SLO LIFE Magazine Apr/May 2019
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>LIFE</strong><br />
<strong>SLO</strong>magazine<br />
REAL ESTATE<br />
BY THE NUMB<br />
LOCAL<br />
TASTE<br />
EVENT<br />
CALEND<br />
HEATING<br />
UP THE<br />
KITCHEN<br />
EXP<br />
BOU<br />
CENTRAL COAST<br />
<strong>LIFE</strong> & STYLE<br />
FAMILY<br />
SCENE<br />
WINE<br />
NOTES<br />
ON THE<br />
RISE<br />
EWING<br />
AVOR<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
<strong>SLO</strong><strong>LIFE</strong>MAGAZINE.COM<br />
MEET<br />
CARA CRYE<br />
FOURTH GENERATION<br />
MAKING HER MARK<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 1
THE DREAM TEAM<br />
Design Web Apparel Mail Print Promo<br />
2226 Beebee St, San Luis Obispo, CA 805.543.6844 prpco.com<br />
cfd<br />
2 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
M O D E R N • C L A S S I C • J E W E L R Y<br />
1128 GARDEN STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO WWW.BAXTERMOERMAN.COM<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 3
Cal Poly Art and Design Department | Art Director: Shaina Kim, Designer: Briana Jackson | Photographers: Ally Evans, Noelle Merrihew, Ysabel Sullivan<br />
from school<br />
to<br />
my lo<br />
commute<br />
easily<br />
cal<br />
internship.<br />
s me<br />
<strong>SLO</strong> Transit let<br />
1 Find your route 2 Enjoy the ride 3 Reach your destination<br />
4 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
slotransit.org
Close your eyes. What do you see?<br />
Floor to ceiling windows with endless vistas. ..<br />
Smooth plaster walls with exposed beams. ..<br />
An open space with warm, cozy woods. ..<br />
Natural stone and reclaimed planks. ..<br />
Modern lines and minimalistic details. ..<br />
A home built with sustainability in mind?<br />
We can do that.<br />
BUILDALLEN.COM | 805.884.8777 | LICENSE #503300<br />
REMODELS | CUSTOM HOMES | ESTATES<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 5
6 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
GENERAL BUILDING CONTRACTORS . LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS<br />
805.704.7559 License 731695<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 7
All-around amazing kid<br />
Evelyn Nappier would appear<br />
to be rather enjoying the amazing<br />
Santa Barbara Strawberry ice cream<br />
from McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams<br />
on Monterey Street in Downtown <strong>SLO</strong>.<br />
Denim Jacket by H&M.<br />
sanluisobispocollection.com<br />
#sanluisobispocollection<br />
Eat like a Local.<br />
40 world-class brands in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo.<br />
Court Street • Monterey Street • Downtown Centre<br />
8 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 9
<strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
magazine<br />
CONTENTS<br />
Volume<br />
10<br />
Number 2<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>/<strong>May</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
40<br />
CARA CRYE<br />
This fourth generation local<br />
walks us through a day in<br />
the life as CEO of a longtime<br />
Central Coast business.<br />
14<br />
16<br />
18<br />
20<br />
Publisher’s Message<br />
Info<br />
On the Cover<br />
In Box<br />
10 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
24<br />
26<br />
30<br />
Briefs<br />
Check out the latest news highlight reel.<br />
Timeline<br />
We take a look at local events from the past two months.<br />
View<br />
A looming winter storm didn’t stop MARK NAKAMURA<br />
from capturing the scene from Terrace Hill.
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 11
| CONTENTS<br />
32<br />
34<br />
36<br />
38<br />
Q&A<br />
New to the helm as President and CEO<br />
of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of<br />
Commerce, JIM DANTONA is ready to<br />
settle into the role.<br />
Now Hear This<br />
Punk rock roots keep STEVEN BURT an<br />
active part of the local garage band scene.<br />
Family<br />
Ready to play, PADEN HUGHES takes<br />
a trip to Atascadero to check out their<br />
newest spot for family fun.<br />
On the Rise<br />
As the soccer MVP at San Luis Obispo High<br />
School, senior BRANDEN DOLEZAL is<br />
ready for the bright lights of the stadium.<br />
68<br />
72<br />
Real Estate<br />
Look no further for insight into the local housing market<br />
as we share the year-to-date statistics of home sales<br />
for both the city and the county of San Luis Obispo.<br />
Health<br />
Always keeping our finger on the pulse, we researched<br />
and analyzed the latest findings that keep us ticking.<br />
78<br />
Taste<br />
Just in time for spring picnics, JAIME LEWIS makes the<br />
pilgrimage to our locally owned and operated delis to<br />
find the perfect sandwich for noshing.<br />
54<br />
Dwelling<br />
CHRISTOPHER and BAMBI BANYS reveal<br />
the rustic details and ornate design of<br />
their hacienda-style home.<br />
86<br />
88<br />
92<br />
96<br />
Kitchen<br />
Keeping fresh and healthy along with quick and easy<br />
top-of-mind, CHEF JESSIE RIVAS shares this Asian<br />
inspired salmon dish.<br />
Wine Notes<br />
Looking for a wine to match our California sunshine,<br />
ANDRIA MCGHEE takes in the crisp flavor of dry Riesling.<br />
Brew<br />
If you have ever wondered what makes a beer, well, a<br />
beer, you’ve found the right guy. Get ready to drink it in<br />
as BRANT MYERS explains it all.<br />
Happenings<br />
Looking for something to do? We’ve got you covered.<br />
Check out the calendar to discover the best events<br />
around the Central Coast in <strong>Apr</strong>il and <strong>May</strong>.<br />
12 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 13
| PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE<br />
A month or so ago, we replaced our bed. It had a good run, at least ten years, but it had started to falter lately.<br />
I was surprised by the emotions that welled up when they hauled off that misshapen old mattress down the<br />
hallway toward its ultimate resting place.<br />
My family was in expansion mode when we bought that bed, with our third child on the way. Tempur-Pedic<br />
was the new thing back then; it was made of memory foam “originally developed by NASA for its<br />
astronauts,” according to the sales guy. If it was good enough for astronauts, it would be good enough for the<br />
five of us. I say “the five of us” because we’ve always had an open bed policy.<br />
Any kid who wants to sleep with Mom and Dad are welcome, and pretty much every night we could count<br />
on at least one of them joining us at some point, usually all three. A debate rages among young parents as to<br />
whether or not a “family bed” makes sense, but for us, we would not have had it any other way. And we did<br />
try. When our first-born, Geneva, was still a toddler, we would walk her back to her own bed over and over<br />
again in the dead of night. But, she was more determined than us and kept walking right back. After a while,<br />
she wore us down. When the little shadow would appear in the doorway, we would reflexively lift blankets, she would climb in, and we would all fall<br />
asleep. It seemed innocent at the time, but then the cycle would repeat with each new kid who became mobile enough to join us.<br />
When we went to the bed store, the salesman attempted to talk me into upgrading our queen-size bed to a California king. Taking measure of my<br />
six feet and three inches, he noted the extra length, which would allow me to stretch out my full frame. Expertly detailing the difference between the<br />
California king, which is longer, and the standard king, which is wider, he informed me that, in my case, it was better to have those extra four inches<br />
added to the length rather than to the width. The bed sales guy did not know my family very well. That extra real estate, those extra four inches of width,<br />
when you have five people sleeping in one bed, is the equivalent of a city block in midtown Manhattan.<br />
That old memory foam—if it had any sort of memory anywhere close to what the sales guy claimed—could recite lines from Doctor Seuss and<br />
“Goodnight Moon,” as just about every day ended with family bedtime stories right there on the Tempur-Pedic. With everyone piled in, they would be<br />
ushered off to dreamland along with the three little bears sitting in chairs and the cow jumping over the moon. One by one, their breathing would slow into<br />
that ancient rhythm of nocturnal bliss. And, one by one, I would carry them back to their own beds. Goodnight noises everywhere.<br />
A few hours later, the shadows would again fill the lower half of the doorway, and the blankets would be lifted as three little ones burrowed their way<br />
into the middle. Each time, I would be pushed a little farther out, each time congratulating myself for holding my ground with the bed sales guy. Those<br />
four inches were coming in handy, as kids were doing what kids do in the middle of the night: push, pull, spin, kick, cuddle, elbow, and roll. It has been<br />
reported that Eskimos have 50 different words for “snow” and, if that is true, I have at least that many to describe “sleep.” You never knew what you<br />
were going to get one night to the next. But, one thing was for certain, when you woke up in the morning, everyone would be somewhere different than<br />
where they started. Except for me, I always clung to my four-inch sliver of prime turf.<br />
Over the years, the king-sized piece of astronaut foam became the headquarters for fort-making, Barbie-styling, board game-playing, and later,<br />
wrestling. Somewhere along the line, our boys were exposed to WWE, which stands for World Wrestling Entertainment. The emphasis should be on<br />
the word “entertainment,” because it is really nothing more than a giant soap opera for muscle-bound alpha males wearing tiny speedos. Many hours<br />
were spent on that old bed mimicking Randy K. Orton’s signature attack, the dreaded RKO. It was one RKO, in particular, that was embedded deep into<br />
the Tempur-Pedic’s memory. I cannot remember who was on offense, it was either Donovan or Harrison, but the familiar refrain, “RKO!” was shouted<br />
out followed by the equally familiar thud on the mattress. Only, this time, it was also accompanied by a massive crash-boom.<br />
I raced down the hallway where I found my boys wide-eyed in shock after their wrestling arena had collapsed below them. Bending down on my hands<br />
and knees, I could see that the middle of the frame had snapped, and since the edges remained intact, the mattress took the form of a taco shell. That<br />
night, and for many beyond, we piled into our newly christened “taco bed,” only this time, I had lost that four-inch strip of prime territory because I<br />
would roll, just like the rest of us, into the middle of everything—the best memory of all.<br />
I would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to everyone who had a hand in producing this issue of <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> and, most of all,<br />
to our advertisers and subscribers—we couldn’t do it without you.<br />
Live the <strong>SLO</strong> Life!<br />
Taco Bed<br />
Tom Franciskovich<br />
tom@slolifemagazine.com<br />
Get the story within the story by going to GrowWithTom.com and<br />
subscribing to Tom’s Bombs to receive the next installment.<br />
14 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
TILE SHOWROOM & NATURAL STONE SLAB YARD<br />
CUSTOM COUNTEROP FABRICATION & INSTALLATION<br />
SHOWROOM HOURS MON-FRI 10-5, SAT 10-3 SLMARBLE.COM, 5452 ENDA RD<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 15
<strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
magazine<br />
4251 S. HIGUERA STREET, SUITE 800, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA<br />
<strong>SLO</strong><strong>LIFE</strong>MAGAZINE.COM<br />
info@slolifemagazine.com<br />
(805) 543-8600 • (805) 456-1677 fax<br />
PUBLISHER<br />
Tom Franciskovich<br />
Elder Placements realizes the<br />
IMPORTANCE of listening to the<br />
client, in order to find the appropriate:<br />
Independent Living<br />
Assisted Living<br />
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Homes<br />
Let their experienced Certified Senior<br />
Advisors take you on a tour to find the<br />
Retirement Home or Community that<br />
fits your loved ones Medical, Financial<br />
and Social needs, at NO Cost to you.<br />
CREATIVE DIRECTOR<br />
Sheryl Disher<br />
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS<br />
Paden Hughes<br />
Jaime Lewis<br />
Andria McGhee<br />
Brant Myers<br />
Jessie Rivas<br />
Shawn Strong<br />
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS<br />
Caroline Attwood<br />
Ingrid Hofstra<br />
David Lalush<br />
Mark Nakamura<br />
Vanessa Plakias<br />
Sven Wilhelm<br />
CONTRIBUTIONS<br />
Have some comments or feedback about something you’ve read here?<br />
Or, do you have something on your mind that you think everyone should<br />
know about? Submit your story ideas, events, recipes, and announcements<br />
by visiting us online at slolifemagazine.com and clicking “Share Your Story” or<br />
emailing us at info@slolifemagazine.com. Be sure to include your full name<br />
and city for verification purposes. Contributions chosen for publication may<br />
be edited for clarity and space limitations.<br />
ADVERTISING<br />
If you would like to advertise, please contact Tom Franciskovich by phone<br />
at (805) 543-8600 or by email at tom@slolifemagazine.com or visit us<br />
online at slolifemagazine.com/advertise and we will send you a complete<br />
media kit along with testimonials from happy advertisers.<br />
Nicole Pazdan, CSA,<br />
Contact us today for FREE placement assistance.<br />
(805) 546-8777<br />
elderplacementprofessionals.com<br />
16 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
SUBSCRIPTIONS<br />
Ready to live the <strong>SLO</strong> Life all year long? It’s quick and easy! Just log on to<br />
slolifemagazine.com/subscribe. It’s just $24.95 for the year. And don’t<br />
forget to set your friends and family up with a subscription, too. It’s the<br />
gift that keeps on giving!<br />
NOTE<br />
The opinions expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect those of<br />
<strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole<br />
or in part without the express written permission of the publisher.<br />
CIRCULATION, COVERAGE, AND ADVERTISING RATES<br />
Complete details regarding circulation, coverage, and advertising<br />
rates, space, sizes and similar information are available to prospective<br />
advertisers. Please call or email for a media kit. Closing date is 30 days<br />
before date of issue.<br />
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR<br />
info@slolifemagazine.com<br />
4251 S. Higuera Street, Suite 800<br />
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401<br />
Letters chosen for publication may be edited for clarity and space limitations.
