STUDIO471
471 N. Robertson Blvd. | West Hollywood, CA 90048 310.274.2461 | Info@studio471.la www.studio471.la
Web3 entertainment studio Toonstar brings blockchain tech to Hollywood with “The Gimmicks,” a show that allows fans to impact the plot with NFT’s and combines creative storytelling with community participation. Join Toonstar co-founders and LMU experts to discuss the future of the industry.
A panel discussion will be moderated by Carol Costello, LMU special advisor, journalism instructor, and former CNN anchor. Panelists include: John Attanasio ’94 and Luisa Huang, co-founders of Toonstar; Rochelle Webb, clinical assistant professor of entrepreneurship at LMU; and Jay Williams, senior lecturer at LMU School of Film and Television.
Thursday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. LMU Playa Vista Campus Playa Vista, California Register: lmu.edu/hollywood3
Just as I was finally getting used to writing 2022 down, the year is already coming to an end. 2020 and 2021 seemed to take forever, but the past year went by in an instant. It was an extremely busy time with a return to the workplace for many of us, along with in-person events and gatherings—just in time for the holidays!
If you’re feeling behind on your Christmas shopping, check out our holiday guide which highlights a variety of gifts that are perfect for everyone on your list. If you prefer experiences over material items, there’s nothing better than gifting a spa service to a loved one (or yourself) from our roundup of local spas and wellness studios across the Westside.
In our November/December issue we feature entrepreneur Janylle Radden, who suffered from nut allergies and decided to create MenuMD, a website and app that helps people with food allergies and dietary restrictions eat safely at restaurants. We also chatted with local musician Danny Lidgi (aka Mr. Opposite) about his new single and music video.
In addition, we highlight two local organizations that are working hard to pre serve and highlight the history of Playa Vista and the surrounding area. One is the Playa Vista Institute, which recently debuted a historical documentary that goes through Playa Vista’s history back to the Native Americans who occupied the Ballona Wetlands before Spanish settlements. The Westchester/Playa Historical Society provides educational and research opportunity to the community through various exhibitions and events, and is holding a special raffle to win one of the his torical candles of Westchester (winner to be announced on Dec. 5.)
Whether you’re traveling to spend time with family this year or staying cozy at home, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and an amazing New Year. See you in 2023!
Kamala KirkEditor • kkirk@timespublications.com
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
EDITOR
Kamala Kirk
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Arman Olivares
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Chris Mortenson
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Haley Beyer Morgan Owen Bridgette Redman Michele Robinson
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Peter Lymbertos plymbertos@timespublications.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Rebecca Bermudez rbermudez@timespublications.com
EDITORIAL christina@timespublications.com kkirk@timespublications.com
(310) 574-7655 PO Box 1349 South Pasadena, CA 91031
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.
The Westchester/Playa Historical Society was founded in 2019 to gather, study and preserve the history of Playa Vista, Playa del Rey and Westchester. It also provides educational and research opportuni ties to the community through various exhibitions and events.
“When people of all ages come into the Discovery Center and actually see what we have here, they are fascinated with the history and can’t believe they never knew what came before us,” says Cozette Vergari, chair of the Historical Society.
Vergari grew up in Westchester and lives there with her husband. She left to attend USC, work and travel, but eventually moved back.
“I moved back to Los Angeles to be close to my mom, but also because it’s the best city in the world,” Vergari says. “It is full of diversity and opportu nity—two things I wanted my children to be surrounded by while being raised. You get the best of both worlds on the Westside specifically. It’s a small town feel while still living in a big city.”
Some of the projects the Historical Society has worked on this year include its inaugural exhibit, “Aviation,” along with “Celebrating Women” and “Com memorating Our Hometown Veter ans.” In the near future there will be a “Saluting Schools” exhibit as well.
The Historical Society’s goals for the future include resurrecting the walking and driving tours that took place before the pandemic. The guided trips took visitors to a number of stops showcas ing rare sightings and locations. There is a map currently available on the website for anyone who is interested in doing a tour on their own in the meantime.
Running the organization is not an easy task, as preserving artifacts and
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data is challenging on its own in addi tion to raising funds for exhibits and displays. Vergari says that volunteering time and donating money are two of the best ways to support the Historical Society.
“The best way to help this nonprofit is through donation,” Vergari says. “We are so grateful for our donors. I never want people to forget how important helping each other is. Our population and community are truly giving people. I work in a group of six hardworking, creative doers and each of us wears multiple hats to run the organization.”
Currently, the Historical Society is offering a chance to win one of the his torical holiday candles of Westchester. Its hope is to bring back the old tradi tion started many years ago by Dick Birch on Chase Avenue in the Kent wood neighborhood of Westchester. Raffle tickets are being sold online for $20 and the winning name will be drawn on Dec. 5. The offer includes a candle, a spot light, and for a small donation a personalized name or greeting.
The Discovery Center is open on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and by appointment. It is also available for school field trips.
