February 2017

FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA 

February 2017 

YOUR 

MONEY 

TRUMP AND TAXES 

HOW WILL THE NEW 

PRESIDENT’S TAX PLAN 

AFFECT YOUR BOTTOM LINE? 

INVESTING 

IN ART 

Should You 

Take the Risk? 

FINANCIAL 

ADVISERS 

How to Find a Planner 

Who Will Pad Your Pockets, 

Not His Own 

DAVID BOWIE 

IN MEXICO 

Images of 

the Rock Star 

Debut at Forest Lawn

Design Art. 

Build Art. 

Lic.653340 Photo by Alexander Vertikoff 

ARCHITECTURE. CONSTRUCTION. INTERIORS. 

626.486.0510 HartmanBaldwin.com

4 | ARROYO | 02.17

arroyo 

VOLUME 13 | NUMBER 2 | FEBRUARY 2017 

11 

31 35 

PHOTO: (Bottom left) Fernando Aceves; (bottom right) Radius by Helen Frankenthaler, courtesy of the Museum of Modern Art 

YOUR MONEY 

11 NEED A FINANCIAL ADVISER? 

Strategies for fi nding a fi nancial planner who will look out for your 

interests — not his 

—By REBECCA KUZINS 

27 TRUMP, TAXES AND YOU 

A look at what the new president’s tax plan could mean for your 

fi n a n ce s 

—By BETTIJANE LEVINE 

31 BOWIE THROUGH A LENS 

A new Forest Lawn Museum photo show highlights the rock star turned 

art tourist in Mexico. 

—By BRENDA REES 

35 ART IS A RISKY INVESTMENT 

Here are a few pointers for aspiring collectors who want to take the plunge. 

—By SCARLET CHENG 

DEPARTMENTS 

08 FESTIVITIES HBO’s Golden Globes party, Panto at the Playhouse 

09 LÉON BING Remembering Carrie and Debbie 

16 ARROYO HOME SALES INDEX 

37 KITCHEN CONFESSIONS The skinny on Presidents’ Day 

39 THE LIST Van Gogh at the Norton Simon, Chinese New Year at the Huntington 

and more 

02.17 ARROYO | 5

EDITOR’S NOTE 

Warren Buffett offered some 

words to the wise about handling 

money, something the zillionaire is 

exceptionally good at: 

“Rule No. 1: Never lose money. 

“Rule No 2: Never forget rule no. 1.” 

That’s a pretty tall order for even 

the most sophisticated fi nancier, 

but there are steps you can take to 

protect and increase your assets. 

As Rebecca Kuzins reports, one 

important move would be to fi nd 

a fi nancial planner who’s also a 

fi duciary — someone whose goal is 

to pursue your interests, not his own. It 

may surprise you to know that some 

planners can sell expensive products designed to pad his/her pockets 

rather than yours. Dodd-Frank addressed that by requiring all fi nancial 

professionals who work with retirement plans to be fi duciaries, beginning in 

April. But that rule is expected to be shredded by the Trump Administration, 

so it’s more important than ever to do your homework before handing over 

your money. Trump has also vowed sweeping changes to the tax code, and 

Bettijane Levine breaks them down for you and explains what they could 

mean for your personal fi nances. 

Some investors like to combine pleasure with profi t by buying art in the 

hope it will grow in value. That sounds great in theory, but it’s tricky to pull 

off in practice, as Scarlet Cheng learned in interviewing several top L.A. art 

dealers, who offer advice to budding art afi cionados starting a collection. 

And readers who were as rocked as we were by news of Carrie Fisher’s 

December death, followed one day later by that of her movie-star mother, 

Debbie Reynolds, will want to read Lèon Bing’s fascinating account of her 

friendship with the troubled Star Wars icon. 

—Irene Lacher 

EDITOR IN CHIEF Irene Lacher 

ART DIRECTOR Carla Cortez 

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres 

PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Rochelle Bassarear, 

Richard Garcia 

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Bettijane Levine 

COPY EDITOR John Seeley 

CONTRIBUTORS Denise Abbott, Leslie Bilderback, 

Léon Bing, Martin Booe, James Carbone, Michael 

Cervin, Scarlet Cheng, Richard Cunningham, 

Carole Dixon, Kathleen Kelleher, Rebecca Kuzins, 

Brenda Rees, John Sollenberger 

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Dina Stegon 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, 

Brenda Clarke, Leslie Lamm 

ADVERTORIAL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 

Bruce Haring 

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Andrea Baker 

PAYROLL Linda Lam 

CONTROLLER Kacie Cobian 

ACCOUNTING Sharon Huie, Teni Keshishian 

OFFICE MANAGER Ann Turrietta 

PUBLISHER Jon Guynn 

arroyo 

FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA 

SOUTHLAND PUBLISHING 

V.P. OF OPERATIONS David Comden 

PRESIDENT Bruce Bolkin 

CONTACT US 

ADVERTISING 

dinas@pasadenaweekly.com 

EDITORIAL 

editor@arroyomonthly.com 

PHONE 

(626) 584-1500 

FAX 

(626) 795-0149 

MAILING ADDRESS 

50 S. De Lacey Ave., Ste. 200, 

Pasadena, CA 91105 

ArroyoMonthly.com 

©2017 Southland Publishing, Inc. 

All rights reserved. 

6 | ARROYO | 02.17

02.17 | ARROYO | 7

FESTIVITIES 

John Muir High School Choir 

Sarah Jessica Parker, Reese Witherspoon 

and Nicole Kidman 

Chris and Luke Hemsworth 

The Pasadena Playhouse celebrated the opening 

night of its Panto at the Playhouse production of A 

Cinderella Christmas with a benefi t for the theater’s 

education programs. The Jan. 8 event, co-chaired 

by Anita Lawler and Julietta Perez, included preand 

post-performance receptions with the cast… 

Pasadena event designer Billy Butchkavitz went 

with a clean, minimal look, punctuated by vibrant 

patterns in silver and gold, for HBO’s 2017 Golden 

Globes Party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel’s Circa 

55 restaurant and Trader Vic’s Lounge on Jan. 8. 

The stylish bash drew A-Listers including Nicole 

Kidman, Eddie Redmayne and many. 

Danny Feldman, Julietta Perez, Anita Lawler and Brad King 

8 | ARROYO | 02.17 

Eddie Redmayne and Gwendoline Christie 

PHOTOS: Elias Feghali (Pasadena Playhouse); Gabor Ekecs (HBO Golden Globes)

LÉON BING 

Carrie Fisher 

DYNASTY 

Remembering Carrie Fisher and 

Debbie Reynolds, royalty of Hollywood 

and a galaxy far, far away 

It was unthinkable. If that story line had been written into a screenplay, no producer 

would have gone near the idea; too unlikely, it wouldn’t play well with audiences. But 

it really did happen at the end of last year, and the public reaction was huge: People 

were staggered by the news that Debbie Reynolds died one day after her daughter, Carrie 

Fisher, suffered a fatal cardiac arrest during a 15-hour flight from London to Los Angeles. 

They didn’t get to say goodbye. Carrie lay in a coma and on life support for some hours 

at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center before her death last Dec. 27. She was 60 years old; her 

mom was 84. And behind the shock and disbelief, nearly everyone had a few tears to shed. 

I know I did, although my friendship with Carrie had drifted away over a stupid argument 

many years earlier. 

PHOTO: Riccardo Ghilardi 

Buck Henry — best known for his screenplay of The Graduate (in which he also played 

the small role of a hotel clerk) and his many appearances on Saturday Night Live during 

John Belushi’s tenure — introduced me to Carrie Fisher in the early ’80s at a small party 

held in the courtyard of artist Ed Ruscha’s studio. Buck, whom I’d known since we both 

lived in New York, said, “You two dames have got to meet.” Then he took me by the hand 

and guided me to a spot where Carrie stood, surrounded by admirers. Buck was right: 

Carrie and I clicked, and during that first conversation I was fascinated by her blazing 

intelligence and touched by the overlay of disillusionment around her singular beauty. 

We exchanged numbers and soon I was being asked to visit her home in the canyon (I 

can’t remember which one; it was before the bigger house on, I think, Tower Road) on a 

fairly regular basis. Carrie liked company and usually there were people around. Once I 

saw Timothy Leary dive into the swimming pool. Steve Martin was a warm presence at a 

brunch I attended. I met Debbie Reynolds one afternoon at the house when I was walking 

past the living room and heard a small, nearly musical “Hello” coming from the depths of 

one of the sofas. I sat next to her and we talked for a few minutes — small talk, but very 

pleasant; there was nothing of the big movie star about her. 

Shopping with Carrie was an interesting — and rather maddening — experience. One 

had to be careful not to admire anything, because Carrie would immediately try to buy 

it for you. She was the most generous and talented giver of surprise gifts, as well. I have 

a vivid memory of a clear plastic tote bag with an inside container (also clear) that held a 

perfect replica of a trout, a wedge of lemon and three or four ice cubes. Carrie Fisher’s eye 

for deadpan kitsch was supreme: she kept a life-size replica of a Guernsey cow in the area 

near her pool, and a lamp with a wooden base carved into bears climbing a tree in a guest 

bedroom. Carrie shared an October birthday with director Penny Marshall and every year 

it was celebrated with a big party at Carrie’s house. Tables were set out on the patio, the 

food — home-fried chicken and all the fixings — was supplied by Debbie’s housekeeper 

and cook, Gloria. The list of guests rivaled that of a seating chart at the Academy Awards 

and Carrie was an exceptional hostess: welcoming, funny and as always, genius smart. 

It has been well recorded (by Carrie herself in her first book, Postcards from the Edge, 

and later, in Wishful Drinking) that she had a major penchant for drugs. During an 

interview with Diane Sawyer she admitted to taking LSD and using cocaine as well as a 

02.17 | ARROYO | 9

LÉON BING 

Debbie Reynolds 

–continued from page 09 

10 | ARROYO | 02.17 

variety of other stuff. I had a memorable experience with Carrie one evening: I’d recently 

begun attending meetings at a 12-step program (I had my own bout with drugs) and I 

convinced her to come along with me to a meeting in Westwood. We stopped for dinner 

first. When we walked into the meeting, Carrie was immediately pulled into a hug by an 

award-winning leading man with whom she was friendly. She was able to sit through half 

the meeting before leaning in close and whispering, “I’ve got to get out of here.” On the way 

back to her home, she asked me to drop her off at a friend’s place so she could pick up her 

car. I pulled up to a duplex in Beverly Hills. Carrie got out and ran up a flight of stairs to 

the friend’s apartment. 