Baby Friendly<br />
Sierra Vista<br />
Birth & Baby Fair<br />
for New & Expecting Families<br />
<strong>May</strong> 18, <strong>2019</strong><br />
10am–2pm<br />
1010 Murray Avenue, San Luis Obispo<br />
Nursing Nook • Car Seat Checks • Baby CPR • Raffles • Birth Center Tours • Local Birthing Resources • Kids Play Area • Prenatal Yoga<br />
Meet local birth & baby professionals who can help you navigate the journeys of<br />
pregnancy and parenting! Gain access to important local resources and businesses<br />
available to you and your growing family. Meet physicians, doulas, midwives, massage<br />
therapists, photographers, lactation consultants, childbirth educators and more!<br />
SierraVistaBirthCenter.com Tour Our Birth Center: (844) 367-0832<br />
365<br />
On-Site<br />
Obstetrician<br />
& NICU<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 17
| ON THE COVER<br />
A SNEAK PEEK<br />
BEHIND the scenes<br />
WITH CARA CRYE<br />
BY VANESSA PLAKIAS<br />
We met at her office in the administration part of the<br />
building. And the first thing I noticed as I walked by was<br />
her incredible view: just spectacular. She’s got all these<br />
windows framing the rolling green hills in the distance. It’s<br />
very rural looking even though she’s very close to the city. I<br />
would say it’s one of the best places in the world to have an<br />
office. It was lovely, but unintimidating. Just a nice space. It<br />
felt very welcoming.<br />
I also got some shots of the cactus part of the<br />
garden because, honestly, that is one of my<br />
favorites. And, I think it’s one of the trendiest<br />
things at the moment. People are discovering the<br />
cactus. It’s very hip and now; it’s what you are<br />
seeing people use inside and outside their homes.<br />
She had a great rapport with all of her employees; you could<br />
tell they genuinely liked each other. A lot of fun banter and<br />
joking around. Everyone was happy working there, including<br />
Cara. It was just a really nice workspace, nice environment.<br />
I noticed this purple magnolia—I think that’s<br />
what it was. They had just got it in their<br />
nursery. It was incredible, just glorious, so<br />
beautiful. It doesn’t even look real. I’m going<br />
to go back to buy one myself, if they don’t<br />
sell out. <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
18 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
a place for modern living.<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 19
| IN BOX<br />
Take us with you!<br />
Hey, <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> readers: Send us your photos the next time you’re relaxing in town or traveling<br />
far and away with your copy of the magazine. Email us at info@slolifemagazine.com<br />
KEYSTONE, COLORADO<br />
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA<br />
KESTRIN (6), PIPER (4), and EVERLY (1)<br />
BURJ KALIFA, DUBAI, UAE<br />
JOHN and MANH CHAU<br />
NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA<br />
<strong>SLO</strong> NEWCOMERS<br />
LOREN EYLER<br />
20 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
PHANTOM RANCH, GRAND CANYON<br />
PULA, CROATIA<br />
ALINA REA and NIKO ZEN CIMBUR<br />
AMY OLIN and SONJA WIECK<br />
Woo-hoo! It’s a whole lot of fun visiting family and<br />
friends in Europe, but even better when <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong> comes along.<br />
YOSEMITE VALLEY<br />
TAHITI<br />
BREESE, SHIN, and SVENDSEN FAMILIES<br />
RICK SANTOS and LISA RIVERA<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 21
| IN BOX<br />
Trekking with you!<br />
HOLLYWOOD CONNECTION<br />
VIENNA, AUSTRIA<br />
The <strong>SLO</strong> Life gets R.A.D. with Studio @ Ryan’s<br />
American Dancers at the Hollywood Connection<br />
Dance Competition in Burbank, California.<br />
CROCODILE TEMPLE, NILE RIVER, EGYPT<br />
AMY KARDEL and FRIENDS<br />
NEW ZEALAND<br />
JIM and SALLY BROOKS-SCHULKE<br />
BOB and VICKI SMILEY<br />
22 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
Please send your photos and comments to info@slolifemagazine.com<br />
Follow <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> on Facebook: Visit facebook.com/slolifemagazine<br />
Visit us online at slolifemagazine.com<br />
Letters may be edited for content and clarity.<br />
To be considered for publication your letter should include your name, address, phone number, or email address (for authentication purposes).
Because you deserve the very best.<br />
Let The Avenue guide you home.<br />
Chris Engelskirger<br />
Owner/Broker<br />
Amy Daane<br />
Owner/REALTOR®<br />
Jed Damschroder<br />
Owner/REALTOR®<br />
Denise Silva Topham<br />
REALTOR®<br />
Kellye Grayson<br />
REALTOR®<br />
Doug Cutler<br />
REALTOR®<br />
Krissy Bellisario<br />
REALTOR®<br />
Sacha Steel<br />
REALTOR®<br />
Bart Topham<br />
REALTOR®<br />
Mukta Naran<br />
REALTOR®<br />
THE AVENUE CENTRAL COAST REALTY<br />
REAL ESTATE | PROPERTY MANAGEMENT | IN-HOUSE MARKETING<br />
1333 JOHNSON AVE, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401 | (805) 548 2670 | THEAVENUE<strong>SLO</strong>.COM<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 23
| BRIEFS<br />
$75,649<br />
The average salary for teachers in the San<br />
Luis Coastal Unified School District,<br />
which puts them among the top earners<br />
in San Luis Obispo County and equal to<br />
many in the San Joaquin Valley. However,<br />
with median home prices well over<br />
$600,000 versus approximately $250,000 in<br />
Fresno, for example, the disparity is putting<br />
a strain on the district’s ability to attract<br />
and retain teachers locally.<br />
“There is a<br />
wall of gum.<br />
Just FYI.”<br />
Rainn Wilson, who played the character<br />
Dwight Schrute on the hit show “The<br />
Office,” commenting on Facebook about<br />
Bubblegum Alley during his recent visit to<br />
San Luis Obispo.<br />
#7<br />
A new report issued by the National<br />
Association of Home Builders put the San<br />
Luis Obispo-Arroyo Grande-Paso Robles<br />
area in seventh place on its least affordable<br />
places to buy a home list. Each of the<br />
top ten least affordable places were in<br />
California, and of the 237 areas surveyed,<br />
Elmira, New York was identified as the<br />
most affordable.<br />
“We’re<br />
not<br />
leaving.”<br />
Rick Stollmeyer, CEO of Mindbody,<br />
assured the Tribune in an interview after his<br />
company was acquired by San Franciscobased<br />
venture capital company Vista Equity<br />
Partners for $1.9 billion.<br />
660,253<br />
The number of gallons of rain that has<br />
fallen so far on San Luis Obispo County<br />
during an unexpectedly wet season,<br />
which is enough to fill two million<br />
Olympic-sized swimming pools, as well<br />
as end the eight-year drought.<br />
“THANKFULLY no<br />
one was injured!”<br />
Scout Coffee Co. of San Luis Obispo<br />
wrote on their Instagram page after<br />
posting a photo showing the damage<br />
done at their Foothill Boulevard location<br />
when a truck slammed into their shop<br />
at approximately 8 a.m. on a Saturday<br />
morning, just before opening for the day.<br />
62<br />
The number of years after her death in<br />
1957 that Julia Morgan finally received<br />
an obituary in The New York Times as part<br />
of its “Overlooked” project. Morgan was<br />
the first woman to become licensed as an<br />
architect in California and she went on to<br />
design Hearst Castle in San Simeon, the<br />
Monday Club in San Luis Obispo, and<br />
close to 800 additional projects.<br />
“There’s<br />
a magic<br />
land named<br />
Nipomo…”<br />
The host of CBS’s “Let’s Make a Deal,”<br />
Wayne Brady, sang in a song he made up<br />
off-the-cuff on the air after game show<br />
contestant Shawn Fuggs, a Santa Maria<br />
Police Officer, gushed about the great<br />
weather in his hometown.<br />
$561<br />
65,155<br />
The amount of the fine the City of San Luis<br />
The number of applications Cal Poly<br />
Obispo will begin assessing those who are<br />
received for its <strong>2019</strong> freshman class for the apparently tossing confetti in the air for a<br />
approximately 5,000 spots available, which selfie shot on top of Terrace Hill without<br />
fell just short of last year’s record set at 65,507. cleaning up the mess afterward. <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
24 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
C O M M E R C I A L & R E S I D E N T I A L<br />
MASTER<br />
OF ALL<br />
THINGS ROAD.<br />
Since 1999, Ramsey Asphalt Construction has been performing quality asphalt services<br />
throughout the Central Coast. We recognize with each project we complete contributes<br />
to the quality of life in our community, so we make the integrity of workmanship and our<br />
relationship with our clients our highest priority.<br />
www.RamseyAsphalt.com<br />
Lic# 881030 A/C12/C32<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 25
| TIMELINE<br />
Around the County<br />
FEBRUARY ’19<br />
2/1<br />
Plains All American Pipeline applied for permits to rebuild its 124-mile pipeline<br />
across much of the Central Coast, which would allow ExxonMobil to restart its<br />
offshore oil production that came to a halt following the oil spill north of Santa<br />
Barbara four years ago. Last year, Plains was convicted of several crimes related<br />
to the spill, including a felony count for its failure to properly maintain the line,<br />
failing to report the spill, and for killing wildlife. The plan has again created<br />
friction between local environmentalists and multinational oil companies, and the<br />
debate is expected to intensify when public hearings begin.<br />
2/24<br />
Citing the hardship caused by $30 billion in potential<br />
claims by victims of California wild fires, PG&E bowed<br />
to pressure from creditors and opted to cancel $130<br />
million in bonuses to its employees. The company,<br />
which entered bankruptcy in January, also admitted that<br />
its equipment was the likely cause of the Camp Fire.<br />
Local policymakers continue to watch the bankruptcy<br />
proceedings very closely, and with great trepidation.<br />
The utility had previously agreed to an $85 million<br />
settlement with a variety of San Luis Obispo County<br />
entities, including the San Luis Coastal Unified School<br />
District, as part of its decommissioning of the Diablo<br />
Canyon nuclear power plant. Since the agreement had<br />
been ratified into state law, experts remain “cautiously<br />
optimistic” that the funds will ultimately come through<br />
as planned.<br />
2/1<br />
The County of San Luis Obispo entered the first year of its contract with Wellpath,<br />
which will administer health care services at the County Jail. The first year is expected<br />
to cost tax payers approximately $6.5 million and will employ between 40 and 50<br />
medical professionals. Sheriff Ian Parkinson initiated the outsourcing of health care<br />
at the jail following increasing incidents of inmate neglect, including the high profile<br />
death of Andrew Holland two years ago, who had been strapped to a restraint chair<br />
for 46 hours.<br />
2/21<br />
San Luis Obispo <strong>May</strong>or Heidi Harmon issued a statement encouraging “mayors<br />
across the U.S.” to consider “breaking up” with Amazon. Later, she attempted<br />
to walk back the statement and insisted that the Tribune had mischaracterized<br />
her writing as a call to boycott the ecommerce giant. Later, she wrote an op-ed<br />
piece in the paper which stated, “I want to clarify… that I did not use the word<br />
‘boycott;’ that was the Tribune’s word choice.” To which the paper’s editorial<br />
board responded in a piece titled “In blaming the media, <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>May</strong>or Heidi<br />
Harmon is sounding a lot like Donald Trump,” where they argued that she was,<br />
in fact, calling for a boycott, and said, “She used the terms ‘quitting’ and ‘leaving’<br />
and ‘break up,’ and she invited mayors across the nation to join her in ditching<br />
(our word – not hers) Amazon.”<br />
2/27<br />
The San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors rejected<br />
a proposal by Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong to<br />
“increase voter enfranchisement and participation.”<br />
Citing the cost totaling $164,000, the vote broke<br />
along familiar lines pitting the conservatives against<br />
the liberals: John Peschong, Debbie Arnold, and Lynn<br />
Compton voted “no,” while Adam Hill and Bruce<br />
Gibson voted “yes.” Had it passed, a variety of changes<br />
would have been implemented, including expanding<br />
mailing ballots to everyone and keeping polling<br />
centers open for ten days (while also closing some)<br />
and was designed to make it more convenient for<br />
working people to vote.<br />
26 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
MARCH ’19<br />
3/12<br />
The Board of Supervisors unanimously ratified a landmark<br />
plan for the promotion of affordable housing in San Luis<br />
Obispo County. With a variety of funding mechanisms in<br />
place, the supervisors are looking to generate between $2<br />
and $4 million annually to make homes more affordable.<br />
This summer, county staff are expected to present a range<br />
of revenue options to pay for the program, including an<br />
affordable housing bond, a transient occupancy tax, and a sales<br />
tax increase. According to Supervisor Adam Hill, “We have a<br />
massive affordability problem, and this county has not been a<br />
part of solving it.”<br />
3/1<br />
Following California State Park’s admission that it was unable to reduce<br />
the emissions coming from off-road recreational vehicles at Oceano Dunes,<br />
Ted Cabral, one of nine commissioners on the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle<br />
Recreation Commission, went on a five-minute rant during a public hearing<br />
in Palmdale where he accused the mitigation efforts of the San Luis Obispo<br />
Air Pollution Control District of being “stupid” and needing to be “pushed<br />
back against” and “told to stand down.” He argued further that the park<br />
should be expanded claiming “this is a state property,” which is not true.<br />
The land is actually owned by the County of San Luis Obispo and leased<br />
to State Parks. The Board of Supervisors, as the landlord, could prohibit<br />
off-road activity to protect the health of its residents, if they so chose. The<br />
air downwind of the riding area, the Nipomo Mesa, is sometimes recorded<br />