“I love my interactions within the community,” Vergari says. “Some people come in and teach me things I didn’t know through their stories and some people I’m able to help expand their knowledge with the things that I know.”
Westchester/Playa Historical Society
6207 W 87th Street, Westchester wphistoricalsociety.org
For those suffering from food allergies, Janylle Radden may be their new best friend.
As a person with nut aller gies, she is intimately familiar with the stress of eating out and being at the mercy of servers who may or may not know what constitutes an allergy. Her life changed when she was at a Las Ve gas restaurant that provided an allergen menu and she knew that was an experi ence she wanted to share with others.
It led the entrepreneur to create a website and app called MenuMD that helps people with food allergies and dietary restrictions figure out what they can safely eat at a restaurant. Launched in cities in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Texas, this year she is bringing the
app to Los Angeles, starting with Playa Vista.
Radden has had food allergies for as long as she can remember and has had many uncomfortable experiences while dining out.
“It can be really hard to know what you are eating,” Radden says. “Some times speaking to a hostess or some body in a restaurant doesn’t always get there or they get busy. I don’t expect a server to remember their whole menu and the details of allergens.”
Then Radden had that fateful dinner at a Las Vegas restaurant. She men tioned her allergies and the server left the table and came back with a version of the menu that provided allergen information for every single menu item.
“It was basically a very explicit version of exactly what I can eat,” Radden says. “I’d never felt safer eating out in my life. I knew this came from the kitchen and it was a very calming experience. I felt like I could experiment and try different things I might not have known about.”
She knew she wanted to replicate that feeling and experience for others who are like her, to make it easier for them to eat out. She began working with res taurants and figuring out how to create a tool that would work well for dining customers. Thus, MenuMD was born: simpler and safer dining.
On the website, one can search by restaurant or by allergen. The allergens and dietary restriction information cur rently available are vegetarian, vegan, peanut-free, shellfish-free, tree-nut free, fish-free, gluten-free, milk-free, soy-free and egg-free.
It’s also helpful to restaurants that can provide an extra service to their guests and bring in new people who are looking for places they can safely dine. It provides answers for their guests, which contributes to smoother service
during rush times when it might be difficult for the server to interrogate kitchen staff about the exact ingredi ents of each dish.
Radden points out that she’s not ask ing restaurants to give away their reci pes. She’s just asking them to identify which meals are safe for their guests.
“Once you have the restaurants on board and you have them willing to offer the information—and again, we’re not offering any secret sauce or any detail at that level,” Radden says. “But the customer can feel a lot more comfortable knowing that this is, for lack of a better phrase, just the word of God. This is coming from the chef. This is very specific and they definitely know they’re not waiting for a game of telephone to come from the kitchen through this person and that person and then back to you. That’s been the motivation and how we’ve proceeded with those factors in mind.”
Shortly after Radden launched MenuMD, the pandemic hit and the restaurant industry was devastated. She had just started her business and everything was thrown into uncertainty. Restaurants didn’t know when they would be able to open or if they would survive closures.
One of the things they did very quickly was pivot to a free model. Whereas before she was charging restaurants a fee to participate, she adopted a temporary free option for restaurants to come on board once they were able to do takeout and offer other service options to customers. In fact, with takeout orders, she realized Menu MD’s service was more needed than ever.
“We knew that customers lose the interaction with a server or the inter action with somebody who actually worked in the restaurant and they still needed that information,” Radden says.
“We just wanted to make sure we could still provide the service and somehow buffer the cost a bit. So we decided to temporarily go free and let restaurants still join.”
Since launching, she’s heard from many people who are relieved to have the service that she offers. She de scribes one friend who was panicked when she learned her son had several food allergies, wondering whether she’d ever be able to eat out again. MenuMD helped her to find restaurants where they felt safe and comfortable to eat at, something that gave the mother a huge relief.
Other people have told Radden that the menus gave them the freedom to try certain foods they’ve never been able to have before out of concern they weren’t safe. For example, a customer with a nut allergy had always avoided Thai food because they use so much peanut oil. When a Thai restaurant provides a menu explaining which dishes are nut free, it gives them the opportu
nity to try something new.
Meanwhile, restaurants have put the QR code for the website on their menus or on cards that they can give to guests who ask about allergies. The business is one that Radden is wellprepared for. Not only is she a person with allergies, but she’s worked many different roles in hospitality at hotels, bars and restaurants. She’s been a host ess, a server, a bartender, a manager and a concierge.
“I’ve gotten really familiar with how to address and anticipate guest needs, as well as having a little bit of an inside perspective on what makes restaurant venues and hotels function effectively,” Radden says. “I have some perspec tive on what’s important to them and how they work on the inside. I know things like having an efficient evening or running their shift well or turning the most amount of tables is a high prior ity. Coming from that perspective and
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having that background and being able to speak the language a little bit helps in this entrepreneurial venture.”
Playa Vista is the home that keeps beckoning to Radden. A native of Arizona, she and her family moved to Playa Vista from New York then back to Arizona. They continued to visit
Playa Vista during the summers and are moving back again with her two young children.
