May 2018

FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA 

May 2018 

DESIGN 

PASADENA 2018 

SHOWCASE HOUSE 

GOES FOR THE GOLD 

THE GOLD RUSH 

IN FINE FINISHES 

PRIMAL MODERN’S 

SENSUOUS TABLES AND ART 

ELLSWORTH 

KELLY PRINTS 

At the Norton Simon

2 | ARROYO | 04.18

Lic. 

653 53340 340 Photo 

by Meg 

Meghan Be 

Be 

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le-O’Brie 

n 

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YOUR 

Masterpiece. 

ARCHITECTURE. CONSTRUCTION. INTERIORS. 

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Thirty years later, nothing is as important to us as the 

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beautiful spaces together with our clients. Let us 

show you how our finely tuned design/build process 

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626.486.0510 HartmanBaldwin.com

4 | ARROYO | 04.18

04.18 | ARROYO | 5

6 | ARROYO | 04.18

VOLUME 14 | NUMBER 5 | MAY 2018 

37 

PHOTO: (Bottom left) Peter Christiansen Valli 

12 41 

DESIGN PASADENA 2018 

12 SHOWCASE HOUSE GOES FOR THE GOLD 

This year’s Showcase House of Design updates a turn-of-the-century estate 

with gold accents and other trendy touches. 

—By JANA MONJI 

33 ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD 

(BUT IT SURE LOOKS LIKE IT) 

Gold and brass tones are returning to fi ne fi nishes 

—By LESLIE A. WESTBROOK 

37 PRIMAL MODERN 

Michael Olshefski designs sensuous tables and artwork with reclaimed 

wood pieces that “speak” to him. 

—By JANA MONJI 

41 PURE COLOR 

An upcoming show of Ellsworth Kelly prints reveals the artist’s dedication to pure 

form and color. 

—By SCARLET CHENG 

DEPARTMENTS 

10 FESTIVITIES Galas galore: Los Angeles Children’s Chorus and Los Angeles 

Chamber Orchestra, AbilityFirst’s Stroll & Roll 

19 ARROYO HOME SALES INDEX 

44 KITCHEN CONFESSIONS Renaissance faire-goers savor pasties, “pyes” 

and tasty toads 

45 ALCOHOL IN THE ARROYO A drink to remember 

46 THE LIST Indian fi lm at the Norton Simon, a festival of science-driven plays, 

botanical art at The Huntington and more 

ABOUT THE COVER: The modern man’s retreat, designed by Xander Noori, at the 2018 

Pasadena Showcase House of Design; photo by Peter Christiansen Valli 

05.18 ARROYO | 7

EDITOR’S NOTE 

Everything gold is new again. 

The precious metallic, much 

derided after its ’80s heyday, is 

elbowing aside the standard chrome 

and its silvery ilk in contemporary 

design, as Leslie A. Westbrook reports. 

Are those cries of “ick” I hear? Fear 

not. Today’s gold and brass accents 

eschew the tackiness of decades 

past; Westbrook found that today’s 

brass fi nishes are “less about bling 

and more about subtle beauty.” 

Exhibition A is the 2018 Showcase 

House of Design, an annual Pasadena 

arts fundraiser running through May 

20. Gold touches warmed up several 

rooms throughout the Altadena 

estate, as Jana Monji learned, from 

light fi xtures to hardware in bathrooms and kitchens, even threaded 

through upholstery fabric, wall treatments and artwork. Why are gold 

tones back? In part because of new technology — e.g. advances in 

physical vapor deposition (PVD), a light fi lm on the metal, maintains the 

high polish longer, she reports. 

Monji also visits Michael Olshefski’s Primal Modern studio in Glassell 

Park, where he turns reclaimed wood pieces into exquisite tables and 

artworks. The SCI-Arc grad, who worked in architectural design and 

construction for 25 years, looks to Buddhism and nature for inspiration for 

his creations. 

For the important modern artist Ellsworth Kelly, inspiration came in 

the form of pure color and form. Scarlet Cheng reports on an upcoming 

Norton Simon Museum exhibition of his prints, which opens June 1. 

—Irene Lacher 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Irene Lacher 

ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres 

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Richard Garcia 

PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Rochelle Bassarear, 

Joseph Sanchez 

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Bettijane Levine 

COPY EDITOR John Seeley 

CONTRIBUTORS Denise Abbott, Leslie Bilderback, 

Léon Bing, Martin Booe, Michael Cervin, Scarlet 

Cheng, Richard Cunningham, Kathleen Kelleher, 

Jana Monji, Brenda Rees, John Sollenberger, 

Nancy Spiller 

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Dina Stegon 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Brenda Clarke, 

Leslie Lamm 

ADVERTORIAL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 

Bruce Haring 

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Andrea Baker 

PAYROLL Linda Lam 

CONTROLLER Kacie Cobian 

ACCOUNTING Alysia Chavez, Perla Castillo, 

Yiyang Wang 

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 

©2018 Southland Publishing, Inc. 

All rights reserved. 

8 | ARROYO | 05.18

FESTIVITIES 

Anne Tomlinson and Los Angeles Childrens Chorus 

Carol and Warner Henry 

Andrew Marriner and Rumer Willis 

Julian Bertet, Yumei Lin, Sinclaire Ledahl and 

Grant Gershon 

Elizabeth Grossman Besch, Andrea Greene Willard, 

Helen Kim Spitzer and Corina Madilian 

Joe, Jennifer and Natalie Sliskovich 

10 | ARROYO | 05.18 

Anne Tomlinson, outgoing artistic director of the acclaimed Los Angeles 

Children’s Chorus, was honored for 22 years of leadership at the 

Pasadena-based choir’s “Gala Bel Canto” on April 11 at the Millennium 

Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A. The dinner, regaled by 200 choristers, 

drew some 280 supporters and a record-breaking $320,000 for LACC’s 

artistic and scholarship programs. Gala committee members included 

Rashmi Bansal, Andrea Bland, Hilary Kingston, Jena Liddy and Cheryl 

Scheidemantle, all of Pasadena; San Marino’s Helen Kim Spitzer and 

Andrea Willard; and Elizabeth Besch and Elise Gilbert of La Cañada 

Flintridge…Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra toasted its 50th anniversary 

at its “Golden Gala” dinner on April 14 at the Music Center in downtown 

L.A. The black-tie evening celebrated the organization’s origins with a 

concert at the Mark Taper Forum — the site of LACO’s first concert — 

featuring clarinetist Andrew Marriner, son of founding music director, Sir 

Neville Marriner, and vocalist Rumer Willis. A short-rib dinner followed at 

the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for 400 guests, raising more than $750,000 

for LACO’s artistic and educational activities… Jaclyn Smith (Charlie’s 

Angels), former Miss America Lee Meriwether and celebrity ambassador 

Lauren Potter (Glee) joined hundreds of AbilityFirst supporters at the 

nonprofit’s annual Stroll & Roll fundraiser at the L.A. State Historic Park on 

April 8. Fundraising for the organization serving people with disabilities 

continues through May 31, with a matching grant from the AS&F 

Foundation, at strollandroll.org. 

Lori Gangemi and Jaclyn Smith 

Tereza Stanislav and Robert Brophy 

Dana and Ned Newman 

Harlan Thompson, Will Craig, Wendy Lees, Mike Dokmanovich, Diane Danis, 

Steve Brockmeyer, Tom Fenchel, Mark Fedde, Lori Gangemi 

PHOTOS: Los Angeles Childrens Chorus and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Jamie Pham; AbilityFirst, courtesy of AbilityFirst

05.18 | ARROYO | 11

This year’s Showcase House of Design updates a turn-of-the-century estate with gold 

accents and other trendy touches. 

BY JANA MONJI 

he 2018 Pasadena Showcase House of Design was once known as “Overlook,” 

because when this elegant estate was built high on a hill in Altadena, it had 

a view that reached as far as Catalina. A lot has changed since 1915 when 

the 11,000-square-foot villa was built for $14,000. At the time, Altadena was an 

unincorporated retreat for an eclectic mix of retired Easterners, businessmen working 

in Pasadena and Los Angeles, artists and Western novelist Zane Grey. Imagine small 

orchards, poultry farms and vineyards on the west side and open tracts of ranch lands 

on the east. The rural community attracted two widowed sisters, Ruth E. Hargrove and 

Mary Emma Baker, who bought 5½ acres of land in the sparsely populated northeast 

section. 

Although the American Craftsman era was in full flower in the region (Greene 

and Greene had established their firm in Pasadena in 1894 and built the Gamble 

House in 1908), the sisters wanted a Mediterranean-style home. They hired the 

up-and-coming Reginald Davis Johnson, who’d studied architecture at the Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology and moved to Pasadena when his father, Episcopal 

Bishop Joseph Horsfall Johnson, was assigned to the Los Angeles Diocese in 1894. 

Considering the similar climates, the white walls and sunny spaces of the Mediterranean 

style seemed a perfect match for Southern California and Johnson was an 

12 | ARROYO | 05.18 

early advocate of the style. He left his mark on such other SoCal buildings as All 

Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, the Santa Barbara Biltmore Hotel, La Valencia 

Hotel in La Jolla and the Santa Barbara Post Office. 

For Outlook, Johnson designed a large foyer, living room, screened porch, dining 

room, kitchen, pantry and maid’s room with 1½ baths downstairs. Upstairs are four 

bedrooms and three baths. Later owners added a 780-square-foot duplex residence — 

most likely for servants — and a garage with a chauffeur’s quarters. 