as the worst in the country.<br />
3/5<br />
A lawsuit was filed against Animal Kingdom Pet Shop alleging a “puppy<br />
laundering” scheme. In addition to the pet store, which has locations<br />
in Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and Santa Maria, the suit filed by the<br />
non-profit dog advocacy group Bailing Out Benji and the Animal Legal<br />
Defense Fund, an Iowa operation called Bark Adoptions was accused of<br />
participating in the scheme where purebred dogs are “kept in small and<br />
squalid cages to give birth to a constant inventory of puppies for retail sale.”<br />
A state law passed in 2017 mandates that pet stores acquire their dogs, cats,<br />
and rabbits for sale from non-profit animal shelters or rescue groups.<br />
3/18<br />
Downtown <strong>SLO</strong>, formerly the Downtown Association,<br />
announced its plan to hire eight downtown ambassadors,<br />
which would include the one it already has on staff, to greet<br />
visitors, collect trash, report crimes, and connect the homeless<br />
to services. The program’s expansion, currently in the planning<br />
stages, would require an assessment of downtown businesses to<br />
finance the $800,000 per year needed to fund the operation. A<br />
petition must be completed before the assessment, known as the<br />
initiative for a Property-Based Business Improvement District<br />
(PBID), can go to a vote by the property owners within the<br />
downtown boundaries.<br />
3/19<br />
After nearly four years of closure due to structural safety<br />
concerns, the Avila Beach Pier is expected to partially reopen<br />
in the coming months. The Port San Luis Harbor District<br />
general manager Andrea Lueker said that the pier was found to<br />
be structurally sound in a recent assessment up to “bent 58,” a<br />
section approximately halfway down the wooden pier. The hope<br />
is to reopen to that point ahead of the busy summer season. In<br />
2015, when large crowds of onlookers gathered on the pier to<br />
watch the visiting whales, harbor officials noted unusual swaying<br />
in the structure and decided to have it analyzed. The findings<br />
determined that it was unsafe, however, the follow-up load<br />
capacity study proved that the structure could, in fact, handle foot<br />
traffic to a greater degree than previously thought. <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 27
E X P EC T B E T T ERSM<br />
ORCUTT<br />
www.5866OAKHILL.com<br />
Country living and grandeur have officially united to produce this luxurious colonial style estate nestled in the rolling hills of the esteemed Oakhill Estates<br />
Community. Boasting an abundant 5100 sq ft, this 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom luxury home located on over an acre truly reflects the union of traditional architecture<br />
with modern efficiency and upgrades. The gourmet kitchen features incredible upgrades including a new Wolf range, Sub-Zero refrigerator, butlers pantry, wine<br />
room, farm sink, and custom walnut center island. Additional features include solar infrastructure, double offices, a sunny informal breakfast room with fireplace,<br />
formal dining room, English pub style bar, bonus storage area, gazebo, greenhouse, and exceptional outdoor entertaining area including a built-in BBQ and spa.<br />
GAVIN PAYNE, BROKER/OWNER, LIC. #01381849 805.550.3918<br />
ARROYO GRANDE<br />
Experience panoramic views of Edna Valley wine<br />
country from this 3376 sqft French Farmhouse<br />
style home. Located on 10+ acres, quality<br />
features throughout include newly refinished<br />
hardwood flooring, whole house reverse osmosis<br />
system, new exterior paint, high ceilings, open<br />
floor plan, French doors throughout, lush<br />
landscaping, and yellow pine accents throughout.<br />
Property Website: www.1990Corbett.com<br />
GAVIN PAYNE<br />
BROKER/OWNER, LIC. #01381849<br />
805.550.3918<br />
SAN LUIS OBISPO<br />
A rare opportunity to find such a unique property!<br />
Two homes with year round creek and a short<br />
distance to downtown. Remodeled 2 bedroom, ¾<br />
bath home is adorned with beautiful accent tiles,<br />
hammered copper farm-style sink, stainless steel<br />
appliances, and a sunny kitchen nook. The<br />
main/back two bedroom home, is entered via the<br />
second story patio with a built in gas BBQ.<br />
Property Website: www.1232Iris.com<br />
TERRY GILLESPIE<br />
REALTOR®, LIC. #01815083<br />
805.459.2022<br />
SAN LUIS OBISPO<br />
Located in one of the prime banana belt areas of<br />
<strong>SLO</strong>, this classic 1950’s home is built for living<br />
and truly lends the buyer many options to create a<br />
home of their dreams or invest in student housing.<br />
Rare investment opportunity is ready for your<br />
inspiration, design, and expertise. Bring your<br />
contractor and your Pinterest account!! Bright and<br />
spacious living with a beautiful fenced yard.<br />
Property Website: www.2605Flora.com<br />
MARHTA TORKINGTON<br />
BROKER ASSOCIATE, LIC. #00975466<br />
805.888-9522<br />
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Haven Properties<br />
547 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401<br />
805 Main Street, Morro Bay, CA 93442<br />
805.592.2050<br />
28 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
BHGREHAVEN.COM
E X P EC T B E T T ER<br />
FOR SALE: 4577WAVERTREE.COM<br />
FOR SALE: 6260INDEPENDENCE.COM<br />
212FOOTHILL.COM<br />
It’s the lifestyle you deserve… enjoy the spectacular ocean views<br />
from this 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath move-in ready, opulent home in<br />
prestigious Rancho Pacifica. Nestled in the foothills above Shell<br />
Beach, it is just minutes from beaches, world-class dining and wineries.<br />
Attention to detail is evident in this grand home with the feel of a<br />
Tuscan villa - beautifully appointed free-flowing main floor with<br />
hand-scraped wood and travertine flooring, high ceilings, expansive<br />
windows, chef’s kitchen with top of the line Thermador professional<br />
appliances and granite counters, custom lighting, home theatre<br />
system with media closet, 3 fireplaces, wine cellar and luxurious<br />
master suite on the main floor with jetted tub and oversized closet.<br />
UNDER CONTRACT<br />
LINDA BUTLER<br />
805.801.5914<br />
BROKER • LIC #00597458<br />
LINDA@HAVEN<strong>SLO</strong>.COM<br />
ViewSanLuisObispoHomes.com<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 29
| VIEW<br />
COMPLETE<br />
When Mark Nakamura checked the weather forecast<br />
the morning of February 19th, he could not believe<br />
his eyes: Snow was expected to dust San Luis Obispo<br />
County later that afternoon. Snow.<br />
The long-time local photographer monitored the storm throughout the<br />
day, attempting to time his ascent of Terrace Hill where he would post up<br />
at his favorite spot to watch his city transform into a Winter Wonderland.<br />
After trudging along the old, familiar path, Nakamura planted the tripod<br />
into the ground next to the bench and fastened the Canon 5D Mark IV<br />
into its proper place. Then, as if a fisherman casting a line into the depths<br />
of San Luis Bay, he waited.<br />
With sunshine drenching his hometown, he looked down at his watch and<br />
noted the time: 3:46 p.m. Snapping away, he captured the landscape you<br />
see here looking north toward Cerro San Luis and Bishop Peak, which is<br />
actually the panoramic composite of four shots stitched into one. As he<br />
became lost in the subject squared-up in the viewfinder, something told<br />
him to have a look behind. Wheeling around in place revealed a soupy,<br />
angry darkness, traveling at a brisk pace, chewing up the landscape as it<br />
sped toward the photographer. Pivoting, he captured the giant after it had<br />
swallowed Tower Hill whole, leaving a tiny rainbow in its wake.<br />
Checking the time again, it was 4:33. Then, at 4:34, it happened.<br />
Nakamura struggles to find the vocabulary that is mostly missing from<br />
30 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
PICTURE<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK NAKAMURA<br />
Central Coast vernacular. “It started raining; then it was kind of a slush. I<br />
don’t know if it was snow, really, but it was rain; and then hail, then some<br />
snow mixed all together. I guess they call it sleet.”<br />
Whatever was falling from the “pitch black clouds” wrapping their<br />
burly arms around Nakamura, it was certainly different than the<br />
normal experience atop his usual perch overlooking the city. And,<br />
that is why he remembers it: 4:34, February 19th, snow, or sleet, or<br />
whatever it was, appeared for a rare and very short visit, a moment<br />
captured in time. A moment marking the climax of winter, the turning<br />
point in the story where the plot is resolved, the resolution arrives at<br />
last—and the picture is complete. <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 31
| Q&A<br />
THAT’S ME<br />
After just a couple of months into his new role as the President and CEO of the<br />
San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, JIM DANTONA stopped by the office<br />
to introduce himself. In addition to a deep dive into topical issues, such as the<br />
decommissioning of Diablo Canyon, uncertainty surrounding the acquisition<br />
of MindBody, and workforce housing, we were also treated to a wide-ranging<br />
conversation getting to know him on a personal level. Here are some highlights…<br />
Jim, let’s take it from the top. Where are you from?<br />
I was actually born in Granada Hills, moved to Simi<br />
Valley when I was around eight, and spent most of<br />
my life there. I was, and still am, a sports fanatic,<br />
especially baseball. My dad was a chief of staff to a<br />
state senator, so I was around politics very early in<br />
my life. After I blew out my arm, I thought that I<br />
wanted to get into politics also. My long-term goal<br />
was to become a politician myself. That never came to<br />
fruition, but I ended up doing a lot of private sector<br />
work, working in human resources and accounting<br />
up in Sacramento, Folsom; and, then later, I ended up<br />
becoming the chief of staff to three different elected<br />
officials around L.A. where I spent much of my time<br />
interacting with local chambers of commerce.<br />
Did you ever run for office? I did, actually. In 2000,<br />
I ran for a local park board seat, which was during<br />
the Bush-Gore debacle. My race was between me<br />
and another woman, and we were separated by just<br />
three votes. We actually had a recount going on the<br />
same time Florida was doing their recounts. So, the<br />
local papers were playing up the Bush-Gore thing,<br />
only it was Dantona-O’Brien. I ended up losing that<br />
race by a couple of votes, but it didn’t dissuade me.<br />
I was determined to keep trying. About three years<br />
ago, I decided that I was going to run for state senate.<br />
And the more I got into it, the more I realized that it<br />
just was not for me. I decided to back out of the race<br />
before it ever really started and have waved off the<br />
idea of ever becoming an elected official. You know,<br />
it’s a very difficult time for anybody that runs, and<br />
particularly for your spouse, no matter who you are,<br />
or at what level.<br />
Speaking of spouse, let’s hear about how you met<br />
your wife. Sure. We met at Moorpark Junior College.<br />
We had a political science class together. I was one<br />
of those typical baseball guys sitting in the back of<br />
the classroom with my hat on—it was this bright red<br />
Philadelphia Phillies hat. Now, pay attention to this<br />
hat because it will become important to understand<br />
this story. So, I’m sitting way in the back and she<br />
walks in and settles into a seat toward the front. I was<br />
pretty taken by her the minute she walked in. The<br />
class ended and I went to my second class, and then<br />
she walks in again, and once again she finds a seat<br />
toward the front of the class. So, over the course of<br />
a few days, maybe it was a couple of weeks, I slowly<br />
started to make my way toward where she was<br />
sitting. One day, I’d move up a couple of seats.<br />
The next day, another one, continually heading<br />
her way. As she would tell this story later, she<br />
remembers seeing this red hat closing in over<br />
her shoulder as she thought, “Oh, great.” One day,<br />
I finally made it to the desk behind her, and she said<br />
to herself, “Well, he’s made that much effort, so I<br />
guess I can say, ‘Hi.’” I mustered up the courage to say<br />
something and we started talking.<br />
Please, go on… We both ended up transferring<br />
to Sacramento State to study political science. We<br />
did some work up there after graduating. Then, we<br />
eventually came back to Southern California. But, we<br />
always had this dream of moving to San Luis Obispo,<br />
which is where my wife’s mom lives. Over the years, as<br />
we visited her, we came to fall in love with the place.<br />
So, one day, out of the blue, my mother-in-law calls<br />
me and says, “Hey, they’re looking for a new chamber<br />
CEO up here. Would you be interested in doing<br />
this kind of work?” And I said, “Yeah, absolutely!” I<br />
work almost exclusively with chambers. I understand<br />
their issues. I understand how they work. I’ve never<br />
actually worked in one, but I’d love the opportunity to<br />
tell them why I would be super helpful. So, I learned<br />
about the opportunity and submitted my resume<br />
because of my mother-in-law. And, that’s one of<br />
the great things about this community: there’s two<br />
degrees of separation max, right?<br />
Let’s close with the question we always like to ask:<br />
What would people be surprised to know about you?<br />
So, okay, I’m a huge fan of musicals. You may not<br />
expect that, but coming from a political background<br />
there is this element of performance and<br />
theatrics. There’s that old saying, “Politics is<br />
the entertainment industry for ugly people.” It’s<br />
really true. All politicians love the spotlight and there<br />
is absolutely a parallel to theatre. I remember seeing<br />
my first musical when I was around five. It was Jesus<br />
Christ Superstar, which is sort of a rock-opera. I liked<br />
it so much that my parents got me the record and I<br />
played it non-stop. Whenever there was a great show<br />
in L.A., I would go see it. I love live theatre. People<br />
