp in Altadena on June 28, 2019. “It took me 41 years to bring a child into the world,” Matyas says. “She was everything we could have asked for and more. She was a wonderful, compassionate bright light. Her kindergarten teacher recently said to me the mold was broken after Roxie was made.” Before the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, on February 10, Forbes and Matyas paired with state Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, to introduce legislation— SB 955, the Roxie Rules Act—that aims to provide more oversight of California summer camps. “Everything is on hold because of COVID-19, but it’s a robust bill,” Forbes says. In researching camp safety issues, Forbes and Matyas discovered that more than a million children attend thousands of California camps and these camps are largely unregulated. Summerkids Camp, according to the LA County Department of Public Health, did not have an operating license. (It will not hold camp this summer due to COVID-19, per a statement on its website.) “As a father myself, I cannot begin to comprehend what has happened to the Forbes family,” Portantino says. “Losing a child is the single worst thing that can happen to a parent. It hurts even more because we know that this was a preventable tragedy. I am very grateful that Roxie’s family is channeling their tremendous grief to make sure that tragedies such as this do not happen again. I want to commend them for all the work they have done to raise awareness and knowledge of the gaps in state law regarding recreational camps.” Thirty-eight states—but not California—have some sort of statewide camp regulations. This bill will correct this omission in state law and bring camps in line with other regulated services such as day care facilities, Forbes says. “We subsequently discovered that the vast majority of California summer day camps do not have child care licenses because the state and the counties do not require them to have such licenses,” Forbes adds. “Overnight camps are required to have licenses, but the inspections and oversight for all camps are woefully inadequate. Multiple children have died over the last decade; more have been victims of sexual predating and other issues.” The Roxie Rules bill requires camps employ more health and safety measures, including background checks, emergency action plans, mandated reporter training and implementation, health and aquatics supervisors, proper safety certifications for rifle ranges, ziplining, horseback, aquatics, rock climbing and other activities. The couple established the nonprofit Meow Meow Foundation—named after Roxie’s feline comfort doll—to educate the public about this oversight. The couple is developing California’s first end-to-end drowning prevention solution, and they’re suing DiMassa for wrongful death. “We’re trying to be as careful as we can be,” Forbes says. “Not because of the lawsuit, but when you have a child die in a wholly preventable circumstance, a child care facility should take a step back, take a deep breath and say, ‘Wow.’” Matyas adds, “Drowning is the second leading cause of death for 0- to 4-year-old children. “It was stunning when we found that out as well. We are going to create the state’s first endto-end drowning prevention solution. It’s going to describe the best swim lesson regimen, the best pool safety gear and swim safety gear, the best pool fence alarms, and life jackets. We’re putting together the curriculum so it can be taught in schools—public and private.” continued on page 10
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Beloved Roxie suffered from CVID, common variable immunodeficiency, a disorder that impairs the immune system. People with CVID are highly susceptible to infection from foreign invaders such as bacteria or, more rarely, viruses and often develop recurrent infections, particularly in the lungs, sinuses and ears. “There are only 60,000 reported cases of CVID in all the United States,” Matyas says. “It’s very rare, and Roxie was diagnosed early.” Forbes adds, “Her (genetic) mutation is the only one of its kind in the world.” Roxie had a relatively normal infanthood, until around age 2, when she developed her first strep throat and pneumonia. Over an 18-month stretch, she suffered eight to 10 bouts of documented pneumonia. Roxie was treated at home, where she received human adult antibodies each week, as directed through Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “She was the most normal-looking, running, jumping, happy kid,” he says. “You would never know.” Roxie attended San Rafael Elementary School, where she took Spanish immersion classes, ballet and swim lessons. She once met a boy with an overactive immune system. Roxie had a nonreactive immune system. The boy’s mother asked if Roxie could sit with him at the allergy table. “She not only said yes, she never left his side for the entire year,” Matyas recalls. “It was truly fascinating to watch. The world lost a good one.” Forbes adds, “We’re not just parents doting on a deceased child. What she did in her life was pretty extraordinary. If a child fell on the playground or was alone in the park, she was the kid who would put her arm around the child to make them feel comfortable.”