Twenty-three Showcase House designers were charged with updating the design 

— both interior and exterior — while remaining sensitive to the home’s historical 

features. Three contemporary trends tying the refreshed spaces together include the 

return of gold accents in a more muted form, textured wall treatments and decorated 

ceilings. Creating rooms that span centuries is a welcome challenge for Showcase 

designers. As Genaro Lagdameo of Designs of the Interior (DI) in Westlake Village 

explained, “The best part of Showcase is being able to work on a home of historical 

value” with “an architectural grandeur you don’t see anymore” and adapting it for 

current lifestyles. The fundraiser, which runs through May 20, benefits local music 

education and performances. 

PHOTO: Peter Christiansen Valli

PHOTO: (top and bottom left) modern man’s retreat details, Xander Noori; (bottom right) petite lounge, Peter Christiansen Valli 

CLASSY BRASS 

Think of the petite lounge (at right) as an oasis during or after a game in the adjacent 

billiard room, both remodeled by Designs of the Interior. Both rooms glimmer 

with gold, including the light fixtures by Kelly Wearstler and custom-designed by 

DI; also custom are the lounge’s gold stools topped with faux fur and the shiny brass 

sink; the brass bar shelving supports were manufactured by Urban Archaeology of 

New York. Flanking the shelving is black tile with inlaid brass-wire arabesques from 

Walker Zanger’s Ellington collection. “Right now, gold rather than chrome is the 

trend,” Lagdameo says. “It was very popular in the late ’80s and early ’90s.” 

What changed? Technology, of course. “The trouble with brass is that it turns 

color and you have to keep it polished,” says Palm Springs designer Michael Wrusch, 

who used subtle gold touches in the family room. But, he notes, advances in physical 

vapor deposition (PVD), a light film on the metal, maintains the high polish longer. 

A golden gleam left also warms up the modern man’s retreat (see cover and 

photos above and below), designed by Irvine-based Xander Noori, blending Eastern 

and Western influences. Noori created a custom desk using the biomorphic “Texas” 

hand-forged base from Organic Modernism in Brooklyn, New York, which he 

topped with white marble. He coupled that with the sleek modern lines of Fuse 

Lighting’s brassy “Tokyo” table lamp, and contrasted contemporary style with a turnof-the-century 

typewriter and other vintage accessories he picked up at the Paris flea 

market and 1stdibs.com. A large floor-length mirror framed in gold amplifies the 

space. 

–continued on page 15 

05.18 | ARROYO | 13

14 | ARROYO | 05.18

–continued from page 13 

PHOTO: Peter Christiansen Valli 

NO WALLFLOWERS 

How about wall zebras instead? Pasadena’s Parker West Interiors designed the 

master bedroom entry around the owner’s existing wallpaper, bedecked with zebras 

bounding away from arrows (Scalamandré’s “Zebras,” above). 

The wallpapered accent wall of the Cozy Stylish Chic Suite looked to the skies for 

inspiration — the stars of Orion, that is. Using NASA imagery, Calico Wallpaper of 

Brooklyn custom-printed the constellation on mylar and sized it for Jeanne K. Chung 

of Pasadena (at right). Another intriguing wall treatment adorns the Powder Room 

designed by Burbank’s Louise O’Malley, who covered a wall with Jim Thompson 

Fabrics’ brown-and-white material in a striking geometric pattern (far right). 


05.18 | ARROYO | 15

16 | ARROYO | 05.18


ABOVE AND BEYOND 

For one of the latest design trends, look up. Designers are embellishing ceilings 

with eye-catching finishes. DI’s Lagdameo accented the ceiling with Anthology’s 

“Oxidise” wallpaper (above), which resembles metallic tiles. Lagdameo says his goal 

was “a tiled ceiling effect with a metallic touch to add the right amount of bling.” 

Another interesting ceiling is in the media room designed by Pasadena’s JS 

Design + Create of Pasadena. The firm’s Janet Sanchez covered a rectangular ceiling 

panel in Farrow & Ball’s “Tourbillon” wallpaper with light pink swirls on navy blue, 

which matches the wall treatment. Sanchez says she wanted to create a “halo” effect 

to prevent the usually darkened room from looking too gloomy. |||| 

PHOTO: Peter Christiansen Valli 

The 2018 Pasadena Showcase House of Design, marking its 54th year, runs through 

May 20. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and weekends; 10 

a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday; closed Monday. Free parking and shuttle service are available 

at the Santa Anita Race Track, Gate 6, Colorado Lot, Colorado Place, Arcadia. 

Tickets cost $35 to $45 and can be ordered online at pasadenashowcase.org or by 

calling (714) 442-3872. 

05.18 | ARROYO | 17

18 | ARROYO | 05.18

arroyo 

~HOME SALES INDEX~ 

HOME SALES 

-39.68% 

AVG. PRICE/SQ. FT. 

0.00% 

Mar. 

2017 

441 

HOMES 

SOLD 

ALHAMBRA MAR.’17 MAR.’18 

Homes Sold 42 29 

Median Price $547,500 $680,000 

Median Sq. Ft. 1374 1380 

ALTADENA MAR.’17 MAR.’18 


Median Price $767,500 $910,000 


ARCADIA MAR.’17 MAR.’18 


Median Price $970,000 $910,000 


EAGLE ROCK MAR.’17 MAR.’18 


Median Price $810,000 $840,000 


GLENDALE MAR.’17 MAR.’18 


Median Price $755,000 $859,500 


LA CAÑADA MAR.’17 MAR.’18 


Median Price $1,853,000 $1,949,000 


PASADENA MAR.’17 MAR.’18 


Median Price $662,500 $881,250 


SAN MARINO MAR.’17 MAR.’18 


Median Price $2,775,000 $1,760,000 


SIERRA MADRE MAR.’17 MAR.’18 


Median Price $1,125,000 $1,090,000 


SOUTH PASADENA MAR.’17 MAR.’18 


Median Price $1,288,000 $980,000 


TOTAL MAR.’17 MAR.’18 


Avg Price/Sq. Ft. $610 $610 

 

Mar. 

