Playa Vista Direct — December 2020 & January 2021 by Times Media Group

DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

GETTING INTO THE ZONE Performance coach Laura Wilde helps professional athletes understand the mind-body connection

D I R E C T

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4 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

JE S S E WE INBE RG

JUST LISTED

12452 Osprey Ln. #1, Playa Vista 4 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 2,638 Sq. Ft. $2,100,000 or $8,500/Mo 12452osprey.com

PENTHOUSE

13700 Marina Pointe Dr. #1915, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath |1,724 Sq.Ft. $2,195,000 Azzurra1915.com

FOR SALE

UNIQUE LIVE WORK SPACE

13337 Beach Ave. #115, Marina Del Rey 3 Bed | 4 Bath | 1,636 Sq.Ft. $1,299,000

IN ESCROW

8325 Flight Ave. Westchester 3 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,344 Sq. Ft. $ 1,199,000 8325Flight.com

FOR SALE

5721 S. Crescent Park #204, Playa Vista 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath + Den | 2,845 Sq. Ft. $1,699,000 Chatelaine204.com

FOR SALE

7562 W. 82nd St., Playa Del Rey 3 Bed | 3 Bath | 2,261 Sq. Ft. $1,699,000 756282nd.com

FOR SALE

4060 Glencoe Ave. #217, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,061 Sq. Ft. $785,000 4060Glencoe217.com

IN ESCROW

4775 La Villa Marina #C, Marina del Rey 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,582 Sq. Ft. $1,199,000 4775lvmc.com

PENTHOUSE

13650 Marina Pointe Dr. #1805, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath + Office | 2,904 Sq.Ft. $2,699,000 Cove1805.com

FOR SALE

13600 Marina Pointe Dr. #1110, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,650 Sq.Ft. $1,795,000 Regatta1110.com

FOR SALE

8025 Redlands St. #30, Playa Del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,206 Sq. Ft. $749,000 8025Redlands30.com

JUST SOLD

5831 Seawalk Dr. #241, Playa Vista 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2,202 Sq. Ft. $1,285,000

FOR SALE

201 Waterview, Playa Del Rey 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2,775 Sq. Ft. $2,570,000 201Waterview.com

FOR SALE

7561 Trask Ave., Playa DeL Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,131 Sq. Ft. $1,599,000 7561Trask.com

IN ESCROW

7525 Earldom Ave., Playa Del Rey 5 Bed | 4 Bath | 3,522 Sq. Ft. $2,399,000 7525Earldom.com

SOLD

5625 Crescent Park #132, Playa Vista 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,675 Sq. Ft. $1,070,000

JESSE WEINBERG AND ASSOCIATES DRE #01435805 This is not intended as a solicitation if your property is currently listed with another broker/agent. Based on information from the CLAW MLS as of December 9, 2020. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.

Contents EDITOR’S NOTE

FOOD

8 Hope for the holidays

24 Café Ruisseau brews coffee that caters to the community

COMMUNITY 27 Kids Club Pumpkin Craft Event @ Runway PEOPLE 20 Bodewell Living Candles From Light to Dark 16 Laura Wilde helps professional athletes understand the mind-body connection

HEALTH DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

28 LMU professor leads a nationwide team on COVID-19 research PET ADOPTIONS 30 Meet Abba-Zaba, a kitten ready to become your best friend

HOME 10 The Prietos list their luxury Camden home while they adventure in Colombia

D I R E C T

GETTING INTO THE ZONE Performance coach Laura Wilde helps professional athletes understand the mind-body connection

On the cover: Laura Wilde, author and athletic performance coach, shoots some hoops. Photo by Zsuzsi Steiner Design by Arman Olivares

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Hope on the Horizon

he holidays are upon us and they are going to be a lot different for most of us this year. While a hug from Grandma or engaging in an in-person Secret Santa gift exchange might seem like the thing we all need right now, we’re being told – again – to stay at home. That means celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas over Zoom. While this scenario makes me want to scream, “Bah humbug!” through my mask, it is the sacrifice we all must make to protect those most vulnerable in our population. But hope is just around the corner. By the time this magazine lands in your mailbox, it’s likely the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration and will have begun shipping out doses across the country. Playa Vista is home to several fantastic health facilities that will feasibly be able to administer the vaccine to you and your family in the coming weeks, after health care workers and the elderly receive theirs. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel. Science for the win! Until then, I hope we can all take inventory of the many things for which we are grateful. I’m personally grateful for Walkers Shortbread Gingerbread Men cookies (the round gingerbread cookies just won’t do). I like to take my time eating the flat, smiling chap, starting with his head, then his hands, then his feet and, finally, his torso. Call me a sadist. I’m also grateful for you, my dear readers. Your help and referrals throughout this tough year have meant the world to me. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to getting back to seeing all of your smiling faces IRL at the many events at the Bandshell or Concert Park once the vaccine is doing its job. Cheers to you as I bite the head off another gingerbread man.

