SLO LIFE Magazine Apr/May 2018

LIFE 

SLOmagazine 

HEALTH 

TRENDS 

LOCAL 

FLAVOR 

TIMELINE 

NOW 

HE 

T 

APR/MAY 2018 

SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM MEET 

CENTRAL 

COAST 

EVENTS 

BY THE 

UMBERS 

ON THE 

RISE 

KATHY CALLAHAN 

MOTHER, SURVIVOR 

& ENTREPRENEUR 

APR/MAY 2018 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 1

2 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | APR/MAY 2018


Cal Poly Art and Design Department | Art Director: Shaina Kim, Designer: Briana Jackson | Photographers: Ally Evans, Noelle Merrihew, Ysabel Sullivan 

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4 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | APR/MAY 2018 

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SLO LIFE 

magazine 

CONTENTS 

Volume 

9 

Number 2 

Apr/May 2018 

40 

KATHY CALLAHAN 

Bringing joy is as important as 

turning a profit for this mom 

turned entrepreneur. 

12 

14 

16 

20 

Publisher’s Message 

Info 

On the Cover 

In Box 


26 

28 

32 

Briefs 

Check out the latest news highlight reel. 

Timeline 

We take a look at local events from the past two months. 

View 

It was an annual meteor shower which led BRADY CABE 

to capture the magic of the night sky.


| CONTENTS 

34 

36 

38 

54 

Q&A 

SLO CAL’s chief executive, CHUCK DAVISON, 

shares his perspective on promoting 

growth and opportunity while still 

protecting the small town feel that 

embodies the Central Coast lifestyle. 

Now Hear This 

It’s their jazz-infused style that keeps 

THE TIPSY GYPSIES growing in popularity 

as one of the Central Coast’s favorite bands. 

On the Rise 

Basketball phenom and Mission Prep senior 

SEAN SCARRY looks to the future focused 

on athletic and personal growth. 

Family 

With a toddler in tow, PADEN HUGHES 

enjoys an afternoon exploring the Avila 

Valley Barn, a local favorite produce and 

sweet shop. 

74 

Health 

Always interested in the latest health news, we here 

at SLO LIFE began digging into the current research 

on sulforaphane—a compound found in cruciferous 

vegetables, and in broccoli sprouts in particular. 

56 

Dwelling 

Born and raised in San Luis Obispo, local 

LEIGH CRONIN sought to revamp her 

family’s Pismo Heights home with tasteful 

updates while maintaining its charm. 

80 

Taste 

Eager to stay in the know on all things culinary related, 

JAIME LEWIS ventures into three of the Central Coast’s 

teaching kitchens, where education meets palate 

pleasing experiences. 

66 

Real Estate 

Look no further for insight into the local 

housing market as we share the year-todate 

statistics of home sales for both the 

City and the County of San Luis Obispo. 


88 

90 

92 

94 

Kitchen 

If the recent sunshine and warmer weather have left 

you searching for the fresh crispness of a spring salad, 

take a peek at this latest Asian-inspired recipe from 

CHEF JESSIE RIVAS. 

Wine Notes 

With an extensive education and passion for winemaking, 

ANDRIA MCGHEE offers her insight and expertise into 

the journey that precedes every single glass. 

Brew 

The vegan movement doesn’t apply to food alone, and 

BRANT MYERS has the surprising answers to what goes 

into producing a socially conscious beer. 

Happenings 

Looking for something to do? We’ve got you covered. 

Check out the calendar to discover the best events 

around the Central Coast in April and May.


| PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 

Small World 

Last month, my youngest, Harrison, turned nine years old. And he took the opportunity to remind my wife 

and me, again, that unlike his big brother and sister, he had never been to Disneyland. 

He had a point, and if we were ever going to do it, now was the time. Another year, and he would likely lose 

interest. So, that night we studied our calendars searching for a window between dance rehearsal, water polo, 

and baseball practice. As it turned out, the only available date for the foreseeable future was the very next day. 

With five tickets in the shopping cart, and my pointer hovering over “Purchase,” I swallowed hard reviewing 

the total when I heard the “click.” 

It had been at least ten years since my last trip to the Magic Kingdom. But, the place never really changes. 

Sure, there were new attractions, new rides, but mostly it was just as I remembered it. In our effort to 

squeeze as much family fun into one day as was humanly possible, we obediently stood in one line after 

another as we careened from Adventureland to Toontown with expert precision. First, it was Pirates of the 

Caribbean, then Thunder Mountain, next the Matterhorn, after that was Space Mountain. But, there was 

one ride that stuck with me. 

As we waited our turn to set sail into the Small World, I told my kids about one of my roommates in college who claimed to have suffered PTSD 

from the ride. When he was a little kid, I shared in the same hushed tone and pacing of a spooky campfire ghost story, the ride broke down and he was 

shipwrecked for seven-and-a-half hours. The repetitive animatronic refrain It’s a small world after all drove him to the brink of madness, requiring years 

of counseling and medication. While kernels of the story were true, they did not buy my embellishment. But, I did get some laughs when I told them 

about my high school buddy who landed himself in Disney Jail after disembarking the ship and moonwalking around the Japanese area of the exhibit. 

It was Grad Nite, two-thirty in the morning with 100,000 other 17-year-olds. Who would have thought that security was watching? They were. 

Maybe I’m getting old, or perhaps delirious from the long day at the park; it could have been the overcooked burger I ate in Tomorrowland for lunch, 

but something got to me. As we cruised around the world, serenaded over, and over, and over again by a variety of Disneyfied ethnic groups, my mind 

bounced between two thoughts: One, those robots will someday kill us—technological singularity, the theory postulating that our machines will 

eventually become smarter than people and ultimately take us out, is probably right. And, two, I think I finally get it. 

Without question, there is some crazier-than-usual stuff going on lately—the first thing I do each morning these days is log on to the “Failing” 

New York Times website to find out if we have launched our nukes—and for the first time I recognize the problem: adults. We are born into this life 

prewired to learn, and grow, and love, but for so many of us that gets lost along the way like a pair of oversized mouse ears on Splash Mountain. Our 

natural childhood curiosity and wonderment is replaced too often with suspicion and fear. A tendency to connect, to cooperate, to collaborate, for a lot 

of us, is trumped by a life of isolation and xenophobia. It’s a world of hopes and a world of fears. Abundance becomes scarcity. Why? 

Okay, I realize that I may have lost you by now. You’re probably thinking, “This guy drank some weird Kool-Aid down there in Anaheim.” Stick with 

me, hear me out: If it weren’t for us adults modeling for our kids otherwise, the wedges between people would probably melt away within a generation. 

Let’s be honest, Small World is probably the worst ride at Disneyland. Still, as corny as it is, there is that message that cannot be ignored: There’s so much 

that we share that it’s time we’re aware. But, perhaps we adults are too far gone and need some other thing to unite us. As the saying goes, “The enemy of 

my enemy is my friend,” like when the United States and Russia buddied up to fight back Hitler. Maybe we do need technological singularity—where 

our electronics attempt to enslave us—maybe going to war with the Small World Animatronic Army would be the thing to bring us together. And, after 

a full day at Disneyland, you can count me in. 

I would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to everyone who has had a hand in producing this issue of SLO LIFE Magazine and, most of all, 

to our advertisers and subscribers—we couldn’t do it without you. 

Live the SLO Life! 

Tom Franciskovich 

tom@slolifemagazine.com 


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CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

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Dawn Janke 

Jaime Lewis 

Andria McGhee 

Brant Myers 

Jessie Rivas 

Beautiful Design 

with Inclusivity in Mind 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Brady Cabe 

Gina Cinardo 

Vanessa Plakias 

Melody Shirazi 

CONTRIBUTIONS 

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Letters chosen for publication may be edited for clarity and space limitations.


| ON THE COVER 

A SNEAK PEEK 

BEHIND the scenes 

WITH KATHY CALLAHAN 

BY VANESSA PLAKIAS 

When I got to her house, 

Kathy was putting on 

her signature red lipstick, 

which goes with her red 

shoes. I noticed throughout 

her home that red was 

her signature accent color. 

There was always a splash 

of red somewhere. In her 

kitchen it was her red 

Kitchen Aid mixer. 

Her sons Jude and Noah were there; such nice boys. 

I was able to get some shots of Jude shooting the 

basketball. He’s a really a good player. I’ll be able to say 

someday, “Hey, I knew him way back when.” 

When we were done, I 

asked her to change back 

into her normal street 

clothes and we did a few 

more shots, just to capture 

her in her everyday mode. 

Real Kathy. SLO LIFE 

I met Dobby—the kids named him, it comes 

from Harry Potter—who they had just adopted. 

The other dog is Indie from Indiana Jones. 


Baby Friendly 

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for New & Expecting Families 

May 19, 2018 

10am–3pm 

1010 Murray Avenue, San Luis Obispo 

Nursing Nook • Car Seat Checks • Baby CPR • Raffles • Birth Center Tours • Local Birthing Resources • Kids Play Area 

Meet local birth & baby professionals who can help you navigate the journeys of 

pregnancy and parenting! Gain access to important local resources and businesses 

available to you and your growing family. Meet physicians, doulas, midwives, massage 

therapists, photographers, lactation consultants, childbirth educators and more! 

SierraVistaBirthCenter.com Tour Our Birth Center: (844) 367-0832 

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On-Site 

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H&M brings affordable womens, mens and kids 

fashion to Monterey Street. 

MONTEREY STREET COUR T STREET DOWNTOWN CENTRE 


H&M Kids is decked out in all the colors of spring. 


| IN BOX 

Take us with you! 

Hey, SLO LIFE readers: Send us your photos the next time you’re relaxing in town or traveling 

far and away with your copy of the magazine. Email us at info@slolifemagazine.com 

KOH SAMUI, THAILAND 

FRENCH POLYNESIA 

PAUL and MELISSA WHITE 

APRIL and JACOB DEAN 

TERRY and STEPHANIE CONNER traveled to 

French Polynesia (Tahiti) to celebrate our Golden 

Wedding Anniversary. We took the wonderful 

SLO Life Magazine along with us! 

RAJASTHAN, INDIA 

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA 

Celebrating wedding anniversaries at the Ngala Safari 

Lodge, BOB and LAURIE NEUMANN (46 years) with 

CHRIS and ANN SLATE (25 years). 

JAN MARX at Ranthombore wild tiger 

nature preserve. 


SAN FRANCISCO 

Members of the SLO Newcomers Shop Till You Drop 

and Boomin Bloomers group took on San Francisco for 

“Galentine’s Day” but did not forget to take a moment 

at Filoli Gardens with SLO Life Magazine. 

INDIAN OCEAN 

TOM and SHARON RIPPNER aboard a dive liveaboard in the 

Indian Ocean among the Maldives. 


| IN BOX 

You showed us... 

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 

VENICE, ITALY 

JULIE and BILL KALENIAN enjoying a chilly day 

in Venice. 

ERICA, SHELLY, and MIKE LOPEMAN 

enjoying the Warriors’ Win! 

SAYULITO, MEXICO 

PANAMA CANAL 

JEFF and ALMA MCCLINTOCK 

The weather was perfect, the people warm and 

friendly and Panama exceeded our expectations. 

The Panama Canal is an engineering wonder. 

NONI SMYTH, SUSAN SAVAGE, KINDLE SMYTH, 

CHARLENE IRWIN, KAREN WOOD and CINDY MCCOY 

took SLO Life Magazine to Sayulito, Mexico as we 

feasted on fish tacos and sipped margaritas—ole! 


HAVE A SLO SUMMER. 

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| IN BOX 

We heard you... 

Life-Enriching Independent & Assisted Living 

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Truthfully… 

the staff are all delightful. 

Oscar, our Activities Director, 

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I can always depend on the 

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Glo Ensberg, resident 

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Southern California 

Activities Professional 

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“ 

SLOm a g a z i n e 

LOCAL 

TASTE 

CENTRA 

COAST 

REAL 

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slolifemagazine.com 

FEB/MAR 2 018 

LIFE 

BEHIND THE 

SCENES 

SEASONAL 

BREWING 

BRIEFS 

HEALTH 

TRENDS 

NOW 

HEAR 

THIS 

MEET 

RUSHDI CADER 

ALTRUISM, ADVOCACY 

& PROMOTING PEACE 

For the past 13 years, I have 

been fortunate and honored 

to work with one of the great 

humanitarians of our time, 

Dr. Rushdi Abdul-Cader. 

SLO Life Magazine has had 

many interesting cover 

subjects since its inception, 

but none more worthy. 

— RON YUKELSON 

Correction: 

| LEGACY 

NORTH 

STAR 

This academic school year marks the end of an era at 

Cuesta College as GIL STORK, an institution within the 

institution, after 51 years, calls it a career. 

In the article, North Star, from 

the last issue we incorrectly 

noted that Gil Stork, the 

outgoing president of Cuesta 

College, had previously retired 

as president. Actually, he was a 

vice president when he stepped 

down from administration 

before returning as president. 

BY TOM FRANCISKOVICH 

When Gil Stork woke up on the runway 

he rubbed his tongue across his teeth to 

discover some of them were broken. His 

first thought was, “My mom is going to 

kill me!” She had always warned him 

that he would get his teeth knocked out 

playing football. Turned out she was 

right, in a way. With his legs and back 

throbbing in pain, consciousness slowly returning, he could begin to see 

what appeared to be flames flickering through the dense fog. The next thing 

he remembers was someone running up, standing over him and shouting, 

“There’s another one over here!” 

Forever tied to San Luis Obispo’s most tragic event, the Cal Poly Football 

team airplane crash of October 29, 1960, it took Stork many years to reconcile 

the events of that night, just outside of Toledo, Ohio, which claimed the lives 

of 22 of the 48 aboard. Why did they over-pack the plane? Why did they 

attempt a takeoff in that soupy fog? What caused the left engine to fail? Why 

did I switch seats? Why did I survive? It should have been me. 

