FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA
March 2019
WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS Wildfires are Torching California Home Insurance Bills
THE BANK OF MOM AND DAD
WHAT YOU GET FOR…
A SNAPSHOT OF PASADENA’S COOLING REAL ESTATE MARKET
More Millenials Are Tapping Parents For Down Payments
PASADENA’S 1933 GROUP Turning Historic Buildings Into Tomorrow’s Hot Spots
ALSO INSIDE SUMMER CAMP PREVIEW
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arroyo VOLUME 15 | NUMBER 03 | MARCH 2019
PHOTOS: (top) courtesy of Coldwell Banker La Cañada Flintridge; (bottom left) courtesy of the California Dept. of Insurance; (bottom right) courtesy of Bobby Green
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18
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REAL ESTATE 11 WHAT YOU GET FOR… A snapshot of Arroyoland’s cooling real estate market —By IRENE LACHER
18 WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS Wildfires are changing California’s insurance industry. —By BRENDA REES
44 THE BANK OF MOM AND DAD More cash-strapped millennials are turning to their parents for help in making home down payments. —By KATHLEEN KELLEHER
47 VINTAGE VISIONS RECREATED Pasadena’s 1933 Group creates hip bars and eateries by restoring classic properties. —By CARL KOZLOWSKI
DEPARTMENTS 09
FESTIVITIES Ragtime opens at the Pasadena Playhouse
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ARROYO HOME SALES INDEX
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KITCHEN CONFESSIONS Cookie Fever
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ARROYO COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH All Dressed Up
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THE LIST “Digital Nature” at the Arboretum, jazz luminary Barbara Morrison comes to The Rose and more
ABOUT THE COVER: Photo courtesy of HartmanBaldwin Design/Build. 03.19 ARROYO | 5
EDITOR’S NOTE
It’s good news for homebuyers that the real estate market started tapping the brakes last summer, but there’s still a long way to go before the country’s housing crisis is resolved. But Arroyoland may be a victim of its own success, as far as buyers are concerned. A snapshot of the current market in my “What You Get For…” feature shows substantial prices, even at the lower end. Indeed, rising prices in the highly desirable Pasadena area may have slowed, but they’re still 4 percent higher than last year. At least shoppers exploring this market have more properties to choose from these days, and when all is sold and done, they can feel as comfy with their investment as sellers here already do. The view from my perch: People will always want to live in Arroyoland. That’s not to say there isn’t added risk and cost to living in the Golden State, as thousands of homeowners learned when 2018 turned into the deadliest year for wildfires. And, as Brenda Rees explains, the cost of all that destruction will eventually fall on all Californians, even those living in the concrete jungle. Insurers besieged with claims plan to eventually raise all homeowners’ rates — and those are the lucky ones. Some owners near wooded areas may have a hard time getting insurance at all. Home buying can be even more of a challenge for cash-strapped millennials, generally burdened by more debt at a younger age than their parents. Coming up with the cash for a down payment can be a huge challenge for people starting out in life, and, as Kathleen Kelleher reports, more are turning to the bank of mom and dad for help. That can be a happy state of affairs — usually — but parents would do well to consider a financial advisor’s tips in Kelleher’s story. —Irene Lacher
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Irene Lacher ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Richard Garcia PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Yumi Kanegawa EDITOR-AT-LARGE Bettijane Levine COPY EDITOR John Seeley CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Bilderback, Léon Bing, Martin Booe, Michael Cervin, Scarlet Cheng, Richard Cunningham, Noela Hueso, Kathleen Kelleher, Frier McCollister, Brenda Rees, Ilsa Setziol, John Sollenberger, Nancy Spiller ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, Alexandra Valdes, Javier Sanchez ADVERTORIAL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Bruce Haring HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Andrea Baker PAYROLL Linda Lam ACCOUNTING Perla Castillo, Quinton Wright OFFICE MANAGER Ann Turrietta PUBLISHER Dina Stegon 6 | ARROYO | 03.19
arroyo
FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA
SOUTHLAND PUBLISHING V.P. OF OPERATIONS David Comden PRESIDENT Bruce Bolkin CONTACT US ADVERTISING dinas@pasadenaweekly.com EDITORIAL editor@arroyomonthly.com PHONE (626) 584-1500 FAX (626) 795-0149 MAILING ADDRESS 50 S. De Lacey Ave., Ste. 200, Pasadena, CA 91105 ArroyoMonthly.com ©2019 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
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FESTIVITIES
FESTIVITIES
Ragtime cast
Alfred Molina
Jane Kaczmarek
The Pasadena Playhouse’s Feb. 10 opening of Ragtime: The Musical, perhaps its most ambitious production in recent memory, drew a band of Hollywood veterans, including Harry Groener, Sharon Lawrence, Jane Kaczmarek, Alfred Molina, Melora Hardin and French Stewart. The audience roared its appreciation for this timely revival of the 1996 musical about the junctions between race, class, nationality and the American Dream. After the show, the theater’s courtyard, tented against a light rain, was packed with revelers snacking on paper bags of “American” crudités and sandwiches, including chicken salad and peanut butter and jelly. Ragtime runs through March 3.
Dawn Didawick and Harry Groener
Sharon Lawrence
French Stewart
Emma Goldman (Valerie Perri) 03.19 | ARROYO | 9
PHOTOS: Nick Agro
Melora Hardin
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PHOTO: Courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway
1161 Virginia Rd., San Marino
WHAT YOU GET FOR… A snapshot of Arroyoland’s cooling real-estate market BY IRENE LACHER
A
fter soaring to record heights last year — beyond even the Great Recession peak — the metro Los Angeles housing market began cooling off last summer, according to the real-estate database website Zillow. But Pasadena buyers shouldn’t get too excited, because the area is quite desirable and prices are still hefty. Zillow reports that the city’s median home price is $879,000, still up 4.7 percent over the same period last year. But there is good news for prospective homeowners — there’s simply more out there. Around the country, inventory increased 3 percent over last year, the first such rise since 2014. And buyers willing to add some sweat equity to their mortgage package might find some tasty deals to be had. –continued on page 13 03.18 | ARROYO | 11
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–continued from page 11
WHAT YOU GET FOR… $500,000
PHOTOS: Courtesy of United Real Estate Los Angeles
HOW MUCH: $500,000 WHERE: 80 N. RAYMOND, #112, PASADENA WHAT YOU GET: STUDIO WITH ONE BATH SIZE: 545 SQUARE FEET PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $917 This corner studio may be cozy, but it obeys the first law of real estate: Location, location, location. It puts you in busy Old Pasadena, mere steps from the Levitt Pavilion of Performing Arts, the Metro Gold Line, Armory Center for the Arts and a flurry of cool shops, bars and restaurants. Indeed, this 1996 condo complex has been part of the downtown revival bringing buyers back from the suburbs, closer to numerous amenities. Even better, the studio has been completely remodeled, and its modest size is enhanced by huge windows on two sides, which flood the space with light. The one-bath unit has stackable laundry machines, granite counters, central air, a balcony, recessed lighting and one parking space (you’ll need it). The monthly $297 homeowners’ association dues covers earthquake insurance, security, hot water and more. A pied-à-terre, anyone? CONTACT: Luka Mihovilovic, United Real Estate Los Angeles, (626) 616-0457 –continued on page 14
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–continued from page 13
UNDER $1 MILLION HOW MUCH: $949,000 WHERE: 4831 MT. ROYAL DR., EAGLE ROCK WHAT YOU GET: THREE BEDS, TWO BATHS SIZE: 1,340 SQUARE FEET PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $708 This Spanish Mission-style home may need some help with curb appeal, but it has something else to compensate: spectacular views and light through an entire wall of windows overlooking the Griffith Observatory and city lights from Glendale to Century City. Built in 1974, the home was recently renovated, with new bathrooms, kitchen with quartz countertops, recessed lighting and flooring. There’s also a sunset-friendly balcony that stretches from a bedroom through the living room, central air, a two-car garage off the kitchen and a sizable 16,950-square-foot lot, which includes an adjacent lot, so no one can build on it and block your view.