2018 

266 

HOMES 

SOLD 

HOME SALES ABOVE $850,000 

RECENT HOME CLOSINGS IN THE PASADENA WEEKLY FOOTPRINT 

source: CalREsource 

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

ALHAMBRA 

2700 Birch Street 03/02/18 $909,000 3 1741 1949 $640,000 08/11/2017 

900 North Cordova Street 03/16/18 $900,000 3 1432 1940 $325,000 11/03/1992 

124 North Valencia Street 03/30/18 $873,000 4 1636 1909 $529,000 04/23/2004 

500 North Campbell Avenue 03/12/18 $853,000 2 1560 1952 $848,000 08/18/2017 

224 South Fremont Avenue 03/15/18 $850,000 4 2084 1948 $325,000 05/09/2002 

224 South Fremont Avenue #A 03/15/18 $850,000 4 2084 1948 $325,000 05/09/2002 

ALTADENA 

1550 Braeburn Road 03/08/18 $2,100,000 3 2568 1946 $600,000 12/20/1990 

1996 Midlothian Drive 03/15/18 $2,000,000 3 2120 1941 $1,520,000 06/30/2005 

3332 Camp Huntington Road 03/02/18 $1,625,000 4 3304 1964 $1,060,000 02/17/2017 

3923 Old Toll Road 03/28/18 $1,575,000 5 3886 1998 $609,900 08/30/2001 

645 Colman Street 03/15/18 $1,025,000 2 1613 1948 $715,500 11/01/2017 

3443 Lincoln Avenue 03/13/18 $1,000,000 4 2730 1964 $284,500 03/01/2017 

2352 Ganesha Avenue 03/12/18 $930,000 4 2037 1940 $740,000 12/17/2013 

595 East Calaveras Street 03/15/18 $925,000 3 1964 1951 $455,000 10/17/2002 

1682 East Calaveras Street 03/08/18 $920,000 3 1623 1947 $127,000 10/12/1982 

100 Marathon Road 03/27/18 $910,000 3 1685 1961 $250,000 10/08/1999 

940 Athens Street 03/01/18 $890,000 3 1755 1936 

ARCADIA 

800 Singing Wood Drive 03/15/18 $8,000,000 6 10052 2014 $7,680,000 07/23/2015 

1632 Hyland Avenue 03/14/18 $5,110,000 3 2731 1948 $1,900,000 09/10/2014 

1600 Highland Oaks Drive 03/30/18 $3,600,000 0 0 $1,700,000 12/11/2013 

49 West Sycamore Avenue 03/06/18 $3,188,000 7 3874 1938 $2,220,000 04/27/2010 

518 Coyle Avenue 03/02/18 $1,822,000 4 4325 2000 $1,400,000 12/19/2012 

929 Alta Vista Avenue 03/06/18 $1,676,000 5 3651 2003 $1,570,000 04/01/2014 

1107 South 10th Avenue 03/13/18 $1,655,000 5 2539 1953 $380,000 03/01/1994 

147 Altern Street 03/09/18 $1,290,000 3 2069 1960 $400,000 05/25/2001 

1042 Loma Verde Drive 03/30/18 $1,130,000 4 2038 1973 $899,000 01/22/2014 

165 Laurel Avenue 03/27/18 $945,000 3 1718 1939 $245,000 12/29/1994 

18 Eldorado Street #B 03/13/18 $910,000 3 2281 1999 $450,000 06/06/2003 

EAGLE ROCK 

5177 Ellenwood Drive 03/28/18 $1,252,000 4 2285 1937 $289,000 07/08/1994 

5137 North Maywood Avenue 03/23/18 $988,000 3 1548 1925 $700,000 04/15/2014 

5421 Dahlia Drive 03/02/18 $955,000 3 1547 1926 

2160 Ridgeview Avenue 03/27/18 $950,000 1 931 1921 $475,000 12/24/2014 

1209 Eagle Vista Drive 03/16/18 $857,000 3 1714 1977 $105,000 03/08/1979 

GLENDALE 

1116 Sonora Avenue 03/16/18 $6,600,000 3 1615 1929 $195,000 04/13/1994 

1649 Valley View Road 03/19/18 $1,850,000 3 2921 1936 $1,360,000 08/28/2014 

3525 El Lado Drive 03/12/18 $1,675,000 5 2219 1954 $1,000,000 10/20/2016 

1716 Hillside Drive 03/02/18 $1,665,000 4 2190 1935 $1,000,000 08/07/2017 

539 East Mountain Street 03/13/18 $1,650,000 5 3413 1925 $1,205,000 10/30/2013 

1750 Cielito Drive 03/12/18 $1,400,000 3 2423 1964 $920,000 04/17/2012 

3120 El Tovar Drive 03/27/18 $1,305,000 3 2130 1955 

1650 Vista Drive 03/15/18 $1,300,000 3 2226 1949 $1,071,000 07/29/2016 

1600 Virginia Avenue 03/30/18 $1,300,000 5 3612 1939 $1,250,000 05/12/2010 

421 Caruso Avenue 03/06/18 $1,290,000 2 1686 2008 $850,000 12/18/2014 

2434 Delisle Court 03/28/18 $1,270,000 4 2264 1963 $875,000 05/27/2004 

3217 Kirkham Drive 03/07/18 $1,250,000 4 2187 1974 $850,000 08/30/2013 

3131 Chadney Drive 03/13/18 $1,250,000 4 2470 1977 $550,000 09/17/2002 

3859 Karen Lynn Drive 03/28/18 $1,200,000 3 2044 1969 $250,000 11/20/2003 

1988 El Arbolita Drive 03/13/18 $1,190,500 3 1886 1938 $949,000 09/06/2007 

2979 Edgewick Road 03/30/18 $1,100,000 4 3001 2008 $789,000 07/15/2010 

905 Calle La Primavera 03/30/18 $1,100,000 4 2548 1992 $388,000 04/23/1993 

1130 North Cedar Street 03/27/18 $1,070,000 3 1741 1926 $635,000 12/10/2013 

3950 Abella Street 03/28/18 $1,020,000 3 1707 1963 

3520 St. Elizabeth Road 03/09/18 $1,015,000 3 1624 1961 

1505 East Windsor Road 03/27/18 $995,000 2 1701 1921 $358,000 03/20/2013 


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 2018. Complete home sales listings appear each week in Pasadena Weekly. 