Guilt, confusion, and anger followed—years of processing. Constantly 

replaying the events of that night, bargaining in prayer with a higher power 

for a somehow different result. The question, “Why am I here, but he’s not?” 

played in an endless loop, over and over again in the mind of the young 

offensive lineman. 

Rising out of mourning is a gradual process, and sometimes it never 

happens. Once in a while a good day comes along, sometimes followed by 

another. When a string of them link up into a long chain, it can be said 

that someone has finally “turned the corner.” For Stork, the up and down 

struggle to return to normal took hold six years later when his first child 

was born. Going through that experience—“witnessing the miracle of 

life”—shifted his perspective in an instant and changed his thinking from 

questioning why the crash had happened to pondering the significance 

of it. As he settled in with his wife and their baby, a new question arose: >> 

44 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2018 

Discover for Yourself! 

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Call 805.225.9360 

475 March Street, San Luis Obispo 

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Please send your photos and comments to info@slolifemagazine.com 

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Letters may be edited for content and clarity. To be considered for publication your letter should 

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| BRIEFS 

$551,000 

The current budget deficit at Cuesta 

College, which comes as a result of 

declining enrollment and mandated 

spending. The shortfall may grow as the 

faculty union there is in the process of 

negotiating a 4% pay increase over the 

next two years. 

“People 

Died, Ian 

Lied” 

Multiple signs spotted at a protest 

following The Tribune’s release of chilling 

video footage documenting the final 

hours of local inmate Andrew Holland’s 

life, in which Sheriff Ian Parkinson, 

who is currently running for re-election, 

had falsely claimed Holland was “found 

unconscious and unresponsive” and was 

“under the continual care of a physician.” 

We’re 

Number 

50! 

U.S. News & World Report published a study 

completed by McKinsey & Company that 

ranked California dead last in quality of life. 

In a survey completed by more than 30,000 

people, the state fared poorly in categories 

such as voter participation, community 

engagement, and social support. Coming in 

first place was North Dakota followed by 

Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and 

South Dakota. 


“Lots of eyes on 

them, which keeps 

them safer.” 

San Luis Obispo City Councilmember 

Carlyn Christianson expressing her 

opinion that potential recreational 

marijuana retailers in town should be 

placed in visible locations near crossroads. 

“Thanks but no thanks 

for your stupid letter.” 

Supervisor Adam Hill in a Facebook 

message to a Pismo Beach constituent that 

continued, “Now? F--- off. All talk, no 

balls.” Following the incident, Hill took 

a brief leave of absence citing his lifelong 

struggle with depression and the need to 

get himself in better shape “emotionally 

and physically.” 

“Oh, my 

God—it’s 

Vanna 

White!” 

Atascadero resident and Cal Poly graduate, 

Kelly Wilson, gushed before appearing on 

the game show Wheel of Fortune after 

applying “six or seven times” since she was 

a student at Cal Poly. It was a big week for 

SLO County, as Paso Robles retiree Barbara 

McGregor also took her turn at the wheel. 

“Well, guess what? 

Merry Christmas.” 

Jamila Haseeb, arguing in favor of later 

hours for a proposed adventure-themed 

“escape room” on Marsh Street, observing 

during the public comments segment of a 

San Luis Obispo City Council meeting that 

people always say there are “too many bars in 

the downtown, too many restaurants.” 

“It is the 

long-standing 

legal policy for every 

jail death to be 

investigated by Sheriff 

Coroner detectives, 

not the District 

Attorney’s office.” 

District Attorney Dan Dow penned a memo 

rationalizing why he is not investigating 

the death of Andrew Holland, explaining 

further that it would be “inappropriate for 

me to comment on the details of the case” as 

the FBI is investigating the matter. 

$3.23 

The cost of a pack of ten tampons that the 

SLO County Jail charges its female inmates 

in a clear violation of their civil rights, a new 

lawsuit against the sheriff ’s office alleges. 

Mismanagement was also uncovered at 

the SLO County Jail last year by a Grand 

Jury, which found several infractions 

that followed a 2016 inspection that also 

uncovered seven violations. 

“I just got off the 

phone with your 

mom and she 

wants you to have 

fun and be safe 

this weekend!” 

San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon 

posted on her Facebook page on the eve of 

St. Patrick’s Day where she shared a flyer 

created by the city with the title “Selfies Not 

Mugshots” encouraging young people to be 

smart while celebrating. SLO LIFE

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| TIMELINE 

Around the County 

2/4 

The San Luis Obispo City Council whiplashed back-andforth 

on a series of decisions concerning the controversial 

bike boulevard proposed for Broad and Chorro Streets in the 

Anholm District. After an intense four-hour discussion involving 

energetic pushback from some residents in the area, the council 

unanimously agreed (Councilmember Carlyn Christianson was 

absent) to a compromise, which would involve a scaled down 

version of the plan while keeping parking spaces in place. Twoand-a-half 

weeks later, Councilman Dan Rivoire stated that after 

further consideration, the traffic-calming measures did not go far 

enough. The council then voted again, this time 4-1, with Andy 

Pease opposing, to reconsider a proposal from an earlier plan that 

would reroute cars with traffic diverters on Broad Street between 

Meinecke and Lincoln streets. Some residents cried foul and 

accused the council of moving forward without proper public 

notification and transparency. 

FEBRUARY ’18 

2/6 

Twice, Supervisor Bruce Gibson proposed the SLO County 

Board of Supervisors write a resolution as a public comment 

to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to signify its 

opposition to the Trump administration’s plan to open up 90% 

of the nation’s offshore oil and gas reserves—including right here 

on the Central Coast—to oil and gas exploration. Both times, 

Gibson failed to secure a second vote, as Adam Hill was out sick, 

John Peschong had recused himself because his firm had accepted 

money from oil companies, and Debbie Arnold and Lynn 

Compton failed to support the motion. 

2/17 

Andy Mangano, the developer behind the 720-home project near the SLO 

Airport known as Avila Ranch, settled a lawsuit with two local groups—an 

advocacy group called Preserve the SLO Life and a nearby neighborhood 

association, Los Verdes I and II—for $678,000. The funds were earmarked 

for a variety of projects intended to mitigate the groups’ concerns about 

traffic, noise, and flooding impacts. The city of San Luis Obispo, which 

was named in the suit, had no financial obligations in the settlement, 

but will play a monitoring role going forward. Engineering for the new 

neighborhood is currently underway and construction is expected to begin 

next year with the first phase of homes forecasted to be available for movein 

between 2020 and 2022. 

2/8 

After two photographs emerged showing that a member of the 

SLO High School boys soccer team was concurrently playing in 

a Paso Robles men’s league, the team—one of the top-ranked in 

the state—was forced to forfeit ten of its wins, which removed 

them from playoff contention. Although it was later determined 

that three other teammates also played in the men’s league, SLO 

High Principal Leslie O’Connor argued unsuccessfully that 

had the photos been turned over immediately by the Arroyo 

Grande High School athletic director, rather than waiting for 

what appeared to be a competitive advantage a week later, then 

the school would have suspended the players, but kept two 

additional wins allowing the team to enter the playoffs. The 

league denied the appeal. 

2/23 

Shockwaves were felt throughout the Central Coast when news surfaced 

that a local developer was planning a massive 15,000-home city in an area 

near the Diablo Canyon Power Plant known as Wild Cherry Canyon. 

The development, on untouched pristine oak-studded hillside land, would 

be accessible only through Avila Beach, an already heavily trafficked area, 

and would sprout a city one-and-a-half times the size of Grover Beach. In 

an email to Tom Blessant, a manager with HomeFed Corp. of Carlsbad, 

developer Denis Sullivan said, “Think we can get a deal with PG&E to 

get the fee (title). Think we should push forward a (sic) soon as possible.” 

For years, environmental groups have been working to protect the 2,400- 

acre area, at times coming close to achieving state park status, but the 

issue is expected to heat up as the nuclear power facility begins winding 

down its operations. 


3/3 

It was revealed that San Luis Obispo’s City Hall is considering asking 

its residents to approve a 1% sales tax increase to raise approximately 

$400 million over the next twenty years to pay for a variety of projects, 

including: redesigning and refurbishing Mission Plaza with a remodeled 

amphitheater, restroom, and new café; adding and expanding cross-town 

bicycle corridors; and building a new police station. It is estimated that 

the new tax would generate about $15 million per year initially, and city 

officials point to a 2014 study they commissioned showing that 70% of 

the tax is paid for by visitors. San Luis Obispo’s budget is forecasted 

to veer heavily into the red—there is an $8.9 million annual shortfall 

expected over the next few years—as the city grapples with an unfunded 

pension liability of about $148 million. 

3/6 

In an unexpected development, a plea deal was reached with John 

Wallace, 73, on the second day of his preliminary hearing for two 

felony conflict-of-interest charges and four misdemeanor counts of 

public official interference, related to his tenure as the head of the 

South County Sanitation District and the Avila Beach Community 

Service District, where he was accused of unlawfully funneling millions 

of dollars of contracts to his company, The Wallace Group. Under 

the terms of the agreement, Wallace was required to pay $59,724 

in restitution in exchange for pleading guilty to a pair of lesser 

misdemeanor charges with the stipulation that his conviction does not 

admit to fraud, deceit, or recklessness, which would have affected his 

professional licenses. 

MARCH ’18 

3/14 

High school students around the Central Coast joined a national walkout 

protest, advocating for gun control on the one-month anniversary of the 

shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida where 

17 people were killed and 15 others were injured. While most students 

locally were allowed 17 minutes to demonstrate, students at Paso Robles 

High School initially were prohibited from joining the walkout that day, 

but later administrators opted for changing the schedule to allow for a 

longer morning break. Meanwhile, schools in Atascadero were locked 

down during the 17-minute protest because one of its students had 

threatened to “shoot up” the high school on social media. 

3/16 

San Luis Obispo County received national media attention 

after The Tribune published a bombshell investigative report 

indicating that Sheriff Ian Parkinson had lied about the 

County Jail’s treatment of a local inmate, Andrew Holland, 

who died of a pulmonary embolism when a blood clot 

formed in his leg and traveled to his lung. The newspaper 

simultaneously released a surveillance video showing Holland 

struggling to breathe after finally being released from his 

restraint chair where he sat in his own waste for 46 hours. 

While medics attempted to resuscitate Holland, a couple of 

guards appeared to be smiling and laughing. As seen in the 

video, contrary to Parkinson’s claims, Holland was not “found 

unconscious and unresponsive” and was not “under the 

continual care of a physician.” Despite calls for the San Luis 

Obispo District Attorney to investigate, Dan Dow declined. 

Since 2012, deaths at the SLO County Jail are three times 

the national average. Last month, a sheriff in Oklahoma was 

charged with first-degree manslaughter for a similar incident 

involving a restraint chair. 

3/21 

Following the announcement that the San Luis Obispo Air 

Pollution Control District (APCD) and State Parks had 

proposed a settlement agreement to reduce dust emissions 

from the Oceano Dunes by 30% over five years, a hearing 

board nixed the plan. After an extensive public comments 

session, board member William Johnson summarized the 

majority opinion when he said that the agreement was 

“vague in a number of areas and not as fully protective of 

public health as it needs to be.” The hearing board then 

ordered State Parks, the agency that oversees the off-road 

riding area in the Oceano Dunes, and APCD to come back 

by April 30th with a settlement agreement that reduces 

emissions by 50%. If a settlement is not reached, then a 

nuisance trial will proceed where State Parks will have to 

defend itself against accusations that ATVs are causing a 

public nuisance, potentially closing the park to off-road vehicles. 

The air quality on the Nipomo Mesa is often the worst in the 

country, and air monitors showed that it was in violation of 

California health standards 98 days last year. SLO LIFE 


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| VIEW 

INTO THE 

UNKNOWN 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRADY CABE 

As a young father, Brady Cabe knows a thing or two about sleepless 

nights. But, it is an all-nighter in August that he looks forward to 

year-round. After tucking his kids into bed, and kissing his wife 

goodnight, he hops into the car and heads north, then east, until the 

only thing heard is the whisper of the owl’s flight overhead. 

The Perseids meteor shower is a big-time event. The Super Bowl for 

stargazers. And there is no better place to take in the show locally 

than from some oak-studded field a few paces off of Shell Creek 

Road, an offshoot of Highway 58, nowhere in particular outside of 

Santa Margarita. Almost completely without urban light pollution, 

the skies are deep dark, bringing the cosmos within reach. 

Photographic inspiration hit Cabe in the most unusual way: surfing. 

More specifically, it crept up on him during the days when the swells 

failed to appear. As he would sit on his board, waiting for a set to 

roll in, not far from his Grover Beach home, he started to notice 

something during those early mornings. The light. Each day it was 

a little bit different, but always trying to tell a story. He started to 

tune in, listen with his eyes. It was not long before he became more 

interested in the flat days with dramatic light than he was when south 

swells were pounding the beach break. “It finally occurred to me,” is 

how he remembers it, “that I ought to try to take a few pictures with 

my phone.” And, so it began. 

One thing led to another, which is how Cabe found himself all alone, 

at 3 o’clock in the morning in one of the most uninhabited corners of 

San Luis Obispo County. As he tromped around the uneven terrain, 

he searched for a foreground subject—something immovable, and 

timeless, something that deserved to share the stage with the heavens 

above. In the distance, he saw the silhouette and knew he found it. 

Carefully, he mounted his Canon 6D to the tripod below the elderly 

oak, and began capturing the light. Every 30 seconds curious creatures 

of the night could hear the sound of the shutter with its clunky click. 

