Spring 2009 - 65° Magazine

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SCENE 14MONTEREYMonterey County BusinessCouncil Economic VitalityAwardsPhotography by D.M. Troutman12 34 51. Mike Armstrong, Laurie Armstrong, Mary Godley, RayCorpuz 2. Anne Burnett, Mick Vernon 3. Mary Claypool,Al Jardine, Brandi Briscoe, Wynette Jones 4. John Pisto,Alan Richmond, Johnny Rivers, Tom O’Neal 5. GeordieMcCombe, Roddy Mackay

FEATUREThe First Lady of HumilityFrom educator to designer and respectedart collector, Karen LeVett may be oneof the Peninsula’s principal creative andentrepreneurial forces.By Kristin A. SmithPERSONAJourney of a LifetimeBy Elizabeth HermensFriends of the Earth:Turning Pollution into a SolutionBy Julie EngelhardtA Perfect Day on the PeninsulaBy Andrea StuartCultivating a CommunityThrough SoilBY Charleen EarleySan Francisco’s Bleeding HeartBY Andrea StuartThe Mayor of Belden PlaceBY Vanessa CarrCONTENTS 16

DEPARTMENTS 18EVENTPebble Goes Bam-BamBy Michael CervinSTAYClift: Hotel on a PrecipiceBY Michael CervinSCENEPebble BeachAT&T National Pro AmMontereyMonterey County BusinessCouncil Economic Vitality AwardsABODECabinet Style & Functionand How to Get ItPrecision Cabinets & Trim mergespersonal style with a home’sunique characteristics.COLUMNSPublisher’s NoteContributorsEditor’s NoteIn-BoxCOMMUNITYA Little Drama Goes aLong WayARIEL Theatrical, Inc. is promotingchildren’s literacy throughinvolvement in the dramatic arts.BY Jennie TezakCOVERShot on location in Pebble Beachat the home of Karen LevettPHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRIS

PUBLISHERASSOCIATE PUBLISHERRichard Medelrich@65mag.comLinda Alminilinda@65mag.comEDITORIALEDITORIAL DIRECTORCONTRIBUTING WRITERSCOPY EDITORARTCREATIVE DIRECTORCREATIVE TEAMPHOTOGRAPHERSADVERTISINGACCOUNT EXECUTIVEAndrea Stuartandrea@65mag.comVanessa CarrMichael CervinCharleen EarleyJulie EngelhardtElizabeth HermensKristin A. SmithJennie TezakClarissa Perez-PachecoRichard Perez-Pachecoinfo@blacksheepca.comLeonel CalaraClarissa Perez-PachecoGreg HarrisChristopher KernChristine MuroD.M. TroutmanJudy Carpenterjudy@65mag.comHEADQUARTERSMAILING ADDRESSPHONEEMAILONLINE65° MagazineP.O. Box 6325Carmel, CA 93921-6325831-917-1673info@65mag.comwww.65mag.comSUBMISSIONS: For article submissions email proposal to editors@65mag.com65° Magazine is published quarterly, P.O. Box 6325, Carmel, CA 93921-6325. Subscription rate: $40,payable in advance. Single copies $4.99. Back issues if available, $15 (includes shipping and handling).POSTMASTER send address changes to 65° Magazine, P.O. Box 6325, Carmel, CA 93921-6325.Entire contents © 2009 by 65° Magazine unless otherwise noted on specific articles.All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without Publisher permission.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE 22By Richard MedelIt does take a village to raise a child sometimes. Although somewhat of a cliché these days, thisexpression still resonates with me.Recently, I found myself reflecting on the day that my brother, David, was born. On that day, my fatherarrived home from the hospital and gathered the six of us together in the kitchen to inform us that ournew sibling had Down syndrome. We were told that the doctor gave my mother a choice of either bringingDavid home or sending him to an institution. Without hesitation, the family agreed that David would live inhis rightful place—at home with those that love him.Today, at the age of 37, David still lives in his rightful place at home with our parents. David exudes energy that continues to affectthe family clan in many positive ways. His enthusiasm and charisma spills over into school, exercise, and the various communityprograms he is involved in. I truly believe that, had David been institutionalized, his life would be a far cry from the life of normalcythat he experiences at home. He certainly would not have met the former 49er, Jerry Rice, and others along the way. And I canguarantee that I would not be the person I am today if I had not had the opportunity to be David’s older brother.I was reminded of my brother when we decided to feature, in this issue, the story of Christopher Oros, a charming young boy withDown syndrome who, despite various medical complications, is also living a fulfilling life with his family. Too often we hear soulcrushingstories of despair on the news and in newspapers. I wanted to show the other side of life by sharing those stories thatdemonstrate the positivity that actually encircles the world we live in.In this issue you will read the life-affirming stories of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom; Monterey Peninsula agribusinessbrothers, Roger and Basil Mills; as well as the humble tale of our cover subject, Karen LeVett, among others. Each of these storiesis rooted in the positive difference that people can make for their families, for themselves, and in the community.You will notice that we have added a new section to our magazine called Monterey Peninsula to The City. I hope you will enjoy thisnew addition. Since the Monterey Peninsula and San Francisco share unique vantage points of the Pacific Ocean and are equallycompelling sites for visitors and locals alike, we are honored to feature some of the people and places that you, our readers, willfind relevant and compelling. We also offer special distribution to The City.Please visit our newly updated website, which now offers readers the ability to flip through the pages of our magazine and toaccess archived issues. I encourage and welcome your feedback.°

CONTRIBUTORS 2401 0203 0405 0601 KRISTIN A. SMITH, WRITER“Writing the Karen LeVett piece reminded me thatsometimes the story of a person’s life is often best toldby those who love them most.” kristinaurorasmith.com02 Charleen Earley, WRITER“Roger Mills was a joy and delight to interview.I could’ve listened to his stories all day long!”CharleenEarley.com03 MICHAEL CERVIN, WRITER“Being at Clift is like being a kid at Disneyland.There’s a palpable wow factor that you rarely getfrom hotels anymore.” MichaelCervin.com04 GREG HARRIS, PHOTOGRAPHER“I could go on and on about the humble, hospitable,and down-to-Earth LeVett ladies, but I’m limited to20 words.” harris-images.com05 ELIZABETH HERMENS, WRITER“I’ve never known a family like the Oros who have beenthrough such trials and come out so positive and lovingtowards each other.” elizabethhermens@yahoo.com06 CHRISTINE MURO, PHOTOGRAPHER“I love meeting people in our community that arefinding ways to make our world and our lives better.Thank you!” christine.muro@yahoo.com07 D.M. TROUTMAN, PHOTOGRAPHER“Photographing the AT&T Pro Am was, at times,hilarious. George Lopez shared a beer with fans and,at one point, complained loudly, ‘It’s too quiet. I needsome noise when I hit!’” dmtimaging.com08 JULIE ENGELHARDT, WRITER“I was impressed with the efforts of the individualsresponsible for improving the environment by reducingpollution through manufacturing green cement.”Jengelha@aol.com09 Jennie Tezak, WRITER“I so admired Gail’s story. She took an idea and turned itinto a place where children can acquire confidence andskills for life.” jennie.tezak@gmail.com10 christopher kern, PHOTOGRAPHER“A brief session with Mayor Newsom to execute threeshots: one of the most challenging assignments of mycareer. Thanks for the opportunity and experience 65°.”christopherkern.com0709 10 1111 Vanessa Carr, WRITER“A detail that I love: the city of San Antonio used BeldenPlace as a model for beautifying their downtown.”vancarr.com