UNDER $3 MILLION HOW MUCH: $2,395,000 WHERE: 5026 CASTLE RD., LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE WHAT YOU GET: THREE BEDS, 2.75 BATHS SIZE: 3,362 SQUARE FEET PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $712 This Country French Revival estate was completed in 1932 for public-school teacher Francis Brown McCollum and his French-born second wife, Yvonne, to make her feel at home. Yvonne was also a public-school teacher, but the $3,000 building cost (under $300,000 in current dollars) was within their means. The first things that strike you are the mature fruit trees and other landscaping on the nearly one-acre plot and the generous use of stone throughout the home. There are several private patios (on the roof, under a trellis), a formal living room with views of the pool, a formal dining room with a fireplace and a family room with a balcony overlooking the front gardens, a stone fireplace and a built-in desk. The lower level has a guest room with a separate entrance. Other perks: a wraparound driveway and an attached two-car garage. CONTACT: Heather Scherbert, Coldwell Banker/La Cañada Flintridge, (818) 903-3393 14 | ARROYO | 03.19
–continued on page 16
PHOTOS: (Left column) Courtesy of Keller Williams Realty/Arcadia; (right column) Courtesy of Coldwell Banker La Cañada Flintridge
CONTACT: Suzi Dunkel-Soto, Keller Williams Realty/Arcadia, (626) 386-7888
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–continued from page 14
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT
This 1913 Italian Palladian Villa has a stellar pedigree, its design by Robert D. Farquhar, whose architectural projects included the Pentagon and The California Club in downtown L.A. The two-acre-plus estate lies behind a security gate and boasts 16-foot ceilings, a marble foyer, hand-carved marble fireplace mantels, an oval, walnut-paneled library, solarium, elevator and stately living and dining rooms. A circular staircase connects to the second-floor children’s playroom and six bedrooms plus the master suite. The spacious grounds include a pool and spa, a fruit orchard, a north-south tennis court, a reflecting pond and guest apartment CONTACT: Yennis Wong, Berkshire Hathaway, (626) 440-5100
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PHOTOS: Courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway
HOW MUCH: $16.8 MILLION WHERE: 1161 VIRGINIA RD., SAN MARINO WHAT YOU GET: SEVEN BEDROOMS, SEVEN BATHS SIZE: 9,912 SQUARE FEET PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT: $1,695
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WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS Wildfires are changing California’s insurance industry. BY BRENDA REES
L
ast year California endured the deadliest fire season ever, with 1.9 million acres consumed by 8,527 fires. Now insurance companies are witnessing an unprecedented number of claims and astronomical payouts. Indeed, last December, one small Northern California company, Merced Property & Causality Co., went bankrupt in the face of some $64 million in claims from the Camp Fire, the state’s single deadliest fire, which devastated the small town of Paradise. As a result, the state’s insurance industry is changing, and California homeowners — even those unaffected by the fires -– should pay attention to what could be coming down the road. To date, more than $11.4 billion in insured losses have been reported from last November’s Camp and Woolsey fires (the latter torched 97,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties), according to the California Department of Insurance. The number represents 13,000 insured homes and businesses whose owners lodged more than 46,000 claims, as reported by insurers. According to U.S. Climate Prediction Center forecasters, almost half of California has an elevated risk for fires, and there are 15.5 million people living in critical areas — including parts of Los Angeles. “Change is on the horizon,” says Mark Fitzpatrick, a research analyst with Value Penguin, an analytic research company that tracks the insurance industry. “With the record damage last year, we are already seeing major insurers talking about applying to the Department of Insurance to raise rates. They need their customers to pay higher rates so they, in turn, can pay out the claims.” How much the increase would
be depends on many factors, but experts say homeowners can expect to see policy changes in 18 months to three years from now. Also, insurance companies will likely not renew policyholders considered too high a risk and longtime loyal customers may find themselves unceremoniously dropped. As ruthless as that sounds, insurers “have the right to do that,” says Fitzpatrick. “They can cancel you in 30 days if they [reinspect a property and] see something they don’t like, or even if they don’t want to be in that area anymore,” says Paul Diaz, an independent insurance agent based in Eagle Rock. “That goes for all areas that have homes up against the hills and mountains — La Caňada, La Crescenta, Altadena, Monrovia, Glendora, Sierra Madre. Homeowners in those areas could have their policies dropped and they may have a tough time finding another one.” The definition of a high-fire-risk area is shifting, and homeowners who previously were in the low-risk category may get a rude awakening, thanks to sophisticated modeling programs — and maybe their neighbors. Using geo-mapping data and satellite imagery, these high-tech wildfire models that predict losses and assess risks consider the home’s natural features, the density of surrounding vegetation, access roads and historical wind patterns. But this evaluator model “also looks beyond the individual home to a designated perimeter around the home that’s maybe 250 yards, a quarter of a mile or greater,” says Joel Laucher, a special consultant at the California Department of Insurance. “People are used to insurers just looking at their own home, but that’s changing,” says Laucher, adding –continued on page 21
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Ca
l i fo
ara oL . ar d Fi re c i r R amp e n C io iss r the mm af te o C e ce dis r an Par a u s s In ou r t rnia
–continued from page 18
that even if homeowners do everything they can to reduce risks, they still may get higher premiums or a cancellation because of their neighbors’ houses and/or the surrounding community. The 2018 fires taught insurers that, according to Laucher, “mitigating fire risk is a community effort.” In the past, insurance carriers lumped homeowners together in zip codes and city boundaries. Now, insurers realize that risk can change dramatically within those distinct areas; risks are being pinpointed today on a near-granular level. Think about your zip code, says Laucher. “Some areas are more of a flatland, others are hilly. Are fire trucks going to have it easy to get to the house? What happens if that big tree falls over and blocks access? These are questions being asked.” With all these changes in the insurance industry, what can — and should — homeowners do? Just as temblors prompt homeowners to reassess their earthquake preparedness, wildfires should nudge people “to inspect their insurance policies and update if necessary,” says Mel Cohen, an independent insurance agent in Pasadena in business since the 1970s. “You as a homeowner need to know what the rebuilding costs will be to adequately replace your home. So many people think, ‘Oh, I’m covered,’ but maybe that policy is 15 years old and what they have is not enough to cover rebuilding costs in this current climate.” Estimated replacement costs have been moving upward, but only recently have they skyrocketed. “In 1977, we used $32 per square foot as the baseline number to rebuild a like-kind quality structure,” says Cohen. “But as of the Station Fire in 2016, that number went up to $200 per square foot. And now with these last fires, we think that number should be about $300 per square foot to cover construction costs.” And Cohen’s estimations may be on the low side; Laucher has heard of locations with estimates of $700 or $800 per square foot. Homeowners who want a second opinion can hire a professional appraiser — just make sure your insurer will accept that estimate. Check to see that your policy adequately covers personal property inside the house; expensive jewelry, artwork, antiques may need additional coverage. Finally, make sure you have coverage for living expenses if your home needs to be rebuilt.
PHOTOS: Courtesy of the California Dept. of Insurance
IF YOUR POLICY GETS DROPPED Homeowners who receive a cancellation notice will have 45 days to find replacement coverage. But don’t worry yet; California is known as a competitive market when it comes to insurance. “Just because one insurer rejects you, doesn’t mean they all will,” says Fitzpatrick. Check out the listing of statewide insurance carriers on the California Department of Insurance website (insurance.ca.gov), which also has numerous interactive tools to help you navigate the process. Fitzpatrick also suggests reaching out to independent agents who represent a variety of carriers. Shopping around could be advisable for everyone, not just those who have been dropped. “There can be benefits to being a loyal customer, but sometimes a new policy may be cheaper,” says Fitzpatrick. “Be sure you’re taking advantage of all the available discounts such as smart devices, damage mitigation, etc. Check and see if you quality for a premium discount, too.” If all fails, the California Fair Plan offers basic private coverage to homeowners; supplemental policies to provide liability protection can also be purchased to wrap around bare-bones coverage. Remember, you have an ally in the California Department of Insurance, which can provide assistance and resources. Similar turbulence around insurance rates and coverage is being played out in other parts of the country facing their own natural disasters. “So much of insurer analysis, the risks vs. the payouts, is dependent on local vulnerabilities,” says Fitzpatrick. “You see the same thing happening in hurricane-vulnerable areas of the East Coast, for example. Natural disasters are a reality we are all facing these days.”|||| –continued on page 22 03.19 | ARROYO | 21
A statu
e of St.
Francis
–continued from page 21
TURTLE WHACKS
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Susan Tellem an
d Marshall Thom
pson
PHOTOS: Courtesy of American Tortoise Rescue
The 5:30 a.m. knock on the door on Nov. 9, 2018, wakened Malibu residents Susan Tellem and husband Marshall Thompson abruptly. “Get out, pack up and get out,” their neighbor told them. “The fire is almost here.” The couple raced out of their 1978 home and scoured their 1.5-acre property to pack up as many sulcatas, box turtles and Russian tortoises as they could. In addition to day jobs, the couple operates the American Tortoise Rescue, a nonprofit that rescues and adopts out turtles and tortoises worldwide (tortoise.com). Started in 1990, the nonprofit has helped find suitable homes for more than 4,000 shelled critters and care for the unadoptable ones. As fate would have it, the couple had not unpacked their personal go-bags from a previous evacuation only a few weeks prior. Wrangling the animals proved difficult; Tellem and Thompson gathered up about half of their charges, about 50 turtles and tortoises from the sanctuary and hospital treatment building. They filled the turtle pond, placed all the captured animals (including three cats) into their two cars and sped off. After driving to Zuma Beach and sleeping with their menagerie in their cars that night, the couple learned their house and sanctuary — along with 15 other homes on their street — did not make it. “We were prepared for the loss when we went back,” she says. “But it was still very hard to see everything gone.” Amazingly, though, almost all the critters left behind — turtles, tortoises and two roosters — survived. On paper, Tellem and Thompson were fire-ready; brush was amply cut back from their home and other structures. They used fire-resistant cement-board siding and fireproof paint on their house, deck and sanctuary housing. “The fire department loved us because we were on top of it all,” says Tellem. None of that mattered, however, against 3,000-degree heat that melted cages and plastic tubs. The couple is in the process of rebuilding; the sanctuary is back in working order with turtles and tortoises wandering once again in their familiar habitat. A recent fundraiser is helping to support the onsite hospital which was completely destroyed. The pond has been covered with chain link to keep away raccoons; the previous electric fence burnt and there is currently no electricity. The rescue operation has good insurance through AARP, and Tellem says she’s learned so much already about the insurance process through this whole ordeal. Her advice to homeowners everywhere: Look at your policy every year and update it. Get the lowest deductible limits that you can afford. If possible, ask someone to look at your property and provide a second opinion if you have any doubts about what level of coverage you should have. Make sure you have a detailed inventory of your home’s assets in writing or on video. “Document every phone call and email contact you have with your insurer,” she says. “Record date, the time, who you spoke to and what you talked about. It’s critical to keep good records.” The couple is also considering installing other mitigation equipment, including an outdoor sprinkler system with heat sensors that release flame retardants in the event of a wildfire. Today, Tellem and Thompson are renting a house about 10 minutes from their property. When Tellem goes to feed and water the critters, she passes by charred rubble where a statue of St. Francis stood for many years. The statue was there after the fire, and Tellem credits the saint for watching over the turtles the couple could not find the morning they evacuated. “St. Francis protected the animals we couldn’t catch,” she says. Sadly, that property, like so many other homeowners in the fire-ravaged landscape, has recently been targeted by thieves. “We have had to put locks on everything, but I never imagined that someone would steal St. Francis,” Tellem says about a final gutwrenching loss from this fire. “That truly breaks my heart.” — B.R.
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ARROYO HOME & DESIGN SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Thinking of a remodel? You should consider some professional advice BY BRUCE HARING continued on page 26
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PHOTO: Courtesy of CYNTHIA BENNETT & ASSOCIATES
HOW TO FIND AN INTERIOR DESIGNER
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—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—
continued from page 24
Even the most intriguing and inviting homes can occasionally use a fresh approach. Perhaps your color scheme is no longer working, your furniture seems tired, or the layout of the room just doesn’t seem to meet your needs. That’s when you should consider hiring an interior designer. It’s their job to come into your space and transform it into something that takes into consideration aesthetics, function and your living patterns. An interior designer may specialize in commercial or residential design, but some are involved in both. They may also specialize in things like green
millwork, ceiling finishes, and flooring. Interior designers are more focused on the look and style of a home’s interiors, doing a lighting plan, designing backsplashes, selecting tile, finishes and hardware, and matching colors to the scheme of the room. Yes, there is some overlap, and the client may have to enlist their contractor to ride herd on the dueling visions of the twin professions. But most duties between the two can be clearly established through a simple delegation of authority. That’s best handled in the contract stages of a project.
design, taking care to be environmentally friendly and using renewables and energy efficient elements in your room’s choices. The designer can work with most any room in a residence, but most
FINDING THE RIGHT DESIGNER Like any artist, the interior designer wants you to be amazed, astonished
specialize in certain parts of the home, like bathrooms or kitchens. Think of
and newly in love with the space. It’s a client-driven business, and great word
them as an artist of the interior – using color, decorations, furniture placement,
of mouth is the lifeblood of the profession. That’s why you should ask your
window treatments and enhanced lighting, they can transform a space into
friends, relatives and acquaintances for recommendations.
something that hardly resembles the previous layout. Keep in mind that there is a difference between an architect and an
You can also call professional associations like the American Society of Interior Designers or the International Interior Designer Association, both active
interior designer. While both are trained professionals, architects are focused
in Southern California. Once you get a few names, check out their websites,
on safety and deal with the structure of your home. The interior designer is
Facebook and other online media. You’ll usually see examples of projects
about changing the parts of the house that don’t involve its structure.
they’ve worked on.