“One of the things we really loved about it was that everything you needed was right there and it was still walkable,” Radden says. “It was a really great transition moving from New York where you’re on foot all the time. You’re get ting all that fresh air.”
She says they stumbled upon Playa Vista by accident when they had a flight delay out of LAX for three hours. They walked around and decided then and there that it would be their new home.
“It just felt so good,” Radden says. “We lived here for several years, and it just felt like such a good community. It’s clean, it’s well maintained, there’s something for everybody. The restau rants are great. It really is the whole package.”
She can’t name a favorite Playa Vista restaurant, but there are many that she’s looking forward to visiting again when she returns including Ritrovo, Dan Modern Chinese and Loqui.
Radden is also looking forward to working directly with Playa Vista restaurants to get them on board with MenuMD. She’s bringing plenty of ideas for how to launch with fun events designed for people with allergies. She describes her vision as being grandiose and possibly hard to pull off, but she is eager to see her passion project take off in the home that she loves.
Radden wants her neighbors to know that there are options for them to dine out safely—that they can go to their favorite places and try something new. There’s a range of types of cuisine for foodies from American and Latin to Chinese, among others.
“I’d really like to open those options up for all of the residents and especially ones with kids,” Radden says. “Playa Vista is such a kid-friendly neighbor hood and you do see food allergies more often in children than in adults. Just offering that peace of mind and allow ing people to get the full Playa Vista experience will be really cool.”
MenuMD menumd.com
Instagram: @menumd
In 2018, Loyola Marymount Uni versity (LMU) opened a new Playa Vista Campus. Serving as a creative center for graduate and professional education, the new satellite location aimed to support the highly acclaimed Graduate School of Film and Television and College of Business Administration’s Master of Science in Business Analytics.
Unfortunately, the pandemic hit soon afterward and temporarily shuttered the campus’ doors. Now it is back and better than ever—offering new events, new pro grams, and new educational opportunities to its students and the community.
“The Playa Vista Campus has given us a physical space to bring LMU students and faculty to the booming tech and creative hub that is Silicon Beach, and we are thrilled to be a part of the collabora tion that is happening on and around our campuses,” says Thomas Poon, executive vice-president and Provost.
An exciting aspect of LMU’s Playa Vista Campus includes the outreach events which extend “beyond the bluff.” On Oct. 20, LMU hosted a private reception at the Redondo Beach Per forming Arts Center featuring Misty Copeland. The program was entitled, “Igniting DEI: An Evening with Misty Copeland,” and attracted over 50 guests and furthered DEI initiatives and goals. At the event, participants not only heard Copeland’s inspiring story, but were able to mingle and share their best practices in an informal and relaxed setting.
“LMU is squarely located at the in tersection of creativity, technological in novation, interdisciplinarity, and cultural diversity,” Poon says.
This successful event was hosted by Jody Skenderian, LMU’s new executive director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives, and Dr. Emelyn de la Pena, vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. One of the evening’s highlights
Continued from page 18
included announcing the creation of the LMU DEI Consortium. This new initia tive will be “an alliance for round table discussions, think tanks, best practice sharing, and thought partnering with companies,” says Skenderian.
LMU also encourages new partner ships with local businesses. This com prises the Silicon Beach Think Tank, which supports the business commu nity’s involvement in discussing relevant topics. One such upcoming event will be on Dec. 1, featuring alumnus John Attanasio (94), co-founder of ToonStar. NFT Mania - “Hollywood 3.0: Can Web3 Disrupt Hollywood? ToonStar’s ``The Gimmicks Revolutionizes Story telling” is a panel discussion about the evolution and future of entertainment and technology. This event will be open to the public. To RSVP, visit lmu.edu/ hollywood3.
“LMU is well positioned to be the higher education partner of choice for Silicon Beach companies who value DEI, innovation, adaptability, and collabora tion,” says Skenderian. “We are partner ing with companies and organizations who wish to join LMU in creating the world we want to live in.”
Academically, LMU’s Playa Vista Campus offers two highly-ranked gradu ate programs: the College of Business Administration’s Master of Science in Business Analytics, and the gradu ate programs at the School of Film and Television (SFTV). Ranked 8th in the nation, SFTV in a joint partnership with the Bellarmine College of the Liberal Arts, and the College of Communica tion and Fine Arts, recently launched the new Media Center for the Arts and a Just Society (MAJS). Here, students interested in producing original podcast content are delighted with the addition of a new podcast studio and booth.
On Dec. 7, LMU will offer a CBA Business Incubator Showcase. The event
is from 7 to 9 p.m. and open to the public. It is sponsored by the College of Business Administration’s Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship. There will be display booths set up around the Playa Vista campus. They will feature a variety of start-up business concepts developed by students and recent gradu ates who will share their start-up idea through brief presentations. To rsvp for the incubator event, visit cba.lmu.edu/ rsvp/busincubshowcase.