05.18 ARROYO | 19


20 | ARROYO | 05.18 

855 Patterson Avenue 03/23/18 $920,000 0 2093 1940 $150,000 10/23/1980 

4928 Lowell Avenue 03/13/18 $919,000 3 1631 1964 

4305 Boston Avenue 03/12/18 $905,000 3 1781 1949 $157,000 05/31/1985 

1734 Hillfair Drive 03/09/18 $900,000 4 1772 1964 $507,000 09/27/2012 

4000 Anderson Avenue 03/13/18 $896,000 3 2136 1966 $665,000 12/12/2014 

3226 Montrose Avenue 03/13/18 $895,000 5 1827 1947 $230,000 02/10/2000 

925 Calle Amable 03/27/18 $880,000 4 2504 1990 $385,000 12/27/1990 

926 East Lexington Drive 03/08/18 $870,000 3 1415 1936 $530,000 03/06/2014 

511 North Howard Street 03/08/18 $862,000 3 1585 1939 

1816 Hillside Drive 03/09/18 $860,000 3 1422 1936 $692,000 06/19/2015 

4318 Lauderdale Avenue 03/27/18 $859,000 3 1228 1953 $732,000 10/07/2015 

LA CAÑADA 

4377 Commonwealth Avenue 03/15/18 $5,371,500 6 8120 2008 $965,000 06/01/1990 

1833 Earlmont Avenue 03/13/18 $2,830,000 4 3765 1937 $284,000 05/21/1998 

5164 Vista Miguel Drive 03/15/18 $2,650,000 3 3372 1950 $875,000 09/01/1993 

667 Highland Drive 03/27/18 $2,500,000 4 4209 1941 $300,000 08/16/1985 

4708 Viro Road 03/30/18 $2,210,000 4 2746 1996 $1,700,000 07/19/2007 

5263 Palm Drive 03/16/18 $1,688,000 3 2824 1948 $635,000 12/15/2003 

4900 Rupert Lane 03/23/18 $1,390,000 3 2123 1947 

325 Nancy Way 03/08/18 $1,285,000 2 1595 1952 $1,195,000 08/29/2017 

5341 Godbey Drive 03/09/18 $1,165,000 2 2084 1973 

PASADENA 

3007 Gainsborough Drive 03/27/18 $3,175,000 0 0 $1,569,000 04/02/2014 

640 La Loma Road 03/16/18 $3,100,000 4 3728 1912 $2,380,000 05/10/2006 

1070 Arden Road 03/23/18 $2,975,000 4 3989 1961 $2,400,000 12/22/2005 

599 Prospect Blvd. 03/28/18 $2,816,000 5 3143 1914 $2,850,000 06/15/2015 

770 Panorama Place 03/27/18 $2,390,000 3 2600 1976 $1,480,000 10/13/2017 

1550 Pegfair Estates Drive 03/19/18 $1,885,000 3 2244 1976 $1,555,000 04/15/2008 

685 Bellefontaine Street 03/29/18 $1,750,000 7 2836 1913 

210 San Miguel Road 03/09/18 $1,670,000 4 2107 1937 $899,000 08/20/2004 

455 Orange Grove Circle 03/12/18 $1,650,000 4 3411 1946 $1,210,000 11/14/2007 

1240 Charles Street 03/27/18 $1,500,000 3 2289 1956 $320,000 11/12/1985 

931 East Walnut Street #201 03/12/18 $1,455,000 1 2920 2007 $1,088,000 08/07/2009 

2845 East California Blvd. 03/12/18 $1,450,000 5 3302 1951 $550,000 08/14/2000 

2533 Canyon View 03/14/18 $1,380,000 4 2735 1978 $330,000 06/12/1987 

2760 Thorndike Road 03/30/18 $1,350,000 4 2426 1962 

342 South Parkwood Ave. 03/29/18 $1,275,000 3 2213 1928 

1091 North Wilson Ave. 03/02/18 $1,245,000 3 1754 1927 $881,500 07/24/2015 

160 Club Road 03/30/18 $1,235,000 4 3122 1925 

3820 Valley Lights Drive 03/13/18 $1,215,000 3 1898 1956 $420,000 05/02/2001 

152 Annandale Road 03/16/18 $1,200,000 5 2054 1928 

2428 East Del Mar Blvd. #208 03/14/18 $1,190,000 0 0 

692 Palisade Street 03/09/18 $1,147,500 4 1949 1921 $655,000 05/31/2017 

1724 Rose Villa Street 03/16/18 $1,145,000 2 1504 1914 $835,000 09/06/2016 

2400 East Orange Grove Blvd. 03/01/18 $1,127,000 5 3316 1929 $210,000 12/19/1997 

1202 North Chester Ave. 03/30/18 $1,125,000 4 1676 1923 $800,000 11/06/2017 

250 South De Lacey Ave. #203A 03/16/18 $1,100,000 3 1670 2007 $1,050,000 05/28/2014 

1182 Armada Drive 03/06/18 $1,090,000 3 1816 1942 $695,000 09/11/2017 

1780 Keystone Street 03/09/18 $1,072,000 4 2298 1961 $165,000 11/30/1999 

3850 Startouch Drive 03/13/18 $1,050,000 3 1898 1956 $358,000 10/29/1997 

961 North Michigan Ave. 03/14/18 $995,000 2 1187 1915 $348,000 10/15/2003 

3280 Hermanos Street 03/30/18 $990,000 3 1466 1947 $727,000 06/09/2014 

515 Tamarac Drive 03/23/18 $976,000 2 943 1947 $190,000 02/16/1996 

182 South Berkeley Ave. 03/14/18 $959,500 2 1326 1918 $570,000 08/18/2009 

457 South Marengo Ave. #17 03/13/18 $940,000 2 1397 2001 $679,000 06/18/2012 

790 North El Molino Ave. 03/16/18 $940,000 3 3544 1914 $230,000 07/01/1991 

783 South Orange Grove Blvd. #1 03/28/18 $930,000 2 1873 1974 $925,000 09/29/2015 

335 South Greenwood Ave. 03/12/18 $918,000 3 1637 1920 $420,500 03/12/2002 

111 South Orange Grove Blvd. #10203/13/18 $905,000 1 1707 1974 $255,000 07/08/1997 

1628 Forest Ave. 03/19/18 $890,000 2 744 1948 $415,000 02/10/2017 

3430 Grayburn Road 03/21/18 $890,000 2 1724 1948 $240,000 02/28/1997 

164 Carlton Ave. 03/14/18 $887,500 5 2027 1924 $350,500 02/27/2012 

2280 Loma Vista Street 03/16/18 $875,000 3 1876 1937 

SAN MARINO 

1211 Adair Street 03/08/18 $4,200,000 4 3564 1926 $2,355,020 05/19/2005 

1380 Vandyke Road 03/15/18 $2,578,000 2 1740 1948 $1,565,000 03/19/2014 

2320 Adair Street 03/13/18 $1,880,000 4 2662 1937 $1,388,000 09/21/2012 

2275 Lorain Road 03/20/18 $1,760,000 2 2218 1937 $1,143,000 11/21/2011 

816 Winthrop Road 03/27/18 $1,728,000 3 1814 1935 $920,000 05/21/2010 

1335 Vandyke Road 03/30/18 $1,680,000 3 1578 1941 $1,650,000 10/20/2015 

1300 Winston Ave. 03/22/18 $1,675,000 2 1478 1936 $1,307,500 12/06/2016 

SIERRA MADRE 

510 West Laurel Ave. 03/06/18 $1,935,000 4 2895 2000 $556,000 07/27/2001 

265 North Mountain Trail 03/16/18 $1,360,000 9 3405 1920 $180,950 10/07/1994 

265 North Mountain Trail Ave. 03/16/18 $1,360,000 9 3405 1920 $180,950 10/07/1994 

441 Manzanita Ave. 03/12/18 $1,190,000 3 1799 1940 

82 Monterey Lane 03/08/18 $1,180,000 3 1718 1966 $455,000 08/14/2001 

1921 Liliano Place 03/12/18 $1,000,000 3 2462 1959 $435,000 08/05/1994 

125 North Canon Ave. 03/19/18 $850,000 3 1888 1953 $460,000 05/24/2002 

SOUTH PASADENA 

816 Stratford Ave. 03/27/18 $2,175,000 4 2422 1923 $339,000 02/18/1998 

1325 Oak Hill Place 03/16/18 $1,385,000 3 1718 1951 $670,000 12/31/2015 

1131 Marengo Ave. 03/15/18 $1,130,000 2 1262 1927 $650,000 06/29/2007 

1411 Indiana Ave. 03/14/18 $1,095,000 4 1524 1957 $740,000 07/09/2010 

1428 Oneonta Knoll 03/13/18 $980,000 2 1624 1947 

1521 Oneonta Knoll 03/30/18 $890,000 3 1627 1938

05.18 | ARROYO | 21

ARROYO 

HOME & DESIGN 

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT 

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOMEOWNERS 

SEEK SERENITY IN THEIR BACKYARDS 

Homes That Offer Quiet Retreats Are Trending In The Pasadena Area 

22 | ARROYO | 05.18 

BY BRUCE HARING 

PHOTO: Courtesy of Garden View Landscape & Pools

04.18 | ARROYO | 23

24 | ARROYO | 05.18

—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT— 

It’s the Southern California dream - laying around the background, enjoying 

friends and family as the tribe gathers to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, 

and just the simple pleasures of life. 

Fortunately, we live in an area where it’s practical to be outdoors year-round, as 

our mild climate rarely makes it uncomfortable to be in the fresh air for extended periods. 

While our Eastern and Midwestern cousins curse the snow and freeze, we can 

enjoy outdoor living even in the dead of winter. That’s why the backyard is more than 

a separate area for many homeowners - it’s actually an extension of the living space 

that begins at the front door, and many of us spend as much time in the backyard as 

we do in other parts of the home. 

It’s nice to have a place where family and friends can gather. But sometimes, 

when the crowds aren’t there, backyards can also provide a haven from the rest of 

the world’s noise and haste, and that’s one of the trends area residents are driving in 

their landscaping choices. 

Simple designs that offer shade, shelter and a quiet place to sit and review life 

are increasingly popular, and they are being created for use by everyone in the family. 

Unlike the patio or kitchen areas, these niches are made not to socialize, but to 

get away from it all, and the serenity can be achieved with just a few strategic plant 

and shrub placements and a bench. 

OTHER TRENDS 

What else is hot in outdoor design? Sustainability is one of the top trends. 

Perhaps because of our recent and ongoing draughts, homeowners are adopting 

landscapes that don’t require a lot of water to make a beautiful presentation. Lowmaintenance 

is the watchword. Without a lot of grass to water and mow, homeown- 


05.18 | ARROYO | 25

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28 | ARROYO | 04.18



ers can spend more time on the things they love, as the lack of turf and the need for 

less water create environmental and economic incentives. 

Sustainable doesn’t have to mean boring, though. Many homeowners are 

including decorative lighting, garden pathways, quiet little gazebos and even some 

recycling water elements to create a backyard oasis that provides respite from the 

rest of the noise. 

Also trending are a step away from green on green landscaping. An explosion 

of color has come to the backyard, as flowering plants and bold choices in furniture 

and other essentials are making a statement. Yes, green is present, too. But there are 

many shades of green, and changing up the hues can create contrasts that make a 

yard look fantastic for very little money. 

Since you’ll be spending more time in your backyard with the new improvements, 

many homeowners are incorporating new kitchen designs into their changes. 

Unlike the interior of a home, there are no walls to knock down to create an open 

concept - it’s already present in the great outdoors, and the cooks of the day can 

enjoy the action along with guests. 

When you’re taking a break and want to retreat from your home and the sometimes 

noisy activities that can take place there, many homeowners are converting 

their backyards into corners where they can seek serenity. Pebble paths, stone planters 

and shelters that offer seating for quiet contemplation are all part of the movement. 

. 

THE PASADENA AREA OUTLOOK 

Mark Meahl is the founder of Garden View Landscape, Nursery & Pools in Monrovia. 

The family owned and operated business was founded in 1978 and stresses value, 


05.18 | ARROYO | 29


30 | ARROYO | 05.18 


service, quality and affordability. That’s reflected in the 75 awards the company has 

won from the California Landscape Contractors Association over the years for its 

works. 

The company offers complete and integrated services in outdoor construction, 

swimming pools, nurseries and maintenance, and can take a customer from concept 

to full completion on a project. 

Meahl has seen many trends come and go in the 40 years he’s been operating 

his business. Recently, he notes, it seems like half of his clients are seeking a more 

“contemporary” or “modern” look for their landscaping. “Usually, that means more 

formal, more simplistic, or minimalistic (designs) and clean lines,” Meahl says. “Even 

many clients that have homes that are not contemporary still want a modern or 

contemporary design. It is a challenge, but we find ways to blend contemporary 

design elements and the philosophy behind it and blend in elements of the style of 

the home very successfully.” 

What’s driving the requests for modern and contemporary? One guess, and if 

it’s not HGTV and other design shows, you’ve guessed wrong. 

Some landscapers are not fans of the shows, because they inflate expectations 

well beyond reason. Not Meahl. “I think HGTV has shown people what they can have, 

what is possible. This has increased people’s desire for better things.” Also a factor are 

Pinterest, Houzz and other online social media and web sites, which are stimulating 

ideas as customers seek to transform their existing space into something magical. “At 

least they give the clients ideas that they can apply to their own situations,” Meahl 

says. 

The choices are more than whimsical or to impress guests. There’s a real economic 

incentive to creating a backyard that you can show off with pride. “On higherend 

houses, I think good landscape is a necessity. Poor landscaping will devalue the 

home. I think a pretty dress can make a beautiful woman even more beautiful. The 

landscape can have the same effect on a property.” 

And while you are adding to your value, keep in mind that there’s things that 

money can’t buy - the years of enjoyment you will get from your backyard. “I think the 

outdoor living room is essential,” says Meahl. “We live in the best weather in the world. 

The best room in the house can be outside. I personally think it is a sin to live here, pay 

the price to be here, and not enjoy the outdoors.” 

That’s a notion that will draw an amen from most of the Southern California congregation 

as they plan to create their retreats. |||| 

PHOTO: Courtesy of Garden View Landscape & Pools

05.18 | ARROYO | 31

32 | ARROYO | 05.18

Gold and brass tones are returning to fine finishes. 

BY LESLIE A. WESTBROOK 

ired of the standard chrome and stainless-steel finishes for your 

bathroom and kitchen fixtures? According to the National Kitchen and 

Bath Association (NKBA), shades of gold and brass are the hottest hues 

in today’s kitchens and baths. 

If fixtures are the “jewelry” of the bathroom, then gold or brass, 

depending on your taste and style, might be just the ticket to add some 

pizzazz, patina and a unique twist to your interior décor. While gold may 

appeal to those with more formal, luxurious taste, brass is the choice for 

those who prefer a nautical, industrial or ethnic style. 

Pasadena designer Cynthia Bennett, noting that “everything has been 

white and gray,” has two current projects reflecting the gold and brass 

trend. “We are doing a powder room with gold fixtures and a gold ceiling 

and lavish wallpaper that’s an addition for a traditional home built in the 

1940s in Pasadena,” she says. “It’s a very opulent look.” 

For her other project, a young South Pasadena couple’s Craftsman 

home, the clients decided to mix it up. “The kitchen is stainless 

steel, but they wanted brass faucets,” Bennett says, adding 

that hardware in old houses is often brass. “We’ve always 

used gold or brass lamps as well as mirrors as accent 

pieces, which can stand on their own in a room 

and don’t have to match anything.” 

as well as brass. This SoCal manufacturer offers one of the largest varieties 

of premium gold and brass finishes on the market. Tones dubbed Lifetime 

Gold, French Gold and Lifetime Polished Gold add a touch of glamor; 

brass finishes like Satin Brass, Satin Bronze and Polished Brass are less 

about bling and more about subtle beauty. The artisan finishes, produced 

by hand at the company’s Huntington Beach factory, allow consumers to 

venture outside their chrome and nickel comfort zones and experiment 

with an alternative decorative color spectrum. 