The composition you see here, called a star trail, is actually an 

amalgamation of approximately 60 photos taken over the course of a 

half-hour or so. Initially, Cabe was disappointed with the result. He 

had hoped to shoot a meteor, which would have been represented 

in the print as a thin, white streak across the canvas, but they were 

not cooperating. By training his focus on the North Star, the one 

stationary point in the sky, the kaleidoscope effect is created by the 

Earth’s rotation. It’s not really the stars that move—it’s us. And Cabe 

was there that night as an intergalactic translator of sorts, attempting 

to discern the story of their ancient light, while the little blue-green 

marble he found himself standing on continued to hurtle through 

space, into the unknown. SLO LIFE 



| Q&A 

BOARDROOM TO BOARDWALK 

The San Luis Obispo County Visitors & Conference Bureau is on the move after 

rebranding itself with a new name—SLO CAL—and a new $4 million annual 

budget, which comes as a result of its recently created marketing assessment that 

charges guests at local hotels a 1% fee designated for promoting the county to 

tourists. And, if one thing is for certain, CHUCK DAVISON, the organization’s chief 

executive, practices what he preaches, as six years ago he walked away from a 

lucrative corporate life to move his family to Pismo Beach. Recently, he stopped by 

to talk about his transition from boardroom to boardwalk, his views on diversity, his 

faith, and what to do about Diablo Canyon. Here is some of what he had to say... 

Tell us, Chuck, where are you from? I was born 

and raised in Las Vegas. My family has been there 

about 85 years. My great-grandfather moved out 

there to be a foreman at Boulder Dam, which 

became Hoover Dam. I spent the first half of my 

career working in the gaming industry, casinos. 

Then I ran four properties for Carl Icahn. Loved 

Vegas, still do; lived there a long time. Spent the 

last five years there in corporate America as the 

General Manager of North America for Expedia. 

I was traveling 28 days per month. 

So, how did you end up here? In 2006, my wife 

and I came to Pismo Beach for the first time for 

a vacation. I remember sitting on the patio with 

a glass of wine looking at the ocean and saying, 

“Who are these people that get to live here? 

Because this is the best of California—no people, 

no smog, no traffic.” So, six years ago, when I was 

40, I said to my wife, “What if we just moved to 

Pismo Beach?” We didn’t know one person, didn’t 

have a job. Had no idea how we were going to 

do it. We decided we’d figure it out. It was the 

hardest two years of my life. Trying to become 

relevant in this county when you’re not third 

generation, didn’t go to Cal Poly, didn’t move 

here for a job, is a tough thing. We drained tons 

of savings. I had plenty of opportunities to do 

consulting, which would have meant traveling 

again, but the idea was that I wanted to spend 

time with my family—be a dad. 

Tell us about your family. I’m married and have 

four girls. We’re born again Christians. We always 

grew up going to church. My wife’s father was a 

pastor. In a world today that seems so challenged, 

it’s what drives us and helps us get through. We 

love the fact that we live in a community where 

not everybody thinks the same way as us. That’s 

awesome. I think that the ability to be able to sit 

down with somebody, across the table, even when 

you think about things differently, and have a 

conversation like you and I are doing now; rather 

than what is taking place in the world today 

where, because your faith doesn’t line up with 

mine or your political viewpoint doesn’t line up 

with mine, we can’t even be friends? We’re trying 

to raise our kids in an environment where, hey, 

not everybody thinks the same, but we should 

love everybody the exact same way as God loves 

us. So, yes, it’s a big part of our life. And trying to 

be better tomorrow than we were today is a big 

thing for us. 

Let’s talk business. What challenges do we 

face? Looking ahead with all of the things we 

need to do to be successful, particularly with the 

closure of Diablo Canyon, we just cannot produce 

enough homegrown talent in this market. We 

have to import people, there’s no way around 

it. Our county does a really good job of being 

friendly on the surface, but the ability to go 

deeper in a relationship can be challenging if you 

are not in that circle already. We’ve got to do a 

better job as a community of embracing those 

people, embracing diversity. And, the people that 

we need to move into this county don’t necessarily 

look like us. Quite frankly, one of the hardest 

things for us, when we took our daughters to 

Shell Beach Elementary for their first day of 

school after we moved here from Las Vegas was 

finding that 99.9% of the kids there were white. 

We said, “What in the world is this? Where’s 

everybody else? Where’s the rest of the world?” 

What does tourism mean to us locally? It’s 

the number one economic driver in the county 

outside of agriculture. And, I would argue that if 

you removed wine from ag and put it in tourism, 

ag wouldn’t even be a close second. Overall, 

tourism was worth $1.59 billion last year. It’s huge. 

Over 18,000 jobs here are tied to tourism and 

hospitality—that’s one out of every eight jobs. In a 

county with less than 300,000 people, we wouldn’t 

have so many of our great restaurants, and wineries, 

and activities without tourists. We just don’t have 

the population to support it. But, we get to enjoy 

all of these amazing assets because we have a 

tourism community that helps carry the weight. 

But, for me, ultimately it’s about protecting and 

improving the quality of life for people who live in 

San Luis Obispo County. So, how do we make sure 

that we continue to create opportunity, and growth, 

and financial responsibility in the market; and, how 

do we do it in a way that protects the culture, and 

the history, and the environment, and the quality 

of life that all of us have come to love and is the 

reason we call this place home. SLO LIFE 


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| NOW HEAR THIS 

THE TIPSY GYPSIES 

It’s sometimes surprising to hear our favorite artists reveal that they don’t watch their movies or 

listen to their albums once they’re released. For The Tipsy Gypsies’ vocalist Hilary Langdon, it isn’t 

that she doesn’t like the songs she’s sung; it’s difficult for her to listen to the early albums she 

recorded with guitarist Forrestt Williams and the rest of their Central Coast ensemble because her 

voice has changed so much over the past ten years. 

BY DAWN JANKE 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELODY SHIRAZI 

To check out The Tipsy Gypsies and learn about their 

upcoming performances, go to thetipsygypsies.com 


angdon’s voice isn’t the 

only thing that has 

changed for The Tipsy 

Gypsies. Originally 

as a quintet, the band 

performed in a gypsyjazz 

style with acoustic 

string instruments and 

La sound influenced by 

French guitar virtuoso Django Reinhardt. With its 

evolution from gypsy-jazz to soul rock, The Tipsy 

Gypsies’ style has changed drastically, and Langdon 

and Williams are excited to explore where this new 

sound will take them. 

Performing together since 2007, Langdon and 

Williams have shared the stage with a number 

of “top-notch musicians,” as Williams says, and 

while the musical line-up has evolved, Langdon 

and Williams remain The Tipsy Gypsies’ primary 

songwriters. Langdon, a Sacramento native and 

Cal Poly graduate, explains, “Forrestt and I get 

a foundation together, and then everyone else 

does their own voicing for their part in the song.” 

Williams adds, “It’s worked for so long because we 

all listen to each other, and we welcome each other’s 

feedback.” Langdon continues,“We have mutual 

respect and admiration for one another,” 

It’s clear that Langdon and Williams value 

the sound each musician brings to the group. 

Williams says, for example, that he’s a big fan of 

Daryl VanDruff ’s drumming and wants to hear 

him perform whenever he can. Williams also is 

quick to point out that bassist Brian Lanzone 

and saxophonist/clarinetist Laura Foxx have 

musical degrees and “bring that talent to each 

composition.” Langdon shares, “They know 

when to play and when to leave space—a lot of 

musicians try to fill space, and they’re helping us 

reign that in. Everyone is really talented.” And 

vocalist Reese Galido agrees, “The mutual respect 

for each member’s expertise lends itself to some 

seriously great musical expression.” 

In terms of musical expression, Langdon credits 

the band’s newest member, Foxx, with imparting 

a totally different vibe to the group. “It’s very new, 

and it’s really good,” she says. “We definitely like 

where it’s going,” Williams adds. “We’re getting 

funkier, with more R&B and soul coming through.” 

Foxx says everyone has been really supportive as she’s learned the songs: 

“They encourage me to add some of my own style through sax/clarinet lines 

and solos and equally to develop lines for the new songs that we’re currently 

working on.” 

With the addition of Foxx, “It’s now three women and three men, so 

the dynamic has changed, too,” says Langdon. “And, of course, all the 

musicians in the group influence the sound,” adds Williams. One key 

shift in that sound is from violin to horns. “The violin was keeping us 

tied to our gypsy jazz roots, and now we’re able to embrace the tonalities 

that we’re currently into,” says Williams, a Morro Bay native and multiinstrumentalist, 

who explains that the change in the band’s sound has 

been a natural evolution. 

Langdon and Williams celebrate the band’s evolution as they muse about 

the recording process of each album and agree that, even if it’s hard for 

Langdon to listen to songs from the past, they’re both really proud of their 

work. And it’s their most recent release, “Waiting,” to which they clink 

glasses and toast to success. “‘Waiting’ definitely speaks to our sound and is 

the most polished of our three albums, many thanks to Damon Castillo,” 

says Williams. Langdon chimes in, “Damon took his time with each track,” 

and Williams continues: “We came to him with all the recorded tracks, and 

he mixed the album, but he was almost like a co-producer because of the 

level of work he put into it. He sprinkled that album with his magic.” 

Listeners agreed that “Waiting” was magical. At last year’s New Times 

Music Awards, The Tipsy Gypsies took home four wins. Their single, 

“Drought,” won in the best songwriter category; their single, “Waiting,” won 

in the best R&B/Blues category; and the band won best album and best 

live performance. “It was a fun event, and it was especially cool to win the 

best songwriter category because Forrestt’s wife [Sharaya Olmeda] wrote 

the lyrics to that one,” says Langdon. “She gave me a poem to write music 

to; it was “Drought,” and it won.” Williams says the award is a testament to 

Olmeda’s writing, “She is an amazing poet.” 

As a result of their awards, The Tipsy Gypsies have some recording time at 

The Sauce Pot Studios and reveal that something 

is in the works. Langdon says, “Making music 

as the Tipsy Gypsies continues to be a fun, 

collaborative process.” Williams adds, “We have 

a couple of new original songs that we are really 

excited about.” 

They’re also excited to continue sharing their 

music with fans in SLO County. Whether it’s 

the ocean or the mountains, both Langdon and 

Williams agree that there is a something about 

this place. “It’s like we’ve all just converged,” says 

Williams, “and there’s a disproportionately high 

level of musical talent in our community that 

we’re thrilled to be a part of.” SLO LIFE 

DAWN JANKE, Director, 

University Writing & Rhetoric 

Center Cal Poly, keeps her 

pulse on the Central Coast 

music scene. 


| ON THE RISE 

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT 

Sean Scarry 

Standing at six feet seven inches, 

seventeen-year-old Mission College Preparatory 

Catholic High School senior SEAN SCARRY 

charges through life with the same tenacity he 

dedicates to the basketball court. 

What sort of extracurricular activities are you involved in? I play basketball, 

and have been class president and vice president the past two years. I fundraise for 

two orphanages in Livingstone, Zambia; one for girls who were sexually abused 

by family, and one for kids whose parents have been arrested or have passed away. 

We built a basketball court when we were there because their hoop had been 

destroyed. We started a karate program to teach discipline, provide a strong role 

model, and give the kids a sense of pride in competing for their orphanage in 

tournaments across the country. 

What is important to you outside of high school? I enjoy helping my community 

and my family and friends are extremely important to me. 

Aside from playing basketball, what do you like to do for fun? I like to 

wakeboard and scuba dive. 

What has influenced you the most ? My parents have shown me that when 

you focus and work hard, you can accomplish anything. They also taught me to 

be accepting of all people and treat everyone with respect. My travels have also 

influenced me tremendously. Seeing different cultures and meeting different 

people has enabled me to have a better understanding of the world. 

If you could go back in history and meet anyone, who would it be? I would meet 

my mom’s dad. Unfortunately, my grandpa died before I was born and I have 

always been sad that I never got to grow up with him in my life, so I would take 

advantage of the opportunity to get to know my grandpa first-hand. 

What is your favorite memory of all time? Beating St. Bernard in CIF this year. 

If you won $1 million, what would you do with it? I would use it to rebuild 

Lubasi and Dani’s home, the two orphanages we have been working with and 

make it a safer, more comfortable environment. 

What career do you see yourself in someday? Construction and real estate 

development. 

What are you looking forward to most? I am extremely excited for the next part 

of my life. I am looking forward to bettering myself and my athletic performance 

this coming year then continuing my education, starting a construction company, 

and starting a family. 

What’s on the horizon for you? I will be attending IMG Academy, a preparatory 

boarding school and sport training facility, next year. SLO LIFE 

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| MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR 

MINUTE 

OF JOY 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VANESSA PLAKIAS 

As the days grow longer and warmer around the Central Coast, San Luis Obispo resident 

KATHY CALLAHAN is beginning to swing into action with her retro ice cream business 

she calls SLO Mama Sweets. While the goal of spreading joy shares equal weight with 

turning a profit, the iconic 1954 Chevy freezer truck is doing both. From the outside looking 

in, it would be impossible to fully grasp the depth of her resilience. Here is her story… 




et’s start from the beginning, Kathy. 

Where are you from? I’m originally 

from Southern California, from the 

Los Angeles area. And so, I went 

to Cal Poly, like a million years ago. 

And I met my husband, actually we 

met right before I came up here, 

Land then we went to school together. He is from the Bay Area, and we 

graduated, and I said, “I don’t want to go back to L.A.” And he didn’t 

want to go to the Bay Area, so we did like most people at the time, 

because there was no industry here; we just tried to find anything we 

could do to stay in town because it’s such a great place. So, that’s kind 

of how it was. I was a political science major. My plan was originally to 

go to law school, but we said, “Let’s get married—let’s live in San Luis 

Obispo!” So, I ended up managing a swimwear company that was based 

in Los Angeles, but the manufacturer was here. And so I did that, and 

then I started my own business. 