Elena Matyas and her husband, Doug Forbes, say Roxie Forbes was their world. After her death, they founded the Meow Meow Foundation. Photo courtesy Luis Chavez 10 | ARROYO | 06.20
Lies? Roxie went to Summerkids for 10 days, and on her last day, she had a little cold. Her parents dropped her off, told her they loved her and walked away. Last summer was her first camp experience. The next time they saw her, she was on life support at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “No parent should have to receive the message we had,” Forbes says. “We rushed to the hospital and she was dead. Her eyes were half open. Her brain had long since died. We removed her from life support equipment the following day at Children’s Hospital.” Forbes says Summerkids’ owner/operator, Cara DiMassa, showed up at the hospital unannounced and unwelcome and was disruptive. She abruptly left when she found out Roxie died, Matyas adds. Afterward, Forbes says DiMassa “lied to the greater Los Angeles community about the cause of death and the circumstances that led to Roxie’s death.” DiMassa says Roxie had a medical event, such as a heart attack, that led to an immediate death—not drowning. However, Forbes says the coroner clarified the cause of death—drowning or “near drowning,” “which only means that Roxie’s heart was restarted after 40 minutes, even though she had long since died.” “All first-responder reports and other medical reports proved Roxie’s heart and organs were fine and did not cause any medical event,” Forbes adds. Various documents—emails and first-responders’ reports—say the camp and pool staff looked away between 10 seconds and 5 minutes before Roxie was found face down floating in the pool. Three counselors admitted to running away from the scene after Roxie died, Forbes adds. Forbes says DiMassa told parents via email not to pick up their children early the day Roxie died because she wanted to keep the day as normal as possible. DiMassa sent a series of emails, according to Forbes, that were “rather shockingly full of lies.” The DiMassas said Roxie’s parents shouldn’t be contacted and only the camp would receive flowers, food and sympathy cards. “It’s the classic, ‘Shut down the communication. We don’t want anybody to know about it,’” he recalls. “They still held on to our $3,000 until we screamed for it. They wouldn’t give us our money back. We had to ask for it five times.” The Department of Social Services found DiMassa was operating Summerkids illegally, Forbes adds. Because DiMassa defied the ruling and continued to operate, the state’s attorney general and the Department of Social Services filed a complaint for injunctive relief to shut down Summerkids until it receives the proper licensing. “For the children who were campers and the children who worked there—they
Roxie Forbes was just like any other 6-year-old girl. She enjoyed playing outside.
were age 15 to college graduates—the DiMassa family was supposed to serve as role models,” Matyas says. “When you allow a child to die and your response to that is, ‘It’s not our fault and there’s nothing we could have done differently,’ that doesn’t help anybody become a better human. They have to learn about responsibility or consequence of action. It hurts so very bad. It’s 11 months later and I have not heard ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘Roxy was a really sweet girl.’ “There has been zero outreach from anyone involved with Summerkids. They shut us out from communications, and that makes our loss even more painful. These people care about their reputation more than a 6-year-old girl who died in their pool.” One of DiMassa’s attorneys responded to an email to her by Arroyo Monthly. Steve Madison represents the regulatory litigation with the state attorney general. (A separate attorney, who did not return messages for comment, represents DiMassa in the civil suit.) “Summerkids once again extends its deepest condolences to Roxie’s family,” Madison says. “This was a tragic accident. There were four certified lifeguards on duty that day. The sheriff ruled this was accidental. There are issues that will be litigated in the wrongful death suit that the family is bringing. I can’t comment more than that.” In terms of the legislation, Madison says, it’s “apparent to many people that the state law and county code are a bit confusing and arguably ambiguous.” Summerkids has operated for 42 years and is a member of the American Camping Association. “We read the state law as clearly allowing day camps of the kind most of us are familiar with as operating that way—not as a child day care center, such as a preschool or nursery school,” he says. “Certainly, that legislation has been referred to three separate committees before the pandemic. There remains quite a bit of work that needs to be done on it.”
Photo courtesy Doug Forbes
The future Forbes and Matyas are concerned for future campers—many of whom may be in harm’s way. “When we were in the hospital looking over our dead daughter, we were still concerned about the hundreds of other children at the camp who were unattended,” Forbes says. The couple just wants what’s best for other children who attend any sort of day camp, not just Summerkids. “They’re ziplining over tree canopies, horseback riding and swimming,” he says. “None of these activities are regulated. “Also, do they require background checks for campers or staffers? I know some of them have hired sexual predators. That’s what happened many, many, many, many times. I’ve heard lots of stories of sexual predators and rapes at camps. Nobody is going to know the wiser. How can you run a camp without an emergency action plan? Camps do not have plans to contend with fires, flooding or earthquakes. That’s frightening.” In a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, the couple says a handful of day and resident (overnight) camps are expected to be open. Those include Tom Sawyer Camp and Camp Adventurewood in Pasadena. Matyas and Forbes are concerned for the campers’ safety. Will the parents know if there’s, say, a COVID-19 outbreak there? The Meow Meow Foundation, they say, isn’t trying to be “merely alarmist.” “We implore you and the CDC to include day and resident camps as nonessential businesses in all future virus-related directives until detailed social guidelines are established,” they continue. “We also encourage you to meet with us to discuss ways by which camps can implement more effective health measures.” The American Camp Association and its lobbyists have a long history of woefully inadequate accreditation processes that require camps to meet only 18% of established standards, they wrote. Accreditation fees represent a large share of ACA revenue. The ACA only inspects its camps every three to five years. Such lean accreditation requirements make it easier for camps to part with their money to gain a seal of approval. Parents rely on this ACA seal of approval when making camp decisions. “We believe these parents deserve to be better informed, better protected,” they wrote. “We were deeply disappointed but not surprised to learn that the ACA recently opposed our foundation’s bill for reasons consistent with its efforts to prioritize profitability over proper health and safety protections.” Matyas sums it up. “Very simply, the headline of it all is kids don’t drown themselves. Adults allow children to drown.” 06.20 | ARROYO | 11
HOME & DESIGN SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
THE HOME OFFICE IS A MUST-HAVE Increased telecommuting makes a great office space at home a necessity By Bruce Haring
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ike hairstyles and lifestyles, home styles change with the times. The National Association of Home Builders recently published a booklet, “Housing at the Millennium: Facts, Figures and Trends,” that showed how much things have evolved in housing over the years. In 1900, a typical American new home had 700 to 1,200 square feet of living space. That contained two or three bedrooms and one or no bathrooms. Many homes were rural farmhouses lacking heating and a full plumbing system and were usually two-story buildings. By 1950, the square footage was still the same, but had transformed to ranch-style housing in a large number of cases. Even then, more than 35% of American homes still lacked a complete set of indoor plumbing. Today, the typical new American house is now 2,000 or more square feet and has full indoor plumbing as a standard feature.