Another stand-out is the Venezia faucet collection by Fantini, the Italian 

design firm founded in 1947 by two brothers. Venezia faucets, designed 

by Milan-based designers Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez, are 

architectural in form, with a hexagonal spout and elegant crystal handles 

embellished with black or white serigraphy. Fantini collaborates with 

artists and architects on its fine bathroom and kitchen collections crafted 

with high-quality materials in modern Italian style. 


GO FOR THE GOLD 

If your mind immediately goes 

to “bling-bling” Las Vegas or 

flashy Trump Tower when 

someone mentions gold, you 

might want to rewire your 

brain and take a fresh look 

at this design trend. 

California Faucets is 

seeing “a modern-day gold 

rush” with an increasing 

number of orders trending 

in gold 

18th-century Ottoman 

giltwood turban stand 

Venezia faucet by Fantini 

05.18 | ARROYO | 33


Gold is also turning up in chic kitchens. Consider appliances with 

gold trim, as shown in this stunning kitchen from Ultra Bathroom 

& Kitchen (above) in Arcadia. “Chrome is less expensive and popular 

and always nice, but a lot of manufacturers are expanding their lines to 

include rose gold and brushed bronze,” says Ultra’s Frank Rojas, adding 

that wine racks with brass from True Residential are “popular right 

now.” 

You can choose between cobalt-blue or matte-white finishes with 

gold hardware — we love the pop of blue as an unexpected twist to a 

kitchen design. Combine gold fixtures with white marble counters or 

tiles or contrast them against black materials for a sophisticated upgrade. 

Set them against pale wood for a Scandinavian feel. Just don’t overdo it 

or your bling could crash like the 1929 stock market. 

NATURAL BRASS 

Known for its ability to weather the elements, brass was used in 

Victorian times for streetlamps and subway entrances as well as in the 

shipping industry. In recent decades, it was almost impossible to source 

unfinished brass, which develops a natural patina with time. (Not to 

your taste? Then keep it polished to a brassy shine.) Muted, satin or 

brushed brass can add warmth to a kitchen or bath design. Mix it with 

handmade tiles for a French-country or Mexican-inspired look. 

Kallista is a great source for unfinished brass fi xtures. The Unlacquered 

Brass finish is available on its Quincy and One kitchen 

faucet line, as well as its Bellis bathroom products. Inspired by 1920s 

plumbing, the Bellis collection freshens traditional spaces, offering the 

familiarity and comfort of traditional design with a twist. 

DECORATIVE ACCENTS 

Brass or gold finishes in lighting and mirrors throughout the home 

can add decorative pop to an otherwise “metal-free” room. Design 

within Reach has a variety of smart-looking desk and freestanding lamps 

— from Flos’ geometric Captain Flint floor lamp (at right) by Londonbased 

designer Michael Anastassiades (whose work is in the Museum of 

Modern Art’s permanent collection), to the nautically influenced, vintage-style 

Oval Bulkhead Light designed by Davey Lighting, a company 

that traces its origins to the shipyards of 19th-century London. Davey 

& Co. lights graced the decks of many a famous ocean liner, including 

the Titanic, and these handcrafted gems are still made in England using 

century-old techniques. 

For a truly unique accent, add an antique gold or 

brass piece, like the 18th-century Ottoman giltwood 

turban stand from First Dibs, a distinctive object that 

transcends centuries of design trends. |||| 

INFO NUGGET 

The word “gold” originated from the Old English term for 

“bright.” Gold is soft and does not tarnish or corrode; it is also 

very reflective, so it is used to protect spacecraft and satellites from 

solar radiation. 

Brass is a mixture of copper and tin, and while it has been used 

for doorknobs, locks and fixtures for centuries, don’t forget that 

brass is also used 

to make brass horns. 

And if gold and brass aren’t 

your style, check ck out bronze for a 

more 

muted, less 

flashy effect. 

GOLD MINES 

Design Within Reach, 60 W. Green St., Pasadena, 

dwr.com, (626) 432-6700 

George’s Pipe & Plumbing Supply, 99 Palmetto Dr., Pasadena, 

georgesshowroom.com, (626) 792-5547 

Snyder Diamond, 432 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, 

snyderdiamond.com, (626) 795-8080 

Ultra Bathroom & Kitchen, 318 E. Huntington Dr., Arcadia, 

ultrabathroomandkitchen.com, (818) 859-7443 

34 | ARROYO | 05.18

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36 | ARROYO | 05.18

PRIMAL 

MODERN 

Michael Olshefski designs sensuous tables 

and artwork using reclaimed wood pieces 

that “speak” to him. 

BY JANA MONJI 

Some people can’t see the forest for the trees, but Michael Olshefski sees the forest 

in his exquisite reclaimed-wood furniture. The architect and designer behind 

Primal Modern in Glassell Park creates museum-quality tables and artworks that 

reflect his Zen appreciation of nature. Using wood pieces that “speak” to him, Olshefski 

works with clients to customize furniture that fits their lifestyle. 

An award-winning graduate of the Southern California Institute of Architecture 

(SCI-Arc), Olshefski has worked in architectural design and construction for 25 

years. High-profile projects he contributed to include the Cathedral of Our Lady of 

the Angels, Otis College of Art and Design, the Griffith Observatory and USC’s 

Uytengsu Aquatics Center. These days, he’s starting on a project at Santa Monica 

College as senior project manager for the new math and science building, among 

other design roles. 

Until recently, woodworking was just a hobby for Olshefski. “Four years ago, I 

decided to really go into it and open up my own studio,” he said. “The work I did 

in the past looked like woodworkers’ furniture. Now I define myself as a designer 

who happens to work with wood as a medium.” Yet Olshefski’s practice is strongly 

rooted in woodworking. “When I was born, my father was a carpenter, a woodworker,” 

he recalled. His parents took snapshots of him with a hammer when he was 

a toddler. He went on to become a certified carpenter. “My hands-on experience 

was a huge plus when I went to architecture school,” he said. “On the flip side, I 


PHOTOS: Courtesy of Primal Modern 

05.18 | ARROYO | 37

Burnt Forest I 


had to learn to pull away from those preconceived things, general practices I had as a 

carpenter.” When one thinks about a door, Olshefski continued, “Why does it have to 

be rectangular?” 

Most of his Primal Modern works are rectangular and influenced by his realization 

that “people have a very strong opinion about the wood. They are afraid of damaging 

it.” A visit to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles with his wife of 17 

years, Linda Stiehl, inspired a solution to that problem. “My mind is always thinking 

about design and I’m looking at the museum case,” noting the separation between 

the glass and the wood, he said. The wood of his tables is the art on exhibit, but some 

clients lay out collections of their own atop the wood and under the glass. “One client 

displayed his antique daggers on them.” 

Going through his portfolio at primalmodern.com, you can see obvious signs of 

Buddhist inspiration, something clearly expressed throughout the Primal Modern 

website. Burnt Forest I and Burnt Forest II, glass-topped cocktail tables of sinuous 

slabs of wood atop a bed of pebbles, will remind gardening buffs of the dry landscape 

of the Ryōan-ji Zen temple in Kyoto. Olshefski said the rock area represents an estuary 

of water. “It’s a miniature bonsai concept.” 

Buddhism might not seem an obvious path for a guy who was born and raised in 

upstate New York on an Adirondack Mountains game preserve. “We raised horses, 

dogs and quails,” he said. “There weren’t really a lot of people around me.” Later, at 

SCI-Arc, Olshefski was exposed to a wide variety of influences and encouraged by 

the school to form his own artistic philosophy. He took classes in chaos theory and 

fractal geometry. “Everything in nature is mathematics,” he says. “You just need to 

look at everything and see how it grows, how everything is a component of the next 

and the scale just changes.” 

Olshefski also took a class in sumi-e painting and washi paper-making from a 

Japanese professor. “I didn’t know what to expect when I took the course. It was lifechanging.” 

One of the things the teacher emphasized was “understanding the state of 

your mind when you are about to do the process.” Sometimes what you do is what you 

feel. “If you’re feeling aggressive, highly energized, then you should paint bamboo,” 

because that involves a firm planting of the brush and confident thrusts. On the other 

hand, “if you’re feeling more relaxed or melancholic,” orchids are a better subject 

choice because they “have a whole different flow.” With sumi-e, one is only painting 

in black, but one also learns there are “thousands of shades of black.” Olshefski found 

painting was “a process of meditation,” allowing him to focus on emotions. 

Burnt Forest II 

38 | ARROYO | 05.18

Sunset 

Sunrise 

Since 2001, Olshefski and Stiehl, who handles Primal Modern’s marketing, have 

made several pilgrimages to Asia. Indeed, travel has been a boon to the couple. It 

was a canceled flight en route to L.A. that led them to first meet at Chicago’s O’Hare 

Airport. They became certified scuba divers on their honeymoon. 

Olshefski’s journeys underwater inspired such design pieces as his Manta table, 

with biomorphic lines invoking those of the graceful ray. Olshefski had always loved 

the minimalism of Japanese architecture, which is often expressed in his Primal 

Modern works. “The frames are not actually composed of pieces welded together. 

They are sheets folded,” like origami. 