MANAGING EDITOR Shanee Edwards GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Arman Olivares Kate Doll CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lara J. Altunian · Christina Campodonico Jessica Koslow · Brian Marks · Robyn Paris Andrew Dubbins · Andy Vasoyan Kellie Chudzinski CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Zsuszi Steiner · Luis Chavez Courtnay Robbins · Maria Martin Shilah Montiel · Emily Hart Roth ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kay Christy Denine Gentilella EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco-Karasinski ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Rebecca Bermudez

(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

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8 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

HOME

The Prietos have listed their Camden home for lease while they spend time on a mango farm in Colombia

10 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

HOME

THE PRIETOS DECORATE WITH PIZAZZ THAT’S PERSONAL Globetrotting family use their travels to inspire their interior design STORY BY SHANEE EDWARDS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE PRIETOS

laya Vista residents Vicki and Juan Pablo, and their daughters 7-year-old Sienna and 4-yearold Maya Blue, welcomed their newest family member, a boy named Bear, just a couple months ago. Now that their son is here, the family is ready to go on an international adventure! You might be asking yourself how that’s even possible during the pandemic, but the pandemic is precisely why the entire family is temporarily relocating to Colombia. With Vicki on maternity leave and Juan Pablo working remotely (both work in film and TV), now is the perfect time for Juan Pablo and the fam to return to his roots for six months. “My family has an organic mango farm in Colombia so we’re going to go and spend some time there with the girls,” says Juan Pablo, adding, “The girls can run around and get dirty!” He also notes that having grandma around to help with the newborn is a comfort, too. In the meantime, they are putting their Camden luxury home up for lease. The Prietos decided to come to Playa Vista in 2015. “We were looking for a place to buy on the Westside,” says Vicki. “My husband drove through here about six years ago when it was still desolate in Phase 2 and thought this could be the future.” Juan Pablo saw a couple of girls riding their bikes by themselves and thought this must be a thriving, safe place to raise a family. They scoured the 90094 zip code for a home. “When we were looking, there were about six 10-year-olds rollerblading by themselves and it was about six

The Prietos just welcomed a baby boy named Bear

o’clock in the afternoon. That reminded me of the way I had grown up. Where you could go and meet your friends and ride bikes and not have to worry about it. That sealed the deal for me,” says Juan Pablo. Their new Playa Vista home was going to live and look a lot differently than their previous one, a 1920s Pasadena home with Spanish architecture. “When we bought [our home in Playa Vista], you were allowed to build it from the ground up but we had no decorating skills,” says Vicki with a laugh. “Once we moved in, we realized we needed a lot of help.” After a chance-meeting with interior designer Faith Blakeney when selling their huge Spanish-style tile dinner

table, they decided to employ Blakeney’s services. “She just had this awesome, hippie, eclectic vibe,” says Vicki. “We’re also a little more alternative in our style – not very traditional. Our styles blended in the sense that we liked the way she would think outside the box.” The design goal was simple: they just wanted to give their home a little personality to make it a unique and fun space. Blakeney suggested wall coverings. “We started sampling the wallpaper and we end up decorating the whole house! We have wallpaper in every room and we enjoy it,” says Vicki. Their favorite wall covering was created from a photo they took while (Continued on page 12) PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021 11

HOME

(Continued from page 11)

traveling in Italy. “It’s a picture of the mountainside, looking into the ocean,” says Juan Pablo. “That one we turned into wallpaper because it’s a meaningful piece of artwork. We’ll always remember that trip.” They decided on another wall covering for the girls’ room: this time cute and cuddly pandas from a company in Portugal. “We sent them the dimensions of the wall, but there’s a door on that wall,” Juan Pablo says. “They actually changed the design to put the panda on top of that door. They were very accommodating.” Once the bedrooms were designed, they knew the living room would be a centerpiece for the house. They searched for the perfect wall accent. “We found a company called Stikwood online that basically sends you these pieces of wood that have [adhesive] on the back of them. You send them the measurement and put them up and they look like really nice, weathered wood,” says Juan Pablo.