are usually surprised to hear that because I am such a<br />
huge sports fan and would never guess that I wander<br />
around the halls singing songs from musicals. They<br />
say, “What? Was that you?” Yep, that’s me. <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
32 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 33
| NOW HEAR THIS<br />
PUNK ROCK ROOTS<br />
“To me, punk rock is the freedom to create, freedom to be successful,<br />
freedom to not be successful, freedom to be who you are. It’s freedom.” —Pattie Smith<br />
BY SHAWN STRONG<br />
34 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
Ipulled into a dark parking lot outside a row of<br />
seemingly empty warehouses and stepped out of my<br />
car. It was late at night and not even the crickets<br />
were awake as I scanned the building numbers<br />
looking for any sign of life. I finally arrived at number three and<br />
put my ear to the door trying to confirm that this was the studio<br />
I was looking for. Silence. My tentative knock was met with no<br />
response and I wondered if I had made a wrong turn somewhere.<br />
As a final effort, I decided to try the doorknob before officially<br />
giving up on my mission. The handle turned easily and suddenly<br />
I was hit with a wall of sound that filled the previously tranquil<br />
parking lot and business park I’d been wondering through. I<br />
stepped past the threshold and walked up a heavily worn staircase<br />
not knowing what to expect.<br />
Burt’s history is straight out of an issue of Rolling Stone. He enrolled<br />
in college at Cal Poly back in the ‘80s when punk rock was starting<br />
to expand and San Luis Obispo itself was home to a flourishing<br />
hardcore punk rock scene. He soon became a member of the<br />
underground bar scene that was made up of some of <strong>SLO</strong>’s most<br />
unique venues that are now, unfortunately, defunct. Throughout his<br />
college days, and for years after, Burt toured San Luis Obispo County<br />
and travelled up and down the California coastline playing with other<br />
local musicians as well as bands that had become household names<br />
within the alternative music scene. Remarkably, this dedication Burt<br />
and his fellow musicians had for the relatively small local scene drew<br />
the attention of some of the biggest names in punk rock history,<br />
including Black Flag, Bad Religion, Social Distortion, and Dead<br />
Kennedys, just to name a few.<br />
At the top was a scene straight out of a punk rocker’s fantasy: a<br />
group of four musicians mercilessly battering their instruments<br />
and singing/yelling at the top of their lungs. It was chaos. Yet,<br />
the thumping bass pedal and peeling guitar licks were perfectly<br />
in time and the group was completely in sync. My entrance was<br />
hardly noticed as the group roared through their song; a single<br />
nod toward the fully stocked beer fridge in the corner of the<br />
room was the extent of the acknowledgement I received. As I<br />
took a seat at the mixing board, the band set into the outro of<br />
their song and into a full minute of riotous noisemaking. When<br />
the last chord was struck, a moment passed as the din faded away<br />
to nearly deafening silence, immediately followed by raucous<br />
laughter as the group delved into a discussion about the positives<br />
and negatives of their performance, giving praise when possible<br />
but pulling no punches when it came to critiquing each other. It<br />
was a living, breathing rock band hidden away in a dark corner of<br />
the San Luis garage band scene.<br />
Burt opened a beer and chuckled to himself as he began to describe<br />
the October 10th, 1985 concert put on by the derelict Bay Area<br />
band Dead Kennedys in <strong>SLO</strong>’s very own Veterans Hall. Several local<br />
bands were set to open that night when the concert was cut short in<br />
what could only be described as one of the most punk rock events to<br />
ever take place in San Luis Obispo, as concertgoers and local police<br />
clashed in the streets, causing over ten thousand dollars in damage.<br />
Even as he told the story of people he knew who were arrested or<br />
injured during the chaos, a smile never left Burt’s face, and in his<br />
tone I couldn’t help but detect a sense of pride.<br />
This Cal Poly professor’s stories about San Luis Obispo’s hard<br />
rocking past painted a drastically<br />
different portrait of the city compared<br />
to now, similar in many ways to Burt’s<br />
own story within the city. And while<br />
some of the rougher edges may have been<br />
smoothed over for them both, the passion<br />
My entire reason for being there was the bassist of the group, and the angst and the spirit lives on in<br />
Steven Burt. I’d met Burt through mutual acquaintances and Burt, whether it’s during jam sessions<br />
he was originally introduced as a part-time professor in the with local musicians he’s befriended along<br />
business department at Cal Poly and an accountant/finance the way or while playing shows with his<br />
executive working at a local business in <strong>SLO</strong>. To say the least, his San Jose-based band, The Boneshavers.<br />
performance in this band was surprising and inspiring. Despite The serene, rolling hills and relatively<br />
his suit-and-tie professional life, Burt never let the dream die peaceful living in San Luis Obispo<br />
and his punk rock spirit is alive and well, spitting in the face of feels a far stretch from the rollicking,<br />
the soul-crushing demands of the daily grind. I was immediately unruly times of the past, but in a hidden<br />
drawn to this apparent disconnect between Burt’s two lives and warehouse in a dark corner of a remote<br />
this detachment ultimately steered the resulting conversations I business park, Burt and the boys are<br />
had with the artist. keeping San Luis Obispo rockin’. <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
Los Angeles born, <strong>SLO</strong> County<br />
raised, SHAWN STRONG’s<br />
passion for the local music<br />
scene and artists that have<br />
created it, fuels his writing and<br />
drives his commitment to living<br />
the <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong>.<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 35
| FAMILY<br />
Jump for Joy<br />
BY PADEN HUGHES<br />
Whatever my<br />
daughter’s first<br />
birthday party<br />
lacked, her second birthday made up for in<br />
spades—all because of a bounce house. Since<br />
then, we have lined up weekly for the bounce<br />
house at Farmers’ Market and read “Five<br />
Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” one too many<br />
times. One of the best things about kids is<br />
their unbridled enthusiasm for anything they<br />
love. It’s contagious. I’m six months pregnant<br />
with baby number two and even I can’t stay<br />
out of the bounce houses because they’re too<br />
fun to miss.<br />
The persistent rain this winter pushed us to<br />
broaden our search for fun things to do as<br />
a family beyond San Luis Obispo, and we<br />
discovered Hop’s Bounce House. Located in<br />
the heart of Atascadero’s downtown, their<br />
commercial building is filled with nearly a<br />
dozen colorful bounce houses and includes a<br />
section exclusively for toddlers. It’s big enough<br />
to be inspiring for the bouncing enthusiast, yet<br />
intimate enough for moms of multiples to feel<br />
like they have a good shot at keeping a line of<br />
sight on their kiddos.<br />
My daughter was in heaven—this is her<br />
kind of place. She can climb up big slides by<br />
herself and make new friends along the way.<br />
I appreciate that parents are welcome in the<br />
bounce houses to assist and play with their<br />
kids—particularly in monitoring younger<br />
children on the bigger bounce houses where<br />
older kids are playing.<br />
We met some friends there and it provided a<br />
whole other level of experience. I could enjoy<br />
a conversation with my friend while our kids<br />
bounced and played to their hearts’ content. The thing<br />
that struck us was how clean and well considered the<br />
layout was planned. There are antimicrobial air purifiers<br />
throughout, multiple hand sanitizer stations, and the<br />
owner, Laurel Shepherd, informed me that every night<br />
all the bounce houses and toys are sanitized.<br />
Curious how they got the idea for an indoor bounce<br />
house play center, I spoke with Shepherd and she<br />
shared, “We really wanted to design a space for<br />
families to come together, no matter the ages of their<br />
kids, and enjoy spending time together. It can be<br />
challenging to find one place where kids of various<br />
ages can all enjoy activities together.”<br />
Weekday mornings Hop’s is a popular meet up<br />
spot for stay-at-home-moms with toddlers in tow,<br />
afternoons tends to have an elementary school<br />
crowd, and on the weekends entire families join in<br />
on the fun.<br />
Hop’s sells day passes as well as monthly memberships,<br />
which are certainly worth it if you plan to come more<br />
than three visits in a month. They allow outside food<br />
and drinks (with some<br />
parameters) and rent and<br />
deliver bounce houses<br />
throughout the region. And,<br />
of course, it’s a hot spot<br />
for birthday parties, which<br />
have their own rooms for<br />
enjoying cake and presents.<br />
Just a 20-minute drive<br />
from San Luis Obispo,<br />
off the Traffic Way exit in<br />
Atascadero, Hop’s Bounce<br />
House is celebrating one<br />
year since opening in<br />
Spring 2018. <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
PADEN HUGHES is<br />
co-owner of Gymnazo<br />
and enjoys exploring<br />
the Central Coast.<br />
36 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 37
| ON THE RISE<br />
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT<br />
Branden Dolezal<br />
Seventeen-year-old San Luis Obispo<br />
High School senior and future<br />
Gaucho is poised to score on the<br />
soccer field as he heads to<br />
UC Santa Barbara this fall.<br />
What recognition have you received?<br />
For high school, I have won League three out of four varsity years and am<br />
a three-time MVP. We won Cal South National Cup as well as Far West<br />
Regional in Hawaii.<br />
What is going on with you now?<br />
I am playing club soccer with my team from Santa Barbara, and getting<br />
ready to head off to college in the fall.<br />
Who has influenced you the most?<br />
My parents have influenced me the most because they provide lots of<br />
opportunities and push me to be better.<br />
What is your favorite memory of all time?<br />
My freshman year we played soccer against Arroyo Grande and I scored<br />
two goals.<br />
If you could meet anyone, who would it be?<br />
I would want to meet Walt Disney because he was such a creative person.<br />
What are your interests and hobbies?<br />
I love soccer, and over the summer I am an avid wakeboarder.<br />
Where do you see yourself in ten years?<br />
Either still playing on the soccer field or working as a physical therapist<br />
or chiropractor.<br />
What is something that no one knows about you?<br />
I am very bad at video games.<br />
What do you dislike the most ?<br />
I do not like waking up early because I love my sleep.<br />
What are your plans for college?<br />
I signed on to play soccer at UCSB.<br />
<strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
Know a student On the Rise?<br />
Introduce us at slolifemagazine.com/share<br />
38 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
Your Local College Planner!<br />
Helping Students Plan &<br />
Prepare for College<br />
Offering PSAT, SAT, ACT test prep , student<br />
positioning, career planning, and guidance<br />
throughout the entire application process.<br />
<br />
Call Today<br />
and mention<br />
<strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> for your<br />
FREE one hour<br />
consultation!<br />
NOW enrolling for your Junior and Senior year!<br />
Local, Ethical & Accountable<br />
805.440.4178 | EliteCPP.com<br />
Sleep Under the Stars, Connect with Nature, Be Creative<br />
swimming . hiking . arts & crafts . outdoor cooking . tomahawks . backpacking . nature exploration<br />
drama . archery . skits . songs . games . nightly campfire . team building . leadership development<br />
Overnight camp<br />
Boys & Girls 1st - 11th grades<br />
360 acres near Paso Robles<br />
<strong>2019</strong> Sessions<br />
June 23 - 29<br />
June 30 - July 6<br />
July 7 - 13<br />
July 14 - 20<br />
July 21 - 27<br />
July 28 - August 3<br />
August 4 - 10<br />
FAMILY CAMP - JUNE 21-23<br />
Since 1941<br />
www.campnatoma.org | 805-709-2569 | info@campnatoma.org<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 39
| MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR<br />
IT TAKES A<br />
VILLAGE<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY BY VANESSA PLAKIAS<br />
The history is murky, but this much is known: Many years ago, someone living<br />
in Portugal’s tiny island chain, The Azores, heard a story about a vast land of<br />
opportunity called America, which had a tiny village on its western shores where<br />
the fish practically caught themselves. One by one, they arrived in Cayucos.<br />
And they stayed and farmed and fished and built and started businesses. Today,<br />
their industrious heritage lives on in their descendant, CARA CRYE, who is<br />
now two years into her tenure as the CEO of San Luis Obispo-based Farm<br />
Supply Co. When she was a 19-year-old Cal Poly student, she began working<br />
at the company as a part-time salesperson, and many roles and two decades<br />
later, the board of directors unanimously selected her to lead the 69-year-old<br />
company into the future. Here is her story…<br />
40 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 41
42 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
et’s start from the beginning, Cara.<br />
Where are you from? Okay. I’m a<br />
fourth generation native of San Luis<br />
Obispo County. Born at the old General<br />
Hospital. I grew up my entire life, really,<br />
in Morro Bay. Had short stints living<br />
in San Luis Obispo, Los Osos, Santa<br />
Margarita, and then a couple years ago LI actually moved back to Morro Bay. What I realized is I’m a coastie at<br />
heart. I’m not a big beach person, but I’m really drawn to the ocean. I<br />
like to be close to the ocean. My background, my family’s background,<br />
my mom’s side of the family is in agriculture, which I feel very passionate<br />