But there’s one thing that the home of today still lacks, something that will become increasingly important in the coming years as telecommuting increases—a dedicated home office. In an age where parlors and formal dining rooms are becoming passé, the dedicated home office is still lagging as a feature in many homes. Offices that do exist are more than likely a converted bedroom or a corner of some other unused room. The “offices” may lack such important options as a window, a door to keep out noise, and enough functionality to handle the equipment needed to power most office functions. As the coronavirus shifts workplaces away from city centers and the need to maintain large corporate spaces, society faces a new challenge—creating a home office space that allows maximum productivity and minimal distractions. It needs a door so that toddlers don’t enter the room during a Zoom conference call or otherwise disrupt important communications. continued on page 14
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It shouldn’t be cluttered with the ironing board or Aunt Martha’s credenza that you just can’t bear to give away. And, certainly, it should be pleasant enough that it doesn’t feel like you’re in a prison cell. While you can cheaply create a home office, there are some professional circumstances that require a bit more time, effort and money. Bloomberg estimates that setting up a home office can cost from $800 to as much as $10,000, depending on the equipment needed, the furniture chosen and the supplies stocked. THE HOME OFFICE MUST-HAVES
Let’s assume that you are creating a home office for the first time and want to make good use of the available space. Let’s also assume that you have an extra bedroom or other enclosed area that can also accommodate your needs, including that all-important door with a lock to prevent unauthorized toddler access. The office of 2020 needs a desk, a comfortable chair or two, lots of storage, and proper lighting as a minimal starting point. It should have a strong internet connection, as nothing is more frustrating than constant dropouts. It should also be temperature controlled so that you’re not distracted by excessive heat or cold. Many homeowners have turned their shed, porch or garage into a workspace. The advantage is converting an under-utilized
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space into a functional part of the home. The downside is that you may have to spend money to install a bathroom, heating and lighting to accommodate your needs. And you may have to go through the permit process with your town, a bureaucratic slog that can result in delays and even more expenses. Some use their workspace as a part-time guest room, although that raises the issue of what you will do for an office when your mother-in-law comes for two weeks. A foldout sofa and a pole lamp can transform the workspace to accommodate your guest. Just avoid having a dresser clogging up your space if at all possible. Although it’s not for everyone, the office need not have dull wall coloring. Some splashes of brightness here and there, some geometric shapes, textured wallpaper, or other hangings can make the office seem less like a confinement unit. We all need an energy boost from time to time, and a space that has a bit of added glamour on the walls can be just the trick. You need to enjoy the space, as you’ll be spending a considerable amount of time in it. Even if you are in a windowless room, you can put a tranquil picture on the wall to break the monotony. If clients must come and visit your space, it’s best to have a separate entrance and exit. But if that’s not possible, make sure that the space they enter has comfortable seating and is quiet. The office needs to scream professional and not be interrupted by the screams of younger family members or television noise. Two of the most important keys to the perfect home office
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are the chair and desk. Because you will be spending a lot of time using both, make sure that you have a comfortable reach to keyboards and a chair that’s the proper height for the desk, one with plenty of room for your legs. Your wrists and knees will thank you. Even though the paperless office has been touted for decades, most businesses still rely, to a great extent, on physical records. Source cabinets that extend to your ceiling are a great way to maximize storage space. Some prefer storage units that can tuck under the desk, or a combination of both. Either solution is a great way to prevent clutter and allow you to easily find what you need without rooting around. A nice touch for the office is a fish tank or plants. Both can provide a touch of comfort in those moments where you need to sit back and do some reflection. One big advantage of a dedicated home office arrives at tax time. The IRS offers a prescribed rate multiplied by the allowable square footage used in the home. For 2019, the prescribed rate is $5 per square foot, to a maximum of 300 square feet. An attractive home office is a definite selling point when it comes time to move on from your current abode. Given that many people will be working from home in the future, it’s as necessary as indoor plumbing for some, and will entice the right people to perhaps spend a little extra to get something that’s functional from day one.