A small 5-by-5-foot dining table starts at $5,000 and goes up to $100,000, 

depending on materials and design. Cocktail tables start at $2,500, and accent tables 

are about $1,500. An ornamental piece like Sunrise or Sunset costs about $900. As 

Stiehl noted, “When we present at art expos, just about everyone who visits our location 

stops mid-step and just gazes at his work or says, ‘Wow.’ The visceral reaction is 

so wonderful to watch. His clientele tends to be those who truly appreciate fine art, 

love to surround themselves with beauty and want to have a unique experience with 

the artist and designer. “ 

About 80 percent of his work is commissioned. “Usually, they think they’ve got 

more room than they do,” he said of his clients. Olshefski uses AutoCAD design 

software for presentations and makes several mock-ups to ensure the piece is a perfect 

fit for each client. 

Aspiring do-it-yourselfers should know that working with reclaimed wood isn’t 

easy. And if you have a stump or old tree you’d like to work with, don’t bother calling 

Primal Modern. “A lot of people offer me trees to salvage,” Olshefski said. While 

all the reclaimed wood at Primal Modern is domestic, the designer only works with 

three mills. Mills can be reluctant to take old trees because they may be embedded 

with stones, rocks, nails or even barbed wire. 

Finding a suitable piece of wood is only the beginning. “Each piece requires three 

to four years of air-drying in a shed before you can put it in a kiln to dry it… Drying 

in a kiln kills all the bacteria and all the insects.” After that, there’s no worry about 

bugs coming out of the wood while he’s working on it or when it’s in a client’s space. 

The piece he used for Manta, for example, was cut and air-dried for three years and 

came out weighing 900 pounds. After four months in a kiln, that weight shrank to 

300. 

It takes time to make a forest and it takes time to bring pieces of a forest into a 

home. If you want to see the forest differently and more intimately, take a look at 

Primal Modern. 

Primal Modern is located at 2530 N. San Fernando Rd., Studio G, Los Angeles. Call 

(323) 810-0105 or visit primalmodern.com. |||| 

05.18 | ARROYO | 39

40 | ARROYO | 05.18

Red Orange White Green Blue, 1968, Oil on Canvas 

PURE COLOR 

An upcoming Norton Simon exhibition of Ellsworth Kelly’s modern prints reveals the 

artist’s dedication to pure form and color. 

BY SCARLET CHENG 

By the mid-1960s, Ellsworth Kelly had already made a name for himself as an 

abstract painter in the New York art world. During a trip to Paris for a gallery show, 

he made his first serious foray into the print medium. The two lithographic series 

he produced are featured in the Norton Simon Museum exhibition Line & Color: 

The Nature of Ellsworth Kelly, opening June 1 and running through Oct. 29. They’re 

accompanied by two paintings he made around that time, showing how complementary 

the prints were with his paintings. 

The Norton Simon was fortunate enough to get the two series, Suite of Twenty- 

Seven Color Lithographs and Suite of Plant Lithographs, as a gift, when it was still 

the Pasadena Art Museum. Kelly had generously responded to a letter requesting 

a donation of work from then–Senior Curator John Coplans, who was known for 

championing contemporary art. Coplans’ tenure coincided with the 1969 opening of 

the museum’s 85,000-square-foot space. “A lot of donations were sought in the late 

’60s in anticipation of the current building opening, knowing that they were going 

to have a larger building and more space to show work,” says the exhibition’s curator, 

Tom Norris. 

Born in 1923 in Newburgh, New York, and raised in New Jersey, Kelly studied 

art at the Pratt Institute from 1941 to 1943. His studies were interrupted when he 

was drafted into the Army during World War II and deployed to France and Belgium. 

When peace came, he continued his studies at the Boston Museum School from 

1946 to 1948. But Kelly dreamed of returning to France — and did so, abetted by 

money from the G. I. Bill. There he stayed for six years, studying at the École nationale 

supérieure des Beaux-Arts, hanging out with other artists and partaking of the cultural 

riches of Paris, especially its architecture and museums. He also began developing his 

own art style. 

Like all good art students, Kelly had been trained in academic-style drawing 

and painting, but he was to give up figuration and embrace abstraction. “He drew a 

lot of inspiration from his everyday life and would look for shadows or architectural 

details that he appreciated,” Norris says. So, for example, a window with a shade 

drawn might become a rectangle with two squares of color; a plant petal or leaf might 

become a curvilinear form. Even when he returned to the U. S. in 1954 and set up 

his studio in New York, he resisted the influence of the Abstract Expressionists who 

had become artists of the moment. They were interested in putting angst and personal 

emotions onto the canvas, and it seems that Kelly was not. 

In fact, “impersonality” and the “eradication of subjectivity” was really his muse, 

says Yve-Alain Bois, a Kelly scholar and art historian at the Institute for Advanced 


05.18 | ARROYO | 41

42 | ARROYO | 05.18


Blue and Orange and Green, 1964, lithograph 

Study in Princeton, New Jersey, who will be giving a talk at the Norton Simon Museum 

on Oct. 13. Bois is working on the catalogue raisonné of Kelly’s paintings, reliefs 

and sculpture. He’s already completed part one, Ellsworth Kelly: Catalogue Raisonné of 

Paintings, Reliefs, and Sculpture, Volume One, 1940–1953 (Thames & Hudson), and is 

working on part two. Kelly wanted to remove the artist from the work, says Bois, and 

move toward pure form and color. (Even though removing oneself completely from 

one’s artwork isn’t feasible, as Bois admits, “it’s impossible, it’s a dream!”) 

In 1964 Kelly returned to Paris for the first time since his departure a decade 

before, for a solo exhibit of his paintings at the famous modern art gallery Galerie 

Maeght. The gallery also published artist books and fine art prints, so he decided to 

take advantage of being there to work on prints — the Suite of Twenty-Seven Color 

Lithographs and Suite of Plant Lithographs. That turned out to be a turning point — he 

would continue to make prints as well as paintings for the rest of his life. “Actually 

I think the print medium, especially when the prints are exhibited together, is a 

good way to enter his work,” Bois notes. “The specificity of shapes and color, the very 

detailed way he creates the shapes. When you have several lithographs related to the 

same theme, you can see how the slightest difference can change everything. It’s really 

about the way to observe, the way to look.” 

Twenty-Seven Color Lithographs comprises abstract shapes in bright colors. Within 

the series several patterns repeat — such as two blocks with rounded edges sitting 

atop one another, or squares within squares — but the colors change. “In this suite 

he’s trying to figure out the colors that he likes that work together,” says Norris. 

The plant series was a natural for Kelly, since he had been drawn to botany since 

his youth. “He was quite interested in plants,” says Bois. “There are some student 

works from ’48, and he makes quite a few drawings of plants from ’48 to ’64, ’65 when 

he made his first print series.” Bois says that Kelly returned to the subject “to test his 

accuracy of observation.” The prints are derived from simple line drawings of a single 

flower, such as a camellia or a cyclamen, or of fruit, such as a grapefruit or a lemon, 

with a few leaves. Leaves are delineated by just their outline, such as that of the fig or 

string bean plant, without veins and contours. “When he makes plant drawings,” says 

Bois, “it’s really striking to see the way he eliminates complexity.” 

The two paintings in the show are very large works hanging opposite each other in 

a middle gallery. Red Orange White Green Blue (1968) is an oil on canvas composed of 

five adjacent panels, each one a solid color measuring 120 by 24 inches. The other is 

White Over Blue, an acrylic painting made for the Montreal World’s Fair of 1967. In 

Montreal it was hung vertically, but Norris admits there is no space in the museum 

that would accommodate its nearly 30-foot height, “and there are precedents for its 

being shown horizontally.” Norris says the work is actually composed of two sections, 

with the two slightly overlapping — the white one over the blue one, “so you really 

have this idea of the painting not being a flat surface and becoming more of an object.” 

Throughout Kelly’s career he carried on an exploration of what color, shape and 

negative space can do. And one should not dismiss the pleasure principle here — 

there’s just a certain pleasure in looking at his works, whether they represent something 

or not. As the artist himself said, late in life, “What I’ve tried to capture is 

the reality of flux, to keep art an open, incomplete situation, to get at the rapture of 

seeing.” 

Red-Orange Over Blue, 1964, lithograph 

Line & Color: The Nature of Ellsworth Kelly runs from June 1 through Oct. 29 at the 

Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. The museum is open Monday, 

Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; 

Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Tuesday. Admission costs $15, $12 for seniors; free for 

members, students with I.D. and youth age 18 and under. The museum is free for everyone 

the first Friday of the month from 5 to 8 p.m. |||| 

05.18 | ARROYO | 43

KITCHEN 

CONFESSIONS 

Faire thee well 

RENAISSANCE FAIRE-GOERS SAVOR SUCH 

OLDE-FASHIONED FOODS AS PASTIES, “PYES” AND TASTY TOADS. 

BY LESLIE BILDERBACK 

What do you get when you combine big hunks of meat, busty costumes and enthusiastic performers? 

No, not RuPaul’s Drag Race. 

It’s the Renaissance Faire! Yes, it’s that time again! Don your corset, dust off that codpiece and head out to 

the countryside. Or, in our case, to the kingdom of the 909 (area code, that is). 