about. My dad’s side is in construction, so we have deep roots in both of<br />
those industries locally. I tell everyone, truly I live this idyllic life in Morro<br />
Bay, kind of sheltered under that big rock out there.<br />
What were you like growing up? I was a quiet kid, but I will say that the<br />
turning point in my life was being in 4-H. So, I’m a product of 4-H and<br />
FFA, and I love that I can support those programs as an adult, because<br />
truly, they’re the greatest youth leadership development programs on<br />
Earth. I mean, they really are, considering the kind of skills they teach<br />
kids. For me, at the age of nine, I started doing these demonstration days.<br />
Funny things like “what’s in the sewing box” and how to dehydrate fruits,<br />
and that really opened up this whole world for me of public speaking and<br />
leadership. I’m really grateful for that. So, as a kid, I would say I was kind<br />
of quiet early on, and then I found my voice and it didn’t stop.<br />
When did you first set foot in Farm Supply? I started going to Farm<br />
Supply as early as I can remember with my grandparents, who are<br />
members of our co-op. On the weekends, when we were heading to their<br />
ranch, we’d stop in to get supplies that we might need. My grandfather<br />
might need some fence posts, or some feed, or supplements, or maybe an<br />
herbicide to spray some weeds that day. So, Farm Supply has had a really<br />
special place in my heart since I was a young person, and what I loved<br />
about it most is the way people treated me. When you’re a kid, I don’t<br />
know if you remember this, but when you’re a kid not all adults are nice<br />
to you, right? For some adults, you’re just an annoying little kid and they<br />
don’t have a lot of patience for that. At Farm Supply, the people were<br />
always nice to me.<br />
And, how did you get started there? So, when I needed to get a job, I<br />
worked for family throughout high school because I was really involved<br />
in FFA and sports and whatnot. But, when I went to Cal Poly, my parents<br />
said, “You need to get a job outside of family business.” So, I told them,<br />
“Well, I think I want to work at Farm Supply.” I left for a year after high<br />
school as a state officer for FFA and then came back to attend Cal Poly.<br />
That’s when I asked Mr. [ Jim] Brabeck, our former CEO, for a job. I<br />
worked on our sales floor for about five years while I was going to school.<br />
And then, Jim and my other boss Karen asked me to think about what I<br />
wanted to do at Farm Supply after I graduated.<br />
What did you tell them? I really thought that I was going to have to<br />
move out of the area at that time to find a job somewhere and develop a<br />
career, but they created a marketing coordinator position for me. I didn’t<br />
go to school for marketing. I had very little knowledge about it, but what<br />
they cared about was that I knew about our company, and I cared about<br />
Farm Supply and its success, and that I had a passion for it. So, they let<br />
me learn along the way, which I really appreciated. I was our marketing<br />
coordinator for about 13 years, and then we restructured the company<br />
around the time our former CEO and CFO were looking to retire. I<br />
became the VP of Communications for a couple years, where I really got<br />
to focus on public relations, training, and all those things that I’m really<br />
passionate about. And, then, almost two years ago now, our board asked<br />
me to become the next CEO, which has been a tremendous honor, as well<br />
as quite a responsibility as the leader of this 69-year-old company that<br />
plays such a central role in our community.<br />
How did you feel when you got the news? While all of this was<br />
happening, my Vo, which is Portuguese for “grandfather,” was 93 years old<br />
and battling cancer. He was a man of few words, a really tough guy, and<br />
he didn’t tell any of us what was going on; but, we knew. Vo was really<br />
the one who gave me my love of agriculture. He grew up in Cayucos, and<br />
farmed sugar beets right on the ocean. He also got into cattle ranching.<br />
More than anything, he loved to work. He loved the land. He was<br />
happiest when he was working, which he did every day right up until the<br />
end. Just before he passed away, he felt very strongly about going to his<br />
ranch to see his cows one last time. So, we were talking—it was a Sunday<br />
evening—and he said, “I’ve gotta get to the ranch.” I said, “Well, Vo, I<br />
can take you out there tomorrow.” He was still of sound mind, enough<br />
to know that tomorrow was a workday, tomorrow was Monday, and<br />
nothing gets in the way of work for our family. So, I said, “Well, let’s go<br />
tomorrow,” and he goes, “Don’t you have to work?” I said, “No, Vo, I don’t<br />
have to work. I work for a good company, and family comes first; they’ll<br />
understand. So, if you want to go to the ranch, I’ll drive you.”<br />
What did he say? I’ll never forget. He was leaning back in his recliner not<br />
feeling well, and he looks up at me says, “Don’t get cocky—they could still<br />
fire you.” He had never said anything like that to me in my whole life, and<br />
so I laughed out loud for a second. Then I said, “Well, Vo, I’m not getting<br />
cocky. I just work for a good company.” I felt so fortunate, because he was<br />
really the one that started me on my journey with Farm Supply, that he<br />
was able to know that I had been promoted to CEO before he passed<br />
away. That was really our last big conversation, and I feel that it’s a good<br />
message because it’s like, you have the privilege of being in this really<br />
important position, but don’t forget where you started, right? My dad also<br />
pounded a similar thing into my brother and I growing up. I remember<br />
having some friends that were very prideful, always bragging about their<br />
accomplishments. My dad would say, “If you’re really good at something,<br />
people will know. You don’t have to tell them.” I really do agree with that,<br />
and I know that, most of all, it is so important to stay true to whoever you<br />
are and whatever your cause is, whatever the work you do.<br />
There appears to be two themes: work and small town. Why the small<br />
town? I love living in a small town. I love it that I know people in the<br />
supermarket, at the restaurant, at our store. I like that familiarity. Really,<br />
my passion is people. What makes people tick? Where did their journey<br />
begin that got them to the place that they are today? But, you know, our<br />
community is changing. When Farm Supply first opened its doors, it<br />
was to service the local dairies. Today, the only remaining dairy in our<br />
community is now at Cal Poly. But, I don’t think we should be afraid of<br />
change. I remember a conversation I had with a customer probably ten<br />
years ago now. He had just moved to the area and I said, “Well, welcome<br />
to the Central Coast. I think you made a great choice.” And he says,<br />
“Well, I’m here now and I don’t want anyone else to show up.” I thought<br />
to myself, Oh, gosh, that’s not particularly the right attitude, because my<br />
family’s not saying that and we’re fourth generation to this county. We<br />
could be really bitter about all of the growth or the types of people that<br />
moved in, but we’re not. We want to be open-minded.>><br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 43
How do you balance those competing philosophies? So, with all of<br />
the development we are seeing, the community is not as small as it<br />
used to be when I was growing up. I’ll be honest, I miss that. I really<br />
like knowing everyone here. That’s not possible now because there’s<br />
been an influx of a lot of new people coming in. I’m always going to<br />
open my arms to those folks and welcome them into our community.<br />
I would just ask that they show up and have respect for the flavor of<br />
San Luis Obispo County and understand why we’re rich in the type<br />
of people that we have here; the quality of life, the kind of slower pace<br />
of living, community, and family. So, am I concerned about all of the<br />
development that’s taking place with all of these housing developments?<br />
Yes. I am concerned, because I’m concerned about infrastructure and<br />
how we’re making all of that happen. I’m concerned about: Do we have<br />
the resources for families moving in? On the flip side of that, I like that<br />
it is adding diversity to our community. I think that’s important. I think<br />
it’s important for the culture, but I really just want people to respect this<br />
community and what it’s about.<br />
Let’s talk about the challenges that come along with development.<br />
On the Central Coast, there are quite a few challenges. Along with the<br />
urbanization of our community, just being able to be viable in agriculture<br />
is always difficult. Quite a few of our members do, at this point, have<br />
Monday through Friday 8-to-5 jobs in addition to the work they do on<br />
their land, because it is a passion for them. We also have farmers and<br />
ranchers that are doing it full-time and are just amazing stewards of the<br />
land here locally; but, it’s not easy. Weather is always a challenge. You<br />
never know what Mother Nature is going to do. And, beyond the rain<br />
and water, you have some real challenges when it comes to labor and<br />
regulation. Farm Supply has had to evolve with these things along with<br />
our customers over the years. That’s why you’ll see different product mixes<br />
coming into our store. It is very retail focused, not only for our agricultural<br />
customers, but also for everyone locally. We want to create a space that<br />
will have something for everyone, within reason, and will continue to play<br />
an important role in the community.<br />
We have talked a lot about work. But, what do you do when you’re not<br />
at Farm Supply? Well, I like to help my family. So, I’m with my family<br />
a lot. I have one living grandmother still here, so that’s great. I have a<br />
nephew now, and he’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. I<br />
like to be around him as much as I can. We just celebrated his second<br />
birthday yesterday. I’m really lucky growing up in a small town, and the<br />
fact that my best friends are truly some of my best girlfriends that I met<br />
in kindergarten here. I really enjoy spending time with them. I think<br />
in life, it’s a lot better going through when you have really meaningful<br />
relationships and people to spend it with, so that’s really important to<br />
me. I like hiking. We have so many great spots that we can hike. Going >><br />
44 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
Local, honest expertise for home buyers and sellers<br />
115+ transactions closed in the last seven years<br />
“<br />
Graham helped my wife and I find our first "starter" home and again our second "forever" home.<br />
Graham was always on our side as we made offers, negotiated price, and all the other hassles of<br />
trying to close on a property. He was there to support us whenever needed and never tried to<br />
push us to make decisions we were not comfortable with. My wife and are glad to know<br />
Graham and call him our realtor and friend.<br />
graham @ ccreslo.com<br />
805.459.1865 | CalBRE #01873454<br />
www.ccreslo.com<br />
3196 South Higuera Suite D, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401<br />
– Garrett Otto, San Luis Obispo<br />
”<br />
Cultivate Something Meaningful<br />
www.GardensbyGabriel.com 805-215-0511 lic.# 887028<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 45
on little weekend trips to visit friends I haven’t seen in a while. I like<br />
volunteering. I feel strongly about giving back to the community that’s<br />
given so much to me. So, I’m at lots of different events on the weekend,<br />
either volunteering or there as a guest. I help an auctioneer occasionally<br />
do bid spotting. That’s really fun. So, you know, causes specifically 4-H,<br />
FFA, youth and agricultural, but then we have so many great causes in<br />
our community. I also help in my brother’s business when I can. He has a<br />
construction company and some rock quarries locally.<br />
Sounds like you really are a people person. So yeah, you’re right, in my<br />
free time it really is about connecting with people. My life’s moving pretty<br />
quickly, but I don’t want it to go so quickly that I miss things. So, I try<br />
and stay grounded and be very selective about who I spend my time with,<br />
because I have some really special people in my life that I don’t get to see<br />
as much as I’d like to. So, I would say that I’m very calculated about who<br />
I’m with and giving them time and not having my phone in front of me.<br />
I think people have forgotten about how rich it is to have a one-on-one<br />
conversation with someone. That’s really been lacking, and I’ll tell my own<br />
friends if I see them on their phone, I’ll say, “Hey, if there’s someone more<br />
important that you want to talk to, we can meet again another time.” So,<br />
they know that with me now. They know that I’m giving my undivided<br />
attention. We don’t need social media or any of that when we’re talking<br />
face-to-face.<br />
Please, continue the thought… I think I’m a really self-aware person, but<br />
that has taken a lot of years of being cognizant of that and making myself<br />
aware. And I don’t hit it out of the park every day, that’s for sure, but I<br />
really try and work on that, because I think that’s the way I can show up<br />
being the best version of myself and helping others be the best version of<br />
themselves. I want to get to the place in my journey as a leader of really<br />
building people to their potential, and I think it would be pretty cocky,<br />
as my grandfather would say, for me to say right now that’s where I’m at,<br />
because I’m not. I’m new in my leadership journey. Life’s too short not<br />
to do what you’re passionate about. That’s why I feel so lucky in my role,<br />
>><br />
46 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
Visit our kitchen and bath showroom for the remodel of your dreams—with the environment in mind.<br />
Visit our kitchen<br />
and bath showroom<br />
In-House Designers<br />
Custom Cabinets<br />
Countertops<br />
Wine Cellars<br />
Flooring<br />
Contractor’s License 940512<br />
111 South Street<br />