IN-BOX 26BEHIND THE LENS65° Magazine would like to thankphotographer, Bob Kolbrener, forcontributing the photograph of renownedsculptor, Richard MacDonald, for the coverof our Winter 2009 issue.BobKolbrenerPhotography.comVisitor’s DelightTo all the people of 65°,As a resident of the San Francisco BayArea, I look forward to each issue of themagazine. My wife and I like to spendtime on the Monterey Peninsula. Thearticles provide an insight to the peopleand represent the flavor of the area. Iespecially enjoy the articles that provideto me a different or new view point. Thearticle, Write On: Joy Colangelo, by KristinA. Smith is such an article. Please keep upthe good work!A devoted reader,Stephen CozziRead This!Dear 65° Team:I have been a reader and fan of 65° sinceits first issue. The magazine has madetremendous strides since then and itcontinually impresses me. The quality ofthe magazine is so amazing that a partof me hesitates to touch each new issuebecause they look like they belong inpicture frames, not on my coffee table.You have undoubtedly heard that yourmagazine is very eye-catching. With itsunique layout and vivid photographythis makes sense. But I really must pointout how much this sets 65° apart fromthe rest. The pictures really come to life,thanks in part to the landscape format,making the magazine enjoyable to read.This says a lot for people like me who havea tendency to look at the pretty picturesrather than reading the text. So, let me setthe record straight: I read 65° Magazine,whereas I don’t read most of the contentin other publications.Sincerely,Kyle RobertsonGREAT WORK!At Ferguson, we’re always eager forexciting new ways to reach the residentsof the Monterey Bay area. Once I saw65° Magazine, I knew this was a greatpublication and one that the FergusonShowroom needed to be a part of.What impresses me most (and I’m notafraid to admit it) is that the magazinereally demands that you pick it up. I rarelyfind this in other publications. Rich Medelaccuses me of just looking at the photosand the local events section, but I knowthere are great articles hidden in thosecolorful pages.Seems like wherever I go I see 65°Magazine. Just recently I was havingdinner in Carmel and saw some touristswith a copy of 65° Magazine. I have toadmit that my date was wondering whyI was paying so much attention to thesetravelers. What could I say? I was lookingat the magazine they were carrying.Thanks 65° Magazine and keep up thegreat work!David TurnerManagerFerguson Bath, Kitchen & LightingGalleryWe love to hear from our readers. Sendletters to editors@65mag.com

SCENE 29PEBBLE BEACHAT&T National Pro AmPhotography by D.M. Troutman1. Bill Murray 2. George Lopez 3. Chris O’Donnell4. Sign holders during the 3M Celebrity Challenge1 2 3 44 5

OUR LOCATION IS LEGENDARY.YOUR EXPERIENCE WILL BE TOO.TICKETS ON SALE NOW!W W W. P E B B L E B E A C H F O O D A N D W I N E . C O MP R E S E N T E D B YPebble Beach Food & Wine is the premier, grand-scale, epicurean lifestyle event on the WestCoast, bringing more than 4000 national and international attendees to Del Monte Forest, one ofthe most picturesque strips of coastline in the world. Hosted at Pebble Beach Resorts, this four-dayevent combines 250 acclaimed wineries with 60 celebrity chefs. The event offers countless winetastings, cooking demonstrations, and some of the most remarkable dining opportunities availablein the world, transforming Pebble Beach into a playground for food and wine enthusiasts. Guestscan choose from numerous multi-flight vertical and horizontal wine tastings from the world’spremier cult producers and multiple multi-course lunches and dinners, prepared by some of today’smost acclaimed chefs. Saturday and Sunday of the event, guests flock to the 60,000 square footLexus Grand Tasting to enjoy wines from 200 pinnacle wineries and tastings from 25 of theweekend’s top chefs. Get your tickets early - this is one event you surely do not want to miss.W W W. PE BBL E BE A C H F O ODANDWINE.COM OR 866.907.FOOD (3663)Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Resorts®, Pebble Beach SM Food and Wine, The Lone Cypress, and their respective underlying distinctive images are trademarks, service marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. All rights reserved.

We’re actually pouring more Cristal at this dinner than the entirewest coast allocation of the wine.Pebble Goes Bam-BamBY Michael Cervin PHOTOGRAPHY BY D.M. TROUTMANArgentina is a lovely place, no one woulddeny that. But when the Masters of Foodand Wine event, originally located in Carmelat the Highlands Inn, abruptly ended in2007, there was talk of moving the 21-yearWest Coast culinary showcase to the SouthAmerican country. That idea didn’t sit wellwith David Bernahl and Rob Weakley. Theywere able to transform the Masters into itsnew incarnation without missing a beat, andgrowing it exponentially.Pebble Beach Food and Wine launchedheroically in 2008 and as the April 16 thopening approaches there is a renewedeffort to ensure that the sophomore offeringwill be bigger, better, and badder than theinaugural effort. Whereas 2008 displayed 53celebrity chefs, this year 63 celebrity chefswill be on hand. Access to that many toptalented chefs is hard to beat. Maybe harderto beat are the 250 wineries from across theglobe, with the owners, or winemakers presentto pour their wines.“Typically, many of these wineries are tightallocations and limited production,” says cofounderDavid Bernahl. Last year’s event boastedChâteau Margeaux pouring wine from their 1959,‘61, ‘66, ‘70, ‘82, ‘83 and 1990 vintages. And thisyear? “We’re doing some unreal tastings. ChâteauPalmer’s winemaker will start with the 1959, andpour some wines straight from the château thathave never been tasted before,” Bernahl said.Oh, and then there’s the Champagne. “We’redoing a Cristal tasting and dinner with Eric Ripert(star chef of Le Bernardin in New York), with sixvintages. We’re actually pouring more Cristal atthis dinner than the entire west coast allocationof the wine. It’s the first and last time we’re doingthis because there’s simply not enough wine,”Bernahl says triumphantly.It appears that Pebble Beach will become thede facto stop for food and wine to rival, andsurpass, Aspen. “When we looked at the nationallandscape and when we saw that Aspen andSouth Beach were the two most recognized foodand wine events in the country, it made no sensethat California wasn’t represented,”he commented.Certainly with Napa and Sonoma to the north,Paso Robles and Santa Barbara to the south, andeverything sandwiched between the culinarycapitals of the state, Los Angeles and SanFrancisco, Pebble Beach is ideally poised to strikegold. Yet there is still a focus on the local region.“Monterey County agriculture as a whole hasstepped up to the plate and become a sponsor,”Bernahl said. “On each and every plate you havethe chance to see Monterey County agriculturerepresented,” he stressed. “After all, it’simportant to remember how much we feed thenation.”Feeding the nation is one thing, but feeding thelocal communities through charitable giving isquite another, and just as important. During theirfirst year at bat, the event raised over $100,000;money which found its way to Casa of Monterey,Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey, and othercharities. This year the event should bring inan even larger cache for charities. This addsup to the proverbial win-win for Pebble Beach,Monterey, and wine and food lovers everywhere.The grand tasting is still an affordable $165 whichallows access to star chefs and over 500 individualwineries, and weekend packages start as low as$1,000, sans lodging. “We’re trying to providevalue,” Bernahl says, something that, in spite ofthe economic downturn, will undoubtedly lurenovice and serious wine and food aficionados tothe beauty of the California coast. °Second AnnualPebble Beach Food & WineApril 16-19, 2009Presented by American Express Publishingwww.pebblebeachfoodandwine.comEVENT