“LMU’s business incubator offers as piring entrepreneurs the workspace and guidance needed to pursue their dreams in the real world,” says David Choi, director of the Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship. “I am so proud of the students who, with the incubator’s help, have built innovative and promising busi nesses that are positioned for success in the marketplace.”
The campus hosts other events that are free and open to the community, such as the recent free screening and discussion of “Endangered,” a 2022 documentary film directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing. This program was hosted by the CSJ Center for Rec onciliation & Justice.
LMU is also dedicated to support ing conservational efforts by partner ing with Playa Vista and the Friends of Ballona Wetlands. This long-standing partnership, the Ballona Discovery Park was constructed. LMU contributed $700,000 towards financing the project and has three staff and faculty on the board each term. The park is an outdoor cultural and learning space that captures the inquisitiveness of both children and adults alike. Combining science and education, the park offers visitors walks through gardens, spying on local wildlife, and acts as a gateway to wetlands. It is open every day from dawn until dusk.
From world-class academics to sup porting nature, to screenings and pre sentations, LMU’s Playa Vista campus is an educational and cultural center point for the entire community that offers something for everyone.
Loyola Marymount University cba.lmu.edu
For additional information contact: partnerships@lmu.edu.
LMU’s Playa Vista Campus also offers two highly-ranked graduate programs: the College of Business Administration’s Master of Science in Business Analytics and the graduate programs at the School of Film and Television. (Courtesy photo)Elementary School
6550 W. 80th St., Westchester, CA 90045
Entrance on Emerson Ave. phone (310) 642-9474
Dec. 7, 2022 @ 9:00am
Jan. 18, 2023 @ 5:00pm
Feb. 1, 2023 @ 9:00am
Mar. 01, 5:00 pm - Spanish
Middle School
7400 W. Manchester Ave., Westchester, CA 90045
Entrance on Park Hill Dr. phone (310) 410-9940
Dec. 7, 2022 @ 8:30am-9:30am
Jan. 18, 2023 @ 5pm-6pm
Feb. 1, 2023 @ 8:30am-9:30am
Mar. 1, 5:00-6:00pm - Spanish
WISH continues to thrive due to the incredible support of the Westchester community, strong family partnerships, and a commitment to high-quality meaningful and engaging public education for all students by our amazing team of educators!
experience exciting & engaging curriculum
have the opportunity to join a sports team
participate in exceptional art, music, technology & PE instructional experiences
have high quality SEL, STEM, & gifted instruction
be able to take high school courses in middle school
receive hands-on project based learning
benefit from university & business partnerships
take rigorous High School pathway courses in Engineering, BioMedical Science, Social Justice & Performing Arts
have the opportunity to take AP & honors classes, & dual enrollment courses for college credit
Academy High School
7400 W. Manchester Ave., Westchester, CA 90045
Entrance on Park Hill Dr. phone (310) 743-6990
Dec. 7, 2022 @ 9:00am
Jan. 18, 2023 @ 6:00pm-7:00pm
Feb. 1, 2023 @ 9:00am
Mar. 1, 6:00-7:00pm - Spanish Mar. 29, 9:00-10:00am
From chic candles to sweet treats, find something for everyone on your list this year.
BY KAMALA KIRK (All photos courtesy)• Give tree decorating more meaning with Artifact Uprising’s Photo Display Ornament, a timeless circular keepsake that features one or five circular prints either in a full bleed or bordered designed. Framed in premium brushed brass and a light weight basswood backing with a high-quality red ribbon to hang up, it makes the perfect sentimen tal keepsake. $38, artifactuprising.com
• Bath & Body Works’ Dream Bright Gift Set includes a daily nourishing body lotion, shower gel and fine fragrance mist that come arranged inside a stunning decora tive box. The brand’s new floralfruity fragrance features notes of sapphire berries, night-blooming orchid and crystalized vanilla. $36.50, bathandbodyworks.com
• A magical gift, Diptyque’s Limited-Edition Set
is the ultimate treat for any candle or fragrance lover. This exclusive gift box contains 12 scented 35g candles in the brand’s timeless and emblematic winter scents. The stunning packaging is adorned with a shimmer of gold and silver and can be reused to store all your treasures. $228, diptyqueparis.com
• Kitsch and Sprinkles have partnered for a sweet collaboration: the limited-edition Kitsch x Sprinkles Body Wash Bar 3-Piece Set. Treat yourself and others to a delicious and decadent moment of self-care with these rich and creamy body wash bars inspired by your favorite Sprinkles cupcakes flavors including Sprinkle, Red Velvet, and Strawberry. Each body wash bar features a blend of oils including vitamin E to leave skin feeling clean and moisturized. $29, mykitsch.com
• Hand poured in England, Elemis’ Candle Collection includes four beautifully scented candles with mineral and natural wax, including soy and bees wax, that are fully recyclable with cotton wicks. The stunning set features four lovely fragrances: English Garden (rose, dewberry and peony), Afternoon Tea (black tea, bergamot and raspberry leaf), Mayfair No. 9 (lavender, chamomile and geranium), and Regency Library (cade, cedarwood and sandalwood). $60, elemis.com
• This set of three 10ml purse sprays from Narciso Rodriguez is perfect to add to your day-to-day bag this festive season. Includes the sensual and seductive For Her Eau de Parfum, delicate and comfort ing For Her Pure Musc, and glamorous and intoxicating For Her Fleur Musc. $39, macys.com
• OTM has launched the world’s first temperature-stable makeup bags that will protect cosmetics and skincare products during travel from the damaging heat and cold. Available in three sizes and two colors. Pictured in the Cannes style, the vanity case is made with vegan saffiano leather and lined with the brand’s proprietary PRISTINIUM insulation, an ultra-thin, durable lining. Make a statement with this standout piece that has sleek lines that contrast a gilded chain handle, intricately etched gold hardware, slim interior pocket and an organizer. $249, otmcollection.com