San Luis Obispo<br />
(805) 543-9900<br />
slogreengoods.com<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 47
ecause I know plenty of people that, some of my best friends actually,<br />
that have great jobs and go to work every day, but they’re not satisfied<br />
and they don’t like it. I try and tell them, “Gosh, I get that you’re making<br />
all this money and you have these great benefits, but you’re wasting how<br />
many years of your life?” I couldn’t do that. I just couldn’t do it, so I feel<br />
bad for them, and that affects every aspect of their life, right? How they’re<br />
showing up with their family, how they’re being present on all levels.<br />
How do you connect the dots between being present—right now,<br />
present-tense—and the past? Well, I think people really need to think<br />
about heritage and how they got to where they are today and be grateful<br />
for their ancestors and the lives that we’re living. We still have, in<br />
Cayucos, we haven’t the last couple of years, but we have big Portuguese<br />
celebrations. The [Cayucos Veterans] Hall has been condemned up there<br />
for a while now, so we really want to celebrate our heritage, and it’s fun.<br />
We’re so grateful to be Americans, obviously. There’s no other country<br />
that I would want to be living in or to have been born in, but I think it is<br />
important to know where you came from. To know where your roots are.<br />
I definitely don’t take for granted the life that my great-grandparents gave<br />
me because they decided to come here; to go after the American Dream,<br />
and the promise of a better life. That’s what they were looking for. I just<br />
think it’s a reminder of what perseverance does and wanting a better life<br />
for your family, and not just thinking of yourself, but thinking of others.<br />
Okay, Cara, let’s wrap it up by getting some last thoughts on family.<br />
When I was born, I still had three of my great-grandmothers, and so I<br />
do have some memories with them. And, so, yeah, family and roots just<br />
run deep for me. And, I am so grateful for my family because I know<br />
that I didn’t get here on my own. One of my co-workers used to joke<br />
with me, she was like, “Cara, it really takes a village with you, doesn’t<br />
it?” And I’d say, “It does, and I don’t apologize.” You know, very few<br />
people are able to get where they are on their own. And, in those cases,<br />
I completely bow to them and respect them because I’m not sure how<br />
they do it. But, in most cases, all you can do is push yourself to do the<br />
best that you can. Everyone has a story—and there are always people<br />
that help you get there. <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
48 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
Free Food. Great Giveaways.<br />
Ready to Ride?<br />
View the entire<br />
Bike to Work Day<br />
map on the<br />
following pages!<br />
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY<br />
FRIDAY, MAY 17, <strong>2019</strong><br />
Change up your commute and bring more energy<br />
to your day! Gear up for Bike to Work Day on<br />
Friday, <strong>May</strong> 17th. Bike to work and stop at any Bike<br />
to Work Day station shown on the following pages<br />
for free food and exclusive giveaways!<br />
rideshare.org/btwd<br />
BIKE TO WORK DAY IS A<br />
PROGRAM OF:<br />
Presented by:<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 49
FRIDAY, MAY 17 TH , <strong>2019</strong><br />
Why not switch up your commute and<br />
make the choice to connect with your<br />
community? Pedal over to any station on<br />
the map below Friday, <strong>May</strong> 17 th for free<br />
food, great giveaways and tons of fun!<br />
= MORNING STATION = EVENING STATION<br />
1<br />
Paso Robles<br />
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY,<br />
CALIFORNIA<br />
101<br />
Morro Bay Atascadero<br />
11<br />
2<br />
3<br />
1<br />
5<br />
Los Osos<br />
4<br />
6<br />
12<br />
7<br />
Los Osos V<br />
50 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
alley Rd.<br />
8<br />
San Luis<br />
Obispo<br />
9<br />
227<br />
101<br />
Pismo Beach<br />
rideshare.org/btwd<br />
Grover<br />
Beach<br />
1<br />
10 13<br />
Arroyo<br />
Grande<br />
MORNING STATIONS, 7-9 AM*<br />
(*unless otherwise noted)<br />
1 Scientific Drilling<br />
3003 Rollie Gates Dr., Paso Robles<br />
2 Atascadero State Hospital w/ K-Man Cyclery<br />
10333 El Camino Real, Atascadero (6:30-9 AM*)<br />
3 City of Morro Bay w/ Morro Bay Chamber<br />
595 Harbor St., Morro Bay<br />
4 Los Osos Library 2075 Palisades Ave., Los Osos<br />
5 Cal Poly University Union, Cal Poly (7:30-9:30 AM*)<br />
6 City of <strong>SLO</strong> 990 Palm St., <strong>SLO</strong><br />
7 Behavioral Health 277 South St. #T, <strong>SLO</strong> (7:30-9 AM*)<br />
8 Costco Wholesale 1540 Froom Ranch Way, <strong>SLO</strong><br />
9 Sunrun 775 Fiero Ln., <strong>SLO</strong><br />
10 Garing, Taylor & Associates w/ Trinity Cyclery<br />
141 S. Elm St., Arroyo Grande<br />
EVENING STATIONS, 4-6 PM<br />
11 Sunken Gardens Bike Fest<br />
5942 W Mall., Atascadero<br />
12 Ten Over Studio 539 Marsh St., <strong>SLO</strong><br />
13 South County Social Services<br />
1086 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 51
DON’T FORGET, MAY IS...<br />
BIKE TO COFFEE, SATURDAY, MAY 11!<br />
Visit rideshare.org/coffee and show the<br />
image on your mobile device at any of the<br />
shops listed for special discounts and<br />
freebies - just for riding your bike!<br />
Visit sloshift.org for a community calendar of<br />
bike events ALL YEAR! During the month of<br />
<strong>May</strong>, Rideshare provides sponsorship funds<br />
to financially support Bike Month events that<br />
promote bike culture in our region. Get your<br />
business, organization, or group involved!<br />
Learn more at sloshift.org.<br />
BIKE TO Coffee<br />
SA T U R D A Y<br />
, M A Y 11 TH<br />
Visit rideshare.org/coffee<br />
for the most up-to-date list<br />
of participating shops!<br />
Red Dirt Coffee House (AG)<br />
Dark Nectar Coffee (Atasc.)<br />
Red Bee Coffee (GB)<br />
Morro Bay Coffee Co. (MB)<br />
Spearhead Coffee (Paso)<br />
Blackhorse Coffee (<strong>SLO</strong>-all)<br />
Merry Hill Coffee (Templeton)<br />
BIKE TO<br />
SCHool Day<br />
SUPPORT BIKE TO WORK DAY!<br />
Make a $10 pledge and get a <strong>2019</strong> Bike to<br />
Work Day t-shirt! Visit rideshare.org/store.<br />
-WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, <strong>2019</strong>-<br />
Join schools across San Luis Obispo<br />
County in celebrating National Bike to<br />
School Day. Students, parents and teachers<br />
are all invited to participate. To learn more,<br />
please visit <strong>SLO</strong>SafeRoutes.org.<br />
RIDESHARE.ORG<br />
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY<br />
FRIDAY, MAY 17, <strong>2019</strong><br />
win Prizes!<br />
Bike to Work or School and Win<br />
ELECTRIC FOLDING BIKE SWEEPSTAKES Stop at any Bike to Work Day Station on the map (see<br />
previous pages) and enter your name for a chance to win an electric folding bike! One winner will<br />
be announced on Facebook Live (@Rideshare) the evening of Bike to Work Day.<br />
COMMUTER CHALLENGE Log your smart commute trips at iRideshare.org to compete against<br />
other teams and workplaces for special awards. Trips by bike are worth double the points!<br />
BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY COMPETITION Schools with the most participation on Bike to School Day<br />
(<strong>May</strong> 8th) will win a new bike maintenance station for their school. Details at <strong>SLO</strong>SafeRoutes.org.<br />
Bike to Work Day, the Back ‘N’ Forth Club and Safe Routes to School are programs of<br />
<strong>SLO</strong>COG/<strong>SLO</strong> Regional Rideshare. For more information, visit rideshare.org or call 511.<br />
52 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
#LETSGETVISIBLE
Speak Your Best!<br />
with Deborah Lee<br />
Do you stand out<br />
as a<br />
LEADER,<br />
EXPERT,<br />
MOTIVATOR,<br />
or<br />
INNOVATOR?<br />
Be a dynamic<br />
speaker and<br />
gain visibility,<br />
recognition, and<br />
more! All levels<br />
welcome.<br />
Keynotes . Signature Talks . Presentations<br />
TED Talks . Videos . Storytelling . Motivational Speaking<br />
Webinars/Teleseminars . Workshops & More<br />
805-994-9977 | SPEAKYOURBEST.COM<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 53
| DWELLING<br />
HACIENDA<br />
54 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
ANTIGUA<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID LALUSH<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 55
hen Christopher and Bambi Banys first set foot in the Spanish<br />
Hacienda-style home nestled into 11 acres on the south end of San<br />
Luis Obispo, they knew it was the one. Love at first site is an age-old<br />
phenomenon occurring between two people described by poets and<br />
artists and authors, but in this case, it was a place—a place called<br />
Hacienda Antigua.<br />
It has been said in different words and in different ways that those<br />
Wthings we give our attention to, those things we nurture, they grow. >><br />
56 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 57
Prior to the arrival of the Banys family, there<br />
was a laser-like focus and attention to detail.<br />
Every beam, every drawer pull, every single<br />
tile in the authentic Saltillo floor, received<br />
the strictest scrutiny. Imagine a military drill<br />
sergeant inspecting his troops. Not a hair out<br />
of place. That was the level of commitment the<br />
previous owners had to the project. After all,<br />
when you are the owner and the builder, you<br />
want it to be right. You want to manifest the<br />
vision. And that, they did.<br />
A year’s long quest ensued, with many trips<br />
to the southwest and Mexico in an effort to<br />
procure building materials and to coax still<br />
more inspiration from the architecture. No<br />
different than Thomas Jefferson’s construction<br />
of Monticello, the owner-builder, Wes<br />
Armstrong, a now-retired San Luis Obispobased<br />
dentist, the process, for him, was one<br />
of transformation and transcendence. An<br />
opportunity for a legacy.>><br />
58 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
ARCHITECTURE<br />
LANDSCAPE<br />
INTERIORS<br />
MEDIA<br />
ENJOY THE RIDE<br />
A good team knows how to work hard<br />
but also how to step away to enjoy and<br />
appreciate the people they work with.<br />
Our TEN OVER family puts in long<br />
hours because we love what we do.<br />
But, we also know how to kick back<br />
and enjoy the ride.<br />
Our in-house pit master Neil working his magic at our quarterly team BBQ.<br />
TENOVERSTUDIO.COM<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 59
While Armstrong and his wife fashioned the property,<br />
which is adjacent to The Equine Center, as much<br />
for their horses as for them, when Mrs. Armstrong<br />
was no longer able to ride as she once did, the couple<br />
knew it was time to hand it off to the next generation.<br />
Because of the love and attention put into the creation<br />
of Hacienda Antigua, it is not something that can be<br />
described as a commodity to sell. Unlike corn, or oil,<br />
or pork bellies, the property had developed a soul, a<br />
beating heart. At least that is the only language that can<br />
be used to describe it.<br />
In November of 2016, the Banys family bought the<br />
property with a commitment to care for it in the same<br />
way the Armstrongs did. They were so taken with<br />
the style and design that they negotiated to have the<br />
furniture included, much of it custom-made, in the >><br />
60 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
WWW.IDLERSHOME.COM/APPLE-PIE-CONTEST<br />
APPLE PIE CONTEST<br />
EST. 1984<br />
Celebrating 35 Years!<br />
KSGB900ESS<br />
GRAND PRIZE<br />
KITCHENAID ® STAINLESS<br />
STEEL<br />
5 BURNER CONVECTION<br />
RANGE WITH BAKING<br />
DRAWER<br />
VALUE OF<br />
$2,849<br />
Preliminary Rounds<br />
2 ND PRIZE<br />
KITCHENAID ®<br />
STAND MIXER<br />
VALUE OF<br />
$599<br />
ALL ENTRIES WELCOME MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE<br />
SATURDAY, APRIL 13TH <strong>2019</strong><br />
JUDGING @ 12 PM @ PASO ROBLES IDLER'S HOME<br />
SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH <strong>2019</strong><br />
JUDGING @ 12 PM @ SANTA MARIA IDLER'S HOME<br />
SATURDAY MAY 4TH <strong>2019</strong><br />
JUDGING @ 12 PM @ SAN LUIS OBISPO IDLER'S HOME<br />
3 RD PRIZE<br />
KITCHENAID ®<br />
FOOD PROCESSOR<br />
VALUE OF<br />
$399<br />
4 TH - 12 TH PRIZES<br />
KITCHENAID ®<br />
HAND MIXER<br />
VALUE OF<br />
$59<br />
Finals<br />
12 PM SATURDAY<br />
MAY 11TH, <strong>2019</strong><br />
2015 Monterey Street<br />
San Luis Obispo, CA<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 61
transaction, as well. The only significant change they<br />
have made, since the new owners are not “horse people,”<br />
(they joke that, instead, they are “beer people”) is the<br />
repurposing of the horse arena as an outdoor event<br />
center, the addition of a custom bar complete with taps<br />
for their homebrew, and a game room for their two kids,<br />
9 and 12 years old.<br />
Life was generally good in the Bay Area, but something<br />
was missing. They weren’t sure what it was until they<br />
spent a long weekend in San Luis Obispo with some<br />
family friends. “We wanted a place where our kids could<br />
play,” said Bambi Banys, “we wanted room to breathe.”<br />
The timing was right, and the pieces came together<br />
quickly, and before they had sold their current residence,<br />
they had begun moving into Hacienda Antigua. First,<br />
they spent Thanksgiving there, then Christmas, then<br />
New Year’s. The family never looked back. Although the<br />
couple continues to spend two days per week working >><br />
62 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 63
in the Bay Area where Christopher has a law office and<br />
where Bambi is a pediatric cardiac nurse at Stanford,<br />
the family has been busy planting roots into San Luis<br />
Obispo’s fertile soil. And the kids play a central role in<br />
those efforts, to the point where Hacienda Antigua is<br />
planning to host a 600-person dinner for the families of<br />
the <strong>SLO</strong> Classical Academy where students and their<br />
parents will be treated to a medieval-themed feast to<br />
accompany their history curriculum.<br />
The pace of conversation quickens, however, when<br />