The architect will generally deal with the electrical and plumbing,
As with any professional that you hire for a service, there are certain continued on page 30
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—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—
continued from page 26
questions you should ponder before signing the contract. Chief among them are specifics on what you wish to accomplish and your budget. Having ideas isn’t an intrusion, and will be welcomed, as it eliminates some of the guesswork by your interior designer. This is where the client/professional chemistry develops as well, and it’s important to the project that you both can communicate comfortably with each other, as a good interior designer will have as many, if not more, questions than the client. One area where it pays to hire a professional is the avoidance of costly mistakes. Choosing the wrong flooring or upgrading things that perhaps don’t need upgrading are the type of things that can push a project far beyond projects, and can hand-hold through the process of making the right choices. Once the goal is set and the budget is established, the designer will get to work on some drawings or computer animations of what the space will look like. This is the fun step, as the vision you share will suddenly become a bit more real when you have a chance to see it. Once you sign off on that, the magic begins. ADVICE FROM A LOCAL PRO Cynthia Bennett is the president of Cynthia Bennett & Associates, a continued on page 32
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PHOTO: Courtesy of CYNTHIA BENNETT & ASSOCIATES
the initial outline. A good interior designer knows what works, based on past
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—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—
PHOTO: Courtesy of CYNTHIA BENNETT & ASSOCIATES
continued from page 30
South Pasadena interior designer who has done hundreds of Pasadena area homes. Bennett obtains her clients through referrals, but also picks up accounts through Google, Houzz, and her own firm’s website. Designers do have specialties, she notes. Her firm’s wheelhouse is in kitchens and bathrooms. “There are designers that do everything, but it’s always best to get an expert in the area you are looking to redesign,” she says, adding, “Architects generally do not specialize in interior spaces.” If you’re new at hiring an interior designer, Bennett suggests that you ask about specialties as a starting point. You should also explore whether that prospective designer has a specific style, i.e., modern, traditional or transitional. Ask to be shown some examples of previous projects that are similar to what you wish to do, and by all means, ask about the timeline for the project and the process involved in the remodel (for example, will the rest of your home be without water for a certain period)? “The relationship needs to be a good fit,” Bennett says. “Clients should look at the previous work of the designer to make sure they have the same style they are looking for. At the first meeting, the client and designer need to feel comfortable about going through the process together.” Part of that communication is about budgets, which are always paramount in any project. Bennett says there’s no real budget threshold for hiring an interior designer. “It depends on what the client is looking for,” she says. “$5,000 might get them something, but if they want a lot more done, they may have to do it in phases. A good designer will tell the client what a true budget should be for what they are looking for.” The ideal client, from Bennett’s perspective, is someone who “has truest in our design skills and relies on our expertise to advise them. Clients who know what they want in general are easier to work with than clients who don’t have a clue. If a client knows their color scheme and has definite ideas about material selection, it is easier to work with. But they do need to defer to the designer’s advice if something doesn’t work.” |||| 32 | ARROYO | 03.19
arroyo
HOME SALES ABOVE $750,000
™
~HOM E SALES I N D EX~
0.01% ALHAMBRA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. ALTADENA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. ARCADIA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. EAGLE ROCK Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. GLENDALE Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. LA CAÑADA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. PASADENA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. SAN MARINO Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. SIERRA MADRE Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. SOUTH PASADENA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. TOTAL Homes Sold Avg Price/Sq. Ft.
JAN.’18 23 $650,00 1377 JAN.’18 23 $811,000 1411 JAN.’18 23 $1,128,000 2036 JAN.’18 14 $815,000 1080 JAN.’18 65 $749,000 1426 JAN.’18 10 $2,275,000 3574 JAN.’18 63 $748,000 1296 JAN.’18 6 $2,062,500 2506 JAN.’18 3 $695,000 960 JAN.’18 10 $1,350,000 1968 JAN.’18 235 $617
2018
2019 source: CalREsource HOMES SOLD
149
AVG. PRICE/SQ. FT.
Jan.
HOMES SOLD
-0.37%
Jan.
234
HOME SALES
JAN.’19 17 $58,000 1479 JAN.’19 18 $795,250 1681 JAN.’19 10 $1,220,250 1949 JAN.’19 3 $1,300,00 2065 JAN.’19 13 $770,000 1449 JAN.’19 5 $1,300,000 2202 JAN.’19 60 $806,000 1454 JAN.’19 3 $1,790,000 2298 JAN.’19 7 $875,000 1413 JAN.’19 6 $1,445,500 2543 JAN.’19 149 $617
ADDRESS
CLOSE DATE
PRICE BDRMS. SQ. FT. YR. BUILTPREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD
ALHAMBRA 528 North Ethel Avenue 1/10/19 $1,150,000 1621 South Sierra Vista Avenue1/9/19 $951,000 203 North Curtis Avenue 1/10/19 $900,000 115 North Valencia Street 1/18/19 $759,000 ALTADENA 2445 Porter Avenue 1/9/19 $1,400,000 2131 Craig Avenue 1/4/19 $1,365,000 3359 Canyon Crest Road 1/3/19 $1,240,000 2011 Minoru Drive 1/9/19 $988,000 804 New York Drive 1/7/19 $975,000 1850 East Altadena Drive 1/3/19 $865,000 2585 Catherine Road 1/18/19 $857,000 2677 Visscher Place 1/4/19 $850,000 266 East Las Flores Drive 1/15/19 $807,500 3128 North Mount Curve Avenue1/7/19 $783,000 212 West Harriet Street 1/24/19 $775,000 2174 Mar Vista Avenue 1/25/19 $760,000 ARCADIA 520 Coyle Avenue 1/22/19 $2,080,000 515 Danimere Avenue 1/8/19 $1,820,000 1121 Oakwood Drive 1/18/19 $1,500,000 1645 Elevado Avenue 1/23/19 $1,450,000 863 West Foothill Boulevard 1/9/19 $1,383,000 703 East Camino Real Avenue1/24/19 $1,351,000 2125 Louise Avenue 1/18/19 $1,285,000 1543 Hyland Avenue 1/3/19 $1,250,000 2210 South 2nd Avenue 1/3/19 $1,220,000 3021 South 9th Avenue 1/16/19 $1,050,000 1228 South 5th Avenue 1/11/19 $1,050,000 400 East Wistaria Avenue 1/15/19 $900,000 409 Genoa Street #9 1/10/19 $805,000 EAGLE ROCK 4556 College View Avenue 1/11/19 $1,720,000 4903 Argus Drive 1/15/19 $1,300,000 1713 Hill Drive 1/24/19 $910,000 GLENDALE 929 Calle Del Pacifico 1/9/19 $1,260,000 2655 Risa Drive 1/25/19 $1,250,000 2101 Waltonia Drive 1/11/19 $1,250,000 1351 Orange Grove Avenue 1/11/19 $1,210,000 1438 Randall Street 1/16/19 $1,089,000 2023 Chilton Drive 1/18/19 $880,000
4 5 3 2
2,001 2,103 1,584 1,552
1936 1951 1923 1913
$775,000 $710,000 $552,000 $615,000
7/11/18 12/24/14 12/3/14 12/6/06
5 3 2 3 5 3 3 3 3 2 3 3
2,138 1,959 2,094 1,331 2,040 1,707 1,732 1,863 1,322 1,222 1,264 1,685
1904 1947 1946 1935 1928 1946 1956 1978 1926 1938 1928 1949
$950,000 $790,000 $499,000
8/10/18 12/18/15 8/7/00
$860,000 $299,000 $315,000
12/11/18 2/9/99 1/28/00
$657,500 $357,000 $575,000
12/29/15 7/6/10 10/8/03
3 4 4 4 4 4 5 3 3
1,438 3,057 3,241 2,587 2,786 2,099 4,357 2,457 1,891
9/10/15 10/4/16
2,007 1,455 1,861
1950 $890,000 1951 $762,500 1961 1951 $1,360,000 1962 1925 $1,300,000 1927 1948 1975 $390,000 $430,000 1954 $380,000 1950 $890,000 1984 $169,500
1/1/92 8/27/15 4/10/00 8/18/14 8/1/85
3 3 3 6 3 3
2,970 1,358 2,065
1926 1957 1948
$790,000 $889,000 $295,000
7/13/15 5/22/18 4/16/99
4 4 3 6 4 4
2,528 3,069 1,709 2,932 2,530 1,426
1989 $1,230,000 1958 $900,000 1927 $590,000 1952 $980,000 1952 $585,000 1925
1/9/17 10/15/14 5/10/11 6/26/06 6/15/15
1/8/16 12/7/16
–continued on page 34
The Arroyo Home Sales Index is calculated from residential home sales in Pasadena and the surrounding communities of South Pasadena, San Marino, La Canada Flintridge, Eagle Rock, Glendale (including Montrose), Altadena, Sierra Madre, Arcadia and Alhambra. Individual home sales data provided by CalREsource. Arroyo Home Sales Index © Arroyo 2019. Complete home sales listings appear each week in Pasadena Weekly.