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A Splash Of Creativity HUNTINGTON POOLS’ STAFF ENJOYS A GOOD CHALLENGE STORY BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI | PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ
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untington Pools’ staff believes each project should have a unique balance and connection to the property’s overall landscape and architecture. “We view each of our watershapes as a unique work of art and use only top industry professionals, select finish products and proven technologies,” says owner Jeff Lokker. “This skillful combination of engineering, form and fit is the signature of our watershapes.” Based in San Dimas, Huntington Pools specializes in designing and building outdoor environments, like pools, patios and barbecues, spas and landscaping—everything related to outdoor environments. The company services the greater Los Angeles area, including Pasadena, San Marino, Hancock Park, the Hollywood Hills and the Westside. continued on page 18
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Lokker founded Huntington Pools in 1988, but he’s been in the business beyond that. The award-winning pool designer/builder grew up with a friend whose family was involved in the pool business. He helped build the pools, but never thought he would continue with it. After high school, he entered the Army, in which he served from 1983 to 1987, in places like Italy and Central America. “It was a good experience,” says Lokker, who was stationed at Fort Bragg. “I think it’s good for all young people to serve a little bit. A lot of people are scared, especially during wartime. When I was in, we were still in the Cold War. There wasn’t a lot of active events going on.” He earned a degree from California Polytechnic University in 1994 and eventually founded Huntington Pools, a gold member of Genesis 3 since 2006. An international forum, Genesis 3 advocates for continuing education and higher standards in watershape design and construction. It is a subset of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. “I’m trying to develop and raise the skillsets of construction, especially in the pool industry” he says, “That put me on a path of education in my field.” 18 | ARROYO | 06.20
That proves Lokker’s passion for his occupation. “If you’re going to do something, go in with passion, be educated about it and do good, quality work that’s going to play out in the long run,” he adds. “Instead of blasting the media world with advertising, I think it’s better to have clients tell their friends about me. A client’s word is the best advertising I can do. I love seeing clients years later and they have a smile on their face when they talk about how much they love their backyard. I like seeing the long-term appreciation for things we do.” Lokker also enjoys the creative end of his occupation. “The ever-changing landscape of the pool industry is interesting to me,” says Lokker, whose business is a certified PebbleTec builder. “It’s an area in which I can be artistic and develop interesting designs. I can think outside of the box between concepts and materials.” The most-challenging jobs, from a technical standpoint, are hillside pools where water is flowing from all edges of the pool. Many times, they are integrated with patio space and a cooking center. “What I like to do is not just think about the pools but develop the whole backyard space,” he says.
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Blooming Business
THE GARDEN NATIVES HAVE LANDSCAPE IN THEIR BLOOD STORY BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI | PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ
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ative Southern Californians Sydney Harrington and Amanda Claverie are passionate about plants and nature. Harrington grew up gardening, while Claverie was raised by a horticulturist mom and farmer father. The two ladies came together through a love of flowers and six years ago formed Garden Natives, a landscape design and maintenance business that specializes in California native plants. “It’s very important to us to create ecosystems for the native birds and bees of the San Gabriel Valley,” Claverie says. “We’re trying to help sustain native flora and fauna of the area.”
Claverie and Harrington began this career performing landscape maintenance, which gives them a different outlook on design. They frequently arrive at yards to fix things that other landscapers have done incorrectly—maybe there’s a plant in the wrong spot, or a shrub that is too big for the space. “A lot of landscapers are not really used to working with the plants,” Claverie says. “We had the experience.” The transition from maintenance to design was a subtle one. It mainly came from their clients’ needs. “The more we worked with clients doing maintenance, the more they asked for help with designing and planting,” Harrington says. “That turned into what we’re doing now. It was a snowball effect.” Garden Natives provides drafting and design, California native and drought-tolerant landscaping, hardscaping and installation. “Installation is just as important to us as the design,” adds Claverie, whose team is exceptionally trained in irrigation, lighting and design implementation. The women serve Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Azusa, Bradbury, Covina, Duarte, East Pasadena, Glendora, La Canada Flintridge, Los Angeles, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena. The two adore perennials and “things that bloom throughout the seasons.” Claverie and Harrington want to create a garden that has longevity and blooms throughout the year to attract hummingbirds, for instance. They take inspiration from the local foothills to create gardens that are welcoming. “We bring a lot of sages and poppies,” Claverie says. “Just fun things like that. We’re also really into water features. We’re big on taking out grass and installing blooming gardens. Local butterflies, bees and birds not only need food, they need water. We try and incorporate the water features for the birds and bees so they can cool down. Plus, it’s fun to see the visitors.” Harrington fell in love with yardwork as a child, when she would help her parents garden. She worked at floral shops in college and ended up employed by the Fullerton Arboretum for five years. “I got a lot of my training on California native plants,” Harrington says. “I worked with a lot of plants I had never experienced before. From there, Amanda and I met doing flowers and we took off from there.” Claverie has a background in floral design, having owned a floral business, Rosebud Floral Design, for 15 years. “That’s where we get our floral inspiration and colors,” Claverie adds. “My mom was a horticulturist and my dad’s a farmer. He’s always in the dirt.” Harrington says the design work inspires her, especially because she’s an artist on the side. “I really enjoy watching something go from an idea or concept to the installation,” she says. “I love the plants and thinking about how things are going to look over time. I think that’s my favorite thing we do.”
THE GARDEN NATIVES Monrovia 626-536-0691| thegardennatives.com
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Celebrate Dad FATHER’S DAY SPECIALS APLENTY IN PASADENA
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BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
ather’s Day will take on a different feel this year, as we’re all trying to protect ourselves from COVID-19. Many of Pasadena’s restaurants, however, are still trying to make the day special. Check out our list of treats to help honor dad on Sunday, June 21.