• Featuring the California-based winery’s highest-quality wines, Josh Wines Reserve Collection offers smooth, well-aged sipping options. The bottles are finished with a recently updated gold label fit for gifting to the host or placing under the tree. Available in North Coast Chardonnay, North Coast Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon, and Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon. All of the wines are available at Josh Cellars and nationwide on Drizly, Total Wine and Minibar, among others. $18.99 to $21.99, joshcellars.com
• Let him practice his golf game all winter long in the comfort of home with Putt-A-Bout, a line of USA-made indoor putting greens that are top-sellers on Amazon. Perfect for golfers of all skill levels, these putting greens are portable and easy to roll up for easy storage and transport. Made of high-quality putting surface that always stays smooth, it has built-in sand trap cutouts to catch missed shots with a non-skid backing. Available in five different sizes and personalization is also available. $59.99 to $84.99, putt-a-bout.com
• Ring in the holiday season with brightness and cheer by gifting Sugarfina’s various treats that will appeal to everyone on your list.
Offerings include a 24 Tastes of Christmas Advent Calendar, a special 24 Tastes of a Candy Carousel Advent Calendar that comes in a keepsake carousel, signature Candy Bento Boxes in different sizes, in addition to stocking stuffers like Santa’s Cooke Dough Canister, Reindeer Bites Canister, Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bar, and Peppermint Hot Cocoa Bar. $9.95 and up, sugarfina.com
• Well Told creates one-ofa-kind etched glassware with their signature map designs— choose from college towns, home towns, cities and topographies around the U.S. and the world. Pick a location that means something special to the gift recipient. Available in pint, wine and champagne glasses, among others. Various prices, welltolddesign.com
BY KAMALA KIRK (All photos courtesy)
From last-minute shopping to parties and family gatherings, the holidays are a busy time for everyone. Treat loved ones (and yourself) to a spa service at one of these wellness sanctuaries across the Westside and enjoy the ultimate gift of relaxation and rejuvenation.
• Encourage others to take a break from their busy lives with a gift card to Pause Studio, an innovative wellness space that offers modern and holistic solutions to boost immunity and support physical and mental recovery. They have locations in West Hollywood, Venice and El Segundo, and their services range from floatation therapy and infrared saunas to LED light therapy and IV therapy, among others. pausestudio.com
• The ultimate beachside getaway, Hotel Casa del Mar’s Sea Wellness Spa specializes in anti-aging, hydrating aesthetic treatments and soothing massages. Treat your loved one to a relaxing spa service such as the signature facial, a hot stone massage or ocean mineral manicure and pedicure, followed by lunch at the hotel’s new al fresco bistro Patio del Mar. hotelcasadelmar.com
• THE NOW Massage is making it easier than ever to give the gift of relaxation this holiday season. Guests can stock up on massage gift cards during the brand’s biggest savings event of the year, starting in November. From Nov. 21 to 28, enjoy $25 added to every $100 gift card purchase made in-boutique or online. From Dec. 1 to 31, enjoy $20 added to every $100 gift card purchase made in-boutique or online. The NOW’s branded product lines are available online and in boutique and offer plenty of ways to spread self-care with others as well. The NOW has multiple locations across the U.S. and Los Angeles including Santa Monica and El Segundo. thenowmassage.com
• Leading California day spa Burke Williams is offering the ultimate gift of wellness this season with an assortment of expertly curated holiday gift card packages, which include a variety of their signature treatments including massage therapy, manicures, spa baths, and the new Tranquility Massage, a cutting-edge service that integrates massage therapy with the healing effects of sound from Nepalese singing bowls. Guests can add more magic to the holiday season with the Cyber Weekend Wellness Membership promotional offer available Nov. 25 to 28 only. For a limited time, Burke Williams is offering an exclusive opportunity for guests to treat themselves and others to a world of relaxation as part of a three-month prepaid membership for $330. burkewilliams.com
• Surya at Santa Monica Proper Hotel offers everything one needs to kickstart their wellness in the new year with a selection of Ayurvedic spa treatments including their signature Abhyanga massage with two therapists, all-inclu sive Panchakarma wellness retreats, a Dosha Yoga consulta tion, as well as a full consultation with Surya founder Martha Soffer, who will assess and identify imbalances before creating a custom program of herbs, diet and lifestyle changes to bring one into harmony with themself. Gift certificates are available online and at the spa, along with Surya’s line of self-care products for skin and body. suryawellness.com
• With the healing Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, Shutters on the Beach is set on one of SoCal’s iconic beaches and offers indulgent treatments at ONE Spa. They offer an array of luxurious treatments delivered by trained therapists including the Oxygen facial, deep tissue massage, and Deluxe Tranquility Manicure and Pedicure, which includes a mineral-rich foot soak, seaweed scrub, hot stones and reflexology foot massage. Before or after services enjoy a meal at Coast, the hotel’s casual beachfront café and bar. shuttersonthebeach.com
Danny Lidgi didn’t consciously decide to become musician Mr. Opposite. Instead, it chose him.