03.19 ARROYO | 33
–continued from page 33
HOME SALES ABOVE $750,000 source: CalREsource
ADDRESS
CLOSE DATE
LA CAÑADA 4158 Commonwealth Avenue 1/17/19 1025 Olive Lane 1/3/19 2101 Tondolea Lane 1/18/19 1946 Foothill Boulevard 1/4/19 4545 Daleridge Road 1/25/19 PASADENA 3210 Lombardy Road 1/15/19 510 Michigan Boulevard 1/8/19 500 South Hill Avenue 1/23/19 310 Arlington Drive 1/14/19 1395 South Los Robles Ave. 1/4/19 3654 Yorkshire Road 1/16/19 3637 San Pasqual Street 1/16/19 630 South Los Robles Ave. 1/4/19 61 Painter Street #1 1/8/19 1621 Pleasant Way 1/24/19 2160 Loma Vista Street 1/25/19 295 Arlington Drive #14 1/8/19 2098 Lambert Drive 1/7/19 154 California Terrace 1/9/19 65 North Arroyo Boulevard 1/18/19 873 North Holliston Avenue 1/11/19 11 Oak Knoll Gardens Drive 1/15/19 1040 South Orange Grove Blvd. #91/14/19 2027 Garfias Drive 1/4/19 1740 Loma Vista Street 1/4/19 840 East Green Street #320 1/17/19 125 Hurlbut Street #101 1/11/19 244 South Marengo Avenue 1/25/19
34 | ARROYO | 03.19
PRICE BDRMS. SQ. FT. YR. BUILTPREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD
$7,860,000 $3,750,000 $1,300,000 $1,125,000 $950,000
7 3 4 2 2
10,285 2,202 3,066 2,038 1,322
1993 $6,301,000 1937 $1,505,000 1986 $375,000 1948 $307,000 1946 $218,000
$2,250,000 $2,105,000 $2,020,000 $2,000,000 $1,665,000 $1,450,000 $1,395,000 $1,295,000 $1,250,000 $1,199,000 $1,110,000 $1,110,000 $1,098,000 $1,050,000 $1,032,500 $1,005,000 $985,000 $982,000 $938,000 $930,000 $890,000 $875,000 $870,000
3 5 6 2 4 3 3 5 3 4 3 3 3 5 2 4 2 2 4 2 1
5,094 3,872 3,576 1,908 2,462 1,842 2,680 2,498 3,110 3,150 2,196 2,037 1,565 1,831 2,065 2,328 1,180 1,604 1,593 1,294 1,485
1953 1960 $1,850,000 1926 1912 1977 $458,181 1936 $1,030,000 1938 $490,000 1909 $520,000 1921 $850,000 1987 $1,048,000 1930 1969 $524,000 1925 $750,000 1906 1953 $735,000 1922 1922 $420,000 1963 1926 $590,000 1930 2006 $740,000
3
1,741
1978
$825,000
5/3/17 10/3/16 4/1/87 1/27/09 4/17/03 11/3/15
10/2/01 11/28/06 5/1/91 9/28/01 1/31/18 5/24/18 5/17/02 9/21/17 4/23/03 5/30/01 2/8/05 1/29/16 2/27/18
ADDRESS
CLOSE DATE
PASADENA 1530 North Harding Avenue 1/3/19 322 Allendale Road #B 1/23/19 241 North Mar Vista Avenue 1/16/19 125 Hurlbut Street #201 1/15/19 1943 North Garfield Avenue 1/4/19 2630 East Villa Street 1/16/19 1182 North El Molino Avenue 1/15/19 2245 East Woodlyn Road 1/23/19 3824 Mountain View Avenue 1/3/19 996 Bell Street 1/14/19 385 Sequoia Drive 1/7/19 485 East Elizabeth Street 1/18/19 369 East Elizabeth Street 1/15/19 2831 Eaton Canyon Drive 1/17/19 SAN MARINO 125 Lowell Avenue 1/22/19 129 West Grandview Avenue 1/18/19 67 West Highland Avenue #B 1/9/19 683 West Grandview Avenue 1/8/19 350 East Grandview Avenue 1/3/19 SIERRA MADRE 2265 Melville Drive 1/15/19 1360 Bradbury Road 1/8/19 1797 South Euclid Avenue 1/18/19 SOUTH PASADENA 1504 Bank Street 1673 Via Del Rey 1140 Stratford Avenue 149 Peterson Avenue 1446 Oak Crest Avenue
1/11/19 1/4/19 1/25/19 1/8/19 1/3/19
PRICE BDRMS. SQ. FT. YR. BUILTPREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD
$870,000 $850,000 $850,000 $850,000 $850,000 $830,000 $812,000 $800,000 $800,000 $799,000 $799,000 $779,000 $755,000 $750,000
3 3 4
2,390 1,671 1,360
1947 2003 1905
$325,000 $616,000 $860,000
10/1/91 8/4/10 4/14/16
3 3 2 3 3 5 2 2 3 4
1,277 1,882 1,800 1,264 1,968 1,420 1,528 1,164 1,492 3,813
1910 1928 1928 1951 1970 1902 1951 1905 1923 1991
$540,000
10/5/05
$549,000 $192,000
5/28/14 1/1/87
$650,000
2/28/08
$284,000 $560,000 $480,000
6/29/01 8/16/04 1/27/99
$1,415,000 $1,030,000 $952,000 $875,000 $823,500
3 3 5 2 3
2,782 1,413 2,016 1,266 1,703
1948 $1,275,000 1946 $755,000 1912 1959 1957
1/13/16 11/20/15
$2,950,000 $1,790,000 $1,270,000
5 4 2
3,342 2,298 1,104
1942 $2,700,000 1950 $600,000 1924
1/23/17 10/16/02
$1,850,000 $1,750,000 $1,641,000 $1,250,000 $1,170,000
6 4 4 4 3
3506 2,994 2,092 3,988 1,774
1928 1968 1911 1992 1957
$345,000
6/29/99
$585,000 $700,000
4/18/02 2/2/17
arroyo
SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS PREVIEW SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE SUMMER CAMP LIST. – continued on page 37
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SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS PREVIEW – continued from page 35
BARNHART SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP FULL DAY, ARTS, SPORTS
Barnhart School provides the perfect solution to your search for a summer program for your children. Our full day summer camp begins June 17th through June 21st with another round from August 5th – August 9th. We begin our camp experience at 8am and run through 4:30pm. Lunch, snacks, and challenging activities are provided during the week. Visit us online for more information. Age Range: 5- 14, Dates: June 17 – June 21 and August 5 – August 9, 2019 Times: 8:00am – 4:30pm, Tuition: $300 for the whole week. $250 if registered by March 1, 2019, Registration Deadline: May 31, 2019 240 W. COLORADO BLVD. ARCADIA (626) 566-2348 EMAIL: JCHAVEZ@BARNHARTSCHOOL.ORG BARNHARTSCHOOL.ORG
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS – SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CSARTS ACADEMY FULL DAY, HALF DAY, ARTS
CSArts Academy offers young artists a fun and rewarding opportunity to develop their artistic talents in a creative, nurturing environment. Taught by educators from California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley, the week-long summer program offers classes in the areas of dance, fine and media arts, music and theater. Age Range: 8-16, Dates: June 17-21, 2019, Times: Half-day times: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Full-day times: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Lunch from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.) Tuition: $225-$425, Registration Deadline: June 7, 2019 1401 HIGHLAND AVENUE, DUARTE (657) 321-4000 ACADEMY@SGV.CSARTS.NET SGV.CSARTS.NET/ACADEMY
CHANDLER SCHOOL
SUMMER @CHANDLER FULL DAY, HALF DAY, ARTS, NATURE & SCIENCE, SPORTS, ENRICHMENT AND ACADEMICS
Summer@Chandler offers children ages 5 through 14 a balanced variety of educational, recreational and social activities, providing them with an enriching and memorable summer experience. The Camp Program offers half-day, full-day, weekly and extended care enrollment options. Each one-week Camp session has weekly themes throughout the 5 days, with activities including crafts, sports, outdoor play and field trips. The Enrichment Classes, which are offered in two 3-week sessions this year, are taught by Chandler faculty members. They feature courses that can help sharpen students’ academic skills in Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts or explore new extracurricular frontiers. Students will feel nurtured, engaged and safe while enjoying a customized Summer@Chandler adventure! Age Range: 5-13, Dates: June 10 – July 26, 2019, Times: Care available 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Half-day times: 12:00 – 3:00 p.m., Full-day times: 8:00 – 3:00 p.m., Extended Day time: 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., Tuition: Camp is $375 a week and Classes are $275, Registration Deadline: We accept same day registration but recommend early enrollment to receive first choice classes and camp activities.
1005 ARMADA DRIVE, PASADENA (626) 795-9310 EMAIL: ABROWN@CHANDLERSCHOOL.ORG HTTPS://WWW.CHANDLERSCHOOL.ORG/PAGE/COMMUNITY/SUMMERCHANDLER
EMMAUS LUTHERAN SCHOOL EMMAUS LUTHERAN SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FULL DAY, ENRICHMENT AND ACADEMICS
Emmaus Lutheran Summer Enrichment Program is a balanced mixture of morning academic courses including mathematics, reading, writing, foreign language and science and afternoon camp activities. Each week there is an off-campus field trip. Qualified educators and well-trained staff provide an all-inclusive experience for students in Grades 1-8. Age Range: 6 years-14 years (entering grades 1-8), Dates: June 3-July 26, 2019 Times: 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Half-day times: n/a, Full-day times: 7:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Extended Day time: Included, Tuition: $175 for first student per week $160 for sibling per week Also, registration fee of $60 if paid on or before May 10, and $75 after May 10, Registration Deadline: Early Bird Registration due by May 10, 2019. Registration open after May 10 until classes are full. 840 S. ALMANSOR STREET, ALHAMBRA (626) 289-3664 KHITTINGER@EMMAUSALHAMBRA.ORG EMMAUSALHAMBRA.ORG
THE GOODEN SCHOOL GOODEN SUMMER SCHOOL
FULL DAY, ARTS, NATURE & SCIENCE, SPORTS, ENRICHMENT AND ACADEMICS
The Gooden Summer Program is open to all students from kindergarten through eighth grade. We offer a rich variety of classes in academic subjects, music, art, languages, STEAM, ISEE/HSPT test prep and sports that provide students with appealing choices for a fun and productive summer. Age Range: Entering kindergarten - entering eighth grade, Dates: June 17 - July 3 and July 8 - July 26, Times: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Extended Day time: 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 - 6 p.m. Tuition (must include):$140-150 per class per session with a 10% early bird discount through March 22, Registration Deadline: Ongoing
192 N. BALDWIN AVE., SIERRA MADRE (626) 355-2410 EMAIL: LTORTELL@GOODENSCHOOL.ORG GOODENSUMMERSCHOOL.ORG
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SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS PREVIEW – continued from page 37
LAUNCH SPORTS
FULL DAY, HALF DAY, SPORTS
Launch a lifelong passion for sport with our engaging, energetic team of friendly, professional coaches. Together we’re here to not only develop kids’ physical skills, but also to build their confidence while promoting teamwork and championing great sportsmanship. At Launch we can offer Half Day, Full Day and Extended Day options. Age Range: 4-14, Dates: Seasonal Camps, Times: Variety, Half-day times: 9 – 12 Full-day times: 9 – 3, Extended Day time: 7:30 am – 6 pm, Tuition: $140 - $299 Registration Deadline: ongoing ROSEBOWL, LA CANADA, PASADENA (626) 336-0488 EMAIL: ADURAZO@LAUNCHSPORTS.ORG LAUNCHSPORTS.ORG
LINDAMOOD-BELL ACADEMY
Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes HALF DAY, ENRICHMENT AND ACADEMICS, SPECIAL NEEDSSummer learning at Lindamood-Bell is individualized to meet the learning needs of each student in a short amount of time. Because it’s one-to-one, we’ll only spend time on what your child needs. Starting with a learning evaluation to uncover their strengths and weaknesses, we will recommend a summer learning plan that will make a difference for your child. Age Range: 4 to adult, Dates: year round, Times: 8-noon, 1-5, Half-day times: 8-noon, 1-5 Full-day times: n/a, Extended Day time: n/a, Tuition: varies based on student need and length of program, Registration Deadline: n/a 959 E. WALNUT, SUITE 110, PASADENA (626) 396-0865 PASADENA.CENTER@LINDAMOODBELL.COM LINDAMOODBELL.COM
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE SUMMER INSTITUTE OF FUN HALF DAY, ARTS
The Summer Institute of Fun is a week-long dynamic physical theater camp for young people of all abilities in a collaborative fun learning environment with a student/teacher ratio of 7:1. We focus on storytelling through imaginative group improvisation and basic movement techniques culminating in an informal folktale performance. Age Range: 6-8, 9-13, 11-15, Dates: One week sessions: Age 6-8, Mon-Fri July 15— Aug 9, Age 9-13, Mon-Fri July 15—Aug 2, Age 11-15 Mon-Fri Aug 5—Aug 9 Times: Age 6-8 9:00am to 12:15 pm, Age 9-13 1:00pm to 5:15pm, Age 11-15 1:00pm to 5:15pm, Half-day times: 9:00 am to 12:15 pm for 6-8 yr olds, 1:00 pm to 5:15 pm for 9-13 & 11-15 yr olds, Tuition: morning session for 6-8 yr olds (9-12:15) $165; afternoon session for 9-13 & 11-15 yr olds (1:00—5:15) $195; discounts available for siblings and when attending multiple sessions, Registration Deadline: Open until fully enrolled. Best to enroll soon. KECK THEATER, OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE, 1600 CAMPUS RD., LOS ANGELES (323) 259-2771 BEATRICE@OXY.EDU; THEATER@OXY.EDU OXY.EDU/SUMMER-INSTITUTE-FUN
PERFORMING ARTS WORKSHOPS
FULL DAY, ARTS, ENRICHMENT AND ACADEMICS
Winner of LA Parent Magazine’s Best Camp! Spend your Summer Days in any of PAW’s award-winning Camps: Musical Theater, Guitar, LOL, Rock the Mic, Filmmaking, Magic, Stage F/X Make-up, and Photography Camp! The ultimate “Arts” experience from rehearsal to performance. Make friends and lifelong memories. Age Range: Ages 5-15, Dates: From June 17 to August 23 in 1 and 2 week sessions. Times: Doors open at 8:00am, Camp Hours 8:45 to 3:00, Full-day times: Doors open at 8:00am, Camp Hours 8:45 to 3:00, Extended Day time: From 3:00pm until 5:00 Tuition: 1 and 2 week sessions – call for rates. Registration Deadline: As soon as possible recommended as some sessions will sell out. Must register prior to the start of each session. Sessions run from June 17 – Aug 23.