The wall covering in the Prietos’ bedroom was made from a photo they took on holiday in Italy

The opposite wall in the kitchen needed some pizazz so they tried painting it different colors, but couldn’t settle on one. “We ended up going with mud cloth which was expensive by the foot so we only did one part of the wall rather than extending it out through the kitchen,” says Juan Pablo. If you’re unfamiliar with mud cloth, it’s a textile with hand-

dyed art from West Africa. Another unexpected design accent chosen by this unconventional, globetrotting family. The Prietos are now off to South America, but not to worry, they’ll be back after they’ve had their fill of mangos and Southern Hemisphere sunshine. Bon voyage!

I LIST. I STAGE. I SELL. ... you win! Michelle Martino • 310-880-0789 • www.marinadelreylistings.com 12 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

R E A L E STAT E P R O F I L E

SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT ON A SUPERSTAR AGENT MICHELLE MARTINO TURNS FINESSE INTO REAL ESTATE SUCCESS

ichelle Martino is a superstar.

From the time she got her first client, she’s relied on her innate ability to outthink, outservice, and outperform, for every single client regardless if they were looking to purchase, sell, or lease. The results have been remarkable. A standout example is when she listed a home on a Saturday, held an Open House on a Sunday, and in record time, had it closed on Monday. At that time, it was not only the highest-priced home in the area, but it closed in the fastest time ever. She followed that up by being recognized as one of the top 15 agents in over 275,000 in the California Association of Realtors. Her skills at negotiation are surpassed only by her notoriety at achieving near 100% Buyer success — first time out. That’s including the ultra-competitive world of multiple offers. Now, Michelle is the Executive Director of Luxury Homes at KW Silicon Beach. The key to Michelle’s success is her genuine honesty, strategic thinking, and sheer tenacity to make every deal a spectacular success. And, she has an incredible reputation for knowing the markets, the neighborhoods, and the most effective way to negotiate a deal. Michelle, who graduated from Loyola Marymount University with four, yes, four majors, was quickly invited to become a Mensa member and today continues to be awarded and recognized by The Argonaut — the sister publication of Playa Vista Direct — as well as several real estate organizations for her incredible talents. Michelle also has managed to elevate client care to elite status by offering her clients spectacular staging, concierge estate services, and chauffeured neighborhood tours.

Her success is an amalgamation of her down-toearth style and razor-sharp knowledge that captivates all who meet her. When asked what makes her such a standout, she replied, “I follow a passion to always be my best and win for my clients, while also remembering to be gracious, tenacious and absolutely unforgettable!”

Michelle Martino KW Silicon Beach 310-880-0789, marinadelreylistings.com

PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021 13 Advertorial

Highest Priced Sales in Playa Vista Sold in 2020 Community

Address

Sold Price

Sold Date

Jewel

5912 S Village Drive

$3,988,888

8/14/2020

Marlowe

12680 Millennium Drive

$3,000,000

3/6/2020

Trevion

12868 Hammock Lane

$2,950,000

1/16/2020

Trevion

12884 Hammock Lane

$2,939,000

11/3/2020

The Collection

12642 Millennium Drive

$2,888,000

4/28/2020

The Collection

12636 Millennium Drive

$2,820,000

4/28/2020

The Collection

12678 Millennium Drive

$2,799,000

9/30/2020

The Collection

12614 Sunrise Place

$2,780,000

8/28/2020

The Collection

12694 Millennium Drive

$2,700,000

3/27/2020

Icon

13076 W. North Icon Circle

$2,460,000

2/14/2020

Icon

13073 Bluff Creek Drive

$2,400,000

10/2/2020

The Collection

12663 Bluff Creek Drive

$2,388,000

10/9/2020

The Collection

12661 Bluff Creek Drive

$2,350,000

3/31/2020

Icon

6400 Seawalk Drive

$2,279,000

1/6/2020

The Collection

12659 Bluff Creek Drive

$2,275,000

5/29/2020

The Collection

12691 Bluff Creek Drive

$2,240,000

11/20/2020

The Collection

12679 Bluff Creek Drive

$2,220,000

10/2/2020

The Collection

5903 Westlawn Avenue

$2,360,000

4/8/2020

14 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

SOLD

WATERSTONE | $750,000

SOLD

ICON | $2,400,000

SOLD

CAMDEN | $1,520,000

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! CONTACT US TO START PLANNING YOUR 2021 PURCHASE OR SALE.

SOLD

PROMENADE | $995,000

SOLD

PROMENADE | $970,000

SOLD

PROMENADE | $1,180,000

OVER 20 YEARS COMBINED IN PLAYA VISTA. WE’VE PARTNERED TO OFFER YOU MORE.