the subject turns to beer-making. Much like the<br />
Armstrong’s obsession with details, no stone has been<br />
unturned when it comes to homebrew. In fact, it was<br />
the quest for the perfect, locally grown hops that led<br />
to experimentation with growing their own. The first<br />
harvest was not bad, the second season was really<br />
good, and now the third planting will be available<br />
commercially. Through the process of trial and error, >><br />
64 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
181 TANK FARM ROAD . SUITE 140 . SAN LUIS OBISPO . CA . 805-543-7600<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 65
the Banys family unwittingly added “farmer” to their resume<br />
and Hacienda Antigua Farms was born. Of the bounty, the<br />
proud green thumb, Bambi Banys gushes, “They are fantastic.<br />
They grow fabulously here.” The couple, who plans to sell<br />
their excess bounty to local microbrewers, has aspirations to<br />
open one of their own soon.<br />
Whether beer, or horses, or houses, it all comes back to<br />
one thing—love—it always does. And it is that love that<br />
so often drives us to do the<br />
things we do. The caring and<br />
nurturing the Armstrongs put into<br />
Hacienda Antigua is clear, as is<br />
the caretaking by the Banys family.<br />
Of all people, it was the boxer,<br />
Muhammad Ali, who perhaps<br />
captures the sentiment best when<br />
he said, “So, we don’t stay here,<br />
we’re just trustees, we don’t own<br />
nothin’.” Trustees. For a property<br />
as impossibly magical as Hacienda<br />
Antigua, that’s the best you can<br />
hope for—loving it and nurturing<br />
it for the next caretaker. <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
DAVID LALUSH is an<br />
architectural photographer<br />
here in San Luis Obispo.<br />
66 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
Serving the Central Coast since 1964<br />
805-549-8000<br />
hamonohd.com<br />
WIRELESS INTERNET FOR THE CENTRAL COAST<br />
NO CONTRACTS . NO DATA LIMITS<br />
INSTALLATION ONLY $99<br />
805.556.4065 | peakwifi.com<br />
Lic#390619<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 67
| <strong>SLO</strong> CITY<br />
REAL ESTATE<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
laguna<br />
lake<br />
tank<br />
farm<br />
cal poly<br />
area<br />
country<br />
club<br />
down<br />
town<br />
foothill<br />
blvd<br />
johnson<br />
ave<br />
Total Homes Sold<br />
Average Asking Price<br />
Average Selling Price<br />
Sales Price as a % of Asking Price<br />
Average # of Days on the Market<br />
Total Homes Sold<br />
Average Asking Price<br />
Average Selling Price<br />
Sales Price as a % of Asking Price<br />
Average # of Days on the Market<br />
Total Homes Sold<br />
Average Asking Price<br />
Average Selling Price<br />
Sales Price as a % of Asking Price<br />
Average # of Days on the Market<br />
Total Homes Sold<br />
Average Asking Price<br />
Average Selling Price<br />
Sales Price as a % of Asking Price<br />
Average # of Days on the Market<br />
Total Homes Sold<br />
Average Asking Price<br />
Average Selling Price<br />
Sales Price as a % of Asking Price<br />
Average # of Days on the Market<br />
Total Homes Sold<br />
Average Asking Price<br />
Average Selling Price<br />
Sales Price as a % of Asking Price<br />
Average # of Days on the Market<br />
Total Homes Sold<br />
Average Asking Price<br />
Average Selling Price<br />
Sales Price as a % of Asking Price<br />
Average # of Days on the Market<br />
2018<br />
12<br />
$709,825<br />
$704,100<br />
99.19%<br />
29<br />
2018<br />
1<br />
$729,000<br />
$650,000<br />
89.16%<br />
88<br />
2018<br />
2<br />
$1,050,000<br />
$1,050,000<br />
100.00%<br />
31<br />
2018<br />
3<br />
$1,065,992<br />
$1,057,992<br />
99.25%<br />
17<br />
2018<br />
14<br />
$1,119,207<br />
$1,117,391<br />
99.84%<br />
117<br />
2018<br />
8<br />
$797,938<br />
$798,561<br />
100.08%<br />
19<br />
2018<br />
6<br />
$749,483<br />
$751,667<br />
100.29%<br />
19<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
6<br />
$832,729<br />
$921,000<br />
110.60%<br />
29<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
6<br />
$694,300<br />
$692,833<br />
99.79%<br />
28<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
2<br />
$882,500<br />
$855,000<br />
96.88%<br />
31<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
2<br />
$1,210,000<br />
$1,175,000<br />
97.11%<br />
67<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
10<br />
$724,380<br />
$718,525<br />
99.19%<br />
58<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
6<br />
$900,250<br />
$875,983<br />
97.30%<br />
63<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
8<br />
$761,838<br />
$748,625<br />
98.27%<br />
43<br />
+/-<br />
-50.00%<br />
17.31%<br />
30.81%<br />
11.41%<br />
0.00%<br />
+/-<br />
500.00%<br />
-4.76%<br />
6.59%<br />
99.10%<br />
-68.18%<br />
+/-<br />
0.00%<br />
-15.95%<br />
-18.57%<br />
-3.12%<br />
0.00%<br />
+/-<br />
-33.33%<br />
13.51%<br />
11.06%<br />
-2.14%<br />
294.12%<br />
+/-<br />
-28.57%<br />
-35.28%<br />
-35.70%<br />
-0.65%<br />
-50.43%<br />
+/-<br />
-25.00%<br />
12.82%<br />
9.70%<br />
-2.78%<br />
231.58%<br />
+/-<br />
33.33%<br />
1.65%<br />
-0.40%<br />
-2.02%<br />
126.32%<br />
*Comparing 01/01/18 - 03/24/18 to 01/01/19 - 03/24/19<br />
SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ®<br />
<strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
68 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
Our team just keeps<br />
getting better<br />
New team members. Same great service. Same low rates.<br />
Jumbo loans just got bigger &<br />
better! Our GR Flex program offers<br />
a wide array of flexible jumbo<br />
options to meet your needs.<br />
Our suite of new GR Flex programs includes:<br />
• 30 or 40 yr fixed, interest-only options<br />
• Minimum FICO score requirements vary<br />
• 90% LTV option for loans up to $3 million<br />
We are proud to welcome Phyllis Wong & Luana Gerardis to our team!<br />
Donna Lewis<br />
Branch Manager/VP of<br />
Mortgage Lending<br />
O: (805) 335-8743<br />
C: (805) 235-0463<br />
donna.lewis@rate.com<br />
Dylan Marrow<br />
VP of Mortgage Lending<br />
O: (805) 335-8699<br />
C: (805) 550-9742<br />
dylan.morrow@rate.com<br />
Maggie Koepsell<br />
VP of Mortgage Lending<br />
O: (805) 335-8742<br />
C: (805) 674-6653<br />
maggie.koepsell@rate.com<br />
Phyllis Wong<br />
VP of Mortgage Lending<br />
O: (805) 335-8743<br />
C: (805) 540-8457<br />
phyllis.wong@rate.com<br />
Luana Gerardis<br />
VP of Mortgage Lending<br />
O: (805) 329-4087<br />
C: (707) 227-9582<br />
luana.gerardis@rate.com<br />
1065 Higuera Street,<br />
Suite 100<br />
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401<br />
Rate.com/offices/slo<br />
Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Restrictions may apply, contact Guaranteed<br />
Rate for current rates and for more information.<br />
Most Guaranteed Rate Flex products are available for 30-year fixed rate loans only. 43% debt-to-income (DTI) required. Minimum FICO score requirements may apply. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does<br />
not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Restrictions may apply, contact Guaranteed Rate for current rates and more information.<br />
Donna Lewis NMLS # 245945, Dylan Morrow NMLS # 1461481, Maggie Koepsell NMLS # 704130, Luana Gerardis NMLS # 1324563, Phyllis Wong NMLS # 1400281<br />
NMLS ID #2611 (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) Donna Lewis CA-DOC245945, Dylan Morrow CA-DBO1461481, Margaret Koepsell CA-DBO704130<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 69
Your<br />
Local<br />
Trusted<br />
Mortgage<br />
Advisor<br />
Ben Lerner<br />
805.441.9486<br />
Contact me today to learn more.<br />
*<br />
| <strong>SLO</strong> COUNTY<br />
REAL ESTATE<br />
REGION<br />
Arroyo Grande<br />
Atascadero<br />
BY THE NUMBERS<br />
NUMBER OF<br />
HOMES SOLD<br />
2018<br />
54<br />
74<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
61<br />
54<br />
AVERAGE DAYS<br />
ON MARKET<br />
2018<br />
62<br />
39<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
62<br />
48<br />
MEDIAN SELLING<br />
PRICE<br />
2018<br />
$781,627<br />
$574,368<br />
<strong>2019</strong><br />
$791,140<br />
$548,870<br />
Avila Beach<br />
3<br />
6<br />
113<br />
48<br />
$1,160,931 $1,203,883<br />
Cambria/San Simeon<br />
26<br />
20<br />
55<br />
83<br />
$704,015<br />
$920,186<br />
Cayucos<br />
9<br />
7<br />
104<br />
80<br />
$1,012,000<br />
$913,429<br />
Creston<br />
0<br />
1<br />
n/a<br />
147<br />
n/a<br />
$1,200,000<br />
Grover Beach<br />
23<br />
19<br />
55<br />
69<br />
$495,387<br />
$536,995<br />
Ben Lerner<br />
Mortgage Advisor<br />
NMLS 395723<br />
805.441.9486<br />
blerner@opesadvisors.com<br />
1212 Marsh St., Suite 1<br />
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401<br />
Mortgage Advisor<br />
NMLS 395723<br />
blerner@opesadvisors.com<br />
1212 Marsh St., Suite 1<br />
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401<br />
Los Osos<br />
Morro Bay<br />
Nipomo<br />
Oceano<br />
Pismo Beach<br />
Paso (Inside City Limits)<br />
33<br />
20<br />
59<br />
11<br />
30<br />
73<br />
28<br />
26<br />
59<br />
6<br />
16<br />
70<br />
42<br />
85<br />
53<br />
55<br />
52<br />
32<br />
38<br />
65<br />
60<br />
117<br />
54<br />
53<br />
$605,512 $635,607<br />
$697,225 $756,000<br />
$672,161 $616,943<br />
$484,455 $662,500<br />
$966,275 $1,367,066<br />
$509,218 $511,596<br />
Contact me today to learn<br />
how I can help you purchase<br />
or refinance your home.<br />
Paso (North 46 - East 101)<br />
Paso (North 46 - West 101)<br />
Paso (South 46 - East 101)<br />
16<br />
20<br />
15<br />
10<br />
24<br />
9<br />
69<br />
86<br />
70<br />
94<br />
55<br />
40<br />
$486,281<br />
$599,071<br />
$725,367<br />
$504,150<br />
$532,767<br />
$582,686<br />
San Luis Obispo<br />
53<br />
49<br />
53<br />
49<br />
$915,540<br />
$893,047<br />
Santa Margarita<br />
5<br />
6<br />
161<br />
78<br />
$463,800<br />
$398,083<br />
Templeton<br />
22<br />
14<br />
86<br />
116<br />
$730,208<br />
$574,171<br />
* Top 1% Mortgage Originator | Mortgage Executive <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
© <strong>2019</strong> Opes Advisors, A Division of Flagstar Bank | Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender<br />
70 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
Countywide<br />
520 465<br />
*Comparing 01/01/18 - 03/24/18 to 01/01/19 - 03/24/19<br />
56 59 $673,850 $678,290<br />
SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ®<br />
<strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong>
743 SERRANO DRIVE . SAN LUIS OBISPO . $949,000<br />
Beautiful describes this property, Hardwood and Tile flooring, Maple<br />
counter tops with numerous built-ins including kitchen and through<br />
out the home, updated bathrooms, numerous skylights, rear patio<br />
is low maintenance with mostly brick pavers, hot tub, pond with<br />
waterfall. Walking distance to down town, Property must be seen to<br />
appreciate. Contact listing agent for a personal tour.<br />
Jason Vork<br />
DRE 01031282<br />
805-440-4593<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 71
| HEALTH<br />
what’s<br />
your<br />
score?<br />
Here’s a not-so-fun fact: The leading cause of death<br />
in the United States is heart disease—it claims<br />
more people per year than all of the cancers<br />
combined. For far too many, who otherwise appear<br />
healthy, strange symptoms that may include<br />
something that feels like indigestion, jaw pain,<br />
upper arm pain, and perhaps cold sweats, precedes<br />
a shocking outcome: myocardial infarction,<br />
otherwise known as a heart attack.<br />
The simplest, least “science-y” way to explain how a heart attack happens is the pipes<br />
supplying fuel to the pump get clogged. If it were to happen to a house the sink would<br />
back up, we’d call Roto-Rooter, they’d do their thing, the pipes would be cleared, and away<br />
we go. When the arteries that supply the oxygen-rich blood to our heart become blocked,<br />
the vital organ begins to suffocate, gasping for breath, flailing around frantically trying to<br />
keep going—that is a heart attack. So, why don’t we monitor the level of blockage in the<br />
arteries supplying vital fuel to our heart, particularly the big<br />
one ominously nicknamed the “Widowmaker”?<br />
For years, the protocol for the medical community when<br />
it came to assessing risk for myocardial infarction, was to<br />
ask patients to fill out a form called the Heart Disease<br />
Risk Assessment. After checking “Yes” or “No” to a series<br />
of questions, such as “Do you currently smoke?” and<br />
“Does your diet consist of high-fat foods?” a probability<br />
is calculated. Answer yes too many times, and your odds<br />
of heart attack go up. This methodology for assessing risk<br />
arose from the Framingham Heart Study of 1948. But, it’s<br />
<strong>2019</strong>. Since then we have done all sorts of cool stuff, like<br />
invent the Internet, and electric cars, and Starbucks, and<br />
Pokémon. Why can’t we just look at our own Widowmaker<br />
to see if there are any problems? Turns out, we can. >><br />
72 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 73
How it Works<br />
A coronary CT calcium scan, which is used to calculate a calcium<br />
score, is safe, effective, and affordable—seriously, people, out-of-pocket,<br />
without getting any insurance companies involved, you’re looking at<br />
something like $150. The way it works is pretty cool, but you have<br />
to understand a little bit of physiology first. This would not pass for<br />
hard science, but we’re just two friends talking here. The bottom line<br />
is that when your body develops arterial plaque—forget about how<br />
that happens for now—a significant part of that plaque is made up of<br />
calcium. That calcium, which calcifies, or hardens, becomes clearly visible<br />
on a CT scan unlike the soft tissue around it, particularly the heart<br />
which is, thankfully, always moving. The result is an image where arterial<br />
plaque shows up as little white dots on the monitor. The more white that<br />
appears, the higher the odds of heart disease.<br />
Know the Score<br />
The amount of white that pops up on the technician’s computer screen is<br />
then measured and translated into an Agatston score, or calcium score.<br />
A score of zero means no plaque, and anything over 400 means there<br />