What was the business? I started a children’s apparel manufacturing 

company with my sister. We went into production, I had sales reps 

around the country, and traveled all over the place. Back then, we didn’t 

have computers, you know. We ran everything on the phone, and used 

a Rolodex, landlines, and payphones. And so we had to travel around to 

see the showrooms. You had to actually physically go there because you 

couldn’t get much work done over the phone. My husband and I really 

wanted to start a family at this point. We had been married about a year, 

and I had this business started, it was getting going, which is when I was 

diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

Wow. I grew up in Glendale, and I played softball from the time I was in 

third grade through high school. And it turns out that the field sat on a 

toxic landfill. Shortly after I was diagnosed, I got a call from a guy I went 

to high school with. I was only 25, newly married. And he was like, “Did 

you know that there’s like 30 of us?” We were all diagnosed around the 

same time with Hodgkin’s. And there are only something like 8,000 cases of 

Hodgkin’s a year. The numbers for my school were just off the charts. So, the 

CDC [Center for Disease Control] came in and did a study and identified 

it as a cancer cluster—you know, the whole Erin Brokovich story—and they 

closed down the park. I cannot really pinpoint the toxins we were exposed 

to, but I’ve lost some of my friends who had the same thing that I did. I’m 

52 now and we are starting to see other cancers develop as we get older. You 

see different age groups go through each decade and something seems to 

crop up with the group of people that went through this. But when I was 

diagnosed, I mean, we were like babies, so young. 

What was the prognosis? I was end stage. It was everywhere but my brain 

and my bone marrow. It was completely systemic. So, yeah, it was a crazy 

situation. And when I look back, I think, “Oh, my gosh, how did I not see 

these symptoms?” But they don’t come on, like, you don’t have something 

growing from the top of your head. It comes on slowly. I just thought I 

had the flu. I thought I was catching every cold in the office, every flu. You 

know, when you’re 25, your brain doesn’t go there. So you think, I’ll tough 

it out. I just got married, and figured that I was just coming down from 

that experience, all the planning. I’m just stressed, whatever. Then things 

started getting worse. I had massive night sweats. Different things that 

were not normal, so I finally broke down and went to the doctor. I had a 

chronic cough, you know, and I was drinking bottles of cough syrup, and 

trying to help myself, and nothing would quell the cough. The doctor said, 

“Let’s do a chest X-ray to see if you have pneumonia. Let’s do a blood 

test.” So, the blood test came back that there was something wrong with 

my liver, so I’m thinking, “Oh, man, what could that be?” And she rattled 

off a long list of things that could be causing it, and sandwiched in there 

was, “malignant C-word.” 

Oh, man… So, I went home and then I get a phone call. They said, “You 

need to come in and see the doctor within the hour, and please bring your 

husband.” It was pretty alarming. The doctor sat us down and said, “You 

have a grapefruit-sized tumor in your heart. We have you scheduled for 

open heart surgery right now.” 

Seriously, that day? I think she thought I was going to kick the bucket, 

like, right then and there. And, of course I did not go to the hospital, I 

went home and called everyone I knew, my family, and told them what 

was going on. Then I heard that there was an experimental program up 

at Stanford and they wanted me right away because I was young and end 

stage. So, I went into treatment there, lived up there. I had some major 

complications and ended up going into an emergency room, up in the Bay 

Area, because I couldn’t make it to Stanford. I spent a week in intensive 

care where the doctor came in, and said, “This is it. There’s nothing more 

that can be done. I’m sorry. We need to call your family.” 

So, what did you do? I kind of fired that doctor. I very inappropriately 

kicked him out of the room, and called my doctors at Stanford. They said, 

“We’re breaking you out of that place.” They sent an ambulance for me 

to transport me back to Stanford. I spent a month in their ICU, their 

cancer ICU, which is like an isolation unit. And I got well. Well, sort of. 

And, then I finished the treatment. So, it was crazy. It was like, you know, 

just a really amazing journey that I even made it there. And with my 

business at the time, my manufacturing business, I went back into that 

once I recovered. We started making little girls hats so we would go up 

to Stanford to give them to the little girls who didn’t have hair because 

of their treatments. So, just part of that was keeping my hand in all of 

that, trying to, I don’t know, keep connected with the cancer community 

to some extent. So, we closed the business and we tried to have kids. And 

we knew that was going to be a huge, monumental hill to climb, because 

of all the chemo, and radiation, and surgeries, and things like that. So, we 

embarked on having kids anyway, which was a pretty interesting journey. 

Our three kids came to us very miraculously, each in different ways 

through different forms of adoption. 

Alright, what came next for you? So, I had quit my business, because my 

main focus was to stay at home with my kids, but I thought about what 

I could do out of my home. I began baking, and found I had a penchant 

for wedding cakes and baked goods. It just came naturally. So, I baked 

out of my home and did that for as many years as I could. But it became 

very taxing. You do your baking in the middle of the night, and I just, I 

couldn’t, my body couldn’t handle that anymore. So, I really was trying 

to wrap my brain around what I could do to contribute to our family. 

You know, we have three kids and college was looming for our oldest, 

and I needed to contribute. But, at the same time, I didn’t want to leave 

the kids because there was a huge motivation for me to be at home with 

them. You know, life changes, and you realize what the things are that are 

important. And, spending every second we can with the kids is important. 

So, I wracked my brain, asking myself, “What can I do that incorporates 

our kids?” Nothing was coming to me. Then we went on a family trip to 

D.C., and we marched those kids through every one of those museums >> 


and, I think it was like the seventh one, the American History Museum, 

I see this vintage Good Humor ice cream truck. It was on display as part 

of the museum. I saw it and immediately said, “This is what I’m doing!” 

You know, it was like being struck by lightning. I had never experienced 

anything like it in my life—it was just so clear, I could see it all. I could see 

the old uniforms—we were going to bring back something that was gone. 

So cool. That night at the hotel I started researching. Learning everything 

I could about Good Humor. My husband, Matt, thought I was nuts. 

For four months I looked into trucks, talked to everyone I could. I dove 

into the details of ice cream; put together a plan for doing a business. 

Finally, one day, Matt walked in and said, “This is it—this is the business 

for you!” It took him a little while to come around, but we were both on 

the same page. So, we started working together to find a truck, which is 

very hard to do. They are either rusted out and beyond repair, or they are 

family heirlooms that people do not want to part with. So, we ended up 

buying a 1954 Chevy. That is the year you want because of the grille; it’s 

all about the grille. It’s spectacular, so curvy, and gorgeous, and shiny. But, 

it wasn’t that way at first. It was a mess. We spent a couple of years doing 

restoration. It was a nightmare. 

Did you do the restoration yourselves? We did some ourselves, and we >> 


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Graham worked with us on the purchase of our first home. Graham was patient and always available to walk us through the 

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we look at it right away. This became our home and we are so thankful that Graham was on the lookout and made that call! 

– Jennifer and Alexis de Treglode 

graham @ ccreslo.com 

805.459.1865 | CalBRE #01873454 

www.ccreslo.com 

3196 South Higuera Suite D, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

” 


farmed different things out. There were about five different shops involved. 

And a couple of times, we almost gave up. We said, “What are we doing? 

Let’s just drive this thing off a cliff.” But we stuck with it. There were some 

really big high highs, and really low lows. Probably the lowest point, this 

was about five years ago now, was when we had a shop down in Southern 

California install a completely new brake system. We got it on the freeway 

and I had a complete brake failure. I exited at 126 and came to the first 

stoplight—nothing. The light was red, people were stopped, and I was 

pumping the brakes—absolutely nothing. I honked the horn—no sound. I 

pulled the emergency brake—not a thing. So, I’m scanning around trying 

to figure out what to do when I see a brand new road under construction 

off to the right. It’s blocked off, but there is a small opening through the 

orange cones. I crank the wheel and veer off onto it and just coast on it. 

Fortunately, it went slightly uphill so it slowed me down to the point 

where the truck finally came to a stop. Matt, who was following me, said, 

“What are you doing?” My head is spinning and all I can say is, “No 

brakes, no nothing.” 

But, everything turned out alright? Yes, luckily, everyone was okay; it’s a 

miracle that I didn’t hit anyone, and we were able to get the brakes fixed, but 

we missed our whole first season. Instead, we launched during the summer 

of the following year. We ended up having a wonderful first year. My kids 

and I do the business, and my husband moonlights when he is not working. 

Our vision was really to bring back something of the past that doesn’t exist 

anymore. We’re not curing cancer, but wherever we go, we bring so much joy. 

I love that. That’s what keeps me going. Driving around the neighborhoods, 

going to the soccer fields, or baseball fields, going downtown whenever I 

can. I have the permits for that. I try to go in front of the schools if I can. 

We’re doing a lot more vending opportunities at events, so we will reach 

out to people and say, “Hey, can we come to your event and just sell?” We 

also do corporate events, weddings, things that are pre-scheduled. We have 

incorporated some charity things that are important to us. In the first year, 

kind of across the board, just answering the call to whatever we could, and 

giving a portion of what we make to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

They helped us out when we were poor, and destitute, and dying, literally. So, 

we just said, “That’s how it’s going to be.” 

Let’s talk about your kids and their involvement. So, yes, that’s kind 

of been our journey; teaching our kids how to start a business, how to 

run the business. They get paid, but they’ve got to work. That’s the deal. 

They’ve been with us through everything. Through rebuilding the truck 

to forming an LLC. They had to come to that meeting, and see the 

paperwork. They were bored out of their minds. But, it’s important; it was 

a teaching process. So, they work the truck. Sometimes they are excited, 

sometimes they’re not. When I set the whole thing up, I said, “Okay, we’ve 

got to wear these uniforms.” So, the guys wear the white hats and the 

black bow ties, and come in the fifties uniform. At first, I thought that my 

kids were going to hate me. And then we did our first event. People went 

crazy. People were coming up with tears in their eyes, and it is usually a 

person of that era and they’ll say, “This was in my neighborhood as a kid.” 

You know, I think that has been the most surprising thing for me. I was 

trying to start a business with the kids, and be home with them, but what 

I’ve gotten back is huge, so much more than I anticipated. For just a few 

minutes that people come by, it’s like they’re transported to something. 

The kids don’t know that era, but they recognize that this is not typical. 

We play big band music, early 50’s music, and just try to fully live the 

experience right at the moment. 

What advice would you give to a young entrepreneur? Take a long hard 

look to see if it’s truly in your heart. Keep fighting, because when you hit >> 


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a wall, you will have to really examine, is this really what I want to do? 

And you have to be tenacious, and be able to keep fighting. I think that’s 

been the theme in my life anyway. We had to fight in life, just to be alive. I 

think you have to search your heart. Ask yourself if it is really in your heart 

to do this, and know that whatever obstacles pop up, you have to overcome 

them; and if it’s really deeply in your heart, you’ll find a way. And keep 

pushing forward because, I think the reward, in the end, is more on a 

personal level than a financial situation. And, for us, that has definitely 

been the case. You know, financially it’s been great. We’ve been able to 

make a business out of it. But, really, the goal was more than that. I think 

business?” You sort of reexamine things. Then, right about that time, you 

get a shred of something, some light, some feedback. Like recently, there 

was a guy who came up to the truck, and he had three little boys with him. 

He was just super into the truck, like, “Oh, wow, this is the greatest truck 

dah, dah, dah.” I asked him, “Would you guys like some ice cream?” He 

declined, mentioning that he was kind of having a hard time. I just said, 

“Here, what do you guys want?” I gave them ice cream and sat and talked 

with the guy. Then I received a letter. It was unbelievable, the guy went on 

and on about how much that meant to him, which was nothing. I mean, 

we gave them some free ice cream. What the heck; it was nothing. But he 

...because life is so much about connecting, and 

bringing just a minute of joy to somebody is huge. 

that if it’s something that is truly in your heart, and you’re pursuing it, 

you’ll be able to fight those fights, and you will be able to overcome those 

pitfalls to get where you want to be. 

Expand on that idea, if you would. There have been a few times when 

you think, “What are we doing? Why are we working so hard on this 

said, “I’ve been so down on my luck, and not being able to buy my kids an 

ice cream that day, and just bringing us into that experience, and talking to 

us, and, you know, what it did for my boys. You gave me a lift.” That’s what 

I treasure, and I always share those sorts of things with my kids. I want 

them to see it because life is so much about connecting, and bringing just 

a minute of joy to somebody is huge. 







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P.O. Box 569, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 


| FAMILY 

AVILA VALLEY 

BARN 

BY PADEN HUGHES 

Just a couple years ago, before parenthood, 

I used to think I was a hipster when I 

drove up to a red light, my windows down, 

blasting a trendy radio play. Times have 

changed. Now, I slow roll up to a red light, 

keeping my windows closed to spare the drivers 

next to me from hearing an awkward soundtrack 

of cows mooing, horses neighing, pigs oinking, 

and roosters crowing, as my toddler learns to 

associate animals with the sounds they make. 

My husband and I are obsessed with farm animal 

noises now, because just hearing our daughter try 

to imitate a frog or cow is the cutest thing in the 

world. We are shameless. Everything seems to be 

geared to farm life and its sounds these days. 

So, it should be no surprise that our favorite 

family outing is feeding the animals at Avila 

Valley Barn. In fact, it’s a weekly excursion. Our 

daughter is walking and leads us around by our 

hands, pointing things out and muttering to 

herself about whatever she sees, but we have 

difficulty translating. 