PASADENA LOCATION – THROOP CHURCH, 300 S. LOS ROBLES, PASADENA (310) 827-8827 EMAIL: PERFORMINGARTSLA@AOL.COM PERFORMINGARTSWORKSHOPS.COM
PROJECT SCIENTIST
FULL DAY, NATURE & SCIENCE, GIRLS ONLY
Project Scientist is fostering today’s scientists who will lead the world in solving tomorrow’s greatest challenges! This summer, girls will be participating in fun-filled expeditions, hands-on experiments and interactive seminars with women who are thriving in the STEM field. Age Range: 4-12, Dates: June 17-21, June 24-28, July 1-5, July 8-12, July 15-19, July 22-26. Full-day times: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Tuition: $795 per week
1200 EAST CALIFORNIA BLVD., PASADENA, (CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY) 833-776-5724 (1-833-PROJSCI) EMAIL: INFO@PROJECTSCIENTIST.ORG PROJECTSCIENTIST.ORG
SCHOOL OF ROCK PASADENA SCHOOL OF ROCK SUMMER CAMP
FULL DAY, ARTS, ENRICHMENT AND ACADEMICS
Do you want to learn how to play in a band? School of Rock offers a wide variety of music camps that get kids jamming. Our camps are perfect for musicians of any skill level who want to play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals. No experience necessary! Age Range: 7-18, Dates: One week camps beginning June 5th through August 16th Times: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Full-day times: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tuition: $450, Registration Deadline: no deadline
1240 E. COLORADO BLVD., (626) 508-1818 EMAIL: PASADENA@SCHOOLOFROCK.COM PASADENA.SCHOOLOFROCK.COM – continued on page 40 03.19 | ARROYO | 39
SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS PREVIEW – continued from page 39
SCI-ARC, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE DESIGN IMMERSION DAYS FULL DAY, ARTS
Design Immersion Days (DID) at SCI-Arc is a four-week pre-college summer program for students interested in creating projects for a portfolio and exploring careers in design. DID students create projects alongside leading architects and designers, learn 2D and 3D design software, and visit iconic sites and studios throughout Los Angeles. Age Range: 14-18, Dates: 6/17/2019-7/13/2019, Times: 9am-5pm, Full-day times: 9am-5 pm Tuition: $3350, Registration Deadline: Rolling 960 E THIRD STREET, LOS ANGELES (213) 356-5320 EMAIL: ADMISSIONS@SCIARC.EDU SCIARC.EDU/DID
THE SECOND CITY SUMMER COMEDY CAMP HALF DAY, ARTS
Campers exercise their sense of play through improv games and exercises, the foundation of our unique brand of comedy, to help enhance their ability to communicate with others and develop confidence in their own creativity while working as part of an ensemble. No experience required. Camps end with a show! Age Range: 8-18 Dates: Camp 1: June 10-14 • Hollywood Camp 2: June 17-21 • Hollywood Camp 3: June 24-28 • Hollywood OR Pasadena Camp 4: July 1-3 • Hollywood only Camp 5: July 8-12 • Hollywood OR Pasadena Camp 6: July 15-19 • Hollywood OR Pasadena Camp 7: July 22-26 • Hollywood Camp 8: July 29-Aug 2 • Hollywood Camp 9: Aug 5-9 • Hollywood OR Pasadena Camp 10: Aug 12-16 • Hollywood Times: Early Drop-Off is 8:30am Camp: 9am-3:30pm Late Pick-Up is 4pm Tuition: $395 (20% off second child in same camp), Registration Deadline: Accepts registration until camps are full, no deadline. PASADENA: 690 E. ORANGE GROVE BLVD. PASADENA HOLLYWOOD: 6560 HOLLYWOOD BLVD. LA (323) 464-8542 SCLA@SECONDCITY.COM SECONDCITYSUMMERS.COM
SEQUOYAH SCHOOL SEQUOYAH SUMMERHOUSE
FULL DAY, HALF DAY, NATURE & SCIENCE, SPORTS
Summerhouse offers a flexible, summer day program designed to nurture curiosity and independence. A haven for student discovery, the Summerhouse experience provides myriad opportunities for learning and exploration through play, creative activities, and goal-oriented projects. Flexible drop-in schedule. 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Open to the entire community. Age Range: 5-15, Dates: June 17 - August 16, Times: 7:30a -6:00p, Tuition: 1-4 days: $109/ day, 5+ days: $94/day, 20+ days: $82/day, Unlimited: $2,990, Registration Deadline: none
535 S PASADENA AVE PASADENA (626) 795-4351 EMAIL: MKAYE@SEQUOYAHSCHOOL.ORG K8.SEQUOYAHSCHOOL.ORG/SUMMERHOUSE/
ST JAMES PARISH DAY SCHOOL ST JAMES PARISH DAY SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP HALF DAY, ENRICHMENT AND ACADEMICS
“Dive into the S.T.R.E.A.M. of Learning”! Join the quest this summer as we explore S- Science, T- Teamwork, R- Reading, E-Engineering, A- Art and M- Math. Learning made fun through developmental play based activities, enriched with exploration, teamwork and adventure. Our curriculum nurtures and challenges children’s curiosity, we look forward to the adventure this summer! Age Range: 2 years 9 months to 5 years old and potty trained, Dates: June 18th – July 17, 2019 Times: Monday – Thursday, Half-day times: 9:00am to 12:00pm, Full-day times: N/A Extended Day time: 12:00pm to 2:00pm, Tuition: $730.00 for all 5 weeks, extended day additional fee $10.00 per hour, Registration Deadline: May 15, 2019, Enrollment is first come first served.
1325 MONTEREY ROAD, SOUTH PASADENA (626) 799-6906 EMAIL: KGOODRICH13@SJCSP.ORG STJAMESPARISHDAYSCHOOL.ORG – continued on page 42
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SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS PREVIEW – continued from page 40
SOUTH PASADENA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION SPEF SUMMER CAMPS
FULL DAY, HALF DAY, ARTS, NATURE & SCIENCE, SPORTS, ENRICHMENT AND ACADEMICS
SPEF collaborates with SPUSD teachers and local organizations to offer a variety of weeklong hands-on camps throughout summer and at various times during the year. Students can develop coding concepts at the Next Generation Coding Camp, explore their artistic side at SPEF’s Art Camp, or learn and further develop their skills in a sport. From Sports to Technology, or from Art to Science, SPEF Camps provide students in our community with a foundation of fundamental skills and knowledge and offer students the opportunity to develop teamwork, character, and leadership.
AGE RANGE: GRADES K-12, DATES: ALL SUMMER LONG, TIMES: 9:00-2:30, HALF-DAY TIMES: 9:00-12:00, FULL-DAY TIMES: 9:00 – 2:30, TUITION: CAMPS START AT $205, REGISTRATION DEADLINE: NO DEADLINE VARIOUS SOUTH PASADENA CAMPUSES (626) 441-5810 EXT. 1163 EMAIL: SPETERSEN@SPEF4KIDS.ORG SPEF4KIDS.ORG
SOUTH PASADENA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION SPEF SUMMER SCHOOL
FULL DAY, HALF DAY, ARTS, NATURE & SCIENCE, SPORTS, ENRICHMENT AND ACADEMICS
Each year, students count on SPEF’s Summer Program to brush up on basics, jump ahead on critical academic topics, expand their skills and ignite their imaginations. Enrichment and Proficiency classes are offered to students of all ages in grades K-12. All subjects are available including science, art, math, social science, theater, languages, and physical education. Age Range: Grades K-12, Dates: Grades K-8 June 17-July 12 & Grades 9-12, June 17 – July 19, Times: 8:00 – 2:30, Half-day times: Various options, Full-day times: Various options, Tuition: Classes start at $165, Registration Deadline: No deadline VARIOUS SOUTH PASADENA CAMPUSES (626) 441-5810 EXT. 1163 EMAIL: SPETERSEN@SPEF4KIDS.ORG SPEF4KIDS.ORG
STRATFORD SCHOOL SUMMER@STRATFORD
FULL DAY, HALF DAY, ARTS, NATURE & SCIENCE, SPORTS, ENRICHMENT AND ACADEMICS, STEAM
Stratford infuses its STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) curriculum into an innovative, enriching summer camp experience. Younger campers learn, explore, and engage in hands-on learning projects, while Elementary-age students tackle real-world problems by utilizing academic principles in a fun, engaging way and Middle School sessions span a variety of exciting themes. Age Range: Preschool – 8th Grade (2.5 – 14 years old), Dates: June 10 – August 9, 2019, Times: 8:15a.m. – 3:30p.m., Half-day times: 8:15a.m.-11:30a.m., Full-day times: 8:15a.m.3:30p.m., Extended Day time: 3:30p.m.-6:00p.m., Tuition: Preschool/PreK (age 2.5 – 4) – Choose full-day or morning half-day with two-, three-, or five-days per week starting at $429, Kindergarten Prep (age 4-5) – Choose full-day or morning half-day, five-days per week starting at $1059, Elementary (entering grades 1-5 next school year) – Our themed “Summer STEAM” program is full-day, two-week sessions starting at $899, Middle School (entering grades 6-8 next school year) – Choose full-day or morning half-day with two-, three-, or five-days per week starting at $659, Registration Deadline: Early Bird Discount – March 15, 2019 Los Angeles (Preschool – 8th Grade) 1200 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, 90038 Altadena (Preschool – 5th Grade) 2046 Allen Ave, Altadena, 91001 West Los Angeles (Preschool – Kindergarten) 2000 Stoner Ave, Los Angeles, 90025 Los Angeles (323) 962-3075, Altadena (626) 794-1000, West Los Angeles (424) 293-2783 EMAIL: LOS ANGELES MELROSE@STRATFORDSCHOOLS.COM, ALTADENA ALTADENA@STRATFORDSCHOOLS.COM WEST LOS ANGELES WLA@STRATFORDSCHOOLS.COM STRATFORDSCHOOLS.COM/SUMMER-CAMP
TOM SAWYER CAMPS, INC. FULL DAY
Celebrating its 93rd summer, Tom Sawyer Camps provides local youth unique opportunities to foster positive new relationships, build confidence and develop a sense of independence. The program achieves this through a traditional outdoor program that includes horseback riding, swimming, hiking, group games and more. While campers attend camp to play, our directors and staff know that the outcomes of their experiences are far greater. Age Range: 3 and up, Dates: June 17-August 23, Time: Vary according to camp, Full-day: 9-2 pre camp, 9-3 TSC Too, 9-3:45 SDC Extended Day Times: 7:30 am-start, & end of camp until 6pm, Tuition: $104-153/day 707 W. WOODBURY RD., ALTADENA (626) 794-1156 EMAIL: INFO@TOMSAWYERCAMPS.COM TOMSAWYERCAMPS.COM ||||
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03.19 | ARROYO | 43
THE BANK OF MOM AND DAD
More cash-strapped millennials are turning to their parents for help on home down payments. BY KATHLEEN KELLEHER
L
ike many comfortable parents of millennials, Jenny and Steven Lagos want to help their children get established as homeowners. Both daughters, 37 and 35, are successful and live in San Francisco where astronomical home prices spike wildly in bidding wars. It is an expensive place to live, but neither daughter has plans to leave. “Once our grandchildren were born, we thought it would be so great if our kids could have a place to live [that they owned],” said Jenny Lagos, whose older daughter and husband have two young sons. “So we thought if they were willing to go in [together] on a duplex, they could afford it.” So the retired couple secured a home equity line of credit on their San Diego house. They hoped to assist with the hardest home-buying stepping stone — the down payment. Their daughter and her husband, and their younger, single daughter, prequalified jointly for a mortgage in the mid-$900,000 range. The trio looked for a duplex, but right-priced duplexes were selling weeks later for up to $200,000 over the asking price. They are resigned to renting for now. Still, the Lagoses are keeping their home-equity line of credit, just in case the housing market takes a dive — even though Jenny Lagos acknowledged that’s unlikely. “It’s pretty laughable when you talk about the market going up and down in San Francisco,” she said.