KOFI NARTEY, MBA

Playa Vista Resident, Broker 310.849.5634 kofi@societybrokers.com DRE# 01404511

DENNIS HSII, MBA

Playa Vista Resident, Broker 424.248.9510 dennis@highlandpremiere.com DRE# 01919746

©2020 Highland Premiere and Society. All rights reserved. DRE License #01967160/#02014153. All material presented here in is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omission, changes or withdrawal without notice. If your property is currently listed with another real estate broker, this is not intended as a solicitation.|

PLAYA VISTA DIRECT DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021 15

PEOPLE

Laura Wilde helps athletes feel comfortable being themselves and works to help them manage their triggers

16 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

PEOPLE

GETTING INTO THE ZONE Performance coach Laura Wilde helps professional athletes understand the mind-body connection STORY BY ANDY VASOYAN | PHOTOS BY ZSUZSI STEINER

or most people, if you can’t focus on your job, that might cost you some extra time writing emails or sorting through reports. For professional athletes, focus can mean the difference between a big payday or a debilitating injury. That’s why teams and coaches are emphasizing the mental aspect of training, to set up that instinct that separates the average players from the Kobes and LeBrons. Helping a player turn that on at will - to move intentionally into “the zone ” - is where performance coach Laura Wilde comes in. “In some ways, [the zone] feels like you’re not there, and that’s kind of the goal...you kind of disappear, and something else takes over,” Wilde says. “Time feels like it stands still. You literally learn to be unbotherable.” Wilde is a former basketball player herself, who has worked with athletes in the NBA, WNBA, MLB and the NFL. The three-year resident of Playa Vista coached players on big-name LA teams to help them get into the zone more readily. Because of the (very) big money riding on players’ and teams’ images, Wilde can’t drop names. “In this business, we’re about the privacy,” she mentions, which carries just a hint of irony in light of the fact that Wilde got her big break by landing a business card after pitching a former NBA star at the local Whole Foods. “He set me up to work with an athlete he knew, and to work with himself, and he just saw a huge difference,” Wilde says. “He understood the mind-body connection, he started feeling better, all those old aches and pains from his playing started to fade, he got in better shape, and he started to get into the zone at work… He became

Wilde is author of the book ‘The Cosmic Athlete’ available on Amazon

zen, and also fierce… People around him noticed.” Words like “zen” and “mind-body connection” underscore the spiritual aspects of Wilde’s work. Prior to her certification in zone training (which involved taking an intuition class), Wilde was doing work in holistic healing. “In 2007, I stumbled into mindbody medicine. I was a basketball coach taking a healing class; it was really bizarre! I had no idea where a liver or kidney was. I didn’t know anatomy,” she says. “Within a year, here I was, doing this advanced healing work.” Wilde says that healing and getting in the zone go hand in hand, because accessing the pathway to the zone is dependent on a player’s frame of mind. “The goal is for them to be

comfortable being themselves, to get rid of their triggers, so they can always be playing their best game, to get in the zone and stay in the zone,” Wilde says. “At this point in the world, human beings’ bodies and minds are ready for another level. That’s why I call what I do supra-mental performance: because I do healing work combined with mental performance. The mind-body connection is really only one of the ways to unlock that ancestral trauma.” Ancestral trauma has been noted by the scientific community, in the burgeoning field of epigenetics. Epigenetics explores heritable markers placed onto our genes that change how cells read DNA without actually changing the (Continued on page 18) PLAYA VISTA VISTA DIRECT DIRECT || DECEMBER PLAYA DECEMBER -- JANUARY JANUARY 2021 2021 1717

PEOPLE

(Continued from page 17)

underlying code. If an athlete had an ancestor that experienced an intense stress event, he or she might have an epigenetic marker that could, in theory, manifest as an adverse health condition - ancestral trauma. It’s complex stuff, but for Wilde, it’s the future. “This new study of epigenetics is where health is going, and it’s also - as far as I’m concerned and if I can lead the way - going to be where mental performance is going,” she says. Another trend in medicine? The rise of online health appointments, thanks in large part to the coronavirus lockdowns. For Wilde, operating out of her apartment in Runway has gone off without a hitch, and actually made things a bit easier. “If anything, I can see more clients, because no one has to drive to me,” she says. “Meanwhile, I can walk to Whole Foods, I can walk to Starbucks, I can walk to Pilates when it reopens… I feel like I have a safe little jewel isolated from everything.”

Wilde hopes to be a leader in the field of epigenetics and help athletes deal with ‘ancestral trauma’

Wilde may be comfortable with her boundaries at home, but in terms of professional reach, she’s still expanding. “Most people who do, like, this woowoo healing work aren’t hanging out in the NBA,” Wilde says. “But I’m trying to bring people from the NBA into this

other world… The people who’ve never played don’t understand what it’s like to be on the courts, to be under pressure, to have to cater to family, fans, an ego, and also self-sabotaging habits. That’s really what we’re trying to overcome: ourselves… I help them break the wall.”