Back in college, I occasionally visited Avila 

Valley Barn for an annual pilgrimage, picking out 

a pumpkin for Halloween and trying to make it 

through the hay bale maze. Now that I’m a mom, 

I’ve learned that Avila Valley Barn is not just for 

the holidays. Outside of the couple of weeks it 

closes down each year to renovate, its activities 

evolve with the seasons and there is always 

something new and exciting to see. Between the 

seasonal fruit stands and holiday fanfare, there 

always seems to be a new baby goat to watch 

grow up. 

We have developed a ritual. After a visit to the 

chicken coop, counting the eggs and trying to 

inspire the roosters to crow for our amusement, 

we head into the farm stand to buy fruit and 

a bag of reject veggies to feed the animals. 

My daughter loves to pull out a nice piece of 

lettuce and hold it like a prize for the next hour, 

unaware that she’s taunting the poor goats with 

it. The goats are her favorite. Somehow these 

creatures manage to con every visitor into 

believing they are starving, bleating like 

they have endured unimaginable conditions 

before your timely arrival. We buy into it 

like suckers every time. Once we’ve satisfied 

the goats (or so they lead us to believe), we 

circle the property pointing out the turkeys’ 

feathers, watching the squirrels sneak food, 

admiring the cows’ kind eyes, avoiding the 

emus, and wishing we could ride the cute 

little ponies. We repeat this circle two or 

three more times before heading home. 

All in all, it’s an entertaining afternoon 

that inevitably becomes the best part of our 

day. The store, established in 1985, began 

as an impermanent fruit stand for those on 

their way to Avila Beach. Today, it is a local 

favorite to buy seasonal produce, experience 

U-Pick opportunities in summer and 

fall, enjoy a petting zoo for farm animals, 

and stop off to grab an ice cream or deli 

sandwich in a peaceful environment, and, 

of course, buy a fresh baked pie, cobbler, 

or turnover. You can also stumble upon 

seasonal tractor and pony rides. It’s a great 

place for a family picnic, birthday party, 

or just a nice spot to meet up with other 

families in a place 

your kids can 

safely run free and 

enjoy a glimpse of 

farm life. 

I always check 

out their website 

to confirm their 

seasonal open 

hours. For the time 

being, it’s Thursday 

to Monday, 9 a.m. 

to 5 p. m. and is 

closed Tuesday and 

Wednesday. SLO LIFE 

PADEN HUGHES is 

co-owner of Gymnazo 

and enjoys exploring 

the Central Coast. 


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| DWELLING 

ALL IN THE 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GINA CINARDO 


FAMILY 


The year was 1965 when a father and his son 

decided to open a store. They called it San 

Luis Paints. For Leigh Cronin, she cannot 

recall a time when she was not down at the 

paint shop working alongside her dad and 

her grandpa, carefully hanging brushes on 

the pegboard display after school. 

“I loved working with my dad, and instead 

of running away when I was 18 like I 

should have,” Cronin chuckles at the 

thought, “I got involved in the family 

business.” The years passed by, faster 

than they should, and soon Cronin was 

teaching her own son how to display 

the merchandise in a way that would be 

most tempting to customers. Together, 

the mother and son duo ran the chain 

of family-owned paint stores up until 

2013 when they finally closed. Times had 

changed. It wasn’t as fun as it used to be, 

the business, now dominated by national 

heavyweights, was different. But, the 

entrepreneurial roots were planted. >> 


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All those years dealing with colors had an effect 

on Cronin, and allowed her to develop her own 

eye, nurture her taste. Friends started asking for 

tips with interior decorating and clothing. One 

thing led to another, and she found herself hanging 

out a shingle declaring she was now officially 

what is known as an image consultant. With her 

help, clients are able to break out of a funk and 

express themselves through their home décor and 

wardrobes to, as he puts it, “reflect who they are.” 

This focus on style and elegance is contrasted 

sharply by her son, Sandy, who started a junk 

hauling business. Yet, he, too, exhibits an eye for 

design and branding as his distinctive green, white, 

and black logo emblazoned on the San Luis Movers 

& Junk Removal trucks run laps back and forth to 

the landfill. 

Through it all, the family businesses have put 

the emphasis on family. When Cronin’s parents 

bequeathed their Pismo Heights home to their 

daughters, the choices were difficult. At first, it 

became a rental. Then, after nine years they finally 

decided it was time. Cronin and her son did a 

walk-through before the home was to go on the 

market. “It just reminds me of the holidays—it 

reminds me of Christmas, Mom,” was how Sandy 

put it. “I really think you should buy it.” The wheels 

started turning and then things began to fall in 

place. Cronin bought out her sister’s interest and >> 


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now looked at the old house with different eyes. 

Originally built in 1959, it was dark and a bit closed 

in with a busy floor plan, but it had potential. More 

importantly, it had history. It had memories. 

If Cronin was certain about one thing, it’s that 

she was “intent on keeping a lot of the original 

elements,” while updating and modernizing it 

tastefully. Where to start? The kitchen was closed 

off from the spectacular view of the water and 

Pismo Pier—that had to change. So, she called 

Seelos Design & Construction of Arroyo Grande 

and immediately bonded with the husband and 

wife team. The co-owners, Scott and Nina Seelos 

shared the vision and could see how to make it 

a reality. During the four-month remodel in late 

2015, early 2016, all of the boxes were checked. 

More light, sweeping views, open and inviting 

space, but, and this was a very important “but,” it 

also needed to maintain many elements from the 

past, while also enhancing them. The pine tongue 

and groove ceilings are a prime example, as are the >> 



kitchen skylights. Originally there were two, but 

two more were added. Although the same brand and 

style were no longer available, the new pair were 

painstakingly selected and placed to nearly match 

the originals, all while doubling the amount of 

natural light overhead. 

The second stage of the remodel was done over 

another four-month period in the middle of 2017 

when the bathrooms were updated and the bedrooms 

and closets divided-up. An awkward staircase that 

greeted visitors at the front door was removed, and 

the entire first floor was converted into a separate 

apartment of sorts, with its own entry, bedroom, 

living area, and kitchen. The main floor, a threebedroom, 

two-bath, provides ocean views from just 

about every corner. 

Much of the décor is a result of Cronin’s love 

for San Luis Obispo-based SLO Consignment 

Furniture, where she spends time regularly 

visiting with the proprietor, Jennifer Alderman, 

and inspecting her ever-turning inventory to find 

“treasures that tell interesting stories.” And, it’s 

those stories—old and new—that make a house a 

home, make it warm and welcoming, give it life, 

family, love. Just like Christmas. SLO LIFE 


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| SLO CITY 

REAL ESTATE 

BY THE NUMBERS 

laguna 

lake 

tank 

farm 

cal poly 

area 

country 

club 

down 

town 

foothill 

blvd 

johnson 

ave 

Total Homes Sold 

Average Asking Price 

Average Selling Price 

Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 

Average # of Days on the Market 





















2017 

12 

$596,450 

$589,175 

98.78% 

30 

2017 

1 

$819,900 

$810,000 

98.79% 

29 

2017 

3 

$722,333 

$693,333 

95.99% 

103 

2017 

3 

$956,333 

$932,817 

97.54% 

83 

2017 

21 

$675,181 

$664,131 

98.36% 

66 

2017 


8 


$871,475 


$846,188 

Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 97.10% 

Average # of Days on the Market 53 






2017 

9 

$785,211 

$769,611 

98.01% 

55 

2018 

12 

$709,825 

$704,100 

99.19% 

29 


1 

$729,000 

$650,000 

89.16% 

88 


1 

$1,050,000 

$1,050,000 

100.00% 

31 


3 

$1,065,992 

$1,057,992 

99.25% 

17 


14 

$1,119,207 

$1,117,391 

99.84% 

117 


7 

$817,786 

$813,933 

99.53% 

20 


5 

$760,580 

$752,000 

98.87% 

22 

+/- 

0.00% 

19.01% 

19.51% 

0.41% 

-3.33% 

+/- 

0.00% 

-11.09% 

-19.75% 

-9.63% 

203.45% 

+/- 

-66.67% 

45.36% 

51.44% 

4.01% 

-69.90% 

+/- 

0.00% 

11.47% 

13.42% 

1.71% 

-79.52% 

+/- 

-33.33% 

65.76% 

68.25% 

1.48% 

77.27% 

+/- 

-12.50% 

-6.16% 

-3.81% 

2.43% 

-62.26% 

+/- 

-44.44% 

-3.14% 

-2.29% 

0.86% 

-60.00% 

*Comparing 01/01/17 - 03/20/17 to 01/01/18 - 03/20/18 

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ® 



Not All Lenders 

are Created Equal 

Let the RPM San Luis Obispo Team’s years of experience, 

personalized service and outstanding reputation work for you 

Start a conversation with us today 

Donna Lewis 

Branch Manager/Senior Loan Advisor 

NMLS #245945 

805.235.0463 

donnalewis@rpm-mtg.com 

www.rpm-mtg.com/dlewis 

Dylan Morrow 

Loan Advisor 

NMLS #1461481 

805.550.9742 

dmorrow@rpm-mtg.com 

www.rpm-mtg.com/dmorrow 

Brandi Warren 

Senior Loan Advisor 

NMLS# 290534 

661.332.2074 

bwarren@rpm-mtg.com 

www.rpm-mtg.com/bwarren 

Kim Gabriele 

Senior Loan Advisor 

NMLS# 263247 

805.471.6186 

kgabriele@rpm-mtg.com 

www.rpm-mtg.com/kgabriele 

Ken Neate 

Loan Advisor 

NMLS# 373607 

925.963.1015 

kneate@rpm-mtg.com 

www.rpm-mtg.com/kneate 

Valerie Gonzales 

Loan Advisor 

NMLS# 1082998 

805.550.4325 

vgonzales@rpm-mtg.com 

www.rpm-mtg.com/vgonzales 

1065 Higuera Street, Suite 100, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

LendUS, LLC dba RPM Mortgage NMLS #1938 - Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the CA Residential Mortgage 

Lending Act. | 9158 | Equal Housing Opportunity. APR/MAY 2018 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 67

Be confident 

in your 

mortgage 

decision. 

| SLO COUNTY 

REAL ESTATE 

REGION 

BY THE NUMBERS 

NUMBER OF 

HOMES SOLD 

AVERAGE DAYS 

ON MARKET 

MEDIAN SELLING 

PRICE 

2017 


2017 


2017 


Arroyo Grande 

53 

51 

72 

64 

$778,765 

$796,096 

Atascadero 

78 

68 

72 

38 

$566,919 

$574,996 

Avila Beach 

3 

3 

16 

113 

$904,334 

$1,160,931 

Cambria/San Simeon 

23 

22 

80 

48 

$634,261 

$702,064 

Cayucos 

6 

8 

74 

114 

$1,110,500 $1,001,000 

Creston 

4 

0 

73 

0 

$645,750 

$0 

Grover Beach 

36 

22 

53 

54 

$520,311 

$484,268 

Los Osos 

24 

24 

49 

40 

$575,088 

$606,004 

Morro Bay 

26 

18 

58 

83 

$658,708 

$683,028 

Nipomo 

41 

55 

67 

54 

$537,449 

$679,045 

Oceano 

9 

10 

89 

52 

$397,833 

$475,900 

Pismo Beach 

20 

26 

40 

54 

$1,225,979 $1,002,279 

Paso (Inside City Limits) 

85 

62 

57 

34 

$454,871 

$519,638 

Paso (North 46 - East 101) 

10 

15 

62 

73 

$463,135 

$485,433 

Paso (North 46 - West 101) 

29 

16 

118 

100 

$491,716 

$611,408 

Ben Lerner 

Mortgage Advisor 

NMLS 395723 

805.441.9486 

blerner@opesadvisors.com 

1212 Marsh St., Suite 1 

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

Paso (South 46 - East 101) 


Santa Margarita 

Templeton 

10 

60 

6 

21 

15 

49 

3 

19 

117 

53 

70 

81 

70 

56 

177 

91 

$1,041,310 

$714,052 

$396,667 

$697,257 

$725,367 

$927,198 

$463,333 

$765,793 

opesadvisors.com 

© 2017 Opes Advisors, A Division of Flagstar Bank 

68 | SLO Member LIFE FDIC MAGAZINE | Equal Housing | APR/MAY Lender 2018 

Countywide 

536 471 

*Comparing 01/01/17 - 03/20/17 to 01/01/18 - 03/20/18 

66 57 $623,066 $684,129 

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ® 

SLO LIFE

smart, eclectic, art to live on 

1599 Monterey Street | 805.544.5900 | sloconsignment.com 

(at the corner of Grove Street, across from Pepe Delgados) 

Open Monday - Saturday 10-6pm 

Home & 

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alex madonna expo center 

May 5&6 

SATURDAY 10-5 SUNDAY 10-4 

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APPLE PIE CONTEST 

SUNDAY, MAY 6 th @ 12pm 


SPONSORED 

TIMELESS TREASURES 

Timeless, Très Chic Style on “Rue de Jardin” 

Few streets in San Luis Obispo are as European as Garden Street—in 

its newly renovated iteration, spotted with café tables, we might rename 

it Rue de Jardin—and few shops in SLO are equally as European as 

Finders Keepers. A highly selective consignment boutique selling lightly 

used designer women’s clothing and accessories, Finders Keepers 

offers shoppers a timeless stylishness, not subject to the whims and 

environmental costs of fast fashion. According to owner Debra Fogg, for 

the women who shop in her store, “it’s the thrill of the hunt—to not only 

find a treasure at an amazing price, but to collect great designer finds not 

otherwise offered in our town.” 

For the conscientious shopper, Finders Keepers reminds us that the 

best, most treasured items in our own closets may well have belonged 

to a friend, family member, or a woman we’ve yet to meet, for whom the 

item was just not right. It’s that spirit of camaraderie that Finders Keepers 

nurtures, not only among its loyal locals, but among the diverse women 

traveling through, who happen to discover the boutique while wandering 

the eclectic shops and cafés of Garden Street. 