I decided to wait, figured she was going for the car keys — her BMW was parked near 

the stairway — but what if the friend wasn’t home? It seemed to take a longer time than 

a fast pickup and I turned my radio to an R&B station. Halfway through a version of 

Tipitina, Carrie came out of the apartment. She was clearly high on drugs. I jumped out of 

my car and yanked the car keys from her hand when she swayed to the bottom of the stairs. 

I’d take her home, I told her. She didn’t argue, just slumped into the passenger seat of my 

car. Even by the dashboard lights I could see her eyes were unfocused. We didn’t speak 

during the drive back to her house; Carrie was slipping into a deeply drugged-out state. 

When we pulled into the driveway, I got out from behind the wheel, steered her to her front 

door and rang the bell — I knew she had a couple friends there. A young woman opened 

the door, a young guy standing just behind her. They asked me to come in and between us 

we guided a nearly unconscious Carrie to the living room sofa. 

I was offered a cup of tea, took a sip and headed back out, weary of the whole evening, 

but as my car motor purred to life, I heard my name shouted. Both of Carrie’s friends ran 

up to my car to tell me she was more than unconscious: her lips were turning blue. I told 

them to make a kind of chair with their forearms and carry her to my car. They managed 

to slide her into the back seat and each sat on either side of the clearly overdosed Carrie. 

The guy — by then I’d learned he was the author Paul Slansky — held her head up, his 

hand under her chin, while the young woman, also a writer — Carol Caldwell — braced 

Carrie’s shoulders. We raced down the hill; I was heading toward Cedars-Sinai, the closest 

place I could think of. When we screeched into the emergency entrance, Carrie was placed 

on a gurney and rushed into a treatment area. I parked the car and we all headed into the 

waiting room. The three of us sat, waiting, for three or four hours — until Carrie’s stomach 

was pumped and she was taken to one of the celebrity suites. I visited a couple times and 

she looked exponentially better each time, making wonderfully funny, self-deprecating 

comments, some of which appeared in her first book. After that, we argued over a guy and 

drifted apart. 

When the movie version of Postcards, starring Meryl Streep as Carrie with Shirley 

MacLaine playing her mother, was released, I was surprised to see my part of that 

adventure-in-the-drug-trade assayed by Dennis Quaid. But who cares? Carrie Fisher is 

gone now, and her mom, Debbie, wasn’t able to stay behind. 

That’s a Hollywood — and an international — tragedy. |||| 

PHOTO: Allan Warren

NEED 

A FINANCIAL 

ADVISER? 

Pros recommend 

strategies for consumers 

in the market for a 

financial planner who 

will look out for their 

interests — not his. 

BY REBECCA KUZINS 

02.17 | ARROYO | 11


SELECTING A SOLID FINANCIAL ADVISER CAN BE AS 

BEWILDERING AS NEGOTIATING A MAZE. 

There are many types of investment professionals with different titles, duties, 

qualifications and forms of compensation. Some adhere to a code of ethics that 

requires them to be a fiduciary — someone who acts in the client’s best interests, 

not his own — but others do not. (Dodd-Frank phases in a rule requiring all financial 

professionals who deal with retirement planning to act as “investment advice 

fiduciaries,” beginning April 10 — but the Trump Administration is expected to 

shred that mandate.) You also have to determine the type of adviser who will best 

understand your needs and comfort level with risk — avoid planners who typically 

work with a particular range of assets that don’t match your holdings. 

A good way to begin your search is to weed out the people who are not qualified 

to provide objective financial advice or serve as fiduciaries. Brokers, for example, 

buy and sell stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other products for their clients. They 

are not fiduciaries and are held to a lower ethical standard. They also receive commissions 

— payments for opening an account for a client or on the sale of a financial 

product by the company offering that product — and may persuade you to buy these 

products, whether or not you need them. 

Investment advisers offer guidance on buying securities and manage them for 

their clients; but unlike brokers, they are generally not in the business of selling 

securities. They are also known as investment managers, wealth advisers, asset 

managers, wealth managers or portfolio managers. Registered investment advisers 

(RIAs) are firms registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission that 

uphold fiduciary standards. 

A third category — financial planner — explores all your financial needs and 

helps you devise a plan to achieve long-term fiscal goals. “It’s important that a 

financial adviser be well-versed in more than just investments,” says Mitchell E. 

Kauffman, a certified financial planner and financial adviser at Kauffmann Wealth 

Management in Pasadena. “They should know tax planning, estate planning, 

retirement planning and managing risk. Our clients prefer someone who is more 

comprehensive, who can look at the whole picture instead of parts of it.” 

Certified financial planners, or CFPs, are licensed and regulated by the Washington, 

D.C.–based CFP Board, which administers an exam to people who wish to 

earn the CFP designation. CFPs may provide the most objective financial advice 

because they are fiduciaries, many of whom earn a flat, hourly fee rather than a 

commission, so they have no incentive to sell their clients products they might not 

need. 

The CFP Board’s website (cfp.net) provides a list of certified financial planners, 

with their specialties and compensation methods as well as contact information. 

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, a group of fee-only professionals, 

similarly lists its members on its website (napfa.org); you can also search 

the Financial Planning Association website (plannerssearch.org) for CFPs in your 

area. After you’ve compiled your list of names, use the Financial Industry Regulatory 

Authority’s (FINRA) BrokerCheck (brokercheck.finra.org) to see whether any 

have been disciplined for unlawful or unethical behavior. 

You can now select three or more CFPs and schedule interviews with them to 

determine whom you should hire. During these interviews, “the most important 

thing you are looking for, by far, is total and honest disclosure,” Carl Richards, a 

financial planner in Park City, Utah, told The New York Times. “If you get the sense 

someone is hiding things or avoiding your questions, move on.” 

Some financial planning firms prepare lists of questions for prospective clients. 

Leah Snell, a CFP and the partner and managing director of Pasadena-based 

Snowden Lane Partners, has a three-page list of detailed questions designed to unearth 

information about a financial adviser’s business structure and qualifications, 

relationship management, investment philosophy and compensation. 

Percy E. Bolton, a Pasadena-based fee-only financial adviser, has a questionnaire 

on his website to help you determine if a prospective financial planner holds 

to a fiduciary standard. The final question asks the planner to sign a fiduciary oath 

declaring s/he will act in the client’s best interests, will not receive any money 

contingent on a client’s purchase or sale of a financial product and will disclose any 

conflicts of interest that could compromise the planner’s impartiality. 

–continued on page 14 

12 | ARROYO | 02.17

02.17 | ARROYO | 13

INTEGRITY, TRUST, 

AUTHENTICITY AND A 

GENUINE DESIRE TO HELP 

PEOPLE ARE PARAMOUNT IN 

AN ADVISER. 

— LINDA K. POLWREK 


Bolton maintains that determining a financial planner’s fiduciary status and 

form of compensation should be paramount concerns for prospective clients. You 

should ask the planner if s/he charges a flat fee or works on commission and find 

out how much the adviser typically charges. 

Other key questions include: 

• What experience do you have and how does that relate to your current 

practice? CFPs are required to have at least three years of financial planning 

experience. 

• What licenses, credentials or other certifications do you have? 

• What services do you or your firm provide? Financial planners generally 

cannot sell insurance or securities without the proper licenses, and they cannot 

provide investment advice unless they are registered with state or federal 

authorities. 

• What types of clients do you specialize in? 

• How do you plan to manage my money? “Advisers can range in investment 

ideology and it is important to understand the types of investments you would 

likely own, the risk associated with the investments chosen and the scope of 

how those investment decisions are made,” explains Alexander Leu, managing 

director at Pasadena-based Penniall & Associates. “Clients should always 

understand their portfolio and be educated by their adviser along the way.” 

“Planning advice is also crucial,” Leu adds. “What type of planning advice 

will you be getting? Will it be included in the investment management or will 

you be charged a separate fee?” He says his firm shows potential clients the 

planning advice they will receive and sets expectations for how this advice will 

be delivered. “It is important to know if you are getting a real financial plan 

or simply a CFP spitting out some basic projections via a financial-planning 

calculator,” he says. 

• How much contact do you have with your clients? Some financial advisers 

meet with their clients once a year to review their investments; others may 

meet every three months or more frequently. If you believe you need more 

support, you will want to make sure your financial planner holds frequent 

meetings and responds to phone calls. 

• Do you work independently or with a team? Some CFPs argue that a sole 

practitioner will provide more personalized service than a large firm. Leu, like 

others, says, “Clients should be looking for a team approach and a firm with 

many qualified specialists …You want to make sure that the adviser you chose 

has … professionals around him that can provide a sounding board for collaborative 

advice they deliver to clients.” 

• Personal characteristics: The CFB Board lists seven key traits you should 

expect from a financial planner: competence, objectivity, integrity, clarity, 

diligence, compliance and privacy. 

It is important that you feel comfortable talking to your adviser and believe he 

or she understands your needs and goals. “One of the biggest things that is often 

overlooked is a person’s ability to listen,” says Kauffman. “One thing I’ve learned in 

my training is if I’m saying two or three sentences in a row, I need to shut up.” 

“The most important thing, in my opinion, is chemistry,” says Linda K. Polwrek, 

a CFP in the Pasadena office of Waddell & Reed. “Do you trust this person, 

do you feel comfortable sharing your hopes, dreams and certain details of your life 

with this person? Financial planning is a very intimate process. You share not only 

your hopes, dreams and goals but all kinds of personal and confidential information 

about your health, money and financial dynamics. 

“Integrity, trust, authenticity and a genuine desire to help people are paramount 

in an adviser,” Polwrek adds. “Trust your instincts about whether you can relate to 

each other.” |||| 

14 | ARROYO | 02.17

02.17 | ARROYO | 15

arroyo 

~HOME SALES INDEX~ 

HOME SALES 

-11.11% 

AVG. PRICE/SQ. FT. 

6.13% 

dec. 

2015 

486HOMES 

SOLD 

ALHAMBRA DEC. ’15 DEC.’16 

Homes Sold 45 29 

Median Price $508,500 $592,000 

Median Sq. Ft. 1284 1462 

ALTADENA DEC. ’15 DEC. ’16 


Median Price $715,000 $780,000 


ARCADIA DEC. ’15 DEC. ’16 


Median Price $950,000 $1,125,000 


EAGLE ROCK DEC. ’15 DEC. ’16 


Median Price $702,500 $885,000 


GLENDALE DEC. ’15 DEC. ’16 


Median Price $635,000 $727,000 


LA CAÑADA DEC. ’15 DEC. ’16 


Median Price $1,501,000 $1,450,000 


PASADENA DEC. ’15 DEC. ’16 


Median Price $639,000 $790,000 


SAN MARINO DEC. ’15 DEC. ’16 


Median Price $2,069,500 $2,300,000 


SIERRA MADRE DEC. ’15 DEC. ’16 


Median Price $920,000 $742,000 


SOUTH PASADENA DEC. ’15 DEC. ’16 


Median Price $985,000 $1,306,250 


TOTAL DEC. ’15 DEC. ’16 


Avg Price/Sq. Ft. $538 $571 

dec. 