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310-305-9600 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021 19

PEOPLE

Entrepreneur Effie Tanjiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s candle business is a onewoman operation that often shares profits with charities

20 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

PEOPLE

BODEWELL LIVING CANDLES: FROM DARK TO LIGHT A Playa Vista Entrepreneur Creates the Scent of Authenticity STORY BY ROBYN PARIS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF EFFIE TANJI

ntrepreneur, Playa Vista resident and mother of three, Effie Tanji launched Bodewell Living after an acquaintance took one look at her successful jewelry business, trussedfun’d (which she runs with her best friend Aleia Ramsey – trussedfund.com), and was so impressed, she said, “I love your designs. You should get into candles!” Initially a bit put off, Effie responded, “Why candles? I’m doing jewelry!” But about three years ago, inspiration hit. Over the course of about two weeks, she did extensive research on the candle business, designed a simple yet elegant label using construction paper, a ruler and a Sharpie, and conceived of the name “Bodewell” and the unique scents. She found a manufacturer in Inglewood and had her first prototypes produced. She started selling the candles out of the back of her car at her daughter’s soccer practice and within about two months, she had sold 600 candles just through word of mouth. She knew she was on to something. Effie expanded production and before long, she landed accounts with Anthropologie, J. Crew, Madewell, Ojai Valley Inn and many others. In the crowded candle market, Effie found success with her unique approach and brand. Bodewell Living candles are each created with a specific memory from her life in mind. Raised in rural Pennsylvania, many of the scents are inspired from her childhood. In fact, one candle that I had the opportunity to try, called V.IVRE: radiant, described as having notes of white grapefruit and balsam, reminded me so acutely of my childhood summers spent in Cape May, NJ (just down the road from rural PA) with my grandparents, I almost felt I was back

Effie Tanji began selling candles out of her trunk at her daughter’s soccer games

there again in that yellow kitchen in the house by the beach. Other candle scents are inspired by Effie’s memories of the summers she spent in Greece as a child with her paternal grandparents. Still others trace

her move to Los Angeles and her life as a wife, mother and businesswoman. Each candle features a brief poetic story on its packaging – meant to transport the (Continued on page 22) PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021 21

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(Continued from page 21)

experiencer to another time and place. Effie explains, “It was important for me that the product resonate and touch people very deeply and move them so that their own memories are triggered as a result of experiencing the candles.” She explains that her business was booming and rapidly scaling just before COVID-19 hit, but it’s slowed since. As a one-woman operation, she notes that this period has been a blessing in that it’s given her time to pivot, regroup and figure out how to scale and grow the business at a manageable pace. She adds that sustainability is important to Bodewell, along with collaboration with other female entrepreneurs and charities. Effie recently designed her “Human” candle, featured on the Bodewell Living website, to raise money for the Los Angeles LGBT Youth Center, which has suffered during the pandemic. Part of Effie’s brand success has derived from the authentic, honest approach she takes on the company’s Instagram account @bodewellliving.

Each of Bodewell Living’s candles is created from a specific memory from Effie’s life

She features simple, creative snapshots of the products, along with photographs of herself, her three children Ella (9), Nico (6) and Lexi (3) and her husband, a Japanese-American LA County firefighter who is stationed at the Marina del Rey Station 110 on Admiralty Way. In reference to a recent IG post on the Bodewell account where Effie challenges the smoke and mirrors of social media perceptions, she notes, “My children are half-Asian and I’ve been asked if I’m the nanny several times. I feel like as a Caucasian woman who lives in Playa Vista, there are a lot of assumptions made about me, dismissing me as to who

OPEN FOR TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY

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(310) 670-6677 8343 Lincoln Blvd. Westchester www.AlejosRestaurant.com HOLIDAY HOURS:

OPEN CHRISTMAS EVE 12PM-5PM. CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY OPEN NEW YEAR’S EVE 12PM - 5PM CLOSED NEW YEAR’S DAY 22 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

I am and where I come from… I grew up in the welfare system and my father came from Greece illegally… and he was deported. He didn’t speak English and people made fun of him. In our tiny town in PA, we were considered outsiders… We make all of these judgements based off of a boiled down caricature and I feel that it’s so important to just stop. And look. And listen… We are all human beings who have suffered and who continue to grow and make mistakes and learn.” To buy one of Bodewell Living’s beautiful and unique candles, visit the website at bodewellliving.com where most retail for $36.