Debra, who opened the doors of Finders Keepers in 1998 to “a very 

welcoming community,” credits the boutique’s success to the “amazing, 

beautiful women of SLO, who are not only women of impeccable style, 

but extremely savvy shoppers. I love the environmentally conscious 

women of SLO; my store is successful because they really do care 

and choose to shop recycle.” The store’s success, she adds, is also “a 

tribute, of course, to the incredible consignors who bring in their lovely 

items.” The shop always has at least a month’s wait for a consignment 

appointment and, thus, never experiences a shortage of seasonal, 

curated items in stock. 

Debra, who grew up in Pasadena and relocated to the Central Coast in 

1970 to raise her two children, is one of the reasons to pop into Finders 

Keepers. Embodying sophistication and elegance, remembering names 

and preferences, if you’re lucky enough to have her help with your 

purchase, you’re destined to leave the shop with an iconic addition to 

your wardrobe. Her secret, perhaps, is that she “was born loving fashion.” 

“When I was two,” she says, “my mother said I would change 

my little dresses at least three times a day.” 

Finders Keepers attracts women of all ages. It’s not 

uncommon to see mothers and daughters shopping side 

by side, each finding something to love, with the help of 

the friendly, never overbearing staff. Whether searching for 

a cocktail dress for a spring wedding, a perfectly French 

“little black dress,” fall boots, or simply a quick trip to see if 

anything calls your name, Finders Keepers is the place to 

shop for très chic style. But it’s more than just a boutique. 

As Debra notes, “The laughs, the tears, the stories shared in 

this ‘chicks club’ are why so many women come back.” 

The People of Garden Street 

MATT BAXTER 

CO-OWNER, BAXTER MOERMAN 

On my playlist: Alabama Shakes, Dr. Dog, Heartless 

Bastards, Plants & Animals, Fruit Bats, and The Growlers 

Comfort food: Totchos from Libertine 

Favorite activities: Surfing & Mountain Biking 

I secretly want to: Shoot BB guns all day 

If you could invite one person from history to dinner: 

My Norwegian Great Grandmother, Mattie Lien 

GARDEN STREET - The Heart of Downtown San Luis Obispo 


SPONSORED 

HEALTH IS IN THE AIR 

Capturing the health and wellness at the heart of living on the Central Coast. Spa Serra will 

provide an oasis of relaxation, restoration and rejuvenation. Artfully designed and ecologically 

conscious, the full variety of treatments will be enhanced by our signature fig-scented, organic 

skin products crafted from pure essential oils. Spa Serra refillable hair, cleanse and moisture 

preparations will be featured in all Hotel Serra guest rooms. 

Hotel Serra // 1125 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo // hotelserra.com 

ALEXANDRITE DONE RIGHT 

Keep ‘em guessing with a color change Alexandrite. 

Alexandrite is the highly regarded color changing 

variety of Chrysoberyl. The color of Alexandrite 

changes under different lighting conditions. This is 

one of our in-house custom fabricated work for a 

very lucky client. Bring us your ideas or just your 

dreams and let us create something for you. 

Contact for Pricing // Marshalls Jewelers 

751 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo 

(805) 543-3431 // marshalls1889.com 

LIGHT THE WAY 

A candle with an earthy fragrance 

and dash of lemon will create a 

sanctuary in your home, blending 

together the grounding, calming, 

and stabilizing power of organic 

vetiver from Haiti. 100% of the 

proceeds benefit global clean 

water projects through Global 

Green Grants Fund. 

$28 // Salon62 

1112 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo 

(805) 543-2060 // salon62.com 

HAND-CRAFTED VERSATILITY 

This vibrant conversation piece from San Luis Traditions provides generous 

storage. It is hand-crafted from solid wood, and can be used in many rooms, 

from a media cabinet for your television, in the entryway, or bedroom for storage. 

It’s hand-finished and distressed and adds great texture to any space. This piece 

measures: 76” wide x 18” deep x 35” tall. Other styles available. 

Contact for Pricing // San Luis Traditions // 748 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo 

(805) 541-8500 // sanluistraditions.com 

PEACHES ARE ALWAYS 

IN SEASON 

We absolutely love making engagement 

rings like this beautiful piece featuring a trio 

of matched color natural peach sapphires set 

in recycled 18K rose gold. A sweet halo of 

Canadian diamonds traces the perimeter of the 

sapphires, creating a unique look that’s equal 

parts feminine and classic. 

Modern classic jewelry. Made fresh daily. 

$4,225 // Baxter Moerman 


(805) 801-9117 // baxtermoerman.com 



SPONSORED 

THE PERFECT ADDICTION 

Try the newest addition to our cookie 

line and everyone’s favorite, Linnaea’s 

Rosemary Shortbread Cookie with Sea 

Salt. A buttery and sweet shortbread 

cookie with just a hint of savor—the 

perfect addiction. 

$6 // Linnaea’s Cafe 


(805) 541-5888 // linnaeas.com 

EXPERIENCE TASTE 

Simple Italian cooking is anything 

but simple when done with the 

secret ingredient: Love. The Cod 

all’acqua Pazza is a favorite of 

Mediterranean fisherman and 

a specialty of our cuisine. Wild 

Atlantic cod, red onion, garlic, 

cherry tomatoes, capers, olive oil, 

white wine, parsley. The side is 

asparagus and butter. You have to 

taste to experience it. 

$29 // La Locanda 


(805) 548-1750 // lalocandaslo.com 

OLD AND NEW 

Whether it be your heirloom stones in 

a new, custom tailored mounting or a 

top-to-bottom restoration of that special 

antique piece. GSG has the experience 

and expertise to breathe new life into 

your most sentimental pieces. Work 

done in-house. Trust and experience 

since 1974. 

Contact for Pricing 

Garden Street Goldsmiths 

1114 & 1118 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo 

(805) 543-8186 

GardenStreetGoldsmiths.com 

SPRING OBSESSION STARTS HERE 

Add this Kate Spade fable blue cross-body to your 

collection of accessories—it’s anything but basic. 

Utilitarian and timeless—a bag that goes with 

everything from jeans to a sexy summer dress. 

$96 // Finders Keepers Consignment Boutique 

1124 Garden Street, 


(805) 545-9879 slofinderskeepers@gmail.com 

SAY CHEESE 

Spring has sprung and now is the perfect time to welcome 

it in with a custom platter. Together we will come up with a 

stunning selection for Easter celebrations, Mother’s Day or 

just a fun night with friends. All platters are created based 

on budget, event size, cheese selection and accoutrement 

availability. Check out our website for more information. 

Contact for Pricing // Fromagerie Sophie 


(805) 503-0805 // fromageriesophie.com 



SPONSORED 

DOWNTOWN TRADITIONS 

Anyone who has walked down Garden Street has likely visited Traditions. 

The business has been in San Luis Obispo since 1989, and its owners have 

design and furniture roots that go back several generations. 

The new owner, Allegra Marquardt, is proud to be growing the family 

business in Downtown SLO. Allegra’s parents, Mary and Bill Marquardt, 

opened Traditions after moving to San Luis Obispo from Northern 

California. Now, it is one of the most well established furniture and interior 

design businesses in the region. 

Growing up in a Victorian house near the corner of Broad and Buchon, 

Allegra spent much of her childhood downtown. The memories of playing 

in the creek, eating Country Culture yogurt, losing her first tooth at Foster 

Freeze, and being in the La Fiesta parade - have helped solidify her love for 

SLO. During her countless afternoons spent downtown, she would come by 

Traditions and help with odd jobs. She remembers licking stamps for direct 

mail campaigns and pricing merchandise. 

Growing up with hardworking enterprising parents, she benefited from 

hands-on learning about the business and interior design industry. She saw 

the value in having a good attitude, being involved in the community, and 

enjoyed continuous exposure to the world of design. 

Since taking over San Luis Traditions in 2017, Allegra has established 

herself as both a successful businesswoman and a tasteful collaborator. 

Her projects are distinct to the individual, completely functional, and 

timeless in design. Her portfolio of work includes countless residential 

projects, collaborative efforts on commercial undertakings, and hotel, 

restaurant, and bar projects. This skillset and the fantastic range of product 

offerings available at the business enable Traditions to offer the best of 

product and design services to the region. 

Ask around. Allegra is one of friendliest faces on Garden 

Street. She is always stopping to say hello to fellow 

merchants, customers, and friends. When she is not in 

the showroom, she is out enjoying the many amazing 

restaurants and special events on the Central Coast. Her 

love for the community she grew up in runs deep, and 

she is glad to always give back. She is a proud member 

of the Rotary of SLO de Tolosa, and is involved with other 

regional non-profits. Allegra is excited to keep expanding 

the family business and continue being a staple in the 

downtown business community. 

The furniture showroom is open everyday except Sunday. 

Traditions specializes in leather furniture, draperies and 

roman shades, motorized window treatments, and highend 

custom upholstery. Always local. Tried and true. 

The Dogs of Garden Street 

PROGRESS REPORT 

As we approach the final stages of the Garden 

Street Improvement program, Hotel Serra would 

like to thank all of our neighbors for their gracious 

support and patience. The end result will be well 

worth it. The next focus on Garden Street will 

be the revitalization of two historically important 

buildings. The previous Christian Science reading 

room and SLO Brew buildings have had many 

lives over the years providing downtown San Luis 

Obispo with a variety of goods and services. 

In their next life they will become, Hotel Serra 

entrance with a beautifully designed lobby lounge 

and Brasserie SLO, café, restaurant and bar in the 

style of European Brasseries. 

Billy // Dachshund // 7 weeks old 

The newest dog on Garden Street… 

Billy is Garden Street’s only full-time canine resident, 

living upstairs from Baxter Moerman. He loves 

playing with his friend Indi Moerman, chewing on 

shoelaces, and melting hearts. 



| HEALTH 

Broccoli Sprouts 

Moms everywhere have long known the truth about broccoli. How many times have we heard, “Eat 

your broccoli!” at the dinner table? The stuff is good for you. Just how good? We’re only starting 

to learn the truth now. While its fellow green plant, kale, has been getting all the buzz over the past 

few years, it may be time to give broccoli, and especially broccoli sprouts, a second look. 

Recently popularized by a book that has been getting a lot of 

attention lately, “The Elimination Diet: Discover the Foods that 

are Making You Sick and Tired—and Feel Better Fast,” broccoli 

spouts are rocketing their way to the top of the most cutting edge 

health trends. 

Broccoli sprouts, and its cousins, the cruciferous vegetables, like cauliflower, bok choi, 

cabbage, brussel sprouts, and kale, belong to the Brassicaceae family of plants. Their name 

derives from the Latin word “cruciferae,” which means “cross bearing,” attributed to the 

cross-like shape of their flowers. 

As we started digging into the broccoli sprout craze, we learned that it all came down to 

one thing: sulforaphane. And, in its sprouted form, sulforaphane is found in concentrations 

from 10 to 100 times greater than detected in mature plants. 

If you have to have twelve 

and-a-half minutes to spare, 

we recommend watching 

Tom Malterre’s TED Talk. 

You can find it on YouTube 

by searching for “Broccoli – 

the DNA whisperer.” 

Here are the top six benefits of adding more sulforaphane into your diet: > 



No. 3 

LOWERS CHOLESTEROL 

A study completed in 2015 demonstrated a significant reduction of 

LDL cholesterol, the stuff often called “bad cholesterol,” in those 

participants eating 100 grams per day of broccoli sprouts. At the same 

time, a marked improvement of oxidative stress markers was found. 

No. 4 

IMMUNE BOOST 

The presence of sulforaphane in mice was shown to increase the 

activity of natural killer cells as well as enhancing overall immune 

function. While the mice were reluctant to add broccoli sprouts to 

their cheese, there is a good case to be made that we ought to reach 

for the green stuff more often than we do. 

No. 1 

DETOXIFICATION 

Through a complex pathway, broccoli sprouts boost the 

antioxidant capacity of our cells by acting as a potent inducer of 

what is known as Phase 2 enzymes. In layman’s terms, it helps 

our body rid itself of waste build-up. Also, it acts to increase 

cellular glutathione levels, which is produced and consumed 

by every cell in our bodies and is sometimes referred to as “the 

mother of all antioxidants.” 

No. 5 

PROTECTS THE SKIN 

In one study, sulforaphane extracts from three-day-old broccoli 

sprouts were applied to the skin and compared to a control group 

where it was found to reduce overall oxidative stress and erythema 

(skin redness) when exposed to UVA radiation. 

No. 2 

COMBATS CANCER 

Joseph Cohen, writing for his popular health blog selfhacked.com, 

makes the bold statement: “Of all the molecules I’ve studied, 

sulforaphane and broccoli sprouts are the most promising at 

preventing and killing cancer.” He goes on to point to research 

indicating that diets rich in sulforaphane, three-to-five servings 

per week, decrease the risk of cancer by 30 to 40%. 

No. 6 

IMPROVES COGNITIVE 

FUNCTION 

Fascinating results were documented in a study completed last 

year that found sulforaphane increase neuronal BDNF in mice, 

which is a factor that supports the survival of existing neurons and 

encourages the formation of new neurons and synapses. Research in 

this area is in its infancy, but shows promise. > 


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INTRO SPECIAL 

2 WEEKS FOR $30 

Grow Your Own 

The best, most potent, highest sulforaphane content serving of 

broccoli sprouts can be found in the ones you grow yourself. 

Here is how to do it in 10 easy steps: 

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1. Place 2 tablespoons of broccoli sprouting seeds in a wide-mouthed 

quart jar. You can find the seeds online at sites such as seedsnow.com. 

2. Cover seeds with a few inches of clean, filtered water and cap 

with the sprouting lid. 