“It came out of a perfect storm of events,” says Lidgi, a Playa Vista resident.
“I was doing very well in life. I had a
girlfriend. I was living with my girlfriend. Money was no object. It all came crash ing down with the recession. I was living that riches to rags story. I was OK with it because this new thing inside of me was growing.”
What was germinating was “18 and Stu
pid,” a quirky pop song led by a xylophone that defies any trend. It was inspired by a tattoo he got at 18.
“I never knew how to play anything,” he says. “I didn’t know how to write a song. I was learning along the way. These melo dies just started coming out of me.”
“I had this thing, this little seed of a sav ing grace to use as an outlet. I didn’t care about losing everything.”
Lidgi may be new to original music, but he is a longtime lover of entertainment. When he was 13, he and his parents saw “Phantom of the Opera” in San Francisco.
“I was flabbergasted by it,” he says. “I thought it was the most incredible thing I saw.”
His love of theater made him “that oddball in high school who was on the fringes.”
“I love music, but this was something that came out of the blue. I’ve always been inspired by ‘Phantom of the Opera,’” he says.
Fans have told Lidgi how much they en joy the lyrics of “18 and Stupid,” a story, he says, took a lifetime to write.
“But it took me 10 years to get it right — just this one song,” he adds. “It’s like a script in Hollywood that goes around eight or nine years before it’s made.
“It’s carefully crafted: Every lyric, every movement of the song, every piece of the music. It’s very, very important. Melodies are easy to create, but lyrics and compelling songwriting, that’s something different.”
Lyrics are important to him and he’s proud that fans enjoy them.
“To make great art is one thing,” he says. “Anybody can make a song. But it takes a lot to pour your heart out, to sacrifice your life to do that. I wouldn’t have done it if the lyrics were standard or substandard. What was coming out of me was so good.”
He takes the music seriously. For inspiration, he looks to lyricists/singers like Bono and the Goo Goo Dolls’ Johnny Rzeznik. Imagery is important: In “18 and Stupid” he sings, “A serial flake cartoon / On a hot air balloon.” Part of that line is reflected in his merchandise.
“They’re important people and artists,” he says. “Their songs are poetic. They’re not just throwaway pieces — not that I don’t like the garbage that everybody else likes. There is McDonald’s stuff, but there’s the stuff on the super high level that I believe I’m on.
“Very few people are blessed to write amazing lyrics that have that sort of dou ble entendre, where you’re just amazed by the story. The same goes for films like ‘Good Will Hunting.’ This is along those lines. It’s a story that, when you read the lyrics, you’re blown away by it.”
Directed by Jared Barel, the clever video aptly tells the story with a chainsmoking, leather jacket-clad lead charac ter. Lidgi admits he was hesitant about the accompanying video.
“I felt it was necessary to put imagery behind it,” he adds. “It took a very long time to get a guy who was so talented. It’s incredible.”
In the last decade, Lidgi has penned eight or nine songs. Placed side by side, he says, they reveal a diary of sorts.
“This is a testament to the last 11, 12 years of my life,” he says.
“I was living alone. I had nobody around me. I didn’t want anybody around me. I was completely off the grid. I was very anti anything that resembled a normal life. It was the cliché artist life, I guess you could call it.
“But it was a very important period of time in my life.”
Mr. Opposite “18 and Stupid” 18andstupid.com
In Mr. Opposite’s song “18 and Stupid,” he sings, “A serial flake cartoon / On a hot air balloon.” Part of that line is reflected in his merchandise.
Since the 1970s, the develop ment of Playa Vista has been a controversial subplot in the greater narrative of LA. Its de velopment spurred decades of litigation, innovations in urban planning, environ mental activism, celebrity protests, and even an alleged political hit.
The Playa Vista Institute aims to preserve that history as they inaugu rated the organization on Oct. 25 with a private film screening of their new documentary, “Playa Vista: A FourDecade Overnight Success.”