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We are removing equipment out of the wetlands. In support of the Ballona Wetlands Restoration Project, SoCalGas is planning the removal of 17 wells from service in the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve area. Rest assured, we are not expanding our infrastructure. Removing equipment and access roads will accommodate a larger restoration area in support of the project. SoCalGas’ environmental stewardship goals fully support the Ballona Wetlands and we stand by the restoration method of the wetlands according to the experts in the field.

FOOD

Edward Ackah-Miezah runs his cafe with the help of his wife and kids

Delicious and beautiful, the Blue Butterfly Lemonade is a star on Instagram

Coffee that Caters to the Community Café Ruisseau brings people together in conversation and thought STORY BY JESSICA KOSLOW | PHOTOS BY ZSUZSI STEINER

When Edward Ackah-Miezah was in high school in Seattle, he got a job at Java Joe’s. It was one of his first jobs, and it played a major role in where he’s sitting today – at a table in front of his 4-year-old Playa Vista outdoor coffee cabana, Café Ruisseau. 24 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

“Joe was super cool,” shares Ackah-Miezah. “He was really popular. Everybody loved him, and I saw how magnetic he was and how magnetic coffee could be for a community. I fell in love with coffee and how it brings people together. Ever since, I’ve been in and around

coffee.” Tucked away next to Tocaya Organica and across the drive from Home State, Café Ruisseau has been thriving since 2016, when the Playa Vista Campus invited AckahMiezah to open a coffee shop to service the rapidly growing business

FOOD

The Chagaccino is full of the highest natural source of antioxidants and loaded with minerals

community. In mid-March, as with all aspects of life as we knew it, everything changed. “Post-pandemic, about 10% of the people are still here,” says Ackah-Miezah. Before March, the shop was not open on the weekend. Now, Saturday is the best day for business. One of the biggest changes is the clientele. While the working professionals used to line up for lattes, now it’s the local community that’s keeping Café Ruisseau afloat. “Now, we’re taking care of and catering to the people in this community,” Ackah-Miezah says. “I think that was one of our failings for the last three-and-a-half years. I had my hands full before, and I didn’t have the impetus to reach out.” Ackah-Miezah has also stepped up the café’s social media market-

Caffeinated customers love Café Ruisseau’s unique offerings

ing – which was almost nonexistent pre-COVID. “People in Playa Vista have been kind with their reviews,” says Ackah-Miezah, sharing that people especially like to post pictures on Instagram of his Honey Lavender Latte. As we sit on this sunny Saturday afternoon in front of his coffee cabana, watching parents chase their toddlers around the campus, AckahMiezah brings the conversation back to community – and how it has evolved for him and his business post-COVID. “This is a special community,” Ackah-Miezah begins. “People do care. 2020 has been a trying year for everybody. Since the pandemic, I’ve been able to have a lot of conversations that go beyond what kind of milk would you like. We’re talking society, politics, the pandemic, Black

Lives Matter, the Presidency, the election … there’s a lot of things to talk about. That’s been refreshing. When I first got into coffee I saw how it brought people together, and I’m seeing that again now: bringing people together not just in proximity but in conversation and in thought. We’ve found ourselves on lists of Black-owned businesses, and the people who have noticed that and come to see us and support us are Black and other colors, which is very encouraging to know people care.” Ackah-Miezah owns the business with his wife of 22 years. They started the company in 2005 after their first child was born. “I named my first company after her because I knew I needed to figure out a way to feed her,” says Ackah-Miezah about his 17-year(Continued on page 26) PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021 25

FOOD

(Continued from page 25)

old daughter, who often works at the shop alongside her 15-year-old brother. “All the proceeds go to feeding the children [there are 3 in total].” Ackah-Miezah’s family just keeps getting bigger. In November, he opened a new location in Santa Monica on Stewart and Colorado in the Goop building. “I go back and forth,” says Ackah-Miezah about opening a new business during the pandemic. “One day I think it’s the greatest thing, and the next I think I’m the biggest idiot. What am I doing trying to expand in this time? “Overall, it’s going to be a good thing. People are looking for businesses like ours to support. LA has no shortages of places that will give you a good cappuccino. But it’s a combination of the product, the atmosphere, the connection and the community that we provide. I think

A spectrum of traditional and unique beverages delivered with love

that is unique.” Café Ruisseau sells bags of coffee for pickup or shipping. Subscriptions are available weekly, biweekly, or monthly. “I really love what we have now as far as the people that come in,” says Ackah-Miezah. “I’d like to see that continue to grow: people from Ladera Heights, Culver City, students from LMU. Prior to the pandemic, our customers were the people that work here – all work-

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26 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

ing professionals. Now we have an opportunity to open this up to different types of people, different perspectives. I love that, and I would love to continue on that trend. “We’re hidden – I think it’s a treasure once you do find it. I’d love for more people to be able to find it and grow together.” Café Ruisseau is located at 12150 Millennium Dr., Playa Vista, 323-561-0223; caferuisseau.com.