Celestino Ristorante 141 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena 626-795-4006, celestinopasadena.com Celestino Ristorante’s executive chef, Calogero Drago, is celebrating Father’s Day by introducing a new summer takeout menu; Father’s Day family packages; a special chef menu; delectable Italian wines; and an open bar to go featuring aperitifs, digestives, cocktails, spirits, grappa and limoncello. The summer takeout menu at the recently reopened restaurant features a signature selection of favorite Italian soups, salads, appetizers, traditional Italian pastas and risottos, meats and desserts. The Father’s Day family package for four ($90) includes a family-style salad, choice of pasta or fish, a special side, and dessert. For dads who want something special this Father’s Day, the chef menu for two or more guests ($38 per person) features a specially curated salad, pasta or risotto, special fish dish, special meat dish, and dessert. To ensure dad has a proper Italian experience when ordering from Celestino Ristorante this Father’s Day, Drago is offering a sublime selection of daily special Italian wines, including a red, white and sparkling wine. And, for fathers who prefer something a little stronger, Celestino Ristorante steps it up a notch by offering its open bar to go, which features daily aperitifs, digestives, spirits, grappa, limoncello and Celestino cocktails to go to complement a fabulous Father’s Day celebration at home. Celestino Ristorante will be open on Father’s Day and Celestino Ristorante is open for takeout and curbside pickup from 5 to 8 p.m. every Monday to Sunday. For more information or to order directly, call Celestino Ristorante at 626-795-4006, and to view the new Celestino Ristorante takeout menu, visit celestinopasadena.com. 22 | ARROYO | 06.20
Gus’ Barbecue 808 Fair Oaks Avenue, South Pasadena 626-799-3251, gussbbq.com This Father’s Day there is no better way to celebrate than with Gus’ Barbecue in South Pasadena. Gus’ Barbecue will offer its barbecue takeout menu all weekend for dad and the entire family—featuring appetizers; Gus’ combos; Southern fried chicken; burgers; sandwiches; and Gus’ Real Pit barbecue offerings, which include Memphis baby back ribs, barbecue brick chicken, Texas beef brisket, St. Louis spare ribs, peppercorncrusted tri-tip, smoked sausage and the Carolina-style pulled pork. Each is seasoned overnight and then smoked low and slow for up to 14 hours over whole pecan logs to create Gus’ signature smoke flavor, along with signature sides, greens, kids menu (10 and younger) and drinks, shakes and malts. Don’t forget Gus’ cast iron cornbread served with jalapeño jelly and honey butter, Gus’ deviled eggs with crispy smoked ham and sweet chipotle seasoning, barbecue baked beans or its braised Southern greens. Gus’ Barbecue South Pasadena will be open on Father’s Day, and it offers takeout, delivery and curbside pickup from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Sunday. Krafted Spirits Krafted Spirits kicks off Father’s Day weekend with two celebratory DIY Krafted Spirits “Father’s Day” LA Staycation Cocktail Boxes that can be preordered and delivered. It features a full bottle of Krafted Spirits premium rum which has been triple distilled from raw sugarcane from the island of St. Croix, then developed and aged in American charred oak bourbon barrels. The DIY Krafted “Father’s Day” LA Staycation Small Batch White Rum
Box (makes up to 16 cocktails for $55) includes a full 750 ml bottle of Krafted white rum, two mixers featuring its Krafted LA rum punch and Krafted DTLA daiquiri mixes, along with one mini can of Coke and one lime for garnish. The DIY Krafted “Father’s Day” LA Staycation Premium Dark Rum Box or Krafted Pineapple-Infused Rum Box (makes up to 16 cocktails for $55) offers a choice of a full 750 ml bottle of Krafted Premium Dark Rum or Krafted Pineapple-Infused Rum, two mixers featuring its Krafted Hollywood hurricane and Krafted Venice Beach painkiller mixes, along with one mini can of Coke and one lime for garnish. To preorder, visit kraftedrum.com or email, before Friday, June 19, to cheers@kraftedspirits.com. Mi Piace 25 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena 626-795-3131 mipiace.com Old Town Pasadena’s Mi Piace is offering its signature menu featuring calamari fritti, caprese burrata and bruschetta. The insalate section offers the insalata mi piace, a Caesar, and baby kale salad, while the pasta section offers 12 options, including Mi Piace’s pappardelle bolognese, ravioli della casa, linguine pesto and fettuccine alfredo tartufo. The carne e pollo section surprises dad with selections such as the pollo al sesamo, piccata di pollo, and bistecca, while seafood-loving fathers will enjoy scampi, the fra diavolo and the filetto di salmone in the pesce section. Fathers and families can also enjoy their favorite pizza—including the margherita, classica and Old Town Speciale—or marinated chicken, New York pastrami or handmade meatball panino. Finally, for dads craving decadent comfort, the Mi Piace black label burger prepared with a special prime rib eye and brisket “exclusive” mix will also be available. Mi Piace will offer wine, beer, spirits and cocktails for takeout, delivery and curbside pickup for Father’s Day. Mi Piace offers wines by the bottle, which include specials that rotate “daily” and include a red wine, white wine and a rosé. Beers will be offered individually ($4 each) or by the six pack ($15), including Heineken, Modelo, Amstel Light or a rotating IPA. Mi Piace is also featuring Father’s Day cocktails ($10 each), including Mi Piace’s signature Old Forester barrel-aged Manhattan, Tito’s Handmade Vodka & Q Soda, and Hendrick’s Gin & Q Tonic. Mi Piace will offer spirits by the bottle featuring Hendrick’s gin ($45), Tito’s Handmade Vodka ($32), and Old Forester bourbon ($22). Mi Piace will be open on Father’s Day and offers takeout and delivery from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every Monday to Sunday.