I have been a Renaissance Faire-goer since I was a kid. For a fantasy-book, old-movie, arts-and-crafts lover like me, 

it was heaven. We made sand candles and puppets, learned to spin wool and juggle, and got to watch the grownups 

act crazier than we were ever allowed to. It was held around Labor Day in our neck of the woods, and it was the most 

anticipated event marking the end of summer. I always saved up my allowance to buy something special at the faire — a 

straw flower crown, a magic wand, incense, a special hand-thrown mug, a grown-up piece of jewelry. (I once bought a 

beautiful silver necklace with a dangling moon and a dripping raindrop. Turns out the raindrop was a coke spoon, and 

my mom confiscated it.) 

I knew I’d found Mr. Right when he offered to take me to the faire and showed up in a gauzy sashed tunic. We 

dragged our kids when they were little, and now they look forward to it every year. Our oldest even won a young 

Shakespeare monologue contest and had an audience with the queen. I have always been down to spend a day in 

the Middle Ages. 

The faire began in 1963, here, in the Laurel Canyon backyard of drama teacher Phyllis Patterson, 

as a summer-school history activity for her students. It quickly evolved into a public event, thanks 

to her husband, Ron, liberal public radio station KPFK and the couple’s artist friends who 

had been blacklisted in the ’50s and needed a job and a creative outlet. In 1966 

the first commercial Renaissance Pleasure Faire of Southern California opened 

at Paramount Ranch in Agoura. Within five years it expanded into Northern 

California, first in San Rafael and then to Black Point Forest in Novato, which 

is where I found it in the early ’70s. The hidden oak forest grove was the perfect 

shire-like setting for my young, fertile imagination. 

It was there, in the 1970s, that I saw my first bare boob in public, smelled my first 

pot, learned to expertly navigate a Porta-Potty and witnessed the hippie revolution. To me, it was just the 

grownups acting weird. But to society as a whole, the Renaissance Faire offered a place for artists, chefs, 

performers and itinerant workers of all sorts to work, grow, connect and escape. It was here that people 

were introduced to weird instruments and world music, which eventually found its way into the 

mainstream. It was here that performers launched their careers, including Bread founding member 

Robb Royer and the only mimes to headline in Vegas, Shields and Yarnell. 

Amidst the jousting and dulcimer concerts there were disillusioned Americans looking 

to escape the effects of the Vietnam War, capitalism and the Red Scare. Some employees 

experimented with a bohemian communal lifestyle with like-minded counter-culturalists. And 

for the general public, it provided a blessed late-summer afternoon for leaving behind the straitlaced 

Mad Men era in favor of strained-bodices, tankards of ale and free spirits. The real world 

was weird and hard. But at the Renaissance Faire even the most uptight could let their hair down, 

walk around in bell bottoms and halter tops and still not be the weirdest ones in the dale. 

The Pattersons were historians at heart, and the faire was first operated as a living history museum. Food merchants 

and craftspeople had to demonstrate historical accuracy, or at least plausibility, of their products. Authenticity was key. 

Plastics were banned, and performers who were caught out of character were reprimanded. It all worked, because they 

tricked me (and countless others) into learning about, and loving, history. The idea took off, and over 200 faires sprang up around 

the country. The Pattersons ran the Southern and Northern California faires until 1994, when they were sold to a Colorado 

company. (The Patterson family still operates The Great Christmas Dickens Fair, held annually in San Francisco — another fond 

memory of my childhood.) 

The most exciting part of the faire for me as a kid was the food. In the beginning, it was the only place you could walk around 

44 | ARROYO | 05.18

ALCOHOL IN THE ARROYO 

eating a huge turkey leg. Now you can do that everywhere. My favorite thing, which I haven’t 

seen in decades, was a half cantaloupe filled with ice cream and drizzled with honey — so 

perfect on a hot, dusty Renaissance day. Toads in the hole, shepherd’s “pyes,” pasties and 

bangers were all on the list, and I loved them all. It was unusual fare that came only once a 

year. The food is less captivating these days, and not nearly as true to the original concept. I 

doubt very much Elizabethans enjoyed balsamic salmon or stuffed jalapeños. 

In fact, the entire faire has lost something. What was originally a bellwether of the 

counterculture has become another money pit, and the faire-goers these days, I fear, have lost 

the original spirit. Yes, it is still a showcase of independent artisans, and it is still a place to 

immerse oneself in fantasy. But in a world where cosplay is as common as giant turkey legs, 

the faire tries to stay relevant by adding themed events — Pirate Weekend, Time Traveler 

Weekend (May 5 and 6) and Heroes & Villains (May 12 and 13), featuring maid-of-honor 

training for 20 girls ages 6 to 10. 

I realize, at this moment, that I am using the Renaissance Faire to vent my “kids these 

days” curmudgeonism. Don’t get me wrong. We’re still going. And I will still get excited 

when I see the queen, and I will still laugh when the Shakespearean comedy troupe 

humiliates the cargo-panted dad. But I can’t help but long, just a bit, for ye olde days. |||| 

Jack Daniels distiller Jeff Arnett raises a glass. 

A DRINK TO 

REMEMBER 

This dish, sometimes known as “sausage toad,” probably gets its name from the 

way the meat peeks out through the batter. It has historically been made with 

everything from leftover stewed meats to rump steak, pigeon and lamb kidneys, but 

most modern adaptations use sausages, and I do too. I like a good banger, but your 

favorite sausage will do. (PSA: Don't say that at the Ren Faire.) 

INGREDIENTS 

1 tablespoon butter 

4 large pork sausages (bangers) 

1 cup milk 

4 large eggs 

METHOD 

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Butter a heavy skillet or baking dish, add sausages and bake 15 minutes, 

until almost done. 

2. In a blender, combine milk, eggs, mustard, flour, sugar and salt. Blend to combine, then pour the batter 

carefully over the hot cooked sausages. Bake another 20 to 30 minutes, until the batter is puffed, 

crisp and browned. Serve hot with extra mustard on the side. 

Leslie Bilderback is a chef and cookbook author, a certified master baker and 

an art history instructor. She lives in South Pasadena and teaches her techniques 

online at culinarymasterclass.com. 

Toad In The Hole 

1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard 

1 cup all-purpose flour 

1 teaspoon sugar 

1 teaspoon sea salt 

STORY AND PHOTO 

BY MICHAEL CERVIN 

Pasadena, South Pasadena and Altadena are awash in bars, but that was 

not always the case. Alcohol in the Arroyo faced hardships from the 

start.Following its founding in 1874 as an agricultural cooperative, 

predominantly for orange growers, the City of Pasadena incorporated in 1886. 

One of the reasons for incorporation was to abolish saloons and the sale of alcohol, 

and on Feb. 19,1887, Pasadena passed an “anti-saloon” ordinance (it was formally 

reversed in 1913), making it California’s first dry city. 

South Pasadena became the second. Its city trustees gathered on March 

8,1888, and one of their very first laws made it unlawful to “establish or maintain 

a tippling house, dram shop, cellar, saloon, bar, barroom, sample room or other 

place where spiritous, malt or mixed liquors were sold.” 

Always the renegade, Altadena opened as a subdivision in 1887 and 

anti-saloon sentiment was not an issue. “Altadena had a strong historical 

connection with grape growing, wine production and resisting temperance 

movements,” writes author Michele Zack in her book Altadena, Between Wilderness 

and City (Altadena Historical Society). Perhaps that’s why Altadena Public 

Library’s Second Saturday concert series (running now through June) offers wine 

and beer along with literary stimulation. 

So when you visit a local bar or restaurant and raise your glass, remember it was 

a hard-fought battle to do just that. |||| 

05.18 | ARROYO | 45

THE LIST 

A SELECTIVE PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EVENTS 

COMPILED BY JOHN SOLLENBERGER 

Schumanns Star 

at Salastina 

Concerts 

May 4 and 5 — The 

Salastina Music Society 

celebrates Robert 

and Clara Schumann’s complete piano 

trios in back-to-back 8 p.m. concerts at 

the Pasadena Conservatory of Music’s 

Barrett Hall. Friday features Part 1: Robert 

Schumann’s Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 

17, and Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio No. 

1 in D minor, Op. 63. Part 2 on Saturday 

includes Robert Schumann’s Piano Trio 

No. 2 in F major, Op. 80, and his Piano 

Trio No. 3 in G minor, Op. 110. Tickets to 

each concert cost $32. 

The Pasadena Conservatory of Music is 

located at 100 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena. 

Visit salastina.org for tickets and information. 

Beethoven Classics at Symphony 

May 5 — The Pasadena Symphony 

performs Beethoven’s Violin Concerto 

and Symphony No. 3 at 2 and 8 p.m. at 

Ambassador Auditorium. David Lockington 

conducts, and Angelo Xiang Yu is 

featured violin soloist. Ticket prices start 

at $35. 

Ambassador Auditorium is located at 

131 S. St. John Ave., Pasadena. Call (626) 

793-7172 or visit pasadenasymphonypops.org. 

Fine Dining Feeds 

the Homeless 

May 6 — Union 

Station Homeless 

Services’ annual 

fundraiser, Masters of 

Taste, returns to Rose Bowl Stadium from 

3 to 7 p.m., offering fare from such fine 

restaurants as The Raymond 1886, Spring 

and Mercado. California’s eclectic spirits, 

wines and craft brews are provided 

by L.A.’s master mixologists. Tickets cost 

$89, and all proceeds benefit the organization’s 

programs. 

Rose Bowl Stadium is located at 1001 

Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena. Call (626) 240- 

4559 or visit unionstationhs.org. 