COMMUNITY PHOTOS BY ZSUZI STEINER

KIDS CLUB PUMPKIN CRAFT EVENT @ RUNWAY With the last of summer’s heat waves finally broken, it started to feel a bit like fall on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the recently remodeled Runway. Nestled in between a tented tap dance class and the Family Fall Harvest photo backdrop, complete with bales of hay and loads of cherished pumpkins, was a Halloween kids crafting event sponsored by Runway and So Fly Kids Academy of Dance. Masked participants had their temperatures taken before being seated at socially distanced tables. Tiny fingers used safety scissors to cut strips of carrotcolored construction paper. The goal: to craft an adorable three-dimensional pumpkin. Beatrice Ruso, Runway Property Marketing Manager, was in charge of the event. “We’re just trying to provide an opportunity for kids to get out of the house,” said Ruso, adding, “A lot of kids are doing classes inside, on Zoom, so we’ve set up a safe space where we can do some crafts with them.” — Shanee Edwards

A mask, safety scissors and some orange construction paper are all this kid needs for fun

Miss Michelle from So Fly Dance hands out craft supplies to excited kids

Everyone had their temperature checked for safety

Tables were sanitized and spaced out

Kids love making holiday-themed crafts

Success in a princess dress!

Crafting teaches patience and focus

PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021 27

H E A LT H

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS FROM A LOCAL SCIENTIST LMU professor Katie Mouzakis leads a nationwide team on COVID-19 treatment research

BY SHANEE EDWARDS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATIE MOUZAKIS

ssistant professor of biochemistry at Loyola Marymount University, Katie Mouzakis, has two passions: teaching and scientific research. But with school happening mostly online, it’s the latter passion she’s able to nourish in an exciting way. Having secured a recent $55,000 grant from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, she’s researching SARSCoV-2, better known as the virus that causes COVID-19, with the hope of developing a drug to stop the virus, and thus, treat the disease. But the bubbly professor isn’t new to studying viruses. In fact, she’s been studying them using biochemistry experiments in the lab for 13 years — vital experience that may lead her to become a gamechanger in this unprecedented pandemic. Originally from Rancho Cucamonga, Mouzakis says she’s always loved math and science, but fell in love with chemistry in high school. She attended Harvey Mudd College in Claremont to be a chemistry major, but one day, her world opened up. “I discovered that things that happen inside a cell are super cool!” Mouzakis says with a laugh. She switched her major to chemistrybiology and got involved in some exciting scientific research that “created a love for scientific research” which helped her make the decision to pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of WisconsinMadison. It was during this time she began studying viruses pretty hardcore. 28 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT || DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021 28 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

Katie Mouzakis received a research grant in June and now leads a team of researchers all over America

Mouzakis first started with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Later, when she was a professor at Fort Lewis College in Colorado, she studied the HTLV-1 virus that causes a rare form of leukemia. All the techniques she learned then are the same ones she still uses today as she does experiments on SARS-CoV-2. Since getting the research grant in June, Mouzakis has been leading a team of researchers across America whose goal is to identify drug candi-

dates that target a specific 3D shape in the coronavirus’ genome. “When the coronavirus enters the [host’s] cell, it deposits a copy of its genome,” she explains. For humans, our genome is our DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). But a virus’s genome is much smaller than a human’s and only contains the bare minimum of what it needs to replicate. The coronavirus genome is made of RNA (ribonucleic acid) and is approximately 100,000 times smaller than our genome. “When the genome of the coronavirus is first added to the cell,” says Mouzakis, “its RNA can be immediately ‘read’ by things inside the cell to make viral proteins. The RNA also folds into different three-dimensional shapes that change how it is read.” The researchers are trying to figure out how to undermine the stability of those three-dimensional shapes. “The understanding in the field is that if you change how stable that structure is or which shape it adopts, you change how likely the cellular protein interacting with it is going to do what it’s supposed to do,” she says. Mouzakis says similar research was done nearly a decade ago, when scientists were studying the SARS coronavirus that appeared in 2003 and began to spread around the world before being successfully contained. “In the SARS coronavirus from 2003, there is a very similar RNA sequence and shape. It’s nearly 99% identical