Mark Huffman, president of the Pla ya Vista Institute’s Board of Directors, says the title came from an interviewee, who said it seemed like Playa Vista ap peared overnight. In reality, Huffman says, it was over 40 years of hard work and political gymnastics that brought Playa Vista to where it is today.
The Playa Vista Institute’s documen tary goes through the area’s history back to the Gabrielinos/Tongva, the Native Americans who occupied the historical Ballona Wetlands before Spanish settlements.
Terry Conner, another of Playa Vista Institute’s Board of Directors, explains
Continued from page 32
that Playa Vista would not be what it is today without the famous Howard Hughes, who purchased the land just in 1940 to build an airfield.
Before his death in 1976, Hughes wanted to leave the property largely uncultivated, as his interests lay in avia tion. However, those who inherited the property identified Playa Vista as an ideal plot of land for development. The Summa Corporation, a separate compa ny controlling much of Hughes’ business interests, swiftly began to draw up plans to develop the property.
Summa originally conceived Playa Vista as primarily a commercial area, with 6 million square feet of office space, several high-rise buildings, and a million square feet of retail space. The plan would develop nearly all of the 1,000acre property and reduce the Ballona Wetlands to a mere 170 acres.
When Summa’s plans for develop ment went public in 1980, they were not well received by the surrounding community. Traffic concerns reigned paramount and homeowners were con cerned high-rise buildings would block their views of the oceans. Environ mental groups, like Friends of Ballona Wetlands, were also in opposition to the plan.
At the time, Pat Russel was the LA City Councilmember represent ing Playa Vista and the surrounding communities. Russel wanted the city to annex Playa Vista and for the develop ment to take place under the supervi sion of the city government, an effort that was ultimately successful. Russel’s support of Summa’s unpopular plan led local groups to back a new candidate in 1984, Ruth Galanter, an urban planner from New York living in Venice.
The election went into a runoff after Russel didn’t receive the majority vote. Galanter said it was at this point she had to face the idea that she may win the election. That was when someone
broke into her house and stabbed her in the throat.
“I believe it was a political setup. Everybody in Venice believed it was a setup. Venice turned out to vote for me in double the numbers when they wouldn’t normally turn down for any body,” Galanter says. The assault and the construction of a high-rise building secured both the Venice and Westches ter votes for Galanter, granting her the election.
Following the political upheaval of the late 80s, Summa wanted to lend a new face to the development by bringing in McGuire Thomas Partners to lead the development process. McGuire Thomas quickly realized that commercial devel opment was not well suited to the area and shifted the project in the direction of community development.
In 1990, McGuire Thomas worked with Galanter and the Friends of Bal
lona Wetlands to eliminate a pending lawsuit the group had against the de velopment by making a settlement that would call for a revised plan to develop Playa Vista.
The settlement allowed McGuire and Thomas to shift the development to pri marily residential complexes and expand the area allocated for Ballona Wetlands to 340 acres. The new plan also com mitted $18 million to create a 24-acre freshwater marsh, a 26-acre riparian corridor and dedicated $750,000 to fund a restoration program to restore salt water flows from Ballona Creek to the salt pans.
But the suffering economy of the mid-90s made this plan difficult to ex ecute. Ultimately, Galanter approached the Trust for Public Land in pursuit of a purchasing option for the Ballona Wet lands that would grant the state owner ship over approximately 600 acres of the property, scaling the McGuire Thomas plans to half its original size.
With the money made from the sale of the Ballona Wetlands, the develop ment of Playa Vista could finally move forward. In 2003, the project broke ground as McGuire Thomas worked to change the narrative of Playa Vista into one of sustainability where people could live, work, and shop without getting into their cars.
After the first residents moved in, the developers quickly realized that their intentions for Playa Vista to be a community of young professionals and retirees were not coming to fruition; residents were instead deciding to stay in Playa Vista to build their families. Soon after, LA Unified School District decided to build Playa Vista Elementary School
Playa Vista also became part of the technology sector’s move to the west
side, which became known as Silicon Beach. Although the developers failed to complete a deal with DreamWorks to build a studio, several other production houses set up shop in Playa Vista. In the 2010s, Yahoo, Microsoft, YouTube and Facebook all acquired property in the area.
In 2012, Brookfield Residential bought the Playa Vista development for $265 million. They completed the proj ect as primarily luxury housing condos. According to rental listing sites, the median rent in Playa Vista is $4,632, and the average price of a home is $1.16 million at $749 per square foot.
Huffman says the Playa Vista Institute has two goals: “The first one is the historical mission to document, organize, and share the history. The second one is recognizing the goal for Playa Vista to be a more sustainable
community.” The Playa Vista institute aims to be an advocate for that mission moving forward.
The institute’s website went live ap proximately one week after the pre miere screening of the documentary. The reason the institute has kept its ex istence quiet until now was that Huff man didn’t believe there was anything to announce until the documentary was complete, though Playa Vista’s contro versial past was frequently alluded to at the premiere screening.