3. Store in a warm, dark place overnight. 

4. The next morning, drain the liquid off and rinse with fresh 

water. Be sure to drain all the water off. 

5. Repeat this process twice daily. Continue to store your seeds in 

a warm, dark place. After a few days, the seeds will start to break 

open and grow. 

6. Eventually, the sprouts will be an inch or so long and have yellow 

leaves. At this point you can move the sprouts out into the sunlight. 

7. Continue to rinse them 2 times a day until the leaves are dark 

green. Now they are ready to eat! 

8. This whole process will take about a week. Be patient. It may 

not seem like anything is happening, but they are growing. 

9. Once they are ready, replace the sprouting lid with a standard 

mason jar lid and store in the refrigerator. 

10. Serve on top of salads, stirred into soups, or as garnish for 

your meals. SLO LIFE


| TASTE 

> 

BEFORE I became 

fascinated by fine food 

and drink many years 

ago, my culinary tastes 

ran more Bugles-and- 

Bud-Light than boeuf 

bourguignon. Foodie 

fever set in slowly as 

I took tea in Kyoto, 

downed street tacos in 

Mexico, hunted porcini 

in Austria, and took a 

sincere interest in the 

local liquid gold of our 

Edna Valley and Paso 

Robles wineries. In those 

days, every trip, morsel 

and sip maintained the 

fever pitch. 

Today, food, wine, and 

la dolce vita represent 

much more than my 

passion: they’re my 

profession. But, to 

paraphrase Albert 

Einstein, the more I 

learn, the more I realize 

how much I don’t know. 

As I visited three San 

Luis Obispo County 

establishments where 

the line blurs between 

dining and teaching, I 

experienced new flavors, 

methods, and cultures, 

along with my fellow 

participants, from the 

comfort of a perch at 

the kitchen counter. The 

outcome? A full belly... 

and a renewed hunger 

for more. >> 

EAT, DRINK, AND BE EDUCATED 

Want to go deeper with your dining? Look no further than these three 

establishments that deliver a side of a-ha! with each dish. 

BY JAIME LEWIS 

JAIME LEWIS is a world 

traveler, and food writer, who 

lives in San Luis Obispo. 


HOME TO EDNA VALLEY’S MOST 

. 

DRINK IT ALL IN. 

All-inclusive Tastings 

Early Entrance & 

Exclusive Spirits Tasting 

featuring 

Rio Salinas with Louie Ortega 

CHAMISALVINEYARDS.COM 

7525 ORCUTT ROAD • SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 

805-541-9463 

TASTING ROOM OPEN 10AM-5PM DAILY 

A Family Friendly Event benefiting United Way of San Luis Obispo County 

Joan Gellert-Sargen 

805-975-8180 


THE ROGUE CHEF 

“We have fourteen courses tonight,” announces Chef 

Ricky Odbert to the diners at Six Test Kitchen, 

the haute cuisine six-seat teaching restaurant he 

established in his parents’ Arroyo Grande garage. 

(Yes, you read that right.) “We’ll explain each one as 

it comes.” 

A couple of local boys, Odbert and Chef de Cuisine, 

Matt Corella, both cooked in cosmopolitan kitchens 

and returned to proselytize tasting menus and modern 

creative dining on the Central Coast. To afford such 

ambitions, in 2015 Odbert made the most of what 

he had: two supportive parents and the use of their 

garage. Thus was Six Test Kitchen born. 

Plated, each of Odbert’s dishes reads like a work of 

architecture, constructed just inches from where my 

husband and I sit with our fellow diners. In just one 

or two bites, the balance of flavor, texture, and aroma 

is transporting: arctic char, pickled turnips, sourdough, 

and dill take me on a quick mental jaunt to Oslo, 

while an onion tuile filled with artichoke mousse and 

dehydrated olives calls up an autumnal walk through 

an ancient forest. 

Guests are encouraged to bring their own wine for 

the meal, but around the eighth course, Odbert and 

Corella crack open the good stuff: a 40-ounce bottle 

of MGD High Life, poured equally between two 

plastic kitchen containers with much ceremony. “It’s 

tradition,” Odbert says. 

$740 per party of six, wine and gratuity not included. 

Reservation required. >> 


Sleep Under the Stars, Connect with Nature, Be Creative 

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THE MASTER OF WINE 

Don’t get me wrong: I can still boogie with Bud Light and a bag 

of Bugles. When matched with the right time, place and people, I 

firmly believe any food can transcend the sum of its parts. 

Sommeliers work hard on the restaurant floor, but I’d venture that 

none works as hard as Ian Adamo of Somm’s Kitchen in Paso 

Robles. Since opening in March 2017, he’s comprised almost a 

one-man show responsible for the feeding, drinking, and curiositysating 

of fourteen people per seating at his horseshoe bar. 

While the theme at Six Test Kitchen might be boundary-pushing 

reimagined cuisine, Somm’s Kitchen goes in for classic luxury of 

an Old World persuasion. Adamo is the stuff that Michelin stars 

and James Beard Awards were made for (quite literally: he earned 

both for his work at Lampreia in Seattle and cut his teeth at Le 

Cirque and Daniel in New York), but even as he pours me a flute 

of Russian River Valley bubbles and slides a slab of pink foie gras 

my way, his approach is as casual and easygoing as any bartender 

worth his or her (Maldon flake) salt. 

Throughout my six-course dinner with wine pairings—including 

sous vide carrots with thyme, lamb with veal demiglaze and 

raspberries, and flourless chocolate torte—Adamo mines his 

extensive experience to provide a sense of place: how the vines are 

grown, how the ingredients are harvested, what the culture is like. 

But for all his expertise, Adamo’s approach remains simple. “When 

you come here I want it to be like you come to my home,” he says. 

“Good food, good wine, and good people.” 

Bites and starters $5-18; Mains $14-28; International and local wines 

available by the glass and bottle. Reservation required. >> 


770 Capitolio Way . San Luis Obispo 

805 549 0100 

ENJOY THE VIEW 

8 05.242.2059 

WWW.MONARCHWINDOW.COM 

442 0 B ROA D ST. STE. B 

SA N LU IS O B ISPO, CA 


THE CULINARY REFUGE 

At a “Mastering Meats” class at Refugio Kitchen in Paso Robles, 

the aroma of beef hangs thick on the air. “Obviously you guys 

are interested in meat,” says Brigit Binns, the proprietor and 

prolific cookbook author with bylines on Williams-Sonoma and 

Sunset Magazine publications, among others. “I am, too, so let’s 

get started.” 

The kitchen is bright, colorful, and contemporary, with a massive 

island and cooktop where Binns demonstrates; behind her, a 

small team of helpers tosses lettuces, slices standing rib roasts, 

and collates a booklet of recipes for me and my fellow students 

to take home. Amy Butler of Ranchero Cellars pours a vertical 

flight of Carignan wine for each course while Binns describes 

how to reverse-sear ribeyes, purchase a meat thermometer, 

render beef fat, and time each dish for entertaining. Along 

with the wine, her expertise augments each plate of roast beef, 

tangerine and arugula salad, NY steak with board dressing, and 

standing rib roast with pepper jelly-red wine reduction sauce 

that we savor. 

“Caramelization of meat is called the Maillard Reaction,” she 

says, lifting a NY steak from the grill pan. Midway through 

describing the process she pauses and smiles. “You didn’t know 

you were going to get a science class with your steak, did you?” 

Demonstration classes $115; hands-on classes $125. Both include 

a welcome glass of local wine followed by several tastes of one wine 

producer. Reservations required. SLO LIFE 


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| KITCHEN 

SALMON SALAD 

With its mild flavor and versatility in food pairing, 

salmon is an easy ingredient to incorporate into this 

health-conscious meal. The crisp crunch of fennel and 

carrots refresh when combined with marinated baked 

salmon all topped with an Asian-inspired vinaigrette. 

BY CHEF JESSIE RIVAS 


JESSIE’S TIP: 

The cooked salmon can be served 

hot or cold on the bed of greens 

!depending on your preference. 

SALMON SALAD 

1 lb salmon fillet cut into 4 pieces 

Marinade: 

2 Tbs miso paste 

1 Tbs olive oil 

1 Tbs rice wine vinegar 

1 tsp lime juice 

½ tsp black pepper 

Salad Mix: 

6 oz mixed greens 

1 oz shaved fennel 

1 oz julienne carrots 

¼ cup broccoli florets 

½ oz pickled or raw red onion slices 

2 oz chopped roasted peanuts 

Salad Vinaigrette: 

3 oz soy sauce 

1 ½ oz canola oil 

2 Tbs dijon mustard 

2 Tbs lime juice 

½ oz sesame seed oil 

1 tsp minced garlic 

1 tsp minced ginger 

salt and pepper to taste 

Local Harvest 

Delivery 

FRESH & LOCAL 

PRODUCE BOXES 

Delivered to Your 

Home or Business 

Gift Packages Available 

Healthy, Convenient, Affordable 

Weekly or Bi-Weekly Deliveries 

Local Fish + Honey + Olive Oil 

No Contract Required 

4 Box Sizes 

To make vinaigrette, mix all ingredients in blender. 

For the salmon fillet, mix all the ingredients for the 

marinade in a mixing bowl. Let stand for at least 

20 minutes. Once marinade has rested, whisk again 

and pour over salmon and let marinate for up to 

one hour. After salmon has been in the marinade, 

set on a baking sheet 

lined with parchment 

paper. Bake in 400° oven 

until golden brown, 

about 15 minutes. Let 

rest for 10 minutes. 

JESSIE RIVAS is the owner 

and chef of The Pairing Knife 

food truck which serves the 

Central Coast. 

Toss salad with 

vinaigrette and separate 

into four salad bowls. 

Top each salad with 

baked salmon fillet. 

Garnish with toasted 

sesame seeds. SLO LIFE 

SIGN UP TODAY! 

SLOVEG.COM 

SERVICE@SLOVEG.COM 

(805) 709-2780 


| WINE NOTES 

I first wanted to understand why bottles are labeled by the regions in 

which they are grown. Only a few bottles had a grape varietal listed on 

them. Little did I know that each region grows certain grape varieties in 

a certain style. These regulations, called appellation d’origine contrôlée 

or AOC in France, restrict what can or cannot be done in making wine; 

other countries have similar restrictions. I was appalled! Those poor 

countries were so limited! “You need to break free from this tyranny and 

fight for freedom,” I wanted to say to them. “Revolt!” 

The more I listened and had conversations with industry experts, the 

more I realized that these rules were not merely restrictive, but actually 

helpful. It’s like an ancient secret. Knowledge about the processes is 

preserved. Medieval monks in Burgundy, for example, noticed after 

many years of observation, that certain types of grapes flourished in 

certain parts of the land. The variety of slopes, soil types, and pockets 

of fog produced grapes and a wine that makes it taste Burgundian. 

Some plots of land were more favorable for grapes than others and are 

classified according to quality. For instance, Gran Cru and Primer Cru 

basically mean best land. Watering restrictions reflect the rainfall of the 

year. The grape’s life is unique to this year, time, and place. It is reared 

by the vineyard managers, picked, and then passed to a winemaker. This 

journey, the good and the bad that happen along the way, reflect a taste 

that you would expect from this particular region of the world, with 

subtle differences from year to year. This is the concept of terroir. 

TER-WAH? 

Growing up in California, my parents would take 

me wine tasting. While not connoisseurs nor 

experts, they had an appreciation for wine and 

enjoyed the experience. By the ripe old age of 16, 

I could identify a handful of wines and had an 

idea of their basic characteristics. 

BY ANDRIA MCGHEE 

With my curiosity piqued for all things related 

to viticulture and oenology, one of the aspects 

that took me by surprise was the idea of terroir 

(ter-wah). About ten years ago, I stood in 

a wine shop in London while a shopkeeper 

was amused by my lack of knowledge on 

the subject. He must have enjoyed how green I was because instead 

of rolling his eyes, we discussed terroir in that small, cramped room 

surrounded by wine bottles cased on the walls and in crates on the floor. 

So, what does this mean on the Central Coast? Grape growers and 

winemakers have some regulations of their own, but overall have more 

freedom to use techniques and technology to get the wine they desire. 

With freedom comes risk. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. 

Winemakers here are collaborative and ready to try new methods to 

make a wine that is amazing. This is the American way. We question. We 

try new things. We innovate and thrive when we learn from each others’ 

wisdom and experiences. 

At the end of the process, it’s a small miracle the wine has made it to 

our glass. The end product, when finally enjoyed, is a true reflection 

of its journey, not so dissimilar to our own. Many factors influence its 

life. Where it is raised, those with whom it comes in contact, its trials 

through storms, and survival of sicknesses. As we understand this 

about each other, we can understand this about a wine. These all shape 

its future, as it does ours. The bottle is a reflection of many hands that 

have nurtured it with hours of labor and love. The wine at its opening 

is a true celebration of the life that it has 

lived and the lives that it touches. 

When you crack open your next bottle, 

think of its local journey. The dust or mud 

that you trekked through on a hike today 

may share soil with vines nearby that gives 

your Sangiovese its earthy taste. The same 

sea spray from your day at the ocean may 

have floated to a nearby vineyard to cool the 

grapes to help your Sauvignon Blanc with 

its crisp apple taste. The generous sun you’ve 

enjoyed slowly warms Syrah grapes giving 

it a nice blueberry flavor in your glass. This 

wine reflects our wonderful life here on the 

Central Coast. SLO LIFE 

ANDRIA MCGHEE received 

her advanced degree on 

wines and spirits from 

WSET in London and enjoys 

travel, food, wine, and 

exercise as a means to enjoy 

those around her. 