H E A LT H [to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19]. In previous research by other scientists, they found that if you have small molecules that bind to that three-dimensional shape and change its properties, you screw up coronavirus replication. It was bad for SARS in 2003, so theoretically, it should be bad for the novel coronavirus,” says Mouzakis. To be clear, she and her team of researchers are working to possibly create a type of drug called an antiviral, not a vaccine. Antivirals are drugs you take after you’ve been infected with the virus. The only antiviral for SARS-CoV-2 currently in use is Remdesivir (one of the drugs used to treat President Donald Trump). But she is optimistic about the prospects of several vaccines that other researchers have in the pipeline. “I think we’re going to end up with some pretty awesome vaccines, and I think that is going to be the key to [restoring] normalcy. We will know about their safety and efficacy data – at least

about a small few – probably by January, maybe late December if we are lucky. The roll-out of people getting vaccinated is going to take time because they need to make hundreds of millions of doses. My personal, optimistic viewpoint is that by next summer, we will be back to seminormalcy. But I don’t think the coronavirus is going away,” she says. And that’s where Mouzakis’ research comes in. For those who can’t get vaccinated due to an autoimmune disease, or other health risk, a drug to stop the virus is crucial. The other thing for which she has high hopes is having fast, low-cost COVID testing. “If we could have a cheap (under $1) and fast (under 15 minutes) test, maybe something like a pregnancy test but for COVID, and be able to show people, ‘Here’s my test results’ in 15 minutes, I think that coupled with low community prevalence rates would allow us to open schools safely.” In the meantime, Mouzakis teaches

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Mouzakis continues to teach online when she’s not in her lab at LMU

online when she’s not doing research. Despite having a friend who died from COVID, she’s keeping a positive attitude and is hopeful about the work she’s doing. “It feels awesome to be trying to make a difference. Even if no one knows who I am, I’m doing something useful and hopefully will make an impact on people’s lives. It’s a pretty nice feeling,” she says.

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PET ADOPTION

Adoptable Pets

FROM ANNENBERG PETSPACE The coolest buddies in Playa Vista are waiting for their new forever homes

CHEESY MAC

BALOO

Hi there, I’m Cheesy Mac! I’m a gentle guy who really likes a quiet home where I can relax with my people. I can take a moment to warm up, but keeping things slow and quiet will help me come out of my shell. Once I know I can trust you, I know we’ll have lots of fun.

Hi, I’m Baloo, I am an easygoing, laid-back, older boy in search of my forever home. I love taking slow walks, especially when it rains. My ideal home is one without young kids (teens are fine). If we sound like a match, I’d love to meet you!

Tips from the Trainer

ions! Here are some tips to keep them safe from seasonal temptations. Activities like holiday baking can give them access to dangerous items like chocolate. Be sure to keep goodies out of your pet’s reach. Additionally, pets often love getting their paws on holiday decorations – even if

By Katie McGuire, CPDT-KA The holidays are always more festive with our pet compan-

ABBA-ZABA

Hi, I’m Abba-Zaba! I’m a sweet little kitten looking for a loving home. I’d love to become your best friend. We could stick together and have lots of fun!

you’re home, they may eat or destroy something fragile. Limiting their access to decorated areas may prevent any accidents. Lastly, with more online group celebrations, keep your pet occupied with a stuffed Kong or chew toy while you catch up with family and friends.

To learn more about pet adoption, or to see other available pets, visit annenbergpetspace.org 30 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021

Catherine Jonas, CMC, LMFT PRINCIPAL

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ABOUT THE ASSIL EYE INSTITUTE • The Assil Eye Institute is nationally recognized for its compassionate patient-centric care, its commitment to pioneering advances in ophthalmology and its dedication to supporting the health and well-being of not just its patients, but also of their community. • Dr. Assil’s life-long commitment to advancing the field of ophthalmology is evident in his body of work developing new surgical techniques and advances in laser surgery. • Dr. Assil lectures internationally and has taught state-of-the art surgical skills to well over 10,000 thousand ophthalmologists worldwide. • The Assil Eye Institute has participated in dozens of FDA clinical trials, either as lead investigator or as a member of a multi-center team, testing new ophthalmological devices and surgical techniques.

• Local resident of Playa Vista with her husband and two boys • She is the Director of Glaucoma at Assil Eye Institute and a Board Certified, Fellowship trained Cataract, LASIK, and Glaucoma Specialist, with training and experience developed at nationally renowned ophthalmic institutions • She has performed thousands of surgeries including EAGLE vision LASIK, PRK, ICL as well as Laser-Assisted Cataract surgery. • She has extensive experience in glaucoma surgical procedures as well as the latest advancements such as iStent, iStent inject, Hydrus, endocyclophotocoagulation (ECP), OMNI 360 , Xen gel stent • Voted Top Doctor 2020 in LA Magazine and was named 2019 Power Player in Angeleno

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32 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021