EDITOR’S NOTE
Growth Spurt
P
laya Vista Direct is entering its fourth year of publication and I have good news: we’re growing. Instead of six issues in 2020, we’ll be publishing eight and I couldn’t be more excited. What does that mean for you? More personal stories, more exciting events, more new restaurants and businesses, and more opportunities for community building. For me, it means I’m going to be very busy! In this first of 2020’s eight issues, I track down a female esports gamer, Emmalee Garrido, who’s known on the world-wide esports stage as EMUHLEET. Her team will soon be practicing and training out of a brand new 5,500 square foot facility on Verizon’s campus. When she’s not gaming, Emmalee serves as a mentor to young girls eager to compete around the world. I was thrilled to find out that Shireen Jaffa, co-founder of Edvo, a new type of job recruitment company based in Playa Vista, recently made the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30: Education list. I really enjoyed our conversation and hearing about her childhood as an immigrant from Pakistan and discovering she had a knack for being an entrepreneur. Congrats Shireen! I also had the chance to visit a Girl Scouts meeting for Playa Vista’s newest Troop 70935. It’s cookie time right now so I encourage everyone to support the troop by getting your very own box of Samoas or Caramel Chocolate Chips. My personal favorites are Do-si-dos and Thin Mints, just in case anyone is wondering. As part of our issue expansion, we are also going to be expanding out and covering other parts of Silicon Beach. As a lover of Vietnamese food, I chose to cover Westchester restaurant MVP (Most Valuable Playa) and their delicious pho that makes one of the best winter meals. As always, I loved putting this issue together and meeting so many more of my neighbors. Have a suggestion or want to be part of the magazine? Shoot me an email: shanee@playavistadirect.com.
MANAGING EDITOR Shanee Edwards GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Arman Olivares Kate Doll CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lara J. Altunian · Christina Campodonico Stephanie Case · Richard Foss Jessica Koslow · Brian Marks · Robyn Paris Andrew Dubbins · Andy Vasoyan Gary Walker CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Erica Allen · Inae Bloom Courtnay Robbins · Maria Martin · Shilah Montiel · Zsuszi Steiner Emily Hart Roth ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kay Christy David Maury Denine Gentilella SENIOR EDITOR Joe Piasecki ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Rebecca Bermudez
CONTACT US EDITORIAL shanee@playavistadirect.com ADVERTISING info@playavistadirect.com
(310) 822-1629
161 S. Pasadena Ave., Suite B, South Pasadena CA 91030 Playa Vista Direct is direct-mailed every other month to homes and businesses in the 90094 area code, with additional distribution to multiple office and retail locations throughout the Playa Vista area.
Shanee Edwards Managing Editor · shanee@playavistadirect.com VICE PRESIDENT: Michael Hiatt PRESIDENT Steve Strickbine
PlayaVistaDirect.com
6 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | FEBRUARY · MARCH 2020