2016 

432HOMES 

SOLD 

 

HOMESALESABOVE 

RECENT HOME CLOSINGS IN THE PASADENA WEEKLY FOOTPRINT 

source: CalREsource 

ADDRESS CLOSE DATE PRICE BDRMS. SQ. FT. YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD 

ALHAMBRA 

1418 South 2nd Street 12/02/16 $1,080,000 5 2895 1924 $710,000 10/31/2012 

906 North Atlantic Blvd. 12/13/16 $1,000,000 5 3403 1948 $95,000 10/15/1985 

1600 South 2nd Street 12/19/16 $950,000 3 2891 1910 $575,000 07/22/2015 

ALTADENA 

2079 Skyview Drive 12/16/16 $2,225,000 4 2676 1940 $2,200,000 05/15/2007 

1612 Woodglen Lane 12/28/16 $1,965,000 4 3859 1991 $1,660,000 05/01/2014 

1217 Rubio Street 12/16/16 $1,525,000 5 3862 1927 

2376 Ganesha Ave. 12/16/16 $1,350,000 4 2837 1912 

2876 Windfall Ave. 12/21/16 $1,257,000 3 1504 1965 $1,080,000 07/10/2007 

1259 Rubio Vista Road 12/22/16 $1,168,000 4 2450 1965 $765,000 05/27/2016 

1932 Craig Ave. 12/16/16 $1,025,000 2 1927 1931 $920,000 05/31/2013 

2593 Marengo Ave. 12/06/16 $976,000 6 3202 1906 $280,000 01/05/1999 

ARCADIA 

382 Torrey Pines Drive 12/21/16 $4,980,000 6 10180 2005 $4,880,000 10/25/2011 

301 Arbolada Drive 12/16/16 $3,937,000 4 3867 1950 $1,850,000 11/22/2005 

659 Hampton Road 12/12/16 $3,680,000 5 5543 2011 $3,680,000 05/16/2016 

1310 Ramona Road 12/05/16 $3,400,000 5 3534 1938 $2,700,000 05/21/2014 

1110 South 2nd Ave. 12/20/16 $2,488,000 5 5139 1989 $1,870,000 07/25/2012 

1354 Michillinda Ave. 12/08/16 $1,990,000 4 3273 1954 $1,900,000 03/30/2015 

40 West Orange Grove Ave. 12/20/16 $1,905,000 3 2913 1950 

1243 Highland Oaks Drive 12/01/16 $1,818,000 3 2232 1961 $1,880,000 03/24/2014 

427 East Lemon Ave. 12/28/16 $1,620,000 5 3721 1995 $700,000 05/05/1995 

138 West Foothill Blvd. 12/02/16 $1,480,000 5 3504 1995 $605,000 12/02/1998 

703 East Camino Real Ave. 12/30/16 $1,300,000 4 2099 1925 

556 South 2nd Ave. 12/13/16 $1,250,000 3 2470 2015 

707 South 5th Ave. 12/28/16 $1,200,000 3 2949 2003 $280,000 01/17/2003 

221 Altern Street 12/07/16 $1,168,000 3 1448 1955 $1,115,000 01/30/2015 

576 South 2nd Ave. 12/12/16 $1,150,000 3 2250 2015 

155 Sierra Madre Blvd. 12/29/16 $1,100,000 4 2487 1950 $1,080,000 10/09/2015 

800 East Camino Real Ave. 12/21/16 $1,093,000 3 1753 1957 $850,000 03/04/2016 

529 Leda Lane 12/21/16 $1,093,000 2 2025 1955 $800,000 01/28/2016 

608 Camino Grove Ave. 12/12/16 $1,078,000 3 1927 1962 $735,000 01/12/2005 

1036 Encino Ave. 12/30/16 $1,050,000 3 2263 1956 $910,000 03/25/2016 

EAGLE ROCK 

4427 Mont Eagle Place 12/06/16 $1,221,000 2 684 1923 $475,000 07/15/2015 

2015 Escarpa Drive 12/13/16 $1,210,000 3 2017 1965 

2337 Addison Way 12/16/16 $1,002,000 2 1111 1922 $605,000 06/09/2015 

G L E N DA L E 

2125 Maginn Drive 12/06/16 $1,750,000 3 2970 1964 $1,118,000 11/13/2009 

3230 Menlo Drive 12/01/16 $1,690,000 3 2975 1957 $127,500 10/31/1977 

928 Chudleigh Lane 12/30/16 $1,644,000 7 4293 1965 

1820 Greenbriar Road 12/02/16 $1,505,000 3 2800 1964 $1,040,000 08/07/2008 

1601 Capistrano Ave. 12/29/16 $1,480,000 5 4350 1937 $1,445,000 11/03/2014 

748 Glenview Road 12/28/16 $1,463,000 4 2727 1927 $1,054,000 05/04/2012 

5188 Sky Ridge Drive 12/16/16 $1,450,000 4 3334 1996 $436,000 09/30/1996 

2018 Ashington Drive 12/02/16 $1,395,000 5 3371 1989 $660,000 10/15/1998 

1580 Glenmont Drive 12/19/16 $1,350,000 4 1826 1955 $525,000 08/04/2000 

905 East Mountain Street 12/23/16 $1,330,000 3 2619 1950 $1,141,500 12/07/2004 

2951 Hermosita Drive 12/16/16 $1,329,000 3 3483 1940 $1,170,000 07/29/2009 

1171 Sweetbriar Drive 12/15/16 $1,300,000 3 2836 1969 

1646 Ard Eevin Ave. 12/07/16 $1,255,000 4 2536 1958 $535,000 07/06/1999 

1967 Sherer Lane 12/30/16 $1,255,000 3 2445 1962 $760,000 04/21/2014 

1428 Montgomery Ave. 12/30/16 $1,250,000 5 2284 1926 $900,000 12/12/2014 

3001 Canada Blvd. 12/13/16 $1,220,000 5 4854 1991 $460,000 04/30/1996 

1521 Highland Ave. 12/16/16 $1,200,000 3 1970 1935 $700,000 06/27/2016 

3301 Vickers Drive 12/30/16 $1,200,000 3 2856 1965 

1641 Camulos Ave. 12/21/16 $1,186,000 3 1590 1920 $760,000 07/27/2012 

1253 Moncado Drive 12/08/16 $1,150,000 5 2800 1928 $465,000 01/08/1999 

1731 Bel Aire Drive 12/13/16 $1,130,000 3 2696 1940 $675,000 09/30/2004 

1547 Irving Ave. 12/28/16 $1,100,000 4 2353 1947 

1421 Hillcrest Ave. 12/27/16 $1,075,000 3 2184 1932 

444 West Dryden Street #D 12/14/16 $1,065,000 4 2162 1954 

2412 Canada Blvd. 12/12/16 $1,050,000 4 2153 1927 

1631 Royal Blvd. 12/28/16 $1,040,000 3 2205 1940 $400,000 04/02/1999 

2999 Country Club Drive 12/02/16 $1,025,000 2 2071 1949 $600,000 11/18/2015 

3020 Emerald Isle Drive 12/05/16 $1,000,000 4 2883 1979 $219,500 05/20/1980 

1357 Moncado Drive 12/20/16 $999,000 4 1928 1925 $999,000 08/31/2016 

3267 Kirkham Drive 12/07/16 $960,000 3 1948 1975 $340,000 09/15/1997 

1901 West Kenneth Road 12/14/16 $959,000 3 2287 1941 $399,000 07/30/2002 

1450 Valane Drive 12/20/16 $950,000 3 2575 1947 

The Arroyo Home Sales Index is calculated from residential home sales in Pasadena and the surrounding communities of South Pasadena, San Marino, La Canada Flintridge, Eagle Rock, Glendale (including Montrose), Altadena, Sierra Madre, 

Arcadia and Alhambra. Individual home sales data provided by CalREsource. Arroyo Home Sales Index © Arroyo 2017. Complete home sales listings appear each week in Pasadena Weekly. 

16 | ARROYO | 02.17

ADDRESS CLOSE DATE PRICE BDRMS. SQ. FT. YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD 