ABODE 35Cabinet Style &Function and How toGet ItPersonal style should dominate in yourkitchen, office, and entertainment areas.Even if your personal style clashes withsome trend, you know that your designand aesthetics can make or break theentire room’s overall appearance and yourpersonal satisfaction. Precision Cabinets &Trim has been designing and manufacturingcustom cabinets for more than 12 years.They specialize in working closely withcontractors, designers, and homeownersby offering a unique and diverse blend ofselections and services.“Consumers have become more educatedabout everything related to their homes,and their cabinetry is no different. Theyfrequently come into our showroom with aspecific list of at least five things they want

eyond simple design,” says Paul Taylor,owner of Precision. What they discover is anunlimited number of options that includedifferent woods, decorative features,functional features, cabinet constructions,and finish options, enough to make anyinnocent homeowner’s head spin.So, how can you find the best way toincorporate your personality into yourkitchen design? When deciding on whichstyle cabinetry to use, take clues from therest of the home so that the kitchen is anatural, logical extension of the rest of thehome. Let proportion and trim details usedin other rooms be your guide. Find a cabinetstyle that best describes you and your taste.Take pictures of cabinetry, observe friend’shomes, cut-out images from magazines,search the web, and collect anything thathelps you communicate what you’d like inyour own cabinetry. If you like to know whatmaterials, door styles, finishes, features,etcetera. make up a particular style;Precision has experienced designers anddesign style guides to help you with yourdesign and selections.ABODE 36Additionally, architects, contractors,designers, and sub-contractors all play animportant role in guiding homeowners.Careful consideration and thought mustgo into understanding each homeowner’spersonal style, budget, schedule, andtolerance to the construction process.Whatever your style, fill your kitchen, yourden, your office, and even your closet witha healthy mix of functional and decorativefeatures, colors, and accessories that makeyou feel great.Precision Cabinets & Trim925-634-5552www.4PCT.com

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PERSONA 40Journey of a LifetimeBY Elizabeth Hermens PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRIS

Christopher has body-writhing rhythm and hasdeveloped a close bond with music.PERSONA 42Observing the Oros family today, the only hint thatthey’ve had a difficult journey is the noticeable loveand appreciation they have for one another.A situation that might have torn many familiesapart has, instead, brought them together.Susan and Carl met while Susan was in graduateschool and Carl was conducting experiments inthe physics lab. Their first child was a blessingto both of them—although the birth promisedto be bittersweet since Carl was due to deploywith his Marine Expeditionary Unit. Luckily, Carlwas there when his wife prematurely gave birthto their son, Christopher, at 33.5 weeks. Carl wasallowed to stay with his family for one monthbefore joining his squadron in Singapore.Although Christopher had passed an alphafetoproteintest while in utero, his physicalfeatures suggested a possible chromosomaldisorder. A genetic test found that he had threecopies of chromosome twenty-one, confirming adiagnosis of Down syndrome. Forty to fifty-fivepercent of kids with Downs also have incompletehearts, and Christopher was no exception.Prudently, his doctors did an echocardiogramto confirm the defect. The results were a doubleblow for Carl and Susan: Christopher had a holein his heart which required urgent, delicate, andcomplicated surgery.Heart surgery was scheduled approximately fourmonths later. However, Christopher developeda staph-pneumonia infection that requiredhim to be stabilized before heart repair couldcommence. Thankfully Carl had returned home amonth early.The adventure continued when Christopher’sfirst heart patch failed. Other complicationsthen arose; a tracheotomy was performed, andthen another surgery. Altogether, Christopherspent sixty-five days in the ICU and endured thetracheotomy for a year and a half.Because those affected by Downs have lowmuscle tone, causing physical developmentaldelays, physical therapy is often a necessityduring the early lives of many children withDowns. Each milestone was all the more dearto Christopher’s parents, however, and set anattitude they still have today—celebratingeach accomplishment.Carl and Susan were never certain what abilitiesChristopher would develop. He’s an affectionateperson with an affinity for the arts and sports.Having the maturity of a three- to five-year-old,Christopher has begun to read and write hisname at the age of 12, plays basketball with thenon-profit organization Special Kids Crusade,and has an appreciation for Christian rock.Christopher has body-writhing rhythm and hasdeveloped a close bond with music, which seemsto be his number one inspiration and motivation.He and his guitar are seemingly inseparable,although he has yet to learn the fingering.Christopher’s parents speculate that he may oneday take guitar lessons in an attempt to grow hispassion. He may also one day play on a soccerteam like his younger brother.The future has a lot in store for the Oros family.Christopher’s younger sister, Samantha, isautistic. Although Samantha can’t speak yet, Carlcheerfully mentions that over the last two years,they have noted a distinct transition from being a“lone wolf” to “one of the pack.”The youngest in the family, Nathan, is neurotypical(NT), or normal. Described as a well-roundedchild, Nathan has taken on the role of “bigbrother” without ever having been asked.In 2008, Carl created the video, The JourneyChristopher, for a Special Kids Crusadefundraiser where Carl told Christopher’s story.“It’s the challenges that you are given and howyou face those challenges that make you special,”Carl concluded. °LEGACY MECHANICAL& ENERGY SERVICESCommercial heating, air conditioning,and energy conservation solutions forthe Monterey Peninsula.831-649-3000ralmini@legacymechanical.com“We are pleased to have Legacy as the HVAC service contractor at our new Monterey officebuilding. Their personnel are knowledgeable and professional and they do an excellent job ofpreventive maintenance and emergency service response”.Mark House – PresidentHouse Properties426 Calle PrincipalMonterey, California

A Little Drama Goes a Long WayBY Jennie Tezak PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE MUROARIEL Theatrical, Inc. was born one morning whenArtistic Director Gail Higginbotham was trying todecide what to serve her five children for breakfast.“The thought came to me that there are motherswho put their kids away hungry,” Higginbotham said.“We need to use our resources to do good and thething I knew was theater.”ARIEL, which is now a successful working theatershowing four plays a day, was built from the groundup by Higginbotham, who began her vision byreading a book about how to form a non-profitorganization in California. In the beginning,Higginbotham ran the theater from her kitchen.“The early years were very arduous,” she said.“Very intense.”Higginbotham and her cohorts were “vagabonds”for a long time, holding shows at churches andschools. In 2001, they finally made their home at theircurrent location at The Wilson Children’s Theater onMain Street in Salinas. The theater has 6,000 squarefeet and includes a green room, two bathrooms, alaundry room and a sewing room. Performances arealso shown at Sherwood Hall in Salinas one day aweek. Higginbotham’s goal has always been to getchildren off of the couch and onto the stage.“They are here engaged in thought and discipline,as opposed to chillin’, texting, and playing videogames,” she said. “They are actively engaged insomething that will stretch them.”The plays that are shown at ARIEL are all basedon books, because the theater’s mission is to getchildren interested in reading. The children thatgrow up at ARIEL often return as they becomeadults. One of Higginbotham’s former performers,who started at ARIEL at ten years old, now brings hisson back for summer camp. Higginbotham also saidthat she had another young man who came to thetheater “very lost and drifting.”“He found something here that spoke to him,”she said.Higginbotham said the philosophy of ARIEL is“friendly, firm and fair.” She said that the childrenwho perform there come from different walks of life,but they all share one thing.“Everyone loves being on stage, hearing applause,”she said.Former ARIEL performer Bri Slama, who performedwith the theater between the ages of three and 15and had a lead role in High School Musical 2, saidher experience at Ariel made her who sheis now.“My years with ARIEL taught me more than how toproject on stage, make quick costume changes,and work together as an ensemble,” Slama said. “Ilearned what it takes to be a person of strength andintegrity; to not only find my light on the stage, butalso within myself.” °COMMUNITY 45The children that perform with ARIEL range frombeginners to more advanced performers. “Somehave never been in a play, some have come fortwelve years,” Higginbotham said.ARIEL will perform Miss Nelson is Missing and TheUgly Duckling in May. Visit www.arieltheatrical.orgfor dates.