The Original Tops 3838 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena 626-449-4412, TheOriginalTops.com A true Pasadena institution, The Original Tops is celebrating Father’s Day with takeout and drive-thru pickup for dad. The Original Tops will offer breakfast takeout until noon for dad and the entire family, including signature steak and egg burrito made with carne asada, scrambled eggs, homestyle potatoes, and jack and cheddar cheese. For lunch takeout, dad can enjoy the pastrami with a slowly marinated special au jus, piled high on a French roll, mustard and pickles. For something festive, fathers, family and friends can indulge in the chili bowl made with The Original Tops’ signature chili and diced onions, zucchini sticks or French fries. And, for something sweet, save room for a classic vanilla, chocolate or strawberry old-fashioned shake topped with a cherry. The Original Tops will be open on Father’s Day, and it offers takeout and drive-thru from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Sunday. The Raymond 1886 1250 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena 626-441-3136, theraymond.com Celebrate this Father’s Day and let The Raymond 1886 prepare and pack the perfect meal to eat and enjoy at home. The Raymond 1886 takes care of all the prep with its Father’s Day Grill Boxes for Four ($120), available for preorder only. It offers two T-bone steaks; four spiced fennel sausages; potato salad prepared with scallions, sesame oil, Old Bay and Kewpie Japanese-style mayo; and arugula salad for four with cherry tomatoes, red onion, sunflower seeds and lemon vinaigrette. To celebrate dad properly, The Raymond 1886 is also serving four special 1886 Father’s Day cocktails to go (8-ounce serves two, $25; 16-ounce serves four, $45) served in Mason jars, including the old fashioned made of bourbon, sugar, Angostura bitters and orange oil; Brown Derby, prepared with bourbon, fresh grapefruit juice and honey syrup; the Medicina Latina made with tequila, lime juice, ginger syrup and spritz of mezcal; and the Don Lockwood, a spiritforward old fashioned-style cocktail made with scotch, bourbon and maple syrup. The Raymond 1886 also offers three signature 1886 cocktails to go (four services, $45) created by the 1886 Bar Team and served in Mason jars. Featuring the 1886 Negroni prepared with gin, Carpano Antica Vermouth, Campari and orange oil; the Remember the Maine comprised of rye whiskey, Dolin sweet vermouth, Cherry Heering and absinthe; and the Fair and Warmer, a blend of rums, Dolin sweet vermouth, house curacao and lemon oil, cocktails are aplenty. Wine and beer will also be offered for Father’s Day takeout, delivery and curbside pickup. Wines by the bottle ($30 each) feature one white wine—including The White Queen, chardonnay, Sonoma, 2017—and red wines by the bottle, including the Chateau Tournefeuille, Bordeaux, 2015. Beer is offered by the six pack ($12.50), including Day Beer Lager—brewed with Czech Sass, Hallertauer Mittlefruch Hops, 4.5% ABV—or the Stone Delicious IPA with Lemondrop and El Dorado Hops, 7.7% ABV. The Raymond 1886 will be open on Father’s Day and is offering its signature takeout menu for takeout, delivery and curbside pickup from 4 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday to Sunday. The deadline to preorder is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18. 06.20 | ARROYO | 23
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hen we have an idea for how we want to design our yards, the first and most obvious question we ask is, “What is the function?” Do we want a place to play catch or basketball with the kids? Do we want space to lounge beside a sprawling swimming pool? Do we need a place for outdoor dining or for entertainment, or are we looking for a place to relax and connect with nature? Usually, some combination of these types of desires is what get our creative minds working. Applying these functions as though they are part of your blank canvas is the best place to start your design concept. The saying “form follows function” is a concept that is generally credited to Louis Sullivan, America’s first truly modern architect, and was adapted and made famous by Frank Lloyd Wright. Personally, I think of it in landscape as the layout needs to reflect the purpose of the yard, where elements have intended functions that are effective and aesthetically pleasing. Similar to a kitchen design where efficiency dictates placing the stove, refrigerator and sink in a triangle,
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we should think about how we lay out our spaces for maximum effectiveness first, and then prioritize how to do this in a way that adds the most aesthetic value. Once you devise the basic function and its necessities, weaving beauty into the design can have just as much emphasis as the practical elements. Often there is more than one right way to achieve our goals. Usually, it takes compromise and clever prioritizing. Is aesthetics the most important part or is it the function or the cost? In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together in a logical way. When a designer is configuring a design, they need to balance all the elements with the ABCs of design (aesthetics, budget, constraints and function). Sometimes the functions and constraints limit how the puzzle is put together, but there are infinite ways to use aesthetics to make the project unique and fit individual tastes. That is where the creative minds of the designer, owner, and craftsmanship of the builder have the opportunity to make a project really special. Do you still have more questions on how to design your outdoor space? Visit garden-view.com