LA CAÑADA 

4265 Beresford Way 12/28/16 $4,000,000 4 7534 1995 $1,800,010 12/10/1997 

5100 Gould Ave. 12/09/16 $2,405,000 2 2583 1949 $2,405,000 12/09/2016 

1096 Inverness Drive 12/22/16 $2,100,000 3 3379 1947 $895,000 06/04/2002 

4762 La Canada Blvd. 12/20/16 $2,100,000 4 3649 1926 $1,115,000 05/22/2000 

5024 Hill Street 12/27/16 $2,060,000 7 4823 1938 $1,450,000 02/21/2007 

2198 Fairhurst Drive 12/23/16 $1,870,000 5 3708 1963 

522 Paulette Place 12/22/16 $1,865,000 2 1777 1953 $865,000 09/20/2000 

5390 Harter Lane 12/19/16 $1,707,500 4 2822 1964 

270 St. Katherine Drive 12/19/16 $1,690,000 3 2440 1966 $197,000 04/22/1981 

5053 Crown Ave. 12/16/16 $1,525,000 3 1612 1951 $830,000 12/15/2015 

4644 Hillard Ave. 12/06/16 $1,450,000 3 1828 1952 $1,450,000 11/29/2016 

4646 Palm Drive 12/21/16 $1,385,000 3 1958 1961 $975,000 02/22/2008 

526 Venado Vista Drive 12/09/16 $1,300,500 3 2040 1957 

4842 Alminar Ave. 12/14/16 $1,278,000 4 1816 1947 $820,000 06/03/2011 

5208 Diamond Point Road 12/28/16 $1,205,000 3 1930 1966 $978,000 08/30/2005 

495 Paulette Place 12/01/16 $1,200,000 3 1753 1953 

5733 Ocean View Blvd. 12/23/16 $1,190,000 3 1781 1962 $931,000 06/08/2005 

PASADENA 

2935 Lombardy Road 12/28/16 $9,800,000 0 0 

1315 South Oakland Ave. 12/01/16 $4,199,000 4 6269 1910 $975,000 02/25/1993 

3585 Locksley Drive 12/30/16 $3,650,000 5 4255 1934 $2,530,000 06/25/2010 

1720 Lombardy Road 12/15/16 $3,500,000 4 5469 1956 

760 South San Rafael Ave. 12/27/16 $2,900,000 4 2668 1928 $1,518,000 09/20/2011 

95 Tustin Road 12/30/16 $2,559,000 4 2962 1950 

1250 South Los Robles Ave. 12/01/16 $2,300,000 4 3358 1913 $1,300,000 05/17/2007 

1240 Chateau Road 12/02/16 $2,250,000 4 3129 1960 

130 Patrician Way 12/29/16 $2,220,000 2 2935 1948 $1,498,500 07/01/2008 

3123 East California Blvd. 12/21/16 $2,205,000 4 2957 1941 

3901 Sycamore Street 12/23/16 $1,875,000 5 4325 2013 $1,750,000 06/21/2013 

3439 Vosburg Street 12/08/16 $1,798,000 3 2348 1955 $374,500 07/21/2014 

1655 Hastings Heights Lane 12/22/16 $1,767,000 6 4798 1989 $760,000 10/18/1990 

122 San Miguel Road 12/15/16 $1,750,000 4 2595 1938 $869,000 02/22/2002 

31 West Bellevue Drive 12/02/16 $1,650,000 3 3297 1890 $470,000 11/01/1990 

1150 La Loma Road 12/20/16 $1,530,000 3 1803 1960 $542,500 10/14/1988 

25 South Grand Ave. 12/19/16 $1,500,000 2 2330 1920 $900,000 07/31/2008 

361 Linda Vista Ave. 12/28/16 $1,495,000 3 1800 1951 $166,000 06/30/1978 

400 Ninita Parkway 12/07/16 $1,490,000 3 2885 1925 

1945 East Mountain Street 12/15/16 $1,453,000 5 2734 1929 $345,000 04/18/1988 

470 South Santa Anita Ave. 12/22/16 $1,408,500 4 2938 1927 $1,100,000 12/04/2008 

807 South Orange Grove Blvd. #1 12/21/16 $1,400,000 2 2184 1975 $1,000,000 11/08/2013 

805 South Orange Grove Blvd. 12/01/16 $1,399,000 2 2153 1975 $1,175,000 05/09/2014 

619 South Oakland Ave. 12/06/16 $1,375,000 5 1970 1909 

974 Dale Street 12/30/16 $1,369,000 4 2056 1912 $630,000 04/02/2002 

911 Laguna Road 12/29/16 $1,365,000 3 2267 1955 $1,120,000 07/03/2007 

1835 Rose Villa Street 12/05/16 $1,365,000 3 1861 1924 $828,000 06/25/2004 

1850 North Hill Ave. 12/07/16 $1,300,000 2 2966 1890 $424,000 08/04/1994 

1640 Casa Grande Street 12/16/16 $1,275,000 4 2811 1923 $465,000 07/29/1998 

2118 Glen Springs Road 12/23/16 $1,275,000 3 3318 1994 

1191 North Mar Vista Ave. 12/14/16 $1,230,000 4 2313 1912 $241,500 10/31/1997 

1710 La Cresta Drive 12/30/16 $1,220,000 4 3217 1928 $215,000 05/23/1986 

1551 Scenic Drive 12/21/16 $1,167,500 4 1889 1947 

1540 Lancashire Street 12/30/16 $1,135,000 4 2208 1963 $1,021,500 09/01/2016 

1109 North Allen Ave. 12/09/16 $1,080,000 2 2293 1923 $127,500 04/22/1985 

1439 Brixton Road 12/14/16 $1,075,000 3 1472 1959 $755,000 10/23/2008 

823 Michigan Blvd. 12/15/16 $1,060,000 3 2473 1936 

982 North Oakland Ave. 12/21/16 $1,002,000 3 2046 1922 $680,000 06/09/2016 

26 San Miguel Road 12/19/16 $1,001,000 3 1758 1937 $631,500 10/05/2010 

2515 East Del Mar Blvd. 12/30/16 $998,000 5 3789 1929 

25 Oak Knoll Gardens Drive 12/06/16 $981,000 2 929 1922 $675,000 06/28/2016 

365 San Juan Place 12/23/16 $980,000 2 2045 1956 $845,000 08/30/2005 

2372 Cooley Place 12/06/16 $975,000 4 3227 1947 $107,500 06/21/1984 

166 South Greenwood Ave. 12/02/16 $972,000 2 1436 1912 $658,000 09/22/2008 

1956 East Woodlyn Road 12/01/16 $960,000 4 1707 1928 $967,000 04/18/2016 

SAN MARINO 

1500 Virginia Road 12/19/16 $6,888,000 3 2369 1949 $2,550,000 05/31/2013 

2075 Lombardy Road 12/27/16 $6,500,000 6 6996 1925 $2,475,000 03/25/1997 

2160 Adair Street 12/08/16 $4,320,000 3 2191 1929 $1,600,000 08/29/2014 

1660 Oak Grove Ave. 12/07/16 $4,050,000 5 3508 1926 

2627 Lombardy Road 12/02/16 $2,800,000 3 2782 1940 

899 Winston Ave. 12/02/16 $2,510,000 4 3123 1950 $1,820,000 07/03/2007 

1331 San Marino Ave. 12/22/16 $2,320,000 3 2952 1947 $136,500 06/01/1977 

1284 Sherwood Road 12/30/16 $2,280,000 4 2966 1928 $2,386,000 10/18/2013 

2799 Cumberland Road 12/06/16 $2,230,000 3 2205 1940 

2155 Valentine Place 12/16/16 $2,025,000 4 3025 1965 

2176 Adair Street 12/02/16 $2,015,000 4 2771 1936 

1975 Robin Road 12/02/16 $1,550,000 2 1528 1938 $1,300,500 10/20/2014 

1805 Twin Palms Drive 12/19/16 $1,405,000 2 1702 1935 $460,000 04/20/1999 

1300 Winston Ave. 12/06/16 $1,307,500 2 1478 1936 $655,000 09/09/1997 

SIERRA MADRE 

503 Acacia Street 12/28/16 $1,216,000 5 2812 1969 

619 West Alegria Ave. 12/09/16 $950,000 2 1637 1929 $775,000 11/24/2014 

SOUTH PASADENA 

1339 Garfi eld Ave. 12/12/16 $2,600,000 7 4904 1964 $97,500 12/30/1987 

939 Braewood Court 12/02/16 $1,950,000 5 3898 2007 $480,000 05/09/2006 

2012 Alpha Street 12/19/16 $1,526,000 3 2372 1964 

1659 Via Del Rey 12/07/16 $1,475,000 3 1815 1965 

1427 Santa Teresa Street 12/02/16 $1,450,500 5 3327 1965 $495,000 09/22/2000 

1716 Gillette 12/15/16 $1,400,000 5 2974 1947 $725,000 04/08/2004 

1122 Milan Ave. 12/28/16 $1,375,000 3 1360 1908 $700,000 07/01/2005 

1719 Via Del Rey 12/16/16 $1,375,000 3 2582 1965 

1718 Raymond Hill Road 12/07/16 $1,360,000 4 3026 1946 $900,000 05/20/2011 

523 Hermosa Street 12/16/16 $1,344,000 3 1828 1978 

1609 Camden Parkway 12/19/16 $1,310,000 4 2630 1927 

1921 Edgewood Drive 12/01/16 $1,302,500 3 1515 1925 $415,000 01/12/1990 

709 Grand Ave. 12/22/16 $1,100,000 3 1874 1930 $425,000 08/25/1998 

1823 Hill Drive 12/16/16 $1,100,000 4 2044 1976 

02.17 ARROYO | 17

ARROYO 

HOME & DESIGN 

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT 

MORTGAGE RATES 

HEADING 

UP – WE THINK 

The Federal Reserve raised interest 

rates last year. But they’re still at 

historic lows 

BY BRUCE HARING 

RENTING VERSUS BUYING A HOME IS AN ETERNAL DILEMMA FOR 

PASADENA AREA RESIDENTS, AS THERE ARE TEMPTATIONS AND 

FRUSTRATIONS FOUND IN BOTH SITUATIONS. 

Southern California rents are among the nation’s highest, 

consuming 47% of the average renter’s income, according to a 

Zillow.com survey. That is close to 15% higher than a similar survey 

held in the year 2000. 

Some real estate agents say the upper limits haven’t been 

reached. As demand increases, rents will follow the basic law of 

supply and demand, going higher and higher. And while that’s 

good news for landlords, it’s a bad deal for renters. 

Given that, it may be time for you to explore other options. 

One of the axioms of Southern California real estate is that they 

aren’t making any more of it, and our climate, show biz glamour 

and big city amenities should continue to make this area one of 

the premier housing markets in the United States. 


18 | ARROYO | 02.17

02.17 | ARROYO | 19

20 | ARROYO | 02.17

—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT— 


While past performance is no indicator of future success, those 

factors more than likely mean that buying a house, condominium or 

townhome in the Pasadena area will likely be a good investment that 

will appreciate going forward. 

‘TIS THE SEASON 

Right now is a good time of the year to be house-hunting. Southern 

California’s housing market is not as seasonal as other parts of the 

country, owing to our wonderful weather. But there still is less activity 

at this time of year versus the mid-spring and late summer periods, 

traditionally the high season for house shopping. 

Even in desirable neighborhoods, housing sales are somewhat 

tepid in Southern California at the moment. That refl ects uncertainty 

related to the incoming administration, the high prices of housing in 

general, and the somewhat sluggish economy. 

But it may also be a refl ection on changing tastes in housing 

accommodations. After all, Millennials are known to prefer public 

transportation and ride share services like Uber and Lyft to owning 

a car. The great foreign investment boom that drove a lot of 

residential real estate sales in the area also appears to be slowing. 

New restrictions on money exporting by the Chinese government 

has decreased the pool of prime customers in that country, a trend 

which may affect the market in the San Gabriel Valley and Southern 

California in general. 

The supply of homes on the market in many locations is increasing, 

an indication that buyers are taking a wait-and-see approach. The 

United State Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and 


02.17 | ARROYO | 21

22 | ARROYO | 02.17

—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT— 


Urban Development estimates that there is a fi ve-month supply of new 

homes on the market at the end of November. Add in the older homes 

that are for sale, and there is an ample selection to choose. However, 

as with anything, the more desirable properties in good school districts 

will still attract a lot of attention from those looking to purchase. 

The fi rst 100 days of the new administration will be a key test of how 

people feel about the housing market and the overall economy. 