44 | ARROYO | 03.19
More millennials (ages 23 to 38) are tapping their parents’ resources for help with a mortgage down payment because scraping up enough is an enormous challenge. Young adults have some unique financial disadvantages: They have lower incomes than baby boomers had as young adults, according to a Federal Reserve data analysis conducted by the nonprofit group Young Invincibles. Most of them also have skimpier assets, particularly those who are burdened by student loan debt. Indeed, just 30 percent of millennials are current homeowners, a historic low for the under-35 demographic, according to a recent Harvard University study. Additionally, slow wage growth and a high cost of living makes squirreling away enough cash for a down payment next to impossible for many fi rst-time homebuyers. Then there are the twin challenges of housing prices still rising year over year — though the pace has slowed — and higher mortgage interest rates that make buying a fi rst home more expensive. Many millennials are waiting for the housing market to cool off before attempting to jump in. “To put things in perspective, the median housing price in Pasadena is $800,000, but nationally the median housing price is $220,000, “ said Earl Jordan Yaokasin, CEO of Wealtharch Investment Services in Pasadena. “So Pasadena housing prices are about four times as much as the national average. But the income of millennials is not four times as much as the average national income. That is what is causing the affordability problem.” As a result, many millennials either have to borrow from their parents or have their parents cover the down payment outright, said Yaokasin, who is also a chartered financial analyst. Home buyers typically need to put down 20 percent of the purchase price for conventional loans (more than 60 percent of buyers use a conventional loan) and pay closing costs of 2 to 5 percent of the home purchase price, said Yaokasin. A growing number of mortgage loan borrowers are making smaller down payments that range from 5 to 10 percent of a home purchase price; borrowers putting down less than 20 percent have to pay Primary Mortgage Insurance (or PMI), according to myhome. freddiemac.com, an information website exploring renting versus buying and the mortgage process. Millennial buyers need to factor in the additional costs of property insurance and property taxes when considering the entire cost, said Yoakasin. But with high rents and payments for a car, insurance and gas, just saving for a 20 percent down payment on an $800,000 house — that would amount to $160,000 — is an incredibly difficult challenge. “Two-thirds of people I speak with who are millennials have debt and their saving habits are not great,” he said. –continued on page 46
03.19 | ARROYO | 45
–continued from page 45
So many millennials turn to their parents for help. More than 26 percent of borrowers got help from a relative to make a down payment from September 2017 to 2018, up from 22 percent in 2011, according to the Federal Housing Administration’s 2018 annual report. TheF HA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, insures lending institutions against riskier loans. Firsttime homebuyers with imperfect credit often secure FHA loans because they cannot qualify for standard loans that require a good credit history. Likewise, FHA homebuyers can put down as little as 3.5 percent of the home price, compared to conventional mortgage loans that require 20 percent. Riskier borrowers now make up about one-tenth of all home loans, according to the FHA. Enter Mom and Dad. “Parents who want to help their adult children should really talk to an advisor before they do it,” said Neal Frankle, a certifi ed fin ancial planner at Wealth Resources Group in Westlake who specializes in guiding millennial clients. “You have to look at the whole situation, and there is no single, right decision for every situation,” added Frankle, who also counsels millennials in his creditpilgrim.com blog. “But the best way to do it is to have the children make payments immediately on the loan; the second is to defer payments until they get settled, maybe in 10 years, and the third is to make a gift, the worst alternative versus a loan.” Unless parents are willing to gift it freely with absolutely no expectations, they should reconsider bankrolling the down payment, said Frankle, who is the father of three daughters, two of whom are millennials. If you are not clear about expectations, he notes, it could open the door to resentments and other family problems. . Kathy Miles, a real estate agent for Keller Williams in Pasadena, has helped a number of millennials buy their fi rst house in the past year. In her experience, young doctors, lawyers, dentists, accountants or tech workers did not tap their parents for 46 | ARROYO | 03.19
a down payment — but they did move back in with their parents until they’d saved enough to pay for it themselves. “I have worked with six millennials in the last 12 months and about half needed help from their parents and half did not,” said Miles, 31, who owns a house with her husband and bought it without parental assistance. “Two needed help with the down payment and those parents also cosigned onto the loan. The third millennial assumed the house from her parents who had dementia. But all of my friends who purchased a house in their 20s did get help from their parents.” Homebuyers who need help with a down payment have been viewed as riskier because they have less of their own hard-earned cash invested in the property. If home prices drop, jobs are lost or some other financial calamity hits, the thinking is that buyers assisted with a down payment are quicker to walk away because the loss is less painful. In contrast, some lenders and financial advisors think that getting assistance from parents or a relative makes the buyer feel a sense of moral duty to protect their family’s investment. The evidence is mixed. Loan tracking data from the FHA that followed loans in 2010–2011 found that 7.6 percent of loans involving family assistance with the down payment are not in default for 90 days or more. That is less than the 9.3 percent of buyers who got down-payment help from an unrelated entity or the government. Only 5.2 percent of buyers who received no help with a down payment were delinquent on their FHA loans. The big picture? It’s a good idea for parents to help their millennial kids — assuming they can afford to and the kids are responsible, said Frankle. But it is also a good idea to check in with a financial advisor before doing so. “It is better than waiting to die to give it to them, but you have to be sure that it does not create the wrong value,” he said. “From a relationship and financial basis, you are better off to make it a loan, but if that is not viable, then do it, let go and forget about it.” ||||
VINTAGE VISIONS RE-CREATED Pasadena’s 1933 Group creates hip bars and eateries by restoring classic properties. BY CARL KOZLOWSKI
PHOTOS: Courtesy of Bobby Green
W
hen 10-year-old Bobby Green arrived in Los Angeles from his native Oklahoma, he fell instantly in awestruck love with the city he describes as “a giant movie set.” He recalls thinking the palm trees were fake and admiring the Hollywood sign aglow at night; he especially loved visiting the iconic Tail O’ the Pup hot-dog stand, musing all the while that so much of the city was “built to entertain, be wacky and crazy.” Now 48, the Altadena resident is the cofounder and lead designer of the 1933 Group, a prominent L.A. hospitality company that has created more than a dozen nightlife hotspots around town since its inception in 1999. Over the years, Green and his partners, Dimitri Komarov and Dmitry Liberman, have left their mark on such popular watering holes as the barrel-shaped Idle Hour in North Hollywood, Bigfoot Lodge in Los Feliz (their fi rst establishment) and Highland Park’s La Cuevita and Highland Park Bowl. Now the designers are shifting their focus toward restoring classic properties like L.A.’s Formosa Café and the Tail O’ the Pup to their former glory. “I was going to go to [Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design] to study environmental design in the late ’80s, but I was given the opportunity to take over a coffeehouse I was working at,” says Green, who shares his Altadena home with his fiancé. “We took over the tiny coffeehouse and art gallery called Cacao, in West Hollywood, and that became my college because I learned how to grow a small business. “It’s how I learned the hospitality business, and I came up with the concept of Bigfoot Lodge because I wanted to do something in L.A. that didn’t exist,” he continues. “It was kind of like a movie set that takes people away from their daily lives, and I figured a log cabin motif was the perfect juxtaposition to the postmodern city we live in.” The next step for Green was finding the right investors for his inventive concepts. To that end, he created a concept book detailing his ideas, which a mutual friend passed along to the men who became his partners. The trio opened the Lodge in 1999, meeting instant success. It became such a hip spot that Drew Carey sang karaoke there with fellow cast members of his former improv comedy TV series, Whose Line Is It Anyway? It even inspired the 2008 Jim Carrey movie Yes Man to set a scene in a full-size replica of the Atwater Village bar. While his partners are also occupied running their Komarov clothing brand, carried in Nordstrom stores nationwide, Green devotes himself –continued on page 48 03.19 | ARROYO | 47
–continued from page 47
to all kinds of vintage Americana. He collects and rides classic hot rods and motorcycles, owns a specialty motorcycle and collectibles store called Old Crowe Speed Shop in Burbank and scours the countryside for one-of-a-kind vintage pieces he can restore or repurpose for his home or the various bars operated by the 1933 Group. “The business is constantly evolving,” says Green, the son of a successful artist who specialized in working with stained glass from abandoned churches. “There are always new trends and fashions, and obviously the whole craft cocktail movement, so you have to keep up with the times but also stay true to yourself in the business — what you do and who you are. One thing is how strong our identity is through everything we’ve done. A few years ago places that could have existed y g we went from creatingg vintage-style g y p back in the day to restoring vintage plac places ces that existed. It was a graduation in that, rather than building sets that looked like old places,, we went to saving old places. That was more gratifying to us and more rewarding to the city we’re in.” in..” The 1933 Group’s headquarters is located loccated in a former church in Pasadena. He found the space when the Burbank facility the company occupied occup pied for 14 years was due to be demolished. The new headquarters would be used not only for work, but also tto o store some of his vintage cars. “I came across this little church that was for sale because the preacher had d died and his kids didn’t want to continue,” says Green. “It was on the market for quite a while, and luckily,, because I am a creative businessperson, I love repurposing things like a church as a nightclub or a home. “I’ve always loved lovved anything interesting like that. It has great energy, better than a mortuary for sure,” he says with a laugh. When lauggh. “I turned it into my private space, where I get my work done and keep my favorite cars. W I came to L.A. L .A. in 1980, you still had a lot of great ’40s and ’50s cars on the road here. That added to the whole set-like atmosphere attmosphere of L.A.” Aside and Aside from his design work with the 1933 Group, Green’s proudest achievement has been producing pro promoting Th e Race of Gentlemen, which he describes as an annual “automotive carnival” on Pismo Beach promoting that featured a drag race; the event had a four-year run before ending last year. His favorite architectural design project is the Highland Park Bowl, housed in a structure originally built str in 1927. The Prohibition-era bowling alley earned the 1933 Group an award from the t Highland Park Heritage Trust for its massive restoration after decades as the decrepit punk-music venue Mr. T’s Bowl. “Mr. T’s was a very dark, ugly-feeling space. You had no idea there was this beautiful world hidden behind dropped ceilings, curtains and walls,” says Green. “You have no idea how rewarding it is to t show how beautiful it was, and as popular as it was in 1927. That’s one of the hardest things to do — dream of reopening old things, but finding d it doesn’t always work because our lifestyles have changed. Sometimes they fail because of that, but fortuSome nately the bowling alley concept continues to live on and thrive.” thriv The Formosa Café is approaching its big relaunch this spring, with the Tail o’ the Pup claiming Green’s attention after that. He acquired the famous stand shaped like a giant fiberglass hot dog s from the Van Nuys–based Valley Relics Museum, where it had been in storage since shortly w after its 2005 demise. Owning one of the iconic buildings he fi rst fell in love with on arriving bu here is exciting, Green says, but the restoration will be hard work. Its future location is restorat still to be decided. “It won’t be easy. Nothing’s easy!” easy! he says with a smile. “The dog has to be connected to a building. It was connected to a small building, and we hope co to incorporate a larger outside patio and beer garden. It’ll be just as difficult as all of them are, and an will likely be a year-and-a-half before it’s functional — planning, planning architecture and permitting before you can start construction. construct “But that’s okay. I’ve always had the goal to create o something that doesn’t exist and takes people out of t their daily da life. They crave a day of escapism.” |||| Visit Visit
48 | ARROYO | 03.19
V Visit 1933group.com.