PERSONA 47Friends of the Earth: TurningPollution into a SolutionBY Julie Engelhardt PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE MURONader Agha and son at theMoss Landing Business Park

We took an existing 200-acre industrial park that was very heavilycontaminated and polluted, cleaned it completely, and converted it from apollutant to green industry operations.PERSONA 48During the past few decades and even moreso with the dawn of this new millennium,people across the globe have a profoundconcern regarding what they can do to maintainthe health of our planet. Individuals andorganizations alike are putting their efforts intomaintaining healthy air, rainforests, and theoceans. In fact, there is an effort taking place inour own backyard that people may not be awareof; and it all has to do with cement. Actually, ithas more to do with the production of cement.Many of us probably don’t give much thought asto how cement is made, but one man, StanfordUniversity Professor Brent Constantz, does careabout the production of this material. He hascome up with a way to make “green” cement.Constantz is a Ph.D. geochemist whose initialfocus was in the field of medical cement. Atthe age of 27 he created high-tech cement thatchanged the way hospitals were able to repairbone fractures. He currently holds 75 patents forthe development of different types of cement.The complex processes by which people likeConstantz are minimizing our carbon footprintare daunting enough to make even a swimmer’shead swim.The production of “ordinary cement,” knownas Portland cement, is a contributing factorto the pollution of our planet. For every tonof cement that is created, roughly one ton ofcarbon dioxide is released during the productionprocess. Worldwide, 2.5 billion tons of cementare manufactured each year, which in turn createsabout five percent of the Earth’s CO2 emissions.But Constantz has developed a technology thatsequesters carbon dioxide into cement with onlyclean water and air as by-products.Constantz’s company, the Calera Corporationbased in Los Gatos, uses carbon dioxideemissions mixed with local seawater to createthis “green” cement. According to Constantz,this technology is carbon neutral and helpsreduce the amount of carbon dioxide releasedinto the air.This process is taking place at the Moss LandingBusiness Park located just off of Highway 1 acrossfrom the Pacific Ocean and next door to Dynegy,one of the biggest and cleanest power plants inNorth America. The green Business Park is ownedby local businessman, Nader Agha.“We took an existing 200-acre industrial parkthat was very heavily contaminated and polluted,cleaned it completely, and converted it from apollutant to green industry operations,” Aghaexplained. “It took us five years to get to thispoint. We’ve eliminated all the asbestos, thelead, and the contaminated piles of dirt thathad toxic chromium in it, and hauled thousandsof tons away. We demolished old factories thatmanufactured military hardware in World War II.The whole concept is about green industries.”Others also have an interest in using theMoss Landing Business Park to supportenvironmentally-friendly industries. Professorsat the Moss Landing Marine Institute want touse the large holding tanks at the park to growkelp to feed aquaculture abalone and reducenitrogen in the watershed. And, the BusinessPark has also been tapped as a perfect place fora desalination 1 plant.“We have negotiations with Poseidon Resourcesto develop a desalination plant because this wasdeclared the most suitable [area] in the state forone,” says Agha. “So, we will have seawater firstflow through the kelp tanks. The seaweed helpsextract the nitrate from the sea water. The waterthen goes to the green cement operation, andwhat is left over goes to desalination,” Agha said.“We see this as a world-class demonstrationfacility where you can integrate a lot of differenttechnologies,” says Constantz. “People cancome here from all over the world and replicatethis model.” °1Desalination - removes virtually any mineral and mostbiological or organic chemical compounds to produce watersuitable for drinking.PEBBLE BEACHHeavenly GreenPhotography by D.M. TroutmanTerry Cook, Sharene Hamrock, President of Heavenly Greens Dan Theis,and Brandi Theis enjoy a sunny afternoon on one of their putting greensoverlooking the 5 th hole of Spyglass during the AT&T Pro-Am.866.572.7993 l HEAVENLYGREENS.COM/MONTEREY

PERSONA 51A Perfect Day On The PeninsulaBY Andrea StuartPHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRIS & CHRISTINE MURO

PERSONA 52It’s no secret that the Monterey Peninsula is an historicplayground for visitors and residents alike. In fact, it can bedaunting to narrow down the choices. Should you see an exhibitor should you visit a beach? Where can you find the area’s hiddentreasures? We spoke with three local concierges to find out whatthe perfect day on the Monterey Peninsula looks like.Manic MondayAlexandria OlpinChief Concierge, BernardusPlan a road trip down Highway 1 for the ultimatePeninsula experience. Start the day withdelectable cheese blintzes and a casual breakfastat Little Swiss Café. After breakfast, mill aroundCarmel and check out the smaller shops. ThePilgrims Way Bookstore - The Secret Garden isemblematic of Carmel’s charm, while The Cottageof Sweets will supply you with a few pieces ofrose-flavored Turkish delight. On your way out oftown, stop in at the Carmel Coffee House for arefreshing iced coffee. Follow Scenic Road backout to Highway 1 and head south into Big Sur.Driving south on Highway 1 is always beautiful.Grab a driving partner so you can trade off forviewing’s sake. Stop at Hurricane Point for aphoto op of the coast line with the Bixby Bridge.Continue to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park for a quickhike into the gorge. In the gorge you can soakin the sun, sit on the rocks, or swim. Continuefurther south on Highway 1 for some lunch onthe patio at Nepenthe for a burger and fries,where you’ll overlook the stunning coastline.Then hop back in the car, turn right out of thedriveway and go a mile further. Pull right intothe driveway of the Hawthorne Gallery whereyour eyes will feast on the unique architectureand exhibits. On your way back out, pop by theRiver Inn for a drink. This place is unique in thatyou can sit in large wooden chairs in the river.Though the river only runs about ankle deep, itis still relaxing and fun. Later, head to CarmelValley and dine at Cachagua Store for theirunique Monday night dinner.Educational BingeBetsie LaysChief Concierge, Monterey Plaza Hotel & SpaBegin your day with a brisk hike through PointLobos at Point of the Sea Wolves. Entranceis free for pedestrians. With amazing oceanviews it’s the perfect prelude to a tour of Lula’sChocolates where you can immerse yourself inchocolate Heaven. Tours are free and availableby appointment.Following your tasty journey of the artisanchocolatier’s playground, burn off some calorieswith a walk down Scenic Road from Carmel RiverBeach parking lot to Carmel Beach in Carmel-bythe-Sea.The short jaunt will rev you up for eithera bay cruise by Monterey Bay Sailing or perhapsa private guided tour of the Monterey area withGael Gallagher—naturalist and historian. Or,discover local galleries, restaurants, and points ofinterest down Highway 1 with Central Coast DayTripper. If you’re trying to keep costs down, takea free guided or self-guided tour of Monterey’sPath of History (www.mtycounty.com/pgs-path/apath.html) where you’ll learn about the area’srich Spanish history. Finally, finish the day off atthe Dennis the Menace Playground at Lake ElEstero Park where you can view steam engine OldNo. 1285, have your picture taken with a sculptureof Dennis the Menace, scale the climbing wall,cross a suspension bridge, and more.Epicurean ExcursionKathleen FitzgeraldChief Concierge, Highlands InnThere is nothing like an early morning stroll alongCarmel Beach and Carmel Point where localswalk their dogs. You can even watch the scubadivers at Monastery Beach next to Point LobosReserve. Afterwards, take a drive down the BigSur coast for a hearty breakfast at Deetjen’s BigSur Inn. It’s a charming local favorite nestled inthe Redwoods. Another local favorite is the BigSur Bakery, famous for incredible hamburgersand homemade breads baked daily.Following a good meal, learn how the SalinasValley earned the name “salad bowl of theworld.” At Earthbound Organic Farms in CarmelValley, go on a “Chef’s Walk,” where a localchef will guide you into the fields to pick freshproduce for a cooking demonstration followedby lunch. Extend the agricultural experiencewith a unique wine tour. Parsonage VillageVineyard, located just beyond Carmel ValleyVillage, arranges blending seminars for visitors tocreate their own meritage from assorted barrelsof vintage wines. The blend is bottled with apersonalized label.If you are limited on time, spend one hour on anaerial tour of the entire Peninsula at sunset. Thisis a spectacular way to get an overview of thearea’s incredible beauty. °