INTEREST RATES AND YOU 

The good news is that interest rates on home loans are still at historic 

lows. The bad news is that they’re likely headed up. 

The Federal Reserve, the central bank that determines the prime 

lending rates that infl uence what you pay for your mortgages, credit 

cards and other loans, raised its prime lending rate a quarter point in 

December. That marked only the second time since the 2008 fi nancial 

crisis that rates have been raised. 

What that means heading into the new year is that your credit 

will cost you more, taking a larger chunk out of your available cash as 

you strive to pay down debt. The rise in rates may be followed by three 

more in 2017, experts says, although predictions about what the Fed 

may do are like predicting the Presidential election. And we all know 

how that turned out. 

So, before you go out and fi nd the home of your dreams, it’s a 

good idea to learn up-front how much house you can afford under 

current interest rates. You do that by becoming pre-qualifi ed with a 

lender, and then pre-approved. 

PRE-QUALIFIED VS. PRE-APPROVED 

The process to become pre-qualifi ed is straightforward. You go to a 

lender and provide them with information on your fi nancial condition, 

usually over the Internet or telephone. Once the lender has a picture 

of your income, debt and assets, they will determine how much 

of a mortgage amount you are likely to receive. Armed with that 

knowledge, you can begin looking at houses in your price range. 

But wait – pre-qualifi cation does not mean you are approved. It 

merely means you have a rough idea of what to expect. Now you need 

to move on to the next step in the process of obtaining a mortgage. 

The pre-qualifi cation became particularly important in the wake 


02.17 | ARROYO | 23

24 | ARROYO | 02.17


of the late 2000 housing crisis, when many mortgages were signed 

off on without income verifi cation and so-called “gimmick” loans 

appeared. Many of those loans also carried balloon payments or 

interest-only clauses, which, when called, resulted in the housing crisis 

that destroyed the economy. 

New laws were instituted to avoid those issues, capping the 

amount of debt a buyer can assume relative to their stated income at 

43 percent, and some brokers who touted unsavory loans were cut off 

by the banks. Now, even pre-qualifi ed customers may be asked more 

questions, so be prepared to dig down in this application period. 

To get pre-approved for a mortgage is a more rigorous process. It 

is particularly important in this market, where many high-priced homes 

require what’s known in the trade as a “jumbo” mortgage. These big 

money loans are not backed by the Federal Housing Administration, so 

those who don’t have great credit or a large down payment may face 

some diffi culties with certain lenders. 

Pre-approval usually requires tax form documentation, pay 

stubs, investment paperwork and bank account listings that will 

verify income, debt and assets. Combined with your credit score, the 

lender will then decide on how much of a risk you present, and make 

funds available accordingly. This is important, because once you 

have pre-approval, you may jump ahead of other people if you’re in 

competition for a particularly attractive property, as there will be no 

delays or surprises related to fi nancing. 

Once you fi nd your home, you move to the fi nal stage of fi nancing 

– the loan commitment. This is done when the bank has approved 

the home you want to buy and the price. This involves appraising it to 

make sure it is valued at or above the sales price, is structurally sound 

with no disastrous fl aws, and has no liens or litigation pending. 

During this process, your credit and fi nancial profi le will be 

checked once again to ensure nothing has changed since the 

initial approval. If all checks out, a loan commitment letter is issued. 

Presuming all goes well with the seller, you’re on the way to getting 

your key to your new home. 

If you’d like more information on the housing market in your 

town, there is a research fi rm that monitors housing sales in your city. 

CoreLogic is a La Jolla-based data research fi rm that reports on house 

and townhome sales in various Southern California cities, and also 

covers other aspects of housing-related news, like mortgages. For 

more details, visit www.corelogic.com. |||| 

02.17 | ARROYO | 25

26 | ARROYO | 02.17

TRUMP, 

PHOTO: Gage Skidmore 

TAXES AND 

YOU 

The new president’s tax proposals include 

a huge cut for the mega-wealthy, but 

they also make it harder for them to 

donate to charities. 

BY BETTIJANE LEVINE 

THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX CODE IS VERY 

COMPLICATED STUFF. THAT’S WHY MOST NEWS OUTLETS 

DON’T EVEN TRY TO EXPLAIN ITS BLOATED AND 

BYZANTINE BYWAYS TO AMERICANS — 70 PERCENT OF 

WHOM DO NOT EVEN ITEMIZE ON THEIR TAX RETURNS. 

MOST TAXPAYERS WANT TO KNOW ONLY HOW MUCH 

THEY’LL HAVE TO PAY OR GET BACK. OR, IN THE CASE 

OF THE UBER-RICH AND CORPORATIONS, WHETHER 

THEY’LL BE ABLE TO INSULATE THEMSELVES FROM TAXES 

ALTOGETHER. 

02.17 | ARROYO | 27


Under President Donald Trump’s tax proposals, the very wealthy appear likely 

to receive a big bonanza in tax relief, depending on what news sources you read. The 

New York Times, for example, warned about potentially dire consequences of Trump’s 

proposal to repeal the estate tax. Last November, the paper reported that if Trump’s 

plan passes, “a host of taxes that affect only the very richest Americans may be eliminated, 

along with almost all tax incentives to be philanthropic. As a result, wealthy 

families may find it much easier to amass dynastic levels of wealth.” It went on to say 

that the plan would “allow for the creation of generational wealth to rival that of the 

last Gilded Age, after which the modern estate tax was enacted in 1916.” 

Another story in the Times business section said “the wealthy are already partying 

like it’s 1989. If Trump makes good on his tax cut promises, billions are expected to 

go back into their pockets.” The writer inexplicably sought out Robin Leach, whose 

1980s TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous got big ratings. “Cars will get bigger, 

houses will be more luxurious and it will be OK to wear jewelry and gowns again,” 

Mr. Leach, 75, enthused. 

The current federal estate-tax exemption is $5.49 million per individual, almost 

$11 million per couple (surviving spouses can carry over each other’s unused exemptions). 

That means an individual can leave $5.49 million to heirs and pay no federal 

estate tax. Above that amount, the tax rate is 40 percent. 

Current law also allows estate assets to receive a “stepped-up basis” designation 

which permits any capital gains to escape taxation when they are passed to heirs. 

In other words, a stock purchased for $100,000 that has appreciated in value to $1 

million by the time of the original purchaser’s death, will escape capital gains taxes 

because the Internal Revenue Service “steps up” the initial purchase price to its valuation 

at the fine of transfer. 

Trump’s plan seems to go much further, although it’s short on specifics and leaves 

a lot open to interpretation. It has a provision to repeal the estate tax entirely. Some 

analysts say it might then be replaced by a capital gains tax, which is currently 20 

percent — half the estate tax. And even that 20 percent might be avoided, according 

to analysts at The Tax Foundation, who interpret Trump’s proposal to mean that 

“the gain would be subject to tax only when the inheritor sells the asset, not upon the 

death of the decedent.” Critics contend that means taxes may never be paid on a family’s 

real estate assets, like the Trumps’ hotels, residential buildings and golf courses; 

heirs could borrow against such holdings, while the properties themselves are passed 

down through generations. 

We reached out to certified financial planner Mitchell E. Kauffman, ¬owner and 

managing director of Kauffman Wealth Management, an independent financial advisory 

services firm with offices in Pasadena and Santa Barbara. We asked his opinion 

of Trump’s tax plan and whether he’s noticed any jubilation among his wealthiest 

clients. Kauffman says no to the latter question and calls Trump’s tax plan, in his 

opinion, a “mixed bag, with a lot of moving parts,” many of which have not been 

clarified yet. 

“Some things Trump is proposing are very friendly to high–net–worth people, but 

he’s also talking about putting limitations on deductions, which particularly affect 

mortgage deductions and charitable contributions. The affluent tend to be the strongest 

charitable donors,” he adds, so diminishing those deductions “most likely would 

not be very favorable to affluent people.” Nor would it be good for nonprofits, he adds. 

“We know that the National Council of Nonprofits has expressed concern over this, 

which they see as a potentially tremendous setback in their efforts to support charities 

and nonprofits.” 

The estate tax, he says, is the easiest part of the plan to address. “Eliminating 

the estate tax has been a cherished goal of conservative Republicans for a number of 

years. And with a Republican congress and administration, most analysts are predicting 

that the estate tax will be eliminated — which would mean that when people 

pass, their assets would go to their heirs without any additional taxation. But estimates 

show that only .02 percent of all estates that are settled each year are subject to 

the federal estate tax, so proponents of this argue that the impact is more symbolic 

than financially impactful on the economy and the budget.” 


PHOTO: Gage Skidmore 

28 | ARROYO | 02.17

02.17 | ARROYO | 29


A key concern for Kauffman is the possibility that if the estate tax is eliminated, 

the current stepped-up basis designation might also be eliminated. In that scenario, 

he says, heirs at all financial levels who inherit a property would receive the same cost 

base that the decedent had, which would create a much higher capital gains tax than 

under the current system. 

Another key concern for Kauffman revolves around the proposed limits on deductions. 

“For a state like California, which has higher state and local income taxes, 

right now individuals can deduct those state and local taxes on their returns, which 

in essence puts some of the burden on the federal government. If the Feds limit 

deductions, it could prompt state and local governments to raise taxes in order to 

compensate.” And, Kauffman says, that limit on deductions might also impact how 

much mortgage interest people can deduct, “which could have a detrimental effect on 

affluent real-estate markets such as the one we have in Pasadena.” 

The caveat to all this, Kauffman says, is that we’re just talking about proposals 

now, and we have no idea what Congress will actually pass into law that might differ 

in some basic directions or help offset any drawbacks. 

A number of organizations have evaluated Trump’s tax proposal and come up with 

overview analyses, most of which predict tax cuts for all income brackets, with the 

biggest cuts going to the top tier of wealth. The Tax Policy Center of the Urban Institute 

and Brookings Institution, for example, predicts “the highest income taxpayers 

(.1 percent of the population, with annual incomes over $3.7 million) ... would experience 

an average tax cut of nearly $1.1 million — over 14 percent of after-tax income. 

Households in the middle fifth in income distribution would receive an average tax 

cut of $1,010, or 1.8 percent of after-tax income, while the poorest fifth of households 

would see their taxes go down an average of $110, or .8 percent of after-tax income.” 

Another group, The Tax Foundation, estimated that middle-class taxpayers, on average, 

will see a nearly $500-per-year income boost from Trump’s plan. 