Riding for Ronnie 

and Cancer 

May 6 — The Dio 

Cancer Fund’s annual 

Ride for Ronnie, 

INDIAN EMPIRE FILMS AT 

NORTON SIMON 

The Norton Simon Museum screens films based on novels portraying Indian life during 

the British Raj (1858--1947) in a series titled, “The British Raj between Page and Screen.” 

All films start at 5:30 p.m. Admission is included in regular admission of $15 for adults, 

$12 for seniors; members, students and guests 18 and younger are admitted free: 

May 4 — Kim (1950) is based on the Rudyard Kipling novel Kimby (1901), and stars 

Dean Stockwell as the orphan of a British soldier, who poses as a Hindu and is torn 

between his loyalty to a Buddhist mystic (Errol Flynn) and aiding the English secret 

service. 

May 11 — Shatranj Ke Khilari (The Chess Players) is a 1977 film set in 1856, just before 

the first Indian fight for independence. Wajid Ali Shah is an indifferent ruler who composes 

poems and listens to music, when a British general arrives on a secret mission to 

clear the way for the British. The film is based on a short story by Munshi Premchand. 

May 18 — The River (1951) is director Jean Renoir’s first color feature, which contrasts 

the growing pains of three young women whose lives unfold around the unchanging 

Ganges River. The film is based on the 1946 novel of the same name by Rumer 

Godden. 

May 25 — Satyajit Ray’s 1984 film, Ghare Baire (The Home and the World), follows a 

wealthy, enlightened landowner who, in 1907, encourages his wife to emerge from the 

traditional female seclusion of purdah and introduces her to his old friend, a radical 

leader of the Swadeshi movement, producing a profound political awakening. It is 

based on the 1916 novel by Rabindranath Tagore. 

The Norton Simon Museum is located at 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 

449-6840 or visit nortonsimon.org. 

honoring the memory of late heavy 

metal singer Ronnie James Dio, kicks off 

at 9 a.m. at Harley-Davidson of Glendale, 

before riding to Los Encinos State 

Historic Park in Encino at 11 a.m. for live 

music, a raffle, auctions and food and 

drink for purchase. Bands scheduled to 

perform are Steven Adler’s All Star Band, 

Dio Disciples, Beasto Blanco, One More 

from the Road (Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute), 

A Classless Act and Railgun. Radio personality 

Eddie Trunk hosts the event. The 

ride raises funds for the Ronnie James 

Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. 

Visit the website for the schedule and 

ticket prices. 

Harley-Davidson of Glendale is located 

at 3717 San Fernando Rd., Glendale. 

Visit diocancerfund.org. 

Science-Driven 

Plays Ponder 

Social Issues 

“Mach 33: A Festival 

of New Science- 

Driven Plays” is a joint 

venture of the Pasadena Playhouse and 

Caltech Theatre, with performances 

at both. Tickets, available at pasadenaplayhouse.com, 

cost $15, $10 for 

Playhouse members and students. 

May 7 — Out There Right Here by Anna 

Nicholas starts at 8 p.m. at the Pasadena 

Playhouse. The play follows an aging 

Apollo astronaut with Alzheimer’s who 

stashes Oxycontin in order to kill himself 

and explores how science and faith 

intersect, questioning what it means to 

believe in anything. 

May 14 — Lie After Lie After Lie by Stephen 

Diekes is a tale of science denial, 

male dominance over women’s bodies 

and the backwardness of living in a 

post-truth world. In the 1840s, before the 

age of Pasteur and Lister and the discovery 

of sepsis, a Hungarian obstetrician 

discovers that a simple hand-washing 

could help reduce maternal deaths by 

as much as 90 percent, but his discovery 

is rejected by his superiors, and he 

goes mad. It starts at 8 p.m. at Caltech’s 

Ramo Auditorium. 

The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 

39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Ramo 

Auditorium is located on the Caltech 

campus, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena. 

Call (626) 356-7529 or visit pasadenaplayhouse.org. 

Chamber 

Orchestra Plays 

Huntington, 

Glendale 

May 9 — The Los 

Angeles Chamber 

Orchestra’s “In Focus” series, curated by 

Concertmaster Margaret Batjer (above), 

is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. today at the 

Huntington Library, Art Collections and 

Botanical Gardens, repeating at 7:30 

p.m. May 10 at Santa Monica’s Moss Theatre. 

The series highlights chamber works 

by Mozart, Brahms and Clara and Robert 

Schulman. Performers include special 

guest pianist Robert Thies, Principal Oboe 

Claire Brazeau, Batjer and other LACO 

artists. Ticket prices start at $49. 

The Huntington Library, Art Collections 

and Botanical Gardens is located at 

1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. 

May 19 — LACO performs the world premiere 

of L.A. composer Derrick Spiva’s 

“From Here a Path,” the second part of 

a trilogy for chamber orchestra, along 

with works by Vivaldi, Shostakovich and 


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05.18 | ARROYO | 47

48 | ARROYO | 05.18

VICKI LAWRENCE PLAYS 

MAMA AND HERSELF 

May 12 — Emmy Award-winning comedian Vicki Lawrence sings and performs 

comedy at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. The star of the ’80s TV 

series Mama’s Family performs as herself, then switches to her Mama persona in 

a “two-woman” show. A VIP red carpet meet-and-greet starts at 5 p.m. Ticket prices 

start at $15, with VIP tickets going for $90. 

The Arcadia Performing Arts Center is located at 188 Campus Dr., Arcadia. Visit 

arcadiapaf.org. 


Mozart. Cellist Joshua Roman is guest 

soloist, and Sameer Patel is guest conductor. 

Ticket prices start at $27. 

The Alex Theatre is located at 216 N. 

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

7001 or visit laco.org. 

Children’s Chorus Salutes 

Bernstein, Beauty 

May 12 and 13 — The Los Angeles 

Children’s Chorus performs at 7 p.m. 

Saturday and Sunday at Pasadena 

Presbyterian Church. The concerts, titled 

“And This Shall Be for Beauty,” feature 

world premieres by Icelandic composer 

Daniel Bjarnason and Norwegian composer 

Therese Ullvo. The concerts also 

celebrate the centennial of Leonard 

Bernstein’s birth by performing two of 

his compositions, “There Is a Garden” 

and “Gloria Tibi and Sanctus.” Rounding 

out the program are works by Fauré, 

Rautavaara, Grieg, Hillary Tann, Gwyneth 

Walker, Meir Fenkelstein, Anders 

Edenroth, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Ola 

Gjeilo. Anne Tomlinson, who steps down 

in July, directs the chorus, with guest 

appearances by her designated successor, 

Fernando Malvar-Ruiz; Rebecca 

Thompson, Tomlinson’s predecessor; and 

Mandy Brigham, Diana Landis and Steven 

Kronauer. Ticket prices start at $30; 

half-price for students 17 and younger. 

The Pasadena Presbyterian Church 

is located at 585 E. Colorado Blvd., 

Pasadena. Call (626) 793-4231 or visit 

lachildrenschorus.org. 

A Beastly Time at 

the Zoo 

May 19 — The L.A. 

Zoo’s popular annual 

fundraiser, Beastly Ball, 

starts at 6 p.m. The 

evening, honoring animal expert Jack 

Hanna (above), includes music under 

the stars, a rare after-hours stroll through 

the facilities, animal feedings, chats with 

keepers, up-close interactions with some 

of the zoo’s creatures, dining compliments 

of L.A.-area restaurants and a 


05.18 | ARROYO | 49

THE LIST 

CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH 

AT THE BLINN HOUSE 

May 12 — The Blinn House Foundation hosts its annual Dr. Robert Winter 

Award Champagne Brunch, honoring Harvey and Ellen Knell (above) for their 

stewardship of the historic Blacker House in Pasadena. The event runs from 11:30 

a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $75 per person. 

The Blinn House is located at 160 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena. Call (626) 796-0560 

or visit blinnhousefoundation.org to RSVP. 


silent auction. The fundraiser helps fund 

the zoo’s preservation programs for the 

world’s most endangered species and 

their habitats. Tickets cost $1,500. 

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

Griffith Park. Call (323) 644-9105 or visit 

lazoo.org. 

Huntington Tree Tribute 

Looks at Worth of Wood 

May 19 — Out of the Woods: Celebrating 

Trees in Public Gardens, a traveling 

exhibition organized by The New York 

Botanical Garden and the American 

Society of Botanical Artists, opens 

today and runs through Aug. 27 at the 

Huntington Library, Art Collections and 

Botanical Gardens. The juried exhibition 

of 43 botanical artworks highlights the 

role public gardens and arboreta play 

in engaging visitors with trees and their 

ecological and utilitarian roles. Included 

with regular admission; visit the website 

for ticket info. 

The Huntington Library, Art Collections 

and Botanical Gardens is located at 

1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. Call (626) 

405-2100 or visit huntington.org. 

Descanso Art Asks 

Where’s Wildlife? 

May 21 — Growing Habitat: L.A.’s Wildlife 

and Descanso, an art exhibition portraying 

the area’s diverse wildlife co-existing 

with humans, opens today at the Stuart 

Haaga Gallery and continues through 

Aug. 19. The show explores the decrease 

in human-wildlife interactions as urban 

development shrinks native habitats and 

Descanso’s own role as a wildlife habitat. 

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; 

free with regular admission of $9, $6 for seniors 

and students and $4 for children 5 to 

12; members and children 4 and younger 

are admitted free. 

Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso 

Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. Call (818) 

949-4200 or visit descansogardens.org. 

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May 2018

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