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The First Lady of HumilityBY Kristin A. Smith PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRISFEATURE 56

LeVett has always made great sacrifices for art. In her early 20s, Amanda saysher mother traded a pair of Levis “right off of her body” for a piece of art.FEATURE 58For a woman often referred to as a socialite,Karen LeVett is painfully modest. When askedabout herself, she is often evasive, usually quickto change the subject, and always humble.But when asked about those she loves, thewords come pouring out. Speaking throughinterpreters—two of her daughters—a clearpicture of Karen LeVett begins to emerge: aself-made woman, who through her own tenacity,rose up to become one of Carmel’s most notedinterior designers and art collectors.Growing up in Bakersfield, LeVett, nee KarenSchaffer, showed an early affinity for design. Asa child, she attended auctions with her parentsand was keen at picking out the most interestingitems. “I suppose I had an eye for it,” she says,reluctantly after much prodding. “My mothercertainly loved design.” Again, praise for otherscomes more easily.Despite her own interest in design, LeVett initiallychose a career in teaching. A job offer at a FortOrd elementary school brought her to Monterey,and the Peninsula has been her home ever since.When asked what she likes best about the area,she quips, “how many words do you want?”During the school year, LeVett taught 2 nd gradeat Fort Ord and 1 st Grade in Carmel whereshe was known as a caring teacher who wentabove and beyond the call of duty. “My momwas so committed to her students,” says Kate,Karen’s youngest daughter and perhaps herbiggest fan. “She went to all of their homesto meet the mothers and talk about their kids.Because of my mom, each of the students got apersonalized education.”One summer, LeVett led an arts and craftsclass; she relished in sharing her love of art withstudents. Perhaps this was just an extension ofher teaching or perhaps it foreshadowed her nextmove: the giant leap from education to design.“My mom was making—if you can believethis—just $5,000 a year as a teacher,” saysAmanda, Karen’s 3 rd child. She went to theteacher’s credit union to get a $5,000 loan, andwith that small nest egg, LeVett bought her firsthome in Carmel. She spent two years fixing it upby hand. “My mom never hired anyone to help;she did it all herself,” says Amanda, proudly.After its remodel, LeVett sold her house, boughtanother and repeated the process over and overuntil she was fully immersed in the world of realestate. “I just took it one step at a time,” she says.This new world of housing introduced her tothree influential business partners: MichaelBolton, with whom she started an interior designbusiness; Chris Tesher, her long-time businesspartner; and Denny LeVett, a real-estate mogul,whom she later married.Together, LeVett and Bolton started Bolton andRowe, an interior design company in Carmel. Itwas here that she cut her teeth in design. Butit was with Tesher, a successful contractor, thatLeVett really honed her craft. She designed theinside of the homes, and he the outside. “It wasa real partnership,” says LeVett.LeVett’s homes are scattered through illustriousneighborhoods of Carmel and Pebble Beach.“We lived in 22 houses and I’m only 22 yearsold,” jokes Kate. “Every place we lived was morebeautiful than the last.”LeVett has no formal design education, butKate says that her mom “just knows about itintuitively.” As a child, Kate would lay on the floor,pouring over blueprints and catalogs with hermother. “She was more than an interior designer;she understood all aspects of the house.”Karen has also worked on Denny LeVett’s luxuryBed and Breakfasts by furnishing them andadding art to the establishments. Amanda saysher mom “never took a backseat to Denny. Shejust rode along side him, building herown career.”Recently, Amanda has taken on some of hermother’s role in the B&B’s. “I’d say I’m moreof an operations manager though. I can’t holda candle to Karen (when talking business, sherefers to her parents by their first names). I stillask her opinion about all the art.”While interior design is Karen’s profession, art isher obsession. Amanda says that besides Karen’sSmile! It can light up a room and warm the heart.The memory of a beautiful smile lasts forever. Dr. Jeanette Kern helps people from all over the Peninsula improve the health and appearanceof their teeth. Dr. Kern is an expert dentist who has completed post-doctoral training in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. She is a compassionatepractitioner with 25 years of experience and a commitment to community service. At Dr. Kern’s office you’re treated like a VIP. ToScott Salyer with his Kingmake visits especially comfortable, Dr. Kern designed a zen-inspired office space with creature comforts like paraffin hand dip and entertainmentsystems. New patients are welcome and smile consultations are always complimentary.Charles Spaniel, Louie.Schedule by calling 372-8011 or at www.jkerndds.com.Jeanette Kern, DDS660 Camino AguajitoSuite 201, Monterey(831) 372-8011www.jkerndds.comCONTINUED ON PG 81

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PERSONA 63Cultivating a CommunityThrough SoilBY Charleen Earley PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRIS

The agribusiness brothers have also cultivated care for childrenand Hispanics in their community through donations.PERSONA 64It’s amazing how even the smallest thing thathappens to you as a child can affect you for the restof your life. Roger Mills was only seven years oldwhen he bought groceries for his mom and brotherwhile his dad was in the service and discovered hewas three pennies shy at the counter.“I took something away, but the clerk said Ihad to go see the manager. That’s when a ladybehind me gave me three pennies,” said Roger,73. “It was the kindest thing for someone to dofor me. That happened over 60 years ago, and Istill remember it.”He’s done more than remember that lady’s smallact of kindness. Roger and his older brother,Basil (79), co-owners of the Mills Family Farmsin Monterey County, “pay it forward” in theircommunity as much as possible.“My brother, Basil—father of four children andgrandfather to eight grandchildren—and I grewup poor and less fortunate. As we becamesuccessful through farming, we’ve seen thecommunity from both sides of the fence,”said Roger, who has one daughter and sevengrandkids. His one son died at four months old.“You need to give back to your community; it’s abiblical thing to give 10 percent of your income tothe church. We give to our fellow human beings.”Roger and Basil have two older sisters Nancy andShubel, and one younger sister, Melissa. Theirfather, an eternal optimist who switched jobsfrequently, always believed his two sons wouldbecome businessmen. Ultimately, their fatherwent into the newspaper business, but Rogernever followed in his footsteps. He followed hisbrother’s instead.“Basil volunteered to be drafted in 1951 duringthe Korean War and was discharged in 1953. Hegot a job in Phoenix, Arizona with a producebroker, headquartered in Salinas,” said Roger.Roger graduated from high school in 1953 andenlisted in the U.S. Army in order to garner a G.I.Bill to get into college. He completed basic trainingin Fort Ord, served his time, and proceeded tocollege. In 1958, Basil started his own producecompany and hired his first employee.“I was his first employee!” said Roger, who claimshe and Basil never fought. “We have a veryclose relationship that most brothers probablydon’t have. Most people comment on the factthat we’ve gone through 50 years of businesstogether and have never had an argument!We’ve had disagreements though.”Fifty years later, the two continue to grow iceberglettuce, head lettuce, romaine lettuce, green andred leaf, red and green cabbage, green onions,leeks, parsley, kale, and cilantro. They farm inMexico, San Luis Valley (south of Yuma), Arizona,and in the Trinidad Valley, 150 miles south ofthe border. Farming to Roger is as noble a jobas it gets.“It’s a very rewarding business in that it’ssomething healthy you’re providing for thegeneral public,” said Roger. “Unlike the tobaccoindustry where it’s strictly for money, farmingvegetables provides a product that benefitsmankind! It’s a fun business.”Roger said the farming industry does not receivegovernment price supports or benefits either.“There’s no government aid whatsoever. It’s atotally free market based on supply and demand.”He said a farmer is the ultimate poster childfor eco-friendly living. “We are the extremeenvironmentalists, because we make a living offthe land,” said Roger. “Not only that, we take careof the land by using good crop management.”The agribusiness brothers have also cultivatedcare for children and Hispanics in theircommunity through donations.“We support the Boys and Girls Clubs in Salinas,Salvation Army, Monterey Bay Aquarium,Community Foundation of Monterey County,United Way, and Center for CommunityAdvocacy,” said Roger.“A lot of people helped us along the way,”said Roger. “We want to give back, so we do itthrough charity. We want to give back what Godhas given us.” °MONTEREY PENINSuLA TO THE CITY

San Francisco’s Bleeding HeartBY Andrea Stuart PHOTOGRAPHY BY christopher kernPERSONA 71Hair & Make-up Artist:Erin Gallagher / koko-represents.comLocation:Plumpjack Fillmore Wine Store3201 Fillmore Street, San Franciscoplumpjack.com

Newsom has eternally etched himself into this ever-growing symbolic edifice,having been branded the most sympathetic and perhaps, most controversialmayor the City has seen yet.STAY 73PERSONA 72San Francisco City Hall serves as Mayor GavinNewsom’s current political rest-stop; itsgrandeur is only surpassed by a history that dripswith saga. As the wedding site of Hollywoodicons, Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, andas the assassination grounds for Harvey Milkand George Moscone, San Francisco’s civicpalace carries an emotive energy. Newsom haseternally etched himself into this ever-growingsymbolic edifice, having been branded the mostsympathetic and perhaps, most controversialmayor the City has seen yet.“I think politicians need to be more risk-oriented;it’s imperiling to do nothing,” Newsom said ashe leaned back in his chair and placed his handsbehind his well-manicured head. “Innovationdoesn’t come from anything but trial and error.Key word being, Error! Politics is not known forinnovation. This is due to lack of willingness totry new things.”Despite popular assumption, politics werenot implemented on social governments withthe intention of attracting the sharp tongueor unscrupulous deeds of egocentric whistlestoppers.Politics are an art form; a science oftheory, a practical aid that builds understandingof—as well as effectively and fairly governing —various policies. Newsom embodiesthis philosophy.Newsom’s candid demeanor supports hisposition on life. Stacks of neatly arranged booksand papers on and behind his desk suggesta meticulous personality complemented by avoracious thirst for reading. His casually rolled upsleeves and unbuttoned collar reflect a practicalcharacter rooted in humility.A fifth-generation San Franciscan, Newsomstems from middle-class roots. AlthoughNewsom was not lathered in monetary spoilsduring his early years, his life was enriched by thehumanitarian bug.Newsom and his sister, Hilary, were raised by theirmother and role model, Menzies. They lived firstin San Francisco followed by Corte Madera wherethey moved in order to get away from the City’squestionable schools. Tessa divorced from theirfather, William Newsom, when the children werevery young. She worked three jobs—as a waitress,secretary, and bookkeeper—just to survive, anddedicated much of her life to sharing her homewith foster children, one with whom Newsom stillkeeps in contact.The self-professed gender-biased mayor said,“Women have such a capacity. I’ve alwaysadmired that about them, they can handle somuch.” He considers this a universal perspectivebecause, he says, “women have many aspectsthat far exceed, with all due respect, some oftheir male counterparts.”However, he credits all parties in his life formolding him into who is he today. Newsom’sfather—a former California Courts of AppealJudge and longtime friend to Gordon Getty—afforded Newsom experiences from another sideof life that included backpacking and river tripsaround the world, which taught Newsom aboutenvironmental conservation.From early childhood, Newsom suffered fromspeech impediments and severe dyslexia tothe point that he attended speech therapyand faked literacy. He later learned to workthrough dyslexia by developing the “NewsomMethodology” in which he highlights sectionsof books, types those sections into CliffsNotes,then re-reads them, rendering the informationinextirpable from his brain.To boost his deteriorating self-confidenceduring high school, Newsom became involved inClift: Hotel on a PrecipiceBY Michael Cervin COVER PHOTO BY GREG HARRISToday’s current crop ofathletes and celebrities stayat Clift.CONTINUED ON PG 81

Clift is unrepentant in itsdesign: drawing guests in withunconventional attributes.STAY 75“Everything has a story,” Simon Mais, general managerof Clift tells me as we stand in the jaw-dropping lobbyof this San Francisco hotel in the heart of Union Square.Moments prior I was pummeled by the frigid, harsh rainof a hectic San Francisco afternoon. But upon enteringClift, there is a sense of being elevated to another place,another time, and your perception shifts. Simply put,you are edified. There is a funky, museum-like qualityto Clift, a sort of discombobulating environment whereyou’re not certain which way to turn. The lobby itself,a voluminous place with 25-foot ceilings, seems moreaptly lit for a moody Broadway show. You stop, assessyour new surroundings, and wonder if you might be lost.You’ve entered a minimalist wonderland.In 1913, attorney Frederick Clift commissioned the300-room hotel on a lot that his family had inherited.By the time it was finished it was the first fireproof andearthquake proof hotel in California, which became theenvy of the City, and the rich adopted the place as theirown. Today the current crop of athletes and celebrities,both authentic ones and the fifteen-minute variety,choose to stay at Clift (it’s always Clift, not the Clift).Even several employees have worked here for over fortyyears. People don’t stay here, they abide. For those inthe know, they may smirk at those neophytes who arrivefor the first time, curious at the strange and bewilderingarrangement of furniture. Here’s a tip, look at theunderside of the large lobby chair, then have someonetell you the story. The right flank of the lobby is the LivingRoom, a gathering place for drinks, quiet conversation,or seclusion. You enter the lobby, but you pass into theLiving Room, a dark confining room studded with 7 x7-inch black and white prints of various animals, like amoose, a robot monkey, or a panda facing away fromyou. The squares, all at shoulder height, are individuallylit, commanding your attention. Here again, a closer lookreveals another truth. Sit and relax, enjoy a sidecar orespresso and immerse yourself.“We are very different. We’re about engaging ourguests,” Mais suggests. “The hotel was designed to bea whole experience,” he says. “Each piece of furniturewas hand chosen for its uniqueness.” Philippe Starckwas given free reign to compose color, texture, andperiod elements, then shake them up like a martini, anddistribute them liberally.The Redwood Room, for example, transcends history.Part deco, part cubist playroom; the dark redwoodpaneling is nothing short of gorgeous. The sophisticatedenvironment harkens back to a time when it was requiredto dress for dinner, when flip flops and baseball capswere reserved for off-time, not dinner time. Clift haslong been criticized for being trendy in that regard. “Arepeople coming here to be seen?” Mais asks rhetorically.Certainly the ambience is compelling. “It does exudethat vibe. People aren’t slumming. They get dressed upto come here, it’s a big night out,” he adds. And that hasalways been the allure of the Redwood Room ever sinceits inception, the hip and cool sensibilities mixed witha palpable and distinct sense of place. You want to beseen here because just walking through the doors makesyou feel like royalty. Starck’s interior design is eitherspecific intention or improvised by contrasting a mixof wingback leather chairs with low to the ground clubchairs, and—aside from the barstools—everything isformed to make the room feel larger than it is, more thanthe sum of its parts. It shares sliding redwood paneled