The most publicized analysis was performed by NYU law professor Lily Batchelder, 

an expert on tax policy who worked for President Obama’s National Economic 

Council. Her study examined the likely effects of Trump’s proposed tax law changes 

on individuals and families. Batchelder’s findings, which Trump spokespeople call 

“pure fiction,” estimate that more than half of America’s single parents and one-fifth 

of all families with children could see their federal income taxes rise if Trump’s plan 

is enacted. His proposed tax breaks for these families would add up to less than those 

they receive today, she said. She concluded that the plan would eliminate the headof-household 

filing status along with personal deductions and would impose higher 

rates on certain income, all of which would combine to raise taxes for many low- and 

middle-income taxpayers. |||| 

30 | ARROYO | 02.17

David Bowie at National Palace, 

Mural by Diego Rivera 

BOW IE 

THROUGH 

A LENS 

A new Forest Lawn Museum 

exhibition presents intimate 

images of the rock star 

turned art tourist. 

STORY BY BRENDA REES 

PHOTOS BY FERNANDO ACEVES 

ANA PESCADOR CAREFULLY SHUFFLES A 

PILE OF LARGE COLOR PHOTOGRAPHIC 

PRINTS ON A TABLE, THUMBING THROUGH 

CRISP BRIGHT IMAGES OF THE LATE POP 

STAR DAVID BOWIE VISITING HISTORIC 

AND CULTURAL LOCATIONS PRIOR TO HIS 

ONLY CONCERT IN MEXICO CITY, IN 1997 

--- BOWIE ON THE BLUE STEPS OF THE FRIDA 

KAHLO MUSEUM, BOWIE ADMIRING DETAILS 

IN A DIEGO RIVERA MURAL, THE ROCKER 

HIDING BEHIND A TRADITIONAL MASK. 

As the new museum director of the Forest Lawn Glendale Museum, Pescador brings 

out an image of Bowie standing deep inside the massive Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan. 

Here is a man surrounded by darkness, illuminated only by a cigarette lighter. “This 

one is particularly poignant for me,” she says. “It has so many connections. [It evokes the] 

candlelight celebrations we do here at Forest Lawn, but it’s also about Bowie physically and 

spiritually inside Mexican culture.” 

02.17 | ARROYO | 31

Bowie at Pyramid of the Sun 

in Teotihuacan 


Pescador, a native of Mexico and former 

CEO of the Latino Art Museum in Pomona, 

is prepping for the first stop of a new traveling 

exhibition she curated — David Bowie: Among 

the Mexican Masters — which runs through 

June 15 at Forest Lawn. It features almost 

40 intimate, never-before-seen images by 

renowned Mexican rock and jazz photographer 

Fernando Aceves. 

Twenty years ago, Bowie arrived in Mexico 

City a few days prior to his Earthling concert, 

to soak in the local art, history and culture. Aceves said that Bowie had done his research 

and knew exactly what he wanted to see. Aceves’ photos were to accompany an article 

Bowie would write for Modern Painters magazine, but the article was never published. “I 

had already worked with many rock stars like the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Paul Mc- 

Cartney and others,” says Aceves. “But David was special for me. I had been listening to 

his music and watching him in movies for years. I was a little nervous, but I found him to 

be very human and approachable.” 

Photographed only with ambient light, Aceves’ images show Bowie with a relaxed grin 

and child-like wonder exploring historical landmarks (e.g. the National Palace, the Palace 

of Fine Arts) and cultural treasures, including murals by David Alfaro Siqueiros and Jose 

Clemente Orozco, Rivera, Kahlo and more. 

Part of the photographer’s assignment was to be a fly on the wall, capturing Bowie, 

not as a fashion model, but as an “artist paying tribute to other artists,” explains Aceves. “I 

think David’s gift was his ability to blend in and be local. I understood why people call him 

‘the chameleon,’ because he became part of the scene, the landscape.” 

32 | ARROYO | 02.17 

HERE, THESE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW 

HIM LOOKING HUMAN — NOT AS A 

ROCK STAR OR A MOVIE STAR BUT AS 

A HUMAN BEING EXPERIENCING THE 

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF MEXICO. 

The photos capture a casual side of Bowie 

that fans rarely saw. “David was used to being 

photographed throughout his artistic career. 

He knew how to model with makeup and 

lights,” says Aceves. “Here, these photographs 

show him looking human — not as a rock star 

or a movie star but as a human being experiencing 

the cultural landscape of Mexico.” 

The Bowie exhibition is part of MXLA 

2017, a yearlong cultural exchange between 

Los Angeles and Mexico City. The initiative 

celebrates L.A.’s connection with the Mexican 

community through performances, exhibitions and special events. MXLA 2017 will be 

part of the Pacific Standard Time L.A./Latin America project from Sept. 15 through 

Jan. 31, 2018, along with the Getty, LACMA, the Greek Theatre and Walt Disney 

Concert Hall, among others. 

Located on the verdant grounds of the century-old cemetery, Forest Lawn Museum 

has been presenting eclectic programming designed to appeal to a wide audience — including 

many who aren’t traditional museumgoers. In the past few years, the museum has 

offered popular installations on the art of Legos, motorcycle design, record-album covers 

and movie posters. Prior to the Bowie photographs, the museum showcased the work of 

legendary Disney artist Eyvind Earle. After the Bowie exhibition wraps up in June, Forest 

Lawn will feature an installation from renowned Chinese artist Cao Yong, followed 

by a Charlie Brown and friends exhibition from the Charles Schulz Museum in Northern 

California. Those exhibition dates have not been announced. 

It’s an ambitious slate for a small museum that’s still largely unknown. “So many 

people have said, ‘What? Forest Lawn? They have a museum?’” says Pescador. “I want 

— FERNANDO ACEVES

David Bowie at Palace of Fine Arts, 

Crossroads Man by Diego Rivera 

people to see that Forest Lawn has a museum for the 21st century and that we are proactive in 

our choices. We are living in a diverse, multicultural society, so that’s what we want to reflect in 

our galleries. We want to be known as a museum of the community.” 

Composed of three gallery spaces, the museum displays works from its extensive permanent 

collection in the front two galleries. On view are Remington bronze figurines, 15th-century 

stained glass by Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer, numerous paintings including Lincoln at 

Gettysburg by Fletcher C. Ransom and William Adolphe Bougereau’s Song of the Angels and 

even “Henry,” a Moai head from Easter Island. 

“The world is changing so rapidly that it’s a challenge to attract new audiences,” explains 

Pescador. “To me there are only two options: offer innovative exhibitions, which we are doing, 

and two, make the museum available to the world. My goal is to be a virtual museum.” She’s 

planning a website dedicated to the museum’s offerings that would make its treasures accessible 

by art lovers around the world. 

Glendale is the only Forest Lawn cemetery to have a museum. In the early 20th century, 

the idea for it percolated in the mind of Forest Lawn founder Hubert Eaton who, aware that 

many Californians could never travel to see art around the country and the world, decided to 

bring art to them. Eaton commissioned cast-from-the-original reproductions of Michelangelo’s 

Moses and La Pietà, among others. There’s also a re-creation of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, 

painted in Italy from the original sketches, on display in an architectural space patterned after 

Westminster Abbey and Gothic cathedrals. 

Now, instead of bringing art to the people, the museum’s goal is to bring the museum to the 

world. “It’s not the same experience seeing artwork online, but people who cannot come here, 

many want to know what we have here and what we are all about,” says Pescador. “We need to 

reach out and open our doors to the world.” 

David Bowie: Among the Mexican Masters is a free exhibition through June 15 at the Forest 

Lawn Museum, 1712 S. Glendale Blvd., Glendale. Hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. 

Visit forestlawn.com for the schedule of lectures and musical events coordinated with the show. |||| 

Bowie at National Palace, 

Mural by Diego Rivera 

Bowie at Palace of Fine Arts, 

Dome Interior view 

02.17 | ARROYO | 33

34 | ARROYO | 02.17

ART 

RISKY 

ART IS A 

INVESTMENT 

Here are a few pointers for 

aspiring collectors who want 

to take the plunge. 

BY SCARLET CHENG 

WE MIGHT FANTASIZE THAT ART IS THE PERFECT INVESTMENT — 

BUY SOMETHING YOU LOVE BY AN EMERGING ARTIST, LIVE WITH 

IT FOR YEARS AND THEN SELL IT TO MAKE A SMALL FORTUNE ON 

YOUR FORESIGHT. 

“One of my clients acquired two Helen Frankenthaler paintings in 1966, large paintings, and he bought 

them for $2,500 each,” says Culver City art dealer Edward Cella. “We helped him sell one for $700,000 

and the other for more than that. The collector knew what he was looking for – Frankenthaler was already 

well known by then; she was an important emerging woman artist.” Indeed, by 1964 she had already been 

included in Clement Greenberg’s landmark LACMA show, Post-Painterly Abstraction, and she continued to 

work and exhibit; today she’s recognized as a major contributor in the history of postwar American art. 

But, like most dealers, Cella cautions against expecting an art purchase to yield such a big return on 

your money — there are too many variables, including the artist’s career and reputation and the unpredictable 

art market in general. 

02.17 | ARROYO | 35


For most people, buying art is a luxury. It’s true, you may be able to buy work 

for a few hundred dollars from small galleries or weekend art fairs, and anyone 

familiar with Antiques Roadshow on PBS has seen the lucky few who made lucrative 

finds in their grand-aunt’s attic or at a flea market. If you watch the show enough, 

however, you also know that some objects just aren’t worth as much as people expect, 

or they’re only worth a fraction of the going value, due to their poor condition 

or questionable provenance. 

The art dealers interviewed for this story suggest that investment-grade art 

will probably cost in the thousands, and the buyer must be prepared not to get the 

money back when it comes time to sell. Although Citibank and some private dealers 

see art as an “asset class” like stocks and bonds, many question this idea. Most 

agree that investing in art is risky business. 

One can buy wisely, however, writes Alan Bamberger, a San Francisco–based 

art consultant and author of The Art of Buying Art (Gordon’s Art Reference; 2002), 

on his website, artbusiness.com. “Anyone can buy and collect art intelligently … 

All you need is a love and appreciation of fine art, a desire to collect and a willingness 

to familiarize yourself with a few simple techniques that will allow you to 

assess and evaluate any work of art dating from any time period by any artist of any 

nationality.” 

Bamberger proposes a set of questions for the potential buyer to consider, 

namely: 

“Who is the artist? 

“How significant is the art? 

“What is the art’s provenance, history and documentation (or more simply, 

where has the art been and who’s owned it)? 

“Is the asking price fair?” 