KITCHEN CONFESSIONS
Cookie Fever
IF IT’S MARCH, IT MUST BE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SEASON. BY LESLIE BILDERBACK
S
o far, in my ongoing attempt to follow and observe the National Day Calendar, I have concluded that March is a strange and cruel month. Directly following
Awkward Moments Day (March 18) is National Let’s Laugh Day (March 19).
Everything You Do is Right Day comes after we must suffer through Everything You Do
Is Wrong Day (March 15 and 16). There is the bad-luck-taunting Open Your Umbrella
Indoors Day (March 13), and the dismissive Get Over It Day (March 9). Food holidays
are not much better. Cheese Doodle Day (March 5), Taters Day (not potatoes, but “taters”
— March 31), Cold Cuts Day (March 3) and Chip ’n’ Dip Day (March 23). This is not the month to focus on healthy eating. At least Corned Beef and Cabbage Day coincides with Saint Patrick’s Day.
The one day I did get excited about, though, is March 12, Girl Scout Day. I assume it
is timed to coincide with the annual cookie sales. I had never heard of it but will gladly
celebrate. It is not the birthday of our founder, Juliette Gordon Lowe (which every good scout knows is on Halloween), but rather the day in 1912 of the first organized troop meeting, of 18 girls in Savannah, Georgia.
I have a long and nostalgic history with the Girl Scouts. I followed the example of my
mother, who cherished her memories as a scout. As was the case with her, all my closest
friends were scouts with me. My leader was my friend Kathy’s mom, and it was through her that I learned to love camping. She taught us to light a fire with a spindle and bow, identify poison oak and make tea out of manzanita bark and a salad out of dandelion greens. Sure, we had s’mores; but more important, we learned to make doughboys — ready-to-bake
biscuit dough on a stick, browned over the fire, then rolled in melted butter and cinnamon sugar. We went backpacking and horseback riding, learned archery and kayaking and
discovered that sliding down a dirt hillside is easier on your jeans if you ride on cardboard. We were a diverse group — African-American, Jewish, Asian, Arab, Latina — and
from elementary school to junior high we were thick as thieves. If not for scouts I would
probably never have gotten to know them. And although by high school our interests had
changed (hello, boys!), we all remained friendly. I’m still in touch with some of them, and we all share great memories of that time. So you bet I signed up my girls when they were little, and I jumped at the chance to be a leader. But it wasn’t the same for them. I tried getting them jazzed about the outdoors, but the camping trips we took were never as
miraculous as the ones I remembered from my childhood. It was always too hot, or too
cold, or too dirty, or too windy. The thrill of fireside skits, lanyards and tie-dyed T-shirts
wore off for them fast. I like to blame the age of the Internet, but in reality I just wasn’t as good at selling these activities as my leader had been.
The one thing they did love, though, was selling cookies. Cookie time was their favorite
time of year. They loved setting up tables in front of stores. If we were lucky, we would
get the coveted Friday and Saturday night Blockbuster Video spot, which was the most
profitable cookie-sales spot in town. Rain or shine, my troop was great at pressure sales. They made up cookie songs and cheers to entertain the shoppers and danced in cookie
costumes, like a giant Thin Mint mascot. (This was a favorite costume, which they would
fight over routinely.) I believe they gained some skills over the years, like rising above rude people, avoiding creepy ones and working together as a team to meet financial goals. And they definitely had financial goals, though it was not to secure funds for our
troop activities. They were all about the “incentive prizes.” Good sales could get you dolls, T-shirts, key chains, beach towels, backpacks (I still have many of these items floating
around my house) and the coveted trip to Disneyland, which required selling at least 500 boxes (yeah, we did that). Some of the girls in my troop were ambitious, but mostly they
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were good at talking their parents into selling at the office. My husband was hands-down the best seller in my troop. The cookie sales began in 1917 as a way to finance troop activities, and it continues to be thus. In 1922 American Girl magazine published a simple sugar-cookie recipe for Girl Scouts to bake at home and sell to neighbors. By the 1930s demand was high, and the girls had trouble keeping up with the demand, resulting in the first commercially baked cookies in 1934. Due to food rationing during World War I, the girls raised money by selling calendars. When my mother was a scout in the 1950s there were three flavors (shortbread, chocolate mint and peanut butter), and boxes sold for a quarter. When my girls were selling in the 2000s, there were nine flavors that sold for $4 a box (customers were outraged). Today there are 12 varieties (availability depends on where you live), including gluten-free and non-GMO varieties, and they sell for $5 to $6. If you don’t have any girls in your area, you can get them online now through the official Girl Scout website (or on Amazon, for a substantial markup). Scouting is not perfect, nor is the cookie sale. And while I have many problems with it (too much packaging, too much focus on prizes, more money spent on the sale than on the girls), I still think the program upholds Juliette Gordon Lowe’s vision — empowering little girls. She started the program before the 19th Amendment — before girls could feasibly wear pants. Sure, girls today are less likely to go camping. Then again, they are more likely to go to robotics camp, and I think Juliette would be fine with that. ||||
HOMEMADE GIRL SCOUT COOKIES
ALL DRESSED UP STORY AND PHOTO BY MICHAEL CERVIN
T
he Otis Bar, so named for an American bulldog whose portrait overlooks the place, used to be the loading platform for trains at the historic 1934 Santa Fe Depot, now the site of Del Mar Station in Old Pasadena. Located inside La Grande Orange Café, the bar is reminiscent of a Deco-era watering hole, a hip place that’s cool without trying to be. It’s comfortable and stylish, with retro ambience. To keep Arroyolanders engaged, they offer Neighborhood Nights on Mondays and Tuesdays, whereby locals ordering two entrees pay a mere $5 for one of them. “Our food is all farm-to-market and we’re kind of a destination,” says Clark LeBlanc, the general manager. With the Metro line stop just steps away, it’s easy to get all dressed up and saunter out for a cocktail. Th is drink is crisp and clean, with the prosecco’s light bubbles adding freshness to the gin’s botanical notes and the cherry of the liqueur, softening the tartness. LeBlanc recommends pairing it with rib-eye tacos with kale and quinoa salad. ||||
ALL DRESSED UP INGREDIENTS ¾ ounce Leopold Bros. Michigan Tart Cherry Liqueur 1 ounce Fords London Dry Gin ¼ ounce simple syrup
METHOD
½ ounce lemon juice, strained Splash Adami Bosco di Gica Prosecco Fresh lemon peel
Pour liqueur, gin, syrup and lemon juice into shaker, and shake vigorously for one minute. Strain directly into chilled coupe glass. Float prosecco and lemon peel on top. 50 | ARROYO | 03.19
Before the boxes, Girl Scout cookies were homemade. Here is the original recipe for the first sugar cookie (updated for your modern kitchen) and a simulated Thin Mint (the all-time bestseller). Speaking of cookie boxes, the logo was updated in 1978 by graphic design great Saul Bass, who created, among other things, iconic movie posters and title sequences, including those for The Man with the Golden Arm, Anatomy of a Murder, North by Northwest, Psycho and West Side Story. I hope he got a lifetime supply of cookies for his effort.
INGREDIENTS 1 cup unsalted butter 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon sea salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 cups all-purpose fl our
METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Beat butter and sugar together until smooth and lump-free. Add eggs one at a time, then milk and vanilla. Stir in salt, baking powder and flour until well combined, then chill for an hour. 2. Roll dough out on a floured surface, cut in desired shape (trefoil is the tradition), place on prepared baking sheet an inch apart and sprinkle lightly with granulated sugar. Bake for 8–10 minutes, until golden brown.
THIN MINTS INGREDIENTS 1 cup unsalted butter 1 cup powdered sugar ¾ teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup cocoa powder
METHOD
1½ cups all-purpose fl our 1 12-ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips ½ teaspoon peppermint extract 1 tablespoon coconut or vegetable oil
1. Preheat oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Beat butter, powdered sugar and salt together until smooth and lump-free. Add vanilla, then slowly stir in cocoa powder and flour. Chill for one hour. 2. Roll dough out on a floured surface, cut in 2-inch circles and place on prepared baking sheet one inch apart. Bake for 8–10 minutes, then cool completely. 3. Meanwhile, melt chocolate and extract together over a double boiler, or slowly, in a microwave, stirring every 20 seconds. Stir in oil thoroughly, then dunk each cookie, using a fork; then set on a clean sheet of parchment to cool and harden.
A SELECTIVE PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EVENTS COMPILED BY JOHN SOLLENBERGER
THE LIST
Mahler, Mozart and Magyar Music
ArtNight Pasadena Returns
March 2 — Los
March 8 — ArtNight
Angeles Chamber
Pasadena returns
Orchestra performs works by Mahler and
from 6 to 10 p.m., offering free admission
Matthias Pintscher (above) at 8 p.m. at
to numerous Pasadena art institutions,
the Alex Theatre. Pitscher also serves as
including the Norton Simon Museum, USC
guest conductor. Featured performers
Pacific Asia Museum, Art Center College
are soprano Michelle DeYoung, tenor
of Design, Lineage Performing Arts Center,
Sean Panikkar and flutist Henrik Heide.