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The Violympics LA PHILHARMONIC VIOLINIST’S LESSONS GO VIRTUAL BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
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he COVID-19 pandemic has forced musicians to quickly digitize their professions and supplement their incomes. For some, it’s new. For Los Angeles Philharmonic First Associate Concertmaster Nathan Cole, the digital transformation is underway. On June 1, Cole will launch the Violympics, a series of six two-week training events that will give advanced violinists and violists the tools to advance their craft. A Pasadena resident, Cole will mentor participants in the program, which will explore crucial fundamentals in a fun format while building an online global community of musicians. Violympics will culminate in a challenge piece that will bring everyone together through performance (virtually). “It started as a way to help professional violinists and violists organize and practice during the summer,” he says. “Our seasons tend to go like the school year. In the summer, it’s difficult to find and keep that same routine, either because you have fewer performances or you’re spread out in different places. “I came up with the Violympics to run alongside the real Olympics in Tokyo,” says Cole, who’s married to the LA Philharmonic’s assistant concert master, Akiko Tarumoto. “When everything went nuts in March, including the cancellation of the Olympics, I thought I’d still keep these going.” The Lexington, Kentucky, native comes from a family of musicians and educators. His parents were flute teachers, as was his paternal grandfather. Cole picked up the violin at age 4; he’s 42 now. “I can’t really remember a time before I was playing violin,” he says. “I love performing. That’s what I grew up wanting to do, but I did find starting about 20 years ago, that I loved teaching, too. I used to teach at a few different schools. “I left all of them except the Colburn Conservatory, which is across from
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Disney Concert Hall, where I work with the LA Philharmonic. I stopped all the other teaching. I wanted to make time for my online program.” The Violympics is an extension of an online teaching platform that began over a decade ago, when Cole started posting instructional videos on YouTube. Expecting to attract maybe 25 to 50 people, he instead quickly had an online student base in the thousands. He realized there were not many solutions for advanced training online, so he refined his offerings over the years to focus on this niche. More than 3,000 violinists and violists of all ages and capabilities from all over the world, from Argentina to Israel, registered for the Violympic Trials, a one-week introductory experience that preceded the Violympics. This 12-week program costs $797. Cole called it a nice alternative to summer schools or festivals that have been shuttered due to COVID-19. For more information, visit natesviolin.com. “I found the best way to help people is online and in person,” he says. “When people think about or talk about teaching online or learning online, they’re focused on the negatives, what they’re missing out on. “There are some limitations and drawbacks. In my high-level virtuoso master course, I can start everyone with videos I’ve already made and learning material. This way, we don’t have to waste a lot of that valuable one-on-one time going over things they could have learned on their own time. You save that one-one-one time—which is the hardest to schedule—to really just work on the issues that that person has.” Cole adds his program is a nice way to fill the time during the pandemic. “I miss performing for sure,” he says. “I have that fear if I don’t do it for a while, my skills are going to go away. This is as much motivation for me to keep me sharp for when we do return to the stage.”
MADE FOR A
Sunny Day THIS PIÑA COLADA TART IS FRUITY AND CRISP
S
STORY BY EMILY CHAVEZ | PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ
pringtime gives us playful glimpses of summer. Now that it’s almost here, I am longing for the bold and refreshing flavors of fruity, crisp and light desserts. Inspired by the classic piña colada drink, this tart has an effortless crust that does not require the use of a hot oven. Additionally, it is dairy free and instead uses coconut oil to marry piquancy and a silky texture. For those who enjoy a true piña colada flavor, this tart would hold up well to a drizzling of a rum reduction sauce. Want to intensify the sharp fruit flavors? The blueberries are here to provide an enticing visual and textural variation.