This overlaps with advice the Los Angeles gallerists offered aspiring buyers: 

Begin with research, research and more research — going to museums, galleries 

and art fairs, and reading up on artists whose work you like. “The best thing an 

individual can do is to establish an aesthetic and an awareness of what exists,” says 

Jack Rutberg, who has been running his La Brea gallery for over 35 years and specializes 

in some blue-chip artists. “Spend time in museums. It really is important 

to look at the Old Masters, all the way through to the modern and contemporary 

artists. The Norton Simon Museum is probably the greatest tutor one could have 

— you could start with the South and Southeast Asian art, then the Old Masters 

such as Cranach, Memling, just look at the remarkable hand.” 

Blue-chip artists are stars whose works can command six-figures-plus (think 

Richard Serra, Ed Ruscha, Agnes Martin, David Hockney). Like blue-chip stocks, 

they are pricy, but in a category that makes higher returns more likely when you are 

ready to sell them after a decade or more. “If a high priority is that the artwork retains 

value,” says Elizabeth East, a director at the prestigious L.A. Louver Gallery 

in Venice, “I suggest focusing on well-established artists with solid track records, 

like David Hockney. But there is never any guarantee.” 

Of course, few of us can afford to buy those artists. So is it possible to put together 

a modestly priced art collection and expect its value to eventually increase? 

Two areas often recommended for beginning collectors are prints and photographs. 

Since these works are produced in multiples, they are less expensive than 

one-of-a-kind art. Some of the same evaluation criteria hold, however, such as the 

condition of specific works by artists of reputation (those reviewed or featured in 

major publications, collected by museums, shown at biennials, etc.). With prints 

and photographs, it is recommended that you look for signed works in small, 

limited editions. Works produced in the thousands, for example, will generally be 

worth less than works by the same artist produced in an edition of 100 or fewer. 

“In my exhibition, Surreal/Unreal [through Feb. 18], I have over 100 works, 

and every one would be worthy of a museum collection,” says Rutberg. “They range 

from $350 to over a million.” He points out that there are many things in the show 

under $2,000, including works by Giorgio de Chirico and Roberto Matta, one of 

the last to join the Surrealists. Cella suggested looking at the photographs of Pedro 

Guerrero, a principal photographer for Frank Lloyd Wright. Guerrero was the 

Prices for Helen Frankenthaler’s abstract expressionist works have soared in 

the art market. This painting, Mauve District 1966, is in the permanent 

collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art. 

subject of a PBS American Masters documentary in 2015, and Cella’s current show, 

Guerrero: Calder & Nevelson, In Their Studios (through March 4), features photographs 

he took in the studios of artists Alexander Calder and Louise Nevelson. 

It is important to determine the condition of the work and its provenance (origin 

or previous ownership). A reputable dealer can provide information about the 

artist’s background and track record and can vouch for the authenticity and source 

of the work. Sometimes artists do sell their own work, and the Photo Independent 

Art Fair was established in L.A. in 2014 to provide a venue for that. This year the 

fair takes place April 21 through 23 at The Reef in downtown L.A. Photographers 

have also sold their own work at another local fair, Photo L.A., which falls in January, 

although most exhibitors are galleries. Answering Bamberger’s question No. 

4 — is the asking price fair? — can be particularly challenging. After gathering 

information about an artist you’re considering, you’ll want to look at comparable 

sales for that person’s work. You can do this online, and study databases on auction 

houses’ websites, or on artnet.com, blouinartinfo.com and artprice.com. Some 

sites require a subscription — for example, the Blouin Art Sales Index charges 

$39 a month or $199 for a year of access. On artnet.com you can search without a 

subscription for works currently for sale, although you often will see the note “price 

on request.” 

Those with very large amounts to invest might want to look into services offered 

by specialized fund managers, such as Citibank’s Private Bank Art Advisory & 

Finance group. Its website says, “Our art advisors can guide you through the art 

world, providing personalized acquisition and selling strategies, as well as collection 

management services.” But even Citi, in the smaller print, offers the disclaimer, 

“Alternative assets such as art are speculative, may not be suitable for all clients 

and are intended for those who are willing to bear high economic risks.” 

In the end, collectors and dealers share this mantra: Buy what you love. Then, 

whether or not the work appreciates in monetary value, you will still have it gracing 

your wall, enhancing your quality of life. “Perhaps the best return you can achieve 

from art,” says East, “is the enjoyment it gives you over time.” |||| 

PHOTO: Courtesy of Museum of Modern Art 

36 | ARROYO | 02.17

KITCHEN 

CONFESSIONS 

Presidents’ 

Day Revised 

GET TO KNOW A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE OFFICE WE CELEBRATE ON FEB. 20. 

BY LESLIE BILDERBACK 

February is traditionally a time when we wax patriotic and remember the great 

leaders of our past. This year, that tradition is more important than ever. If 

nothing else, we should remind ourselves that, as a country, we have endured, 

despite our electoral blunders. 

The third Monday in February is a federal and state holiday; in California, 

it’s called Presidents’ Day. Our state leaders agreed it was better to have one allencompassing 

day than to celebrate Lincoln on the 12th and then Washington about 

a week later on the 22nd. I am sure this was economically motivated to keep people 

at their desks, but the joke’s on them — because many institutions still take off the 

traditional birthdays, in addition to the newer Presidents’ Day. California still lists 

both birthdays on calendars, but state employees no longer get both days off as paid 

holidays. California — keepin’ it classy and ambiguous. 

How you spend your Presidents’ Day holiday is entirely up to you. I fully expect 

the majority of Californians to turn it into a long weekend of skiing or themeparking. 

But may I suggest that, in this tumultuous time, you spend this Presidents’ 

Day getting in touch with some of our past leaders. If you do, I think you may find 

that our current situation, though dire, is not without precedent. 

Historically, our country has often elected the famous over the populist. And it 

is not unusual for our choices to perform less illustriously than promised. George 

Washington, of course, was beloved by the masses as a warrior and gentleman 

farmer, though the farming part was really just theoretical until his retirement, at 

which point he still left the actual labor to his hundreds of slaves. Not exactly how 

we like to celebrate him. We prefer to make up legends about honor and cherry tree 

preservation. 

Jefferson was well known for his Francophile ways and his bouffant wig. And 

while he penned our most cherished egalitarian document, he personally preferred not 

02.17 | ARROYO | 37

KITCHEN 

CONFESSIONS 


to mingle with the common folk. He has been celebrated as a proponent of ending 

the importation of slaves, but those views were based not on his desire to end 

slavery, but rather to increase the value of his in-house slave-breeding program. 

Lincoln is often considered our greatest president. But while the Great 

Emancipator despised slavery, he was unwilling to do much about it until it became 

clear that emancipation would give him leverage against the Confederacy, by 

eliminating its labor force. Also, he condescendingly referred to Sojourner Truth as 

“Aunty,” a catch-all name for household servants. He is also known to have referred 

to slaves in general as “Cuffie” — a demeaning variation on the West African name 

Kofi. Not cool, Uncle Abe. Not cool. 

Andrew Jackson was super-popular after defeating the British at New 

Orleans during the War of 1812. He was the first to ride mistrust of the political 

establishment to victory, promising to directly represent the common man. But 

once in office his lavish banquets earned him the nickname “King Andrew.” He 

also ushered in the spoils system of political patronage (jobs in return for political 

support), effectively killing civil service as it had been known. Not exactly a step 

toward good government. Also, Old Hickory killed a guy in a duel, threatened to 

kill many others and initiated the Trail of Tears, the forced relocations of thousands 

of Native Americans in the Southeast. So much for the Man of the People. 

In the election of 1876, New York’s Democratic governor, Samuel J. Tilden, 

beat Rutherford B. Hayes in the popular vote by nearly 300,000. But contested 

Electoral College votes in several states kept the results in dispute well into January. 

(Sound familiar?) Congress set up an Electoral Commission, which determined 

the Electoral College count at 187-186 — in favor of Hayes. The victor was, for the 

remainder of his term, known as “His Fraudulency.” 

Warren G. Harding got the job because the Republican Party thought he 

looked presidential. Unfortunately, his looks were the only presidential thing about 

him. His oratory skills were subpar, and his speeches were described as “an army 

of pompous phrases moving across the landscape in search of an idea.” (Again — 

sound familiar?) In addition to his communication deficit, he was known for tawdry 

extramarital affairs, an illegitimate child and the Teapot Dome scandal, in which 

the interior secretary received payment for secretly and exclusively leasing federal 

oil reserves to the Mammoth Oil Company. And he had the worst nickname ever 

— “Wobbly Warren.” 

So, my fellow Americans, the White House has a long history of arrogant, 

aggressive, morally confused inhabitants. Luckily, we have always been able to 

balance it with sobriety, discipline and restraint, though not necessarily in the same 

administration. I have every expectation that we will come out on the other end a 

stronger, smarter nation. |||| 

Sour Grapes Salad 

Here’s a suggestion for the inaugural party I am sure you are totally having. 

INGREDIENTS 

1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt 

Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon 

1 teaspoon celery seed 

½ teaspoon sea salt 

½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper 

1 pound seedless grapes (green and red, 

mixed if possible), halved 

1 Fuji apple, diced 

2 stalks celery, diced 

½ red onion, sliced 

1 large cooked chicken breast, shredded 

1 cup walnut halves, roughly chopped 

½ cup golden raisins 

METHOD 

In a large bowl combine sour cream, lemon zest and juice, celery seed, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add 

the remaining ingredients to the bowl, and toss to evenly coat. Adjust seasoning if needed. Serve on a 

bed of lettuce leaves — and with a positive attitude. 

Leslie Bilderback is a certifi ed master baker, chef and cookbook author. She lives in 

South Pasadena and teaches her techniques online at culinarymasterclass.com. 

38 | ARROYO | 02.17

A SELECTIVE PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EVENTS 

COMPILED BY JOHN SOLLENBERGER 

THE LIST 

Vintage Films, 

van Gogh at 

Norton Simon 

On Fridays this month, 

catch vintage fi lms 

about offbeat romances and learn 

more about Vincent van Gogh at the 

Norton Simon Museum. All movies screen 

at 5:30 p.m. 

Feb. 3 — The 1934 Frank Capra comedy, 

It Happened One Night, is the story of opposites 

attracting on a road trip involving 

a spoiled socialite; stars are Clark Gable 

and Claudette Colbert. 

Feb. 10 — Ball of Fire (1941) follows a 

professor, Bertram Potts (Gary Cooper), 

whose research on slang brings him to a 

chic nightclub where he meets burlesque 

performer “Sugarpuss” O’Shea (Barbara 

Stanwyck). 

Feb. 17 — Barefoot in the Park (1967) is a 

romantic comedy about a conservative 

young lawyer (Robert Redford) and a 

vivacious young woman (Jane Fonda). 