In the future, the Playa Vista Insti tute hopes to have a physical location where the public can access archives and records relating to the creation of Playa Vista, but for now, they are focusing on building out their online resources and providing digital access to any archives they currently possess.
Playa Vista Institute playavistainstitute.com
Picking apples is a much-loved autumn activity in my family. But once we have had our fun visiting the local orchard, we have such an abundance of apples that we can’t eat them fast enough before they turn soft and mealy.
Although I am a fan of apple pie, crumble and muffins, I wanted to try something completely different this year with a French apple cake. The process is simple, with fewer than 10 steps. But this cake yields flavor and texture in bunches. The key ingredients that enrich and pro vide depth of flavor and aroma are the browned butter and spiced rum. The result is an easy-to-make cake with an intoxicating aroma, soft and moist texture, and spiced apple flavors that guests will eat up and ask for some to take home as mine did.
Spiced French Apple Cake
Active time: 15 minutes | Total time: 1 hour Yields 10 servings
Cooking spray or butter, for coating the pan 8 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 medium apples 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup spiced rum
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Powdered sugar, for serving
Peel, core and dice the apples. Over medium heat, brown the but ter until it smells nutty. Whisk together flour, baking pow der and fine salt in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until fluffy. Add in the melted butter, light brown sugar, spiced rum and vanilla, and whisk until combined. Add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until just combined. Add the apples and
gently fold until just combined. Transfer the batter to an 8-inch round cake pan prepared with cooking spray or butter and lined with a parchment paper round. Smooth out the top of the batter.
Bake at 350 degrees in the middle of the oven until a toothpick insert ed in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before carefully removing from the pan. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
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Thursday, Dec. 1
Freeway Funk Yard is a large hidden lot nestled near a secret Westside Los Angeles freeway where you can see some of LA’s top comics perform in an outdoor Playa Vista speakeasy. Hosted by Nick Hoff and Ryan Churchill.. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. $15 per person. RSVP online. 5301 Grosvenor Street, Los Angeles, 8 to 10 p.m., freewayfunkyard.com
Friday, Dec. 2
Join Annenberg PetSpace as they transform their Barks and Rec play yard into the Westside’s premier comedy venue. Laugh until you cry with your fourlegged best friend by your side. Can’t Even Comedy is bringing the best of the best comedians to PetSpace for this hilarious night all for a good cause. Hosted by Caitlin Benson and featuring music by DJ Vfresh, the lineup includes headliner Jeremiah Watkins, Nicole Aimee Schreiber, Ron Taylor, Austin Kress, and Darran Davis. Individual seating and tables will be available for you to relax in the PetSpace Barks and Rec play yard. A portion of
ticket sales will go towards the PetSpace Extraordinary Care Fund. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. $20 for general admission, $25 table seating, purchase online. Dog-friendly event, recom mended for audience members 18 and up. Food trucks will be pulling up slinging delicious bites. 12005 Bluff Creek Drive, Playa Vista, 7 to 9 p.m., annenbergpetspace.org/events
Freshwater Marsh Tour Saturday, Dec. 3
Enjoy a tour of Ballona Fresh water Marsh presented by Friends of Ballona Wetlands. Recom
mended for ages 7 and up, but all ages are welcome. Youths 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Bring water, sunscreen, bug spray and a snack if needed. Bring your own binoculars if you like. Wear close-toed shoes, a hat and weather-appropriate cloth ing. Tour begins promptly and registration is required. Attendees must also sign the digital waiver. The suggested donation is $5 per person.
13110 Bluff Creek Drive, Los Angeles, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., ballonafriends.org
WUFxArt 2022 Dec. 10 & 11
WUF presents the second year of Southern California’s premier art festival for dogs. WUF x Art is a community celebration living at the intersection of culture, dogs and pet parents. The experi ence brings together dozens of artists, vendors and brands, each united in the common purpose of commemorating our dogs and the humanity they bring out in all of this. There will be interactive art exhibits, live art performances, local food trucks, a cocktail lounge, dog photos with Santa, live DJ performances, dog tricks and tips, panel discussions, and a meet-and-greet with dog
influencers, among others. Early bird admission $25-$35, general admission $45.
12005 Bluff Creek Drive, Playa Vista, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., wufxart.com
Creative Communal Holiday Artisan Market Dec. 10 & 17
Creative Communal is back at RUNWAY for two special holiday markets. Come out and enjoy the day with your crew and support incredible small businesses and vendors. There will be over 40 lo cal makers, photo ops, live holiday music, kids activities, brunch and BBQ. Pet-friendly and kidfriendly event. Free admission.
12775 Millennium Drive, Playa Vista, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., runwayplayavista.com
P.C. Pitstop: Cars & Coffee Saturday, Dec. 31
Join the last Saturday of the month for Cars & Coffee hosted by Free Market Playa and local automotive nostalgia retailer Period Correct. There will be an eclectic and impressive set of cars. Meetup will be held in the Main Drive at RUNWAY.
12775 Millennium Drive, Playa Vista, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., runwayplayavista.com