DAIRY-FREE PIÑA COLADA TART HANDS-ON TIME: 30 MINUTES READY IN: 90 MINUTES SERVES 6
INGREDIENTS 1 FRESH PINEAPPLE, CUBED 1 CUP SUGAR 1/2 TSP SALT 3 EGG YOLKS 3 WHOLE EGGS 3 TBSP COCONUT OIL 1 TO 2 GELATIN PACKETS, UNFLAVORED
1 1/2 CUP SHREDDED OR FLAKED COCONUT 13 TO 15 SHEETS OF GRAHAM CRACKERS OPTIONAL GARNISHES: BLUEBERRIES AND DRIED PINEAPPLES SLICES
1. IN A FOOD PROCESSOR, PURÉE THE FRESH CUT PINEAPPLE UNTIL IT IS A SMOOTH LIQUID. 2. ADD THE LIQUEFIED PINEAPPLE, SUGAR, SALT, EGGS AND COCONUT OIL INTO A MEDIUM POT. 3. WHILE CONTINUOUSLY STIRRING, COOK THE MIXTURE ON MEDIUM HEAT FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR UNTIL THICK. 4. REMOVE MIXTURE FROM HEAT AND STRAIN TO REMOVE SOLIDS. 5. STIR INTO MIXTURE THE GELATIN AMOUNT ACCORDING TO FIRMNESS PREFERENCE AND SET ASIDE. 6. BEGIN TO MAKE THE BASE BY PULSING THE COCONUT IN A FOOD PROCESSOR TO RELEASE THE OILS. CONTINUE UNTIL IT FORMS AN OILY, MEALY TEXTURE. 7. ADD IN THE GRAHAM CRACKERS AND CONTINUE PULSING IN THE FOOD PROCESSOR UNTIL IT STARTS TO COME TOGETHER TO HOLD ITS SHAPE WHEN PRESSED. 8. PRESS THE CRUST BASE INTO THE TART PAN BOTTOM AND SIDES. 9. POUR IN THE PINEAPPLE FILLING AND PLACE IN THE REFRIGERATOR TO SET, APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR FOR A SOFT SET. 06.20 | ARROYO | 27
Triple Threat KELVIN HARRISON JR. IS HITTING THE ‘HIGH NOTE’ OF HIS CAREER BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
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W
hen Kelvin Harrison Jr. was growing up in New Orleans, he dreamed of starring on a Disney TV show. That way, he could blend his talents of acting and singing. “I always thought to myself that I could be like Hannah Montana and have the best of both worlds,” Harrison says with a laugh. “I get to have a sitcom, sing, do an album and tour.” His latest project, the film “The High Note,” is a “beautiful combination of the two.” Set in the LA music scene, “The High Note” is the story of Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross), a superstar who must choose between playing it safe or listening to her heart in a life-changing decision. Maggie (Dakota Johnson) is Davis’ overworked personal assistant who’s stuck running errands but aspires to be a music producer. Things come to a head when Davis’ long-time manager (Ice Cube) presents the singer with a choice that could alter the course of her career. Harrison plays aspiring musician David Cliff, who befriends Maggie. The movie, which was set to debut in theaters, instead premiered as video on demand on May 29. The soundtrack, on Republic Records, includes a handful of songs by Harrison, like the pivotal “Let’s Stay Together.” “We were worried,” he says. “Would the movie come out? Would it be shelved? Would it go through the Netflix shuffle? Instead, we’re doing the
proper release and found the ‘new normal’ style.” Working with Ross—the daughter of Diana Ross—was “wonderful,” he says. First and foremost, she was “so much fun.” “She’s a big personality,” he says. “It just adds to the energy that’s always in the room. If you’re feeling down or nervous or scared, Tracee has a way of just brightening up the room and the day. We really needed her expertise and wisdom for this movie.” Harrison—who appeared in “Ender’s Game” and “12 Years a Slave”— says “The High Note” is an important film to him. “I really wanted to be in a space where I got to play a romantic lead in a movie,” Harrison says. “That was exciting, especially being a person of color who gets the girl at the end. We don’t get the girl. I thought the elements were fascinating. The music industry felt honest and brought back some of the magic to Hollywood and LA—the artistry behind it all. I love the story of following a dream and persevering despite our own blocks and insecurities. It’s up to us to create the universe we want to live in.” Harrison did that. He grew up in a family of musicians, all of whom went to the NOLA School of Music in New Orleans. His father trained with Ellis Marsalis and grew up with Harry Connick Jr. “He introduced me to Ellis, and I went to NOLA,” he says. “Jason Marsalis was one of my teachers. I met Wynton. I also worked with Delfeayo. I recorded tracks with him for a kids’ album when I was about 12 to 15.” At the time, Harrison didn’t grasp what he had. “I’d come home from school and say, ‘Mr. Marsalis told me to do this,’” he recalls with a laugh. “It was such a beautiful experience that a lot of people wish they had.” For a bit, he put his music aside to act. In 2019, Harrison gained wider recognition for his critically acclaimed portrayals of Luce Edgar in “Luce” and Tyler Williams in “Waves,” for which he received nominations for the Best Male Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards for the former and the Rising Star Award at the British Academy Film Awards for the latter. His next film is “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” the story of seven people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Later this year, he’ll join season two of HBO’s “Euphoria.” “That’s going to be my thing for the next few years,” he says. Harrison enjoys the variety of films he has released. It keeps him excited and on his toes. “The language we learn from different genres helps the other genres,” he says. “I can understand fear and apply that or neurosis in a character’s head and put it in a drama and blend it really well with comedy to figure out how to drive those funnier moments. Trying different things ultimately helps you become a more well-rounded human performer. It gives us a variety of tools in our bag.” Harrison has been keeping busy during the quarantine—reading books by James Baldwin and Maya Angelou, as well as “Alvin Ailey: A Life in Dance” and “Sister Outsider.” He’s also perfected his go-to dish: lemony salmon with garlic roasted potatoes and spinach. He serves it with a side dish of white macaroni and cheese and broccolini. “It’s a lot of food, but I like to eat,” he says with a chuckle. As for “The High Note,” he hopes it’s the treat that everyone needs during the pandemic. “What’s so beautiful about Tracee’s character is she’s a woman who knows what she has to offer, and he’s not interested in anyone telling her she can’t,” Harrison says. “It’s what David needed to learn and what Maggie saw and learned from Grace as well. They learned not to get in the way of their own opportunity. I hope people who see this film learn not to give up until they get what they want. I absolutely believe that.”
“THE HIGH NOTE” focusfeatures.com/the-high-note 06.20 | ARROYO | 29
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