Feb. 23 — Harold and Maude (1971) is 

a cult classic about Harold, a deathobsessed 

young man (Bud Cort), who 

meets a devil-may-care octogenarian 

(Ruth Gordon), and the emotional and 

romantic bond that develops. 

Feb. 25 — Axel Rüger, director of the 

Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, gives 

a lecture titled “From Unrecognized to 

Genius to Global Icon: Vincent van Gogh 

Then and Now,” from 4 to 5 p.m. 

All events are included in regular museum 

admission of $12 and $9 for seniors; members, 

students and those 18 and younger 

are admitted free. 

Norton Simon Museum is located at 411 

W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 

449-6840 or visit nortonsimon.org. 

Caltech Music 

from Mozart 

to Monk 

Feb. 4 — The Caltech 

Jazz Band, under the 

direction of Glenn Price, performs a free 

public concert at 8 p.m. 

Feb. 11 — The Turtle Island Quartet and 

pianist Cyrus Chestnut play jazz and classical 

music at 8 p.m. “Jelly, Rags & Monk” 

features music by Jelly Roll Morton, 

Thelonious Monk and more. Tickets range 

from $10 to $40. 

Feb. 22 — David Prober, a Caltech assistant 

biology professor, lectures on “Using 

CHINESE NEW YEAR, 

BONSAI AND BLOODY 

HISTORY 

Feb 4 and 5 — The Chinese New Year Festival features lion dancers, martial 

arts, Chinese music and other activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Free 

with regular Huntington admission. 

Feb. 8 — John Mack Faragher, professor emeritus of History and American 

Studies at Yale, discusses “The Theater of Many Deeds of Blood: The Geography 

of Violence in Frontier Los Angeles” at 7:30 p.m He will sign copies of his book, 

Eternity Street: Violence and Justice in Frontier Los Angeles, following the 

lecture. Admission is free; no reservations required. 

Feb 25 and 26 — The Bonsai-A-Thon offers exhibits, demonstrations, prize 

drawings and a live auction both days. Proceeds support the Huntington’s 

Golden State Bonsai Collection. Free with regular Huntington admission. 

The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is located at 1151 

Oxford Rd., San Marino. Admission costs $23 on weekdays ($25 on weekends), $19 

for seniors and students on weekdays ($21 on weekends) and $10 for youth ages 4 to 

11 every day. Call (626) 405-2100 or visit huntington.org. . 

Fish to Understand Why and How We 

Sleep” at 8 p.m. Prober explores the fact 

that, while humans can control urges such 

as hunger and thirst, we cannot keep from 

falling asleep and know very little about 

why we sleep or how sleep is regulated. 

Prober is studying zebrafish to help find 

answers. Free and open to the public. 

Feb. 26 — The award-winning Pacifi ca 

Quartet performs works by Mozart, 

Beethoven and Israeli-American composer 

Shulamit Ran in a Coleman Chamber 

Music Concert at 3:30 p.m. Tickets range 

from $20 to $49. 

All events are held in Caltech’s Beckman 

Auditorium, Michigan Avenue south of 

Del Mar Boulevard, Pasadena. Call (626) 

395-4652 or visit events.caltech.edu. 

Tangled Lover’s 

Web on 

NoHo Stage 

Feb. 4 through Feb. 

26 — War Stories, a 

play about people in their 30s navigating 

work and love, opens at 8 p.m. Feb. 

4 at Actors Workout Studio. The Extra Dry 

Martini Productions piece is an expanded 

version of playwright Sarah Kelly’s hit at 

the 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival. The 

show continues through Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. 

Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays. 

Tickets cost $20. 

Actors Workout Studio is located at 4735 

Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Call 

(818) 506-3903 or visit edm.ticketleap. 

com/war-stories. 

Chamber 

Orchestra 

Concerts Span 

SoCal 

Feb. 9 — The Los 

Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) 

Baroque Conversations series presents 

Rachel Barton Pine (above), master of 

the viola d’amore and a Baroque violinist, 

at 7:30 p.m. at Zipper Concert Hall, 

performing works by Vivaldi, Pisendel and 

Locatelli. Ticket prices start at $58. 

Zipper Concert Hall is located at 200 S. 

Grand Ave., L.A. 

Feb. 23 — “Music: The Mirror of Time,” 

a 7:30 p.m. LACO concert at the Moss 

Theater at New Roads School in Santa 

Monica focusing on English music, features 

the West Coast premiere of Andrew 

Norman’s Sonnets, plus works by Elgar. 

Jan Swafford, a composer, author and 

music essayist who has illuminated the 

lives of Beethoven, Brahms and Charles 

Ives, is scheduled to speak. Tickets start 

at $56. 

The Moss Theater is located at 3131 Olympic 

Blvd., Santa Monica. 

Feb. 25 — LACO honors John Adams’ 

70th birthday with an 8 p.m. concert 

of his works, including the composer’s 

“The Wound-Dresser,” at Glendale’s Alex 

Theatre, guest conducted by Carlos 

Kalmar. Brian Mulligan is guest baritone. 

The concert repeats at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at 

UCLA’s Royce Hall. Tickets start at $27. 


02.17 | ARROYO | 39

THE LIST 


The Alex Theatre is located at 216 N. 

Brand Blvd., Glendale Call (213) 622-7001 

or visit laco.org. 

A Family Story 

Feb. 10 through 

March 19 — Theatre 

West presents playwright 

Darryl Vinyard’s 

comedy Family Only. The play follows 

Will and Nicole as they throw a housewarming 

party at the fi xer-upper they’ve 

just purchased for, as the title suggests, 

family members only. Arden Teresa Lewis 

directs. The schedule through March 19 

is 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. 

Sundays. Tickets cost $20, $15 for seniors 

and $5 for students under 25. 

Theatre West is located at 3333 Cahuenga 

Blvd. West, L.A. Call (323) 851-7977 or visit 

theatrewest.org. 

Camellias, Tea 

and Water 

on Tap at 

Descanso 

Feb. 11 and 12 — 

Descanso’s Camellia and Tea Festival runs 

from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days, with 

Chado tea tasting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 

camellia walks at 9:30 a.m., the camellia 

exploration station display and performances 

by Invertigo Dance Theatre at 

10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Free with regular 

Descanso admission. 

Feb. 18 — Rich Atwater, executive director 

of the Southern California Water Committee, 

and Rachel Young, Descanso’s 

director of Horticulture and Garden 

Operations, lead a 10 a.m. garden 

walk exploring water-wise practices at 

Descanso and techniques guests can use 

in their own gardens. Free with Descanso 

admission. 

Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 

Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. 

Admission costs $9, $6 for seniors and 

students and $4 for children age 5 to 12; 

members and kids 4 and younger are 

admitted free. Call (818) 949-4200 or visit 

descansogardens.org. 

Valentine’s Day 

the Animal Way 

Feb. 11 — Just in time 

for Valentine’s Day, 

the L.A. Zoo opens to adults only for its 

annual installment of “Sex and the City 

Zoo,” a light-hearted celebration of “romance” 

in the animal kingdom, from 5 to 

7 p.m. in Witherbee Auditorium. Celebrating 

its 50th anniversary, the zoo launches 

a dining series with a fi ve-course dinner 

from Taste of the Wild’s executive chef, 

Brad Robertson, with sustainable wine 

pairings from Foxem. The heart of the 

evening is a provocative presentation 

by an animal expert on animal mating, 

“dating” and cohabitation. Tickets for 

the complete festivities cost $145 ($130 

for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association 

members). Tickets for the reception and 

lecture only cost $40 ($30 for members). 

The L.A. Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Dr., 

Griffi th Park. Call (323) 644-4200 or visit 

lazoo.org. 

Western Masters 

Display Wares 

at Autry 

Feb. 11 through 

March 26 — The Autry 

Museum of the American West’s annual 

Masters of the American West exhibition 

and sale runs Feb. 11 through March 26. 

Opening day features an early-bird preview, 

artist presentations by John Fawcett 

and Tammy Garcia, an awards presentation 

and chuck-wagon-barbecue buffet 

luncheon. The museum closes at 4 p.m. 

and reopens for a cocktail reception and 

sale from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Daytime-only tickets 

cost $170 ($95 for members). All-day 

tickets that include evening activities cost 

$270 ($195 for members). Participating 

artists include Bill Anton, George Carlson, 

Tammy Garcia, Robert Griffing, Z.S. Liang, 

Kyle Polzin, Mian Situ, Tucker Smith, Curt 

Walters and Morgan Weistling. 

The Autry Museum of the American West 

is located at 4700 Western Heritage Way, 

Griffi th Park. Call (323) 667-2000 or visit 

theautry.org. 


40 | ARROYO | 02.17

02.17 | ARROYO | 41

THE LIST 

PHOTO: Andrea Joynt 

RUSSIANS OCCUPY 

PASADENA SYMPHONY 

Feb. 18 — The Pasadena Symphony’s Singpoli Symphony Classics Series features 

Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 

“Pathétique.” Featured pianist is Natasha Paremski (above), and David Lockington 

conducts. Concerts start at 2 and 8 p.m. at the Ambassador Auditorium. Ticket 

prices start at $35. 

The Ambassador Auditorium is located at 131 S. St. John Ave., Pasadena. Call (626) 

793-7172 or visit pasadenasymphony-pops.org. 


From Vienna to New York with 

Camerata Pacifi ca 

Feb. 15 — The Camerata Pacifi ca 

chamber ensemble performs a 7:30 p.m. 

concert of late Mozart piano music, an 

early Beethoven cello sonata and, from 

the late 20th century, Steve Reich’s classic 

“New York Counterpoint,” plus more 

at the Huntington. Tickets cost $56. 

The Huntington Library, Art Collections 

and Botanical Gardens is located at 1151 

Oxford Rd., San Marino. Call (805) 884- 

8410 or visit cameratapacifi ca.org. 

Gala Benefi ts Hillsides’ Youth Aid 

Feb. 25 — Hillsides hosts its annual gala at 

6 p.m. at the Langham Huntington, Pasadena. 

The theme, “Las Flores de Hillsides” 

(The Flowers of Hillsides), reflects gala Chair 

Sara Simpson’s interest in Latin American 

culture, which colors the event’s cocktails, 

cuisine, décor and entertainment. Tickets 

cost $300. Hillsides provides care, advocacy 

and services for children and youth. 

The Langham Huntington, Pasadena is located 

at 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena. 

Call (323) 254-2274 or visit hillsides.org. |||| 

42 | ARROYO | 02.17

44 | ARROYO | 02.17

February 2017

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