STAY 76Each piece of furniture atClift was hand chosen toengage guests.doors with Asia de Cuba, Clift’s signature restaurant,and voyeuristic glances are possible between the tworooms. Asia de Cuba, which Mais calls a “destinationrestaurant unto itself,” was also designed to keep thingslow to the ground, but with unobstructed views to theentire restaurant. The waiter’s stations are open, wineglasses hang upside down on open racks, allowing fora visual capaciousness, if not a slightly skewed senseof perception. The mirrored cross-shaped dining tableis off-set by four semicircular booths which hug eachcorner, rounding off the interior footprint. Floor to ceilingdrapes hide the walls while ceiling lights offer whispersof illumination and shadow, and dance down the drapeswith a David Lynch/Twin Peaks vibe, a place where youcannot anticipate what might happen next.At every turn in Clift there seems to be somethingplaced just so, and it demands your attention becauseyou want to fix it, make it more symmetrical. But Clift isunrepentant in its design. Flawed or not, it draws you in,forcing you to become involved with the tactile naturearound you. From the restrained lighting or the furniture,which appears to have more in common with HearstCastle and its random disconnected imagery—as ifHelen Keller designed the place —it is easy to forget thisis still a business.“We put a lot of money into maintaining our hotels,”Mais says. The average renovation cycle for most hotelsis ten years, but Clift thrives on a seven-year cycle;therefore, the rough worn edges never show.This is evident in the guest rooms as well. Though thereis a subliminal message in the peculiar grey, orange, andlavender hues that articulate the rooms, it’s not quitedefinable. It is something just out of reach, until it isexplained, should you ask. “The room should reflect thearea where you are,” Mais states practically. “When youwake up in San Francisco, you should know you’re here,not L.A. or South Beach,” he suggests. In practical terms,this means the orange painted legs of the tables andchairs is meant to invoke the sun hitting the Golden GateBridge and fanning out across a damp, cool morning.Whereas the gray carpet implies the ubiquitous fogthat envelopes the City, and the candle lantern lampssuggest the wharf district. You might laugh at the ideathat the hues mean anything of the sort. You mightbelieve the colors are better suited to a model homesubdivision with an uneducated and hyper designer.Either way, careful thought has gone into the schematicsof the rooms, though it’s elusive at first. Then Mais tellsme that Starck had seen old photographs of peoplebeing wheeled up Nob Hill in wheelbarrows (the why wasnever explained) and, therefore, wheelbarrow chairs aresplayed in the rooms as a testament to the historical, ifnot the eclectic and joyous, nature of the City. Clift feelshaphazard, but it is orderly.If you fly into San Francisco from say, Singapore or Wales,or even the Midwest, you might not pick up on thesubtleties. Clift is definitely not prosaic. But there mightbe a story running in your head, like a movie, about howSan Francisco used to be; an elegant, romantic townthat portrays itself as the epicenter of taste, culture, andrefinement. And how it is now; an older, wiser metropolis,a hub of vitality that plays by its own rules, sets trends,defies authority, and believes in its own supremacy.Those images, however real or imagined, come to aperfect union in Clift. °

PERSONA 78The Mayor of Belden PlaceBY Vanessa Carr PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRIS

It was in San Francisco that Spinoso opened his first U.S.restaurant, Caffe Macaroni, a 13-seater “the size of a shoebox.”The First Lady of HumilityCONTINUED FROM PG 58San Francisco’s Bleeding HeartCONTINUED FROM PG 72PERSONA 80It’s lunchtime and raining in downtown SanFrancisco, yet the white-clothed outdoor tablesof Belden Place are filling quickly. With eightrestaurants crowded beneath strings of lightsand taut red awnings, this small alley feels moreold-town Italy than Financial District hustle.Like in any small town, there’s one man onBelden Place whom everyone seems to know:Pino Spinoso. He can’t walk two paces withoutshouting a greeting in English or Italian. And it’sno wonder—Spinoso owns three of the alley’srestaurants: Café Tiramisu, Brindisi Cucina diMare, and Belden Taverna.Spinoso is the classic Italian restaurateur:gregarious, dark-suited, broad, raised inkitchens, a wine lover. According to Spinoso, hisstaff are “friends,” he’s a “leader—not a boss,”and a 16-hour day is “a short one.”“It’s hard work, but the party comes to you,”he says.Just shy of 50, Spinoso grew up in Venosa,a land-locked town located on the ankle ofItaly’s proverbial boot. With two parents in therestaurant business, he and his siblings grew up“with the culture of food and wine in their bloodand DNA.”But forget any romantic idea of sipping saucefrom Grandma’s wooden spoon: Spinoso learnedto cook working long hours alongside his parentsin the family restaurant.“They put a chain on me in the kitchen,”he jokes.At 12, his family immigrated to Düsseldorf,Germany, where he encountered the trulywealthy for the first time in the restaurantswhere he cooked. Spinoso cultivated his culinarytalent through his teenage years, and beforelong patrons started returning for his creations,specifically. By 18, he had started his ownrestaurant in partnership with an uncle.Despite these early successes, Spinoso started tofeel like a prisoner in Düsseldorf: “I’m going todie in this kitchen here,” he thought to himself.His first step toward freedom, paradoxically, wasreporting for mandatory military service in Italyas a paratrooper. For his last six months, he wasstationed in North Carolina.“That is where I fell in love with the Americanway of doing things,” Pino said.After the military, Spinoso started working on cruiseships—as chef, bell captain, whatever was offered.For the next seven years, he traveled the world bysea—the Suez Canal, South Africa, New Zealand,the Black Sea—before returning to the U.S.It was in San Francisco that Spinoso opened hisfirst U.S. restaurant, Caffè Macaroni, a 13-seater“the size of a shoebox.” There he cooked anunconventional menu featuring horse meat andrabbit, rode his scooter daily to the market forfresh produce, and eventually hosted guests likeFrancis Ford Coppola, George H. W. Bush, andPat Conroy.Today Spinoso owns six restaurants; four inSan Francisco and one in both Burlingame andBangkok, Thailand. He lives in San Franciscowith his wife of 20 years, Joelle—originally fromthe Monterey Bay Area—and his 13-year olddaughter, Allegra.Watching Spinoso greet champagne-sippingbusinessmen during lunch, it’s hard to imaginethat just twenty years ago the alley was fullof garbage and car parts, and was still opento traffic. He dragged the first table into thestreet on Café Tiramisu’s opening day in 1990because the alley’s brick walls and quality of lightreminded him of Rome. But the likeness betweenthe two cities is greater than brick and light.“An old Italian man once told me, ‘San Franciscois just like Italy,’” Spinoso recounts. “‘You throw aseed in the floor and it will grow—you don’t haveto do anything. The seafood, the vegetables, themeat—no other city in the U.S. has done so wellas San Francisco.’” °modesty, her favorite thing about her mother isher ability to pick out great art. “She has the mostincredible taste. The way she puts art together isitself an art form.”LeVett has always made great sacrifices for art.In her early 20’s, Amanda says that her mothertraded a pair of Levis “right off of her body” for apiece of art.The image of a young LeVett passing a pair ofworn denim to an artist is all the more astoundingwhen juxtaposed with the image of her today.LeVett is a thin, pretty woman with perfectlycoifed hair and a pristine and pressed wardrobe.It’s hard to imagine her wearing jeans, let alonetrading art for them.While Amanda had heard the infamous stories ofKaren’s love of art, she hadn’t seen it first hand untilthe two of them went to a Carmel art walk. It wasthere that she saw how important a collector hermother was—every artist knew her and thanked herfor supporting them over the years. “The artists allcame up to her and praised her. One artist, who wasgetting older, invited her to come to her garage andtake anything she wanted.”LeVett continues to collect art to fill her homes.She recently purchased an apartment on CentralPark South in New York City, and you can bet thewalls won’t stay bare for long. “I wish you could seeevery home my mother has done,” says Kate. “Thedesigns don’t come from any country; they comefrom the incredible mind of my mother. But it’s hardfor her to realize the genius of her work.” Lucky forLeVett, she has her daughters to remind her. °during high school, Newsom became involved inbaseball, obtaining a partial scholarship to SantaClara University. With an appetite for a careerin law, Newsom studied political science; he feltenvironment and law were a perfect fit. However,when Newsom graduated from SCU his fatherdiscouraged him from attending law school,avowing that law wasn’t what it used to be.“I wouldn’t have passed the bar anyway,”Newsom added facetiously.In limbo about what to do with a political sciencedegree, and with no aspirations to go intopolitics, he began selling orthotics and laterwent into real estate. It was that path that servedas Newsom’s Pied Piper, stringing him along adistinct path toward his PlumpJack empire.In 1992, Newsom opened PlumpJack Wineson Fillmore in San Francisco. His innovativemarketing strategies and unique vision eventuallymetamorphosed into the PlumpJack Group,comprised of over 16 hotels, restaurants, andwineries. His business and personal philosophyare synonymous with respect.“I had an experience that is indelible to me.When I worked in janitorial, I was pushing a cartand I passed a guy in a suit and tie. I wavedand smiled at the gentleman who looked downangrily. He didn’t even acknowledge me. I feltdehumanized and I told myself I would never dothat to another human being.” His words wraparound a chord of embarrassment.Newsom’s knack for fundraising andentrepreneurial success eventually caughtthe attention of family-friend and former SanFrancisco mayor, Willie Brown, who gave Newsomhis first political job as San Francisco’s Chair ofParking and Traffic Commission in 1996. One yearlater Newsom became Supervisor. He affirms thatBrown acted on inspiration/desperation; hiringa straight, white, male in an attempt to boostdiversity. “I was his affirmative action appointee.Only in San Francisco,” Newsom threw up hishands and chuckled.Newsom now has an exploratory committeededicated to his campaign for CaliforniaGovernor. Yet, he asserts he still has notrepidation for being in elected office.“My only motivation for running for governor is …it’s a way of connecting all the parts of the state.But politics is only one vehicle. I will continue tofight for the environment, for public housing, andfor equal rights long after my political career hasended,” Newsom said.A part of Newsom is looking forward toretirement from politics. He’d like to resume hisrole with PlumpJack and to open a café on theMonterey Peninsula.“People who live on the Monterey Peninsulahave a real connection to the coast, land, andenvironment. There is a spiritual quality to thearea; it brews imagination,” Newsom added.No matter where Newsom ends up tomorrow, hewill always carry one truth with him. That truth isthat if your cause in life is purpose as opposed topower, then you will be able to look back at theproverbial rocking chair moment of yourlife and say, “That’s a life worth living andI made a difference.” °CONTINUED 81

EDITOR’S NOTE 82By Andrea StuartThere’s nothing like leaving behind the routine of your shoulder-hunching, time-crunching daily activitiesand relaxing into vacation, even if it is January.My husband and I recently visited Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—more specifically, Spring Church—to watchSuper Bowl XLIII with family. I’m not much of a sports fan, but I am a fan of community. And Pittsburgh—aswell as surrounding townships and villages—emanates a strong sense of pride. Black and gold drapedthe vendors’ tables that lined The Strip District as the Steelers’ Fight Song intrusively echoed in the nearglacialair. Walking the streets of Pittsburgh, I couldn’t help but feel at home among the ripened brickbuildings, each with a story to tell.The most fascinating aspect of visiting the City of Bridges—Allegheny County has more than 1,700bridges, 720 of which are within Pittsburgh city limits—is the camaraderie. Never have I seen city folkcome together so fluidly for no other reason than for good cheer.Super Bowl XLIII held a special meaning for Pittsburghers this year as the Steelers earned their sixth Super Bowl championship.Headlines were painted in wit reading, “The Joy of Six,” and “Lords of the Rings.”We spent the final hours of Super Bowl Sunday cozied-up in the Apollo Elks Lodge where I ran into old-timers like Regis, who hadbecome increasingly aware of his mortality and now that he’d seen this “miracle” was making plans to finish his bucket list beforetime took the reins.Slurs swirled the room in harmony as local lodge members celebrated the Steelers’ victory. “I’ll buy breakfast for anyone whoshows up tomorrow morning,” yelled one member. Then, when the body-writhing tune of Dancing Queen came over the Elks’speakers I was suddenly reminded that I was in a rural town of Pittsburgh, where time has stopped and residents simply don’tmind. My husband and I flew nearly 3,000 miles for this experience and we surely would not have encountered such esprit decorps at a Raiders riot…er…celebration.Truthfully, Pittsburghers are not unlike residents here at home; maintaining hope through political and economic uncertainty,clinging to whatever elements each person has in common with another, holding onto the knowledge that humanity willpersevere. I believe much of our nation is aware of this verity and should aspire to promote a sense of community, and in the end,we will emerge strong and proud. In the words of M. Scott Peck, author of The Road Less Traveled, “There can be no peace, andultimately no life, without community.” °etroisaiadieselcanaliincotexlorenziniscott barberrobert talbottluciano barberaermenegildo zegnavoted “best men’sclothing store”monterey county weeklyand thecarmel pine cone(831)625-8106 ∙ www.khakisofcarmel.com ∙ One mile south of Ocean Ave; Exit on Hwy 1 at Carmel Valley Rd; Right on Carmel Rancho Blvd Right on Carmel Rancho Lane