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| BREW 

SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS 

SUDS 

Beer is made with three basic ingredients, at least according to the Reinheitsgebot, the “German Beer Purity 

Law” of 1516: water, hops, and barley. This law is so old they didn’t even know that yeast was the magic 

doing all the work! I don’t see any mention of chicken wings or tri-tip on that list, so why do I keep seeing 

vegan beers touted by the more socially conscious breweries? The answer may surprise you. 

BY BRANT MYERS 

Having just returned from a beer tourism conference 

in Vermont, you can believe that the 300+ 

international attendees consumed a fair bit of beer 

either purchased locally, driven in, or flown to our 

hotels. I may be in the minority, but I had a beer 

made with lobsters and one with oysters in the 

same night (think lemony and salty). More commonly, you might find a 

beer with maple syrup and bacon at your more adventurous bottle shops, 

or even lactose (milk sugar) used to sweeten up a stout much like creamer 

in your coffee, but a very common ingredient could be as seemingly 

innocuous as honey. At this point, we are all at least vaguely familiar with 

the general definition of veganism: the non-consumption of any foods 

that are a product, or by-product, of animal origins. Even small amounts 

of adjuncts used for subtle flavors, such as honey or milk, can deter vegans 

from enjoying a beer. However, there is one animal by-product that can be 

found in many beers, but you would never know it. 

What do Skittles and parchment paper have in common? If I had a dollar 

for every time someone has asked me this question, I could buy a bag of 

Skittles. The answer is that they both utilize animal by-products during the 

brewing process. Refining agents help in achieving clarity of your beer by 

attaching themselves to flocculates and weighing them down to the bottom 

of the fermenter, essentially leaving only clear beer left for consumption. 

The most widely applied one being gelatin, which is used in many foods 

and especially chewy candies. Gelatin is created from the bones of animals 

and is definitely not vegan-friendly. A lesser utilized method is a product 

of fish bladders called isinglass. Naturally a bit more difficult to process, 

isinglass is traditionally used in British cask ales, so we don’t see much 

stateside. Same goes for its use in parchment paper reconstruction and 

repair. If I had a dollar for every ancient manuscript I’ve repaired… 

So, what is the alternative and who is using it? Despite the eightfold 

price increase over the aforementioned methods, many breweries are 

opting for a synthetic product called BioFine Clear. 7Sisters Brewing in 

San Luis Obispo, near Trader Joe’s, has recently partnered with SLO 

Vegan Guide to showcase themselves as a completely vegan brewery, 

ensuring that every beer they make is accessible to all visitors, regardless 

of dietary restrictions. If vegan beer wasn’t enough of a draw, then check 

out their food samplings that includes a grilled cheese sandwich made 

with cashews, vegan chili, and my favorite—their house-made pickled 

vegetables. Just the right amount of tang and salt to pair with any of 

their beers. Fun fact: If you eat veggies while drinking, they pretty much 

cancel each other out. 

Although not advertising their vegan-friendly beers, you can head over 

to Libertine Brewing on Broad Street where they also exclusively use 

BioFine for their beer clarification and have tater tots to die for. Plus, 

they use locally sourced fruit in many of their beers, so it’s practically 

health food. Central Coast Brewing’s head brewer Brendan Gough 

creates vegan beers during this part of the process, but you may also 

see some lactose used in certain beers. Noelle DuBois of Bang the 

Drum Brewing also confirmed that they use 

BioFine in most of their beers, but use other 

agents particularly to help remove gluten 

from their gluten-free beers; and I’m pretty 

sure I’ve seen some Milk Stouts on their 

menu board. Check out their core beers, 

King Mate, Das Weiss, and Draca to see how 

good vegan can taste. 

It’s very likely you’ve had a vegan beer 

without even knowing it, so don’t let it 

dissuade you in your choices. And if you still 

want to get your carnivorous fix, we have good 

intel that IPAs pair well with beef jerky. So, 

grab a vegan friend and head to your local 

brewery because you have a strong social 

consciousness—and a stronger thirst. SLO LIFE 

BRANT MYERS is owner 

of Hop On Beer Tours, a 

concierge service for craft 

beer enthusiasts along the 

Central Coast. 


Not only is Dr. Daniel’s office located conveniently 

close to San Luis Obispo High School, 

there’s no better place to get your perfect smile! 

Specializing in Smiles 

Dr. Daniel Orthodontics 

1356 Marsh Street . San Luis Obispo 

(805) 543-3105 . drdanielortho.com 


| HAPPENINGS 

ART AFTER DARK 

Every first Friday, hundreds of visitors converge on downtown SLO to see new art exhibits 

and add to their growing collections. With dozens of galleries and non-traditional exhibit 

spaces, it’s SLO’s favorite night of the month to celebrate art. 

April 6 // artsobispo.org 

APRIL 

EROICA CALIFORNIA 

Eroica California offers a most 

memorable cycling experience—a 

weekend of cycling entertainment 

including an ocean view ride with 

various route lengths and a Concours 

d’Elegance for vintage bicycles. 

CONCOURS 

Eroica California will organize a 

Concours d’Elegance for vintage road 

bicycles. Awards include Best in Show, 

Best Bianchi, and many other special 

categories. 

MORRO BAY YARD SALE 

Shop at over 300 different sale 

locations and find treasures you didn’t 

even know you needed. This is a fun 

reason to come to Morro Bay and 

spend time perusing the sales to find 

nearly anything you can imagine. 

April 6 - 8 // morrobay.org 

KORESH DANCE COMPANY 

Enjoy an evening of contemporary works that are 

highly technical and deeply resonant. The troupe 

is widely recognized for its superb technique and 

emotionally-compelling appeal, promoting highspeed 

attack and gestural diversity drawn from 

Graham technique, Luigi jazz, classical ballet, 

hip-hop, and Israeli folk dance. 

April 14 // pacslo.org 

WINE 4 PAWS 

Join in on the fun to raise funds for 

Woods Humane Society—choose from 

over 80 local wineries, breweries, and 

olive oil producers. Visit any of the 

participating Wine 4 Paws tasting rooms 

and enjoy the bounty of the Central Coast 

while supporting a great cause. 

April 7 - 8 // wine4paws.com 

NOVO 

Want to experience the most challenging 

and spectacular gravel roads of the 

Central Coast of California? Join 

NOVA Eroica California. A group 

ride event with fun, timed segments 

open only to road and gravel bicycles. 

Starting separately from the Eroica 

classic event, NOVA Eroica takes a step 

beyond vintage to celebrate the beauty of 

fatigue and the thrill of conquest also on 

modern bikes. 

CAMPING 

Tents and RVs are able to stay at the 

Paso Robles Event Center during the 

weekend of Eroica California, at the 

center of the festivities. The entire 

festival, Saturday night dinner, and the 

ride start and finish will be held on site 

at the Event Center for the first time 

this year, making camping the perfect 

option for those wanting to stay close to 

the festival. 

April 14 - 15 // eroicacalifornia.com 


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TERRANCE SIMIEN 

& THE ZYDECO EXPERIENCE 

For 35 years, two-time Grammy 

Award-winning artist Terrance 

Simien has been shattering the 

myths of what his indigenous 

Zydeco roots music is—and is 

not. Leading his skilled Zydeco 

Experience band, Simien has shared 

studio and stage with the likes of 

Dave Matthews Band, Los Lobos, 

Robert Palmer, and Paul Simon to 

name a few. 

April 20 // pacslo.org 

MIRACLE MILES FOR KIDS 

The 15th Annual Miracle Miles 

for Kids helps to meet critical 

needs of over 1,800 children, 

youth and families served by 

Family Care Network annually. 

This beautiful 10K (6.2 miles) 

race course runs along the water’s 

edge from Morro Rock to the 

Cayucos Pier. 

April 21 // mm4k.com 

SHEN YUN 

This epic production immerses you in stories 

reaching back to the most distant past. You’ll 

explore realms even beyond our visible world. 

Featuring one of the world’s oldest art forms— 

classical Chinese dance—along with patented 

scenographical effects and all-original orchestral 

works, Shen Yun opens a portal to a civilization 

of enchanting beauty and enlightening wisdom. 

April 17 – 18 // pacslo.org 

The Perfect Gift 

* * 

Ethically-sourced, 

Hand-crafted Chocolates 

1445 Monterey Street, SLO 

805.782.9868 

www.mama-ganache.com 

RODEO AND THE CRUCIBLE 

Join the Civic Ballet of San Luis 

Obispo for Drew Silvaggio’s 

contemporary retelling of Agnes De 

Mille’s celebrated ballet, Rodeo, a 

love story set against the backdrop 

of the trying times of the great 

American Dust Bowl. Civic Ballet 

will also present their bewitchingly 

creative adaptation of Arthur Miller’s 

award winning play, The Crucible. 

The Crucible is made modern and 

relevant through Silvaggio’s masterful 

use of film, video, contemporary 

music, and modern choreography. 

April 21 -22 // pacslo.org 


| HAPPENINGS 

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live 

the 

SLO 

LIFE! 

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 

slolifemagazine.com 


CRUISIN’ MORRO BAY CAR SHOW 

Celebrate the 21st Anniversary beginning 

Friday with Cruise Night as classic and 

other rare cars cruise past. Continue the 

party on Saturday and talk with the car 

owners. The event wraps up on Sunday 

morning with awards. 

May 3 - 6 // morrobaycarshow.org 

MAY 

LOST IN YONKERS 

Winner of the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, 

this memory play by America’s great comic 

playwright is set in Yonkers in 1942. Ne’erdo-well 

Eddie deposits his two young sons 

on his stern mother’s doorstep when he takes 

to the road as a salesman. The boys are left to 

contend with Grandma Kurnitz, their sweet 

Aunt Bella (and her secret romance), and with 

their Uncle Louie, a small-time hoodlum in a 

strange new world called Yonkers. 

May 4 -20 // slorep.org 

WINE WAVES & BEYOND 

Come celebrate the best that Classic 

California has to offer. Enjoy three 

days of unforgettable events that 

embrace the love of California’s 

traditional surfing lifestyle and 

culture along with exceptional wine 

and food. Experience Central Coast 

wines, artisan brews, local California 

farm-fresh and seaport-inspired 

cuisine, as well as great music, art, 

and the amiable coastal community. 

Wine, Waves & Beyond events 

take place at several scenic venues 

throughout Pismo Beach and at the 

Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo. 

May 4 - 6 // winewavesandbeyond.com 

FLAVOR OF SLO 

At this all-inclusive event, you’ll 

enjoy sampling some of the best food, 

wine, and beer the Central Coast has 

to offer, at the beautiful and historic 

Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo. 

Entertainment includes live music 

from Rio Salinas featuring Louie 

Ortega. Each year this event raises 

thousands of dollars to benefit United 

Way of San Luis Obispo County, 

which seeks to create lasting change 

in the community by focusing on 

the building blocks for a good life: 

education, health, and financial 

stability. 

May 5 // flavorofslo.org


| HAPPENINGS 

Dr. Arnie Horwitz 

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS 

Are you feeling overwhelmed 

and confused? I can help. 

Specializing in 

- Relationship Conflicts - Parenting & Self-Esteem 

- Separation and Divorce - Personal Life Planning 

- Grief and Loss - Career Uncertainty 

Therapy/Counseling/Coaching 

Dr. Arnie Horwitz • 30 yrs. Experience 

805-541-2752 

www.doctorarnie.com 

SENIOR DISCOUNT . Mon & Tues 10 to 2 . $15 

INSIDE THE OLIVE 

Taste like the pros and look behind 

the scenes of this emerging California 

specialty crop. Learn olive oil’s place in 

history and explore why this ancient 

food is gathering so much attention 

today, from health benefits to fraudulent 

products, farming methods to breadth of 

use. Events include: a farm tour, making 

your own body scrub with Life Elements 

Founder Martha Van Inwegen, and 

cooking advice from Chef Jacob Lovejoy 

as he prepares brunch. 

May 6 // farmsteaded.com 

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MAY 

OKLAHOMA! 

One of the greatest musicals of all 

time, Oklahoma! marks the first 

collaboration between Rodgers and 

Hammerstein and changed the 

landscape of musical theatre as the 

first fully integrated musical play 

that blends song, character, plot, 

and dance into one seamless work. 

Considered by many to be the 

single most influential American 

musical work, when Oklahoma! 

opened in 1943, it instantly 

established the modern American 

“book musical” formula and served 

as the model for Broadway shows 

for decades to follow. 

May 12 - 13 // operaslo.org 

1351 Monterey Street . San Luis Obispo 

(805)783-2887 . clippersbarber.com 


ANTIQUE STREET FAIR 

Enjoy springtime while seeking out 

something old and something new. There 

is something for everyone at this sale. 

Downtown Cayucos becomes a pedestrian 

zone while browsers and shoppers can 

checkout the many goods and cuisine being 

offered by local and visiting vendors. And 

new this year, antique trailers will be parked 

on the bluffs for viewing. 

May 6 // cayucoschamber.com 

PASO ROBLES WINE 

FESTIVAL 

Now in its 36th year, Wine Fest is a 

Paso Robles tradition when wineries 

bring the Paso Robles region to one 

central location for two days of events 

in the Downtown Park. Venture into 

wine country for events at more than 

100 wineries all weekend long. Enjoy 

a Grand Tasting, Reserve Event, 

Winemaker Seminar, Big Bottle 

Dinner, and Winemaker Dinner. 

May 17 - 20 // pasowine.com


HOMECOMING 

starts with a home. 

BHGREHaven.com 

For generations, people have turned to Better Homes & Gardens for 

guidance on how to live the lives of their dreams. From skyline to 

shoreline and everything in between, Better Homes and Gardens Real 

Estate Haven Properties is here to help you find the perfect home in 

which to bring those dreams to life. 


Expect Better. SM 

805.592.2050

SLO LIFE Magazine Apr/May 2018

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