KidSpace, the Pasadena Museum of His-
Ticket prices start at $28.
tory, the Pasadena Playhouse and other
The Alex Theatre is located at 216 N.
institutions. Activities include tours and
Brand Blvd., Glendale.
dance, music and theater performances.
March 10 — The orchestra hosts a fund-
Guests can park at any participating
raiser, “Japan à la Carte,” at 11 a.m. at
venue and take free shuttles to others.
the Shosein “Whispering Pine” Japanese
Call (626) 744-7249 or visit artnightpasa-
Teahouse in Glendale’s Brand Park. The
dena.org.
event offers a musical journey to Japan,
Tickets are $400 each.
Menopause Hits the Rose
The Shoseian Teahouse is located at 1601
March 9 — GFour
pairing performances with Asian cuisine.
the world premiere of James Newton
NATURE GOES DIGITAL AT ARBORETUM
Howard’s Cello Concerto at 8 p.m.
Ongoing through March 3 — The L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
celebration of women dealing with the
at the Alex Theatre. The concert also
presents “Digital Nature 2019” --- an evening outdoor exhibition of artworks
transition. Audience members will sing
includes works by Mozart and Gabriella
projected onto the lush landscape. The show, including video and sound
along to classic pop songs of the 1960s,
Smith. Featured performers are Wade
installations, is inspired by the junction of the natural world and technology.
’70s and ’80s. The show starts at 9 p.m.
Culbreath, LACO principal timpani/per-
Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. nightly through March 3. Food and drinks are available for
Tickets are $38 to $58.
cussionist, and Principal Cello Andrew
purchase. Admission is $14 to $18.
The Rose is located at 245 E. Green St.,
Shulman. Tickets start at $28.
The L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is located at 301 N. Baldwin
Pasadena. Call (888) 645-5006 or visit wher-
March 29 — LACO Concertmaster Mar-
Ave., Arcadia. Call (626) 821-3222 or visit arboretum.org.
emusicmeetsthesoul.com.
W. Mountain St., Glendale. March 23 — LACO Conductor Laureate Jeffery Kahane leads the orchestra in
Productions presents Menopause The Musical for one night at The Rose in Pasadena. The hit comedy is a groundbreaking
garet Batjer curates a Hungarian-
Kaleidoscope Season Continues
influenced program as part of the orches-
March 3 — The museum hosts an After-
tra’s “In Focus” series, including works by
noon Salon, “Beauty and Virtue: Titian’s
Prokofiev, Bartók, Barber and Peter Knell.
Lady in White,” at 1 p.m. Attendees will
Southwest Stories at the Huntington
It starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Huntington
view Titian’s painting, then explore other
March 7 — Authors
Library, Art Collections and Botanical
Renaissance portrayals of women, both
Bryan Mealer (The
Gardens. Tickets are $49 and up.
real and ideal.
Kings of Big Spring)
The Huntington Library, Art Collections
March 9 — Activities inspired by Rous-
and Joshua Wheeler (Acid West)
Pasadena City College’s Westberbeck
and Botanical Gardens is located at 1151
seau’s Exotic Landscape for families with
discuss “Busted: Brash New Stories from
Recital Hall, featuring works by Mozart
Oxford Rd., San Marino. Call (213) 622-
children ages 4 to 10 run from 1:30 to
Texas and New Mexico,” exploring
and various modern composers. Included
7001 or visit laco.org.
3:30 p.m. Participants will create a story
the hardscrabble times, places and
are Joan Tower’s “Petroushskates,” the
around the painting and make it come
people of those two quintessentially
world premiere of “Jardin Seco” by Josep
Painted Ladies Star at Norton Simon
alive using mixed media; families will also
Western states. The 7:30 p.m. discussion
Maria Guix (above), “Umoja” by Valerie
collaborate on a diorama.
at the Huntington is co-sponsored
Coleman and “Aires Tropicales” by Pa-
March 16 — A performance by Nancy
by The Journal of Alta California and
quito D’Rivera. Admission on a pay-what-
All events are includ-
Evans Dance Theatre, “Fate and the
moderated by Daniel Hernandez,
you-can basis.
ed in regular Norton
Heroine: Dido, Queen of Carthage,”
editor of the L.A. Taco news platform.
Pasadena City College’s Westerbeck
Simon Museum admission of $15, $12 for
explores through dance, music, art and
A reception and book-signing follow
Recital Hall is located at 1570 E. Colorado
seniors; free for members, students and
text the tragic love story of Dido and
the program. Admission is free; no
Blvd., Pasadena. Visit kco.la for tickets and
visitors 18 and younger.
Prince Aeneas of Troy, telling the tale
reservations are required.
information.
March 2 — Emily Talbot (above), as-
from her perspective, from 6 to 7 p.m.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections
sistant curator at the Norton Simon,
Norton Simon Museum is located at 411
and Botanical Gardens is located at 1151
Jack Jones and Les Mis in Arcadia
lectures on “Matisse and His Models”
W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626)
Oxford Rd., San Marino. Call (626) 405-
March 14 — The Arcadia Performing Arts
at 4 p.m.
449-6840 or visit nortonsimon.org.
2100 or visit huntington.org.
March 9 — The Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra’s season continues with a 7 p.m. concert at
–continued on page 52 03.19 | ARROYO | 51
THE LIST –continued from page 51
Center presents Les Misérables from 7
follows former Army intelligence officer
to 9:30 p.m. The hit Broadway musical
Dan Reilly, forced into the role of detec-
about the French Revolution, based on
tive after the Tokyo hotel he now runs is
the 1862 novel by French poet and nov-
bombed. As he attempts to install high-
elist Victor Hugo, is staged by Arcadia
security measures, a climactic event in
High School’s award-winning Arcadia
Brussels threatens NATO and the security
Stage and Stagecraft classes. Tickets
of member nations. Admission is free.
cost $15, $30 for VIPs and $10 for seniors
Vroman’s Bookstore is located at 695 E.
and students.
Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 449-
March 30 — Two-time Grammy Award-
5320 or visit vromansbookstore.com.
winning singer Jack Jones performs at
live concerts, television, film and musical
Symphony Salutes Mahler, Mozart
theater. Tickets range from $20 to $80.
March 23 — The
APAC from 7 to 8:30 p.m. His career spans recordings on numerous record labels,
The Arcadia Performing Arts Center is
Pasadena Symphony
located at 188 Campus Dr., Arcadia. Visit
performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.
arcadiapaf.org.
21 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, along with other works by the composers, at
Irish Sing, Escher String
2 and 8 p.m. at Pasadena’s Ambas-
March 16 — Two
Beethoven Piano Competition win-
Celtic groups, Dub-
ner Rodolfo Leone. David Lockington
lin’s Irish Tenors and
(above) conducts. Tickets are $35 to
sador Auditorium. Featured performer is
the Celtic Ladies, join forces to perform
$123 for each concert.
Irish classics, opera, pop and jazz starting
The Ambassador Auditorium is located at
at 8 p.m. in Beckman Auditorium. Tickets
131 S. St. John Ave., Pasadena. Call (626)
are $39 to $49.
793-7172 or visit pasadenasymphony-
March 17 — The Escher String Quartet
pops.org.
performs a Coleman Chamber Music
and Schumann at 3:30 p.m. in Beckman
Veteran Vocalist at Jazz ’n Paz
Auditorium. Tickets are $20 to $55.
March 24 — Jazz
Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium is located
’n Paz presents
on Michigan Avenue south of Del Mar
renowned jazz and
concert of works by Beethoven, Ives
Boulevard, Pasadena. Call (626) 395-4652
blues singer Barbara Morrison (above)
or visit events.caltech.edu.
and her trio at 5 p.m. at the Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church,
St. Pat’s Salute at Parson’s Nose
which sponsors the monthly series with
March 16 and 17
veteran vocalist on the local scene who
— Parson’s Nose
also hosts regular events at her own Bar-
Theater presents “An
bara Morrison Performing Arts Center in
Performances à la Carte. Morrison is a
Irish Celebration,” a Reader’s Theater
Los Angeles. Tickets are $25 in advance,
presentation of Irish poetry, music and
$28 at the door.
humor, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. The
The Neighborhood UU Church is located
event starts at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3
at 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena.
p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20, $15 for
Call (626) 296-9843 or visit jazznpaz.com.
seniors and $10 for students. Marengo Ave., Pasadena. Call (626) 403-
Young Tenor in Chamber Music Spotlight
7667 or visit parsonsnose.com.
March 31 — Tenor Joshua Wheeker
Parson’s Nose Theater is located at 95 N.
appears with the Pittance Chamber
Thriller Authors at Vroman’s
Music orchestra in a 7:30 p.m. concert at
March 21 — Authors Gary Grossman
the Pasadena Conservatory of Music’s
and Ed Fuller discuss and sign their new
Barrett Hall. “Evensong with Joshua
thriller, Red Hotel (Beaufort Books), at
Wheeker” features Wheeker, a member
7 p.m. at Vroman’s Bookstore. The novel 52 | ARROYO | 03.19
–continued on page 54
03.19 | ARROYO | 53
THE LIST
TEA IN THE GARDEN March 31 — The Pasadena Festival of Tea is served at the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden, where local tea vendors will offer tastings and sales of a wide range of teas and accessories, including Darjeeling and Assam teas, Korean herbal blends, Chinese oolong and pu-erh varieties and more. Tasting cups will be provided with admission. Tea specialists will discuss the drink, and Bradford King, president of the Southern California Camellia Society, will provide a slide show of the delicate flowers and their relationship to tea. The garden’s En Gallery will display tea ceramics and prints by Japan-trained local artist Julie Bagish. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12 in advance online, or $15 at the gate. Tea ceremony demonstrations will also be held from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Niko-an Teahouse for an additional fee of $15 (online reservations are required). Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is located at 270 Arlington Dr., Pasadena. Call (626) 399-1721 or visit japanesegardenpasadena.com.
–continued from page 52
of L.A. Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein
presents “Unrestrained/Refrains” in the for-
Young Artist Program, in a concert of
mer Pasadena Museum of California Art’s
works by Brahms and Vaughan Williams.
Kosmic Krylon Garage. The performance
Pittance Chamber Music consists of
features the acclaimed tap dancer and
resident artists of the Los Angeles Opera.
Tony-winning choreographer Savion
Tickets cost $35, $20 for senior; student
Glover (Bring in ’da Noise, Bring in ’da
rush tickets are $10 at the door.
Funk) and “guerilla violinist” Charles Yang.
Pasadena Conservatory of Music is lo-
Rachael Worby conducts. Doors open for
cated at 100 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena. Visit
mingling at 6 p.m., and the performance
pittancechambermusic.org.
starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $70. The Pasadena Museum of California Art
54 | ARROYO | 03.19
Glover in Garage with Muse/Ique Orchestra
Kosmic Krylon Garage is located at 490 E.
March 31 — Pasadena-based Muse/Ique
for tickets and visit muse-ique.com.
Union St., Pasadena. Call (626) 539-7085
03.19 | ARROYO | 55