is some significant blockage. By the way, Agatston is the same guy who<br />
invented the “South Beach Diet” and is one of the doctors who make<br />
up a group called the “Calcium Club.” It should be noted here that the<br />
Calcium Club is not universally loved within the cardiovascular medical<br />
community, as those club members have been outspoken in pointing<br />
out that the simple $150 scan is exponentially less expensive than the<br />
alternative: coronary stents, a surgical procedure which may run as high<br />
as $50,000 and even more depending on the length of hospital stay. The<br />
Calcium Club members argue that widespread adoption of the calcium<br />
scan would lead to a dramatic decrease in the need for coronary stents<br />
because other preventative measures could be implemented ahead of the<br />
need for surgical intervention and, considering that 1.8 million stents are<br />
implanted in Americans each year, it would drive down overall health<br />
care costs significantly.<br />
Cholesterol Revisited<br />
Do you remember that old T.V. commercial back in the day that<br />
showed a bunch of eggs being let out of prison? Well, it turns out the<br />
recidivism rate for eggs is quite high. They are being incarcerated in<br />
huge numbers once again. We all know that eggs are high in cholesterol,<br />
and many years ago there was a link made between high cholesterol<br />
and heart disease. Eggs are bad, lock away eggs and throw away the<br />
key. But, increasingly, this ideology is being challenged as doctors and<br />
researchers ask, “Why are people with low cholesterol also dying of heart<br />
disease?” Here’s the deal: Eggs are high in cholesterol, yes. Nutritional<br />
studies, including one just released recently, consistently villainize the<br />
fatty substance known as cholesterol. But, opponents to the philosophy<br />
argue that we need the stuff, as it is a major component of all living cell<br />
membranes and it is critical for organ health and balanced hormonal<br />
function. Besides, the majority of our cholesterol did not come from<br />
the omelet you had for breakfast, but instead was made by your own<br />
liver. Those same opponents to the cholesterol dogma that has led to<br />
the American food pyramid among other things, also point to research<br />
showing that it is actually those carbohydrate-rich grains, which<br />
comprise the largest portion of the pyramid, that are the causing spikes<br />
in triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), otherwise known as<br />
the “bad cholesterol.”<br />
74 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
VARICOSE & SPIDER VEIN TREATMENT<br />
Love your legs again and wear shorts with confidence!<br />
Covered by most<br />
insurance<br />
No hospitalization<br />
Local anesthesia<br />
No down time<br />
TAKE A 1-MIN.<br />
SELF SCREENING TEST<br />
w w w . s l o y o g a c e n t e r . c o m<br />
Kenneth Spearman, M.D.<br />
Timothy Watson, M.D.<br />
www.ccveins.com<br />
info@ccveins.com<br />
locations in <strong>SLO</strong>:<br />
Two<br />
at 672 Higuera &<br />
Downtown<br />
Shopping Center<br />
Marigold<br />
Yoga<br />
Sculpt<br />
Barre<br />
Intro<br />
Special!<br />
30 days unlimited<br />
Aerial Yoga<br />
classes for $39<br />
880 Oak Park Blvd.,<br />
Suite 201<br />
Arroyo Grande , CA<br />
93420<br />
Showers<br />
Infrared Heat<br />
If you checked any of these symptoms,<br />
call today for a FREE consultation!<br />
805.473.VEIN (8346)<br />
No matter what your fortunes are,<br />
Dr. Daniel will give you the smile you need<br />
to make your dreams come true!<br />
Specializing in Smiles<br />
Dr. Daniel Orthodontics<br />
1356 Marsh Street . San Luis Obispo<br />
(805) 543-3105 . drdanielortho.com<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 75
Careful with the Pills<br />
Those same guys, the Calcium Club, urge caution with calcium supplements. And, since<br />
supplementation has become an American obsession—if you have any doubt about that<br />
claim, take a walk around Costco to see how many feet of valuable aisle space is dedicated<br />
to them—it may be, in some cases, a really bad idea. For older women concerned about<br />
thwarting osteoporosis, in particular, it may be a better idea to make a big salad than to<br />
swallow those big white, chalky pills. One serving of collard greens, for example, provides<br />
more calcium than a glass of milk, plus it has all of those miraculous, natural enzymes<br />
that help that calcium actually find its way into the bone. The alternative, a whole lot of<br />
supplemental calcium floating around the bloodstream, the club members theorize, serves<br />
only to accelerate the synthesis of arterial plaque. This is something worth looking into,<br />
because although heart disease is often thought of as a “man’s disease,” it is actually the<br />
leading cause of death among women—five times more deadly than breast cancer.<br />
What to Expect<br />
While sitting in a waiting room is a given for anything related to modern medicine, the<br />
actual scan only takes about 10 to 15 minutes. All in, count on an hour. In most cases,<br />
the cost should be about $150 (without insurance, but could run as high as $400). We<br />
did a quick search for calcium scans on the Central Coast and nothing turned up, so it is<br />
unclear as to whether or not any exist locally. They are found in abundance, however, in the<br />
Bay Area as well as Southern California. Plan for a fun side trip during your next trek to<br />
Disneyland! In all seriousness, the process is so easy. They’ll ask you to strip down and put<br />
you into a hospital gown and maybe one of those hairnet thing-a-ma-bobs; then you’ll lay<br />
down on a big table which rolls you assembly-line like into a huge tube. The person in the<br />
room will tell you to take a deep breath and lie still—yeah, right; you’ll want to freak the<br />
freak out!—as the giant tube snaps a whole bunch of selfies. Then, after a couple of super<br />
long minutes, the assembly line rolls you right back out. That’s it! You’re done, and you can<br />
head back to the Magic Kingdom.<br />
REMINDER<br />
We do not wear white coats to work here at <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, and we aren’t<br />
mathematicians, in fact, one of us got an F on the frog dissection assignment<br />
in high school, but we share this information with the best of intentions, in the<br />
same way we would during a conversation with a friend. So, take what we have<br />
to say with a grain of salt, except don’t do that because it might be bad for you!<br />
<strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
76 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
New Patient Special $99<br />
Exam, X-Rays & Standard Cleaning<br />
䰀 漀 挀 愀 氀 䔀 琀 栀 椀 挀 愀 氀 䨀 攀 眀 攀 氀 爀 礀 匀 椀 渀 挀 攀 㤀 㜀 㐀<br />
D I S B E L M A N S I L L A , D D S<br />
ALEJANDRO ECHEVERRY, D D S<br />
1551 Bishop Street<br />
Suite D-420<br />
San Luis Obispo<br />
805.547.7010<br />
slodentalpractice.com<br />
facebook.com/slodental<br />
䘀 甀 氀 氀 匀 攀 爀 瘀 椀 挀 攀<br />
䌀 甀 猀 琀 漀 洀 Ⰰ 一 攀 眀 Ⰰ ☀ 䔀 猀 琀 愀 琀 攀 䨀 攀 眀 攀 氀 爀 礀<br />
㐀 ☀ 㠀 䜀 愀 爀 搀 攀 渀 匀 琀 ⸀ 䐀 漀 眀 渀 琀 漀 眀 渀 匀 䰀 伀<br />
㠀 㔀 ⸀ 㔀 㐀 アパート⸀ 㠀 㠀 㘀 ⴀ 眀 眀 眀 ⸀ 䜀 愀 爀 搀 攀 渀 匀 琀 爀 攀 攀 琀 䜀 漀 氀 搀 猀 洀 椀 琀 栀 猀 ⸀ 挀 漀 洀<br />
We Service ALL Makes and Models.<br />
We have THE EXPERTISE.<br />
We have THE TOOLS.<br />
And YOUR WARRANTY<br />
stays intact.<br />
Mention this ad to RECEIVE $10 OFF<br />
your next service.<br />
MAINTAINING EXCELLENCE FOR 40 YEARS<br />
San Luis Obispo 805.242.8336 Santa Maria 805.316.0154<br />
RIZZOLISAUTOMOTIVE.COM<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 77
| TASTE<br />
SANDWICHES<br />
Seriously <strong>SLO</strong> Food<br />
Want to really live the <strong>SLO</strong> Life? Grab a sandwich and head for the patio.<br />
BY JAIME LEWIS<br />
o grasp what makes San Luis Obispo truly<br />
great, look no further than its sandwich<br />
culture. Nothing speaks more to this town’s<br />
core values than how it smooshes protein and<br />
produce between two slices of bread. TFor starters, each of the three sandwich shops I visited for this<br />
column (as well as other stalwarts like Ben Franklin’s Sandwiches<br />
and The Broad Street Giant Grinder) prides itself on fierce<br />
independence. They’re all owner-operated, meaning the sale of<br />
every sandwich supports real people who live here and fight the<br />
good fight of small business ownership.<br />
Delis also act as community hubs. Witness their full patios,<br />
lines out the door, and the multiple hours customers spend<br />
78 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
hanging out. Ordering a sandwich in <strong>SLO</strong> is<br />
never just ordering a sandwich; it is a vote for<br />
connection, a gambit on the good life.<br />
It’s also a pledge of neighborhood loyalty. Most of<br />
these delis started as corner grocers, before the dawn<br />
of supermarkets. Today, not much has changed;<br />
High Street Deli serves southern <strong>SLO</strong>, while Gus’s<br />
Grocery serves the northeastern edge. Live in the<br />
Anholm? You’re likely a Lincoln Market & Deli fan.<br />
(Interestingly, none of these businesses reside in the<br />
downtown core. See fierce independence, above.)<br />
Ready to taste the real San Luis Obispo? Bring<br />
your appetite. >><br />
JAIME LEWIS writes about<br />
food, drink, and the good<br />
life from her home in San<br />
Luis Obispo. Find her on<br />
Instagram/Twitter @jaimeclewis.
TALLEY FARMS<br />
THERE IS<br />
always time<br />
TO EAT<br />
fresh!<br />
Gear up for<br />
spring and enjoy<br />
a little sunshine at<br />
Summerland Co.<br />
FRESH FROM OUR FARM<br />
Variety of Seasonal Local Fresh Fruits<br />
and Vegetables in Every Talley Box<br />
2 BOX SIZES<br />
Flexible Schedule • Convenient Pick Up<br />
Home Delivery Available<br />
Become a Member at<br />
TalleyFarmsFreshHarvest.com<br />
1019 Morro Street . San Luis Obispo<br />
CHANGING LIVES<br />
ONE BOX AT A TIME<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 79
LINCOLN MARKET & DELI<br />
At this hopping neighborhood staple, a mural of<br />
Abraham Lincoln holding a sandwich and beer<br />
admonishes guests to “Be excellent to each other and<br />
party on, dudes!” This encapsulates the Lincoln Market<br />
& Deli (lincolnmarketanddeli.com) experience: inclusive,<br />
fun, and tasty.<br />
“First and foremost it’s all about the feeling that people<br />
have when they’re here,” says Becky Hicks, who has owned<br />
the business with her husband, Mike, since 2013. “All the<br />
components add up to that experience.”<br />
Those components include long family-style tables and<br />
a comfortable patio, quaffable beverages, an alternative<br />
grocery, gifts, and sandwiches, of course.<br />
Hicks brings me one of LMD’s signatures: the Anholm<br />
Sweet Home. Roast beef, bacon, red onions, arugula, goat<br />
cheese and fig marmalade burst from inside a Dutch<br />
crunch roll.<br />
“We started this as a special. At the time, Dutch crunch<br />
bread was new,” she says, referring to the popular sandwich<br />
bread brushed with rice flour for a crackled top. “It was<br />
hard because it was more expensive, but we committed<br />
to it. Then we got requests to bring it back, and now it’s a<br />
regular menu item.”<br />
My first bite hits on multiple levels: creamy cheese, chewy<br />
bread, tender beef, piquant arugula. It’s a serious start to my<br />
sandwich crawl—one worth lingering over. >><br />
80 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
3076 Duncane Lane . San Luis Obispo<br />
805 549 0100<br />
Fresh Food+<br />
Fresh Finds<br />
Mint + Craft is a fast casual café and mercantile that<br />
features innovative, handcrafted, market-fresh foods<br />
and locally and regionally made artisanal wares.<br />
Whether you are looking for a quick bite or a leisurely<br />
dining experience on our sunny downtown patio,<br />
Mint + Craft is a convenient choice for fresh, highquality<br />
foods and goods. The Mint Mercantile is<br />
<strong>SLO</strong>’s best kept secret for foodie-inspired finds, hand<br />
selected wines, and gift boxes for many occasions.<br />
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR BREAKFAST,<br />
LUNCH + DINNER<br />
848 Monterey Street, downtown <strong>SLO</strong> | mintandcraft.com |<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 81
GUS’S GROCERY<br />
The most popular sandwich at this quaint, checker-floored<br />
market (aptly named “The #1”) comprises fried chicken strips,<br />
jack cheese, and barbecue sauce, served hot on a French roll and<br />
finished with ranch dressing and the works. Sound good? It is,<br />
and it was all owner Shannon Koester’s idea.<br />
“I make sandwiches the way I want to eat them,” she says,<br />
confessing she eats sandwiches about five days per week.<br />
A man walks into the deli and orders a turkey sandwich on<br />
Hush Harbor baguette. Shannon tells me he’s a regular, so I ask<br />
him what brings him back to Gus’s Grocery (gussgrocery.com)<br />
day after day.<br />
“The patio,” he says immediately. “It’s the best patio in town.”<br />
When his order comes up, I take a gander at his sandwich. In<br />
true Gus’s fashion, it teems with shredded lettuce, sprouts and<br />
veggies. To reach nirvana, I tell him, all it needs are a bag of<br />
chips, a beer, and a sunny afternoon. >><br />
82 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
Saving energy never<br />
goes out of style<br />
AUDIO • VIDEO • LIGHTING • CLIMATE CONTROL • SURVEILLANCE • SHADES<br />
(805) 540-5116<br />
www.abovegradeautomation.com<br />
245 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo<br />
Check with your gas and electric provider for available rebates!<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 83
HIGH STREET DELI<br />
Everything at High Street Deli (highstdeli.com)—<br />
from the breakfast burrito (aka “Breaky Blunt”) to the<br />
tee-shirts (one of which reads “EAT HIGH”) and even<br />
the owner’s name (Randy “Doobie” Coates)—stays<br />
confidently on-brand. When I walk in, Black Sabbath<br />
pipes over the airwaves and an army of smiling<br />
employees bustles behind the counter.<br />
“I love feeding people,” says Coates, who has<br />
owned the shop for 20 years. “For me, everything<br />
revolves around food.” He tells me excitedly about<br />
his newest venture: a casual California bistro in<br />
Baywood, overlooking the estuary. “People told me I<br />
was crazy to open a deli here [on High Street],” he<br />
says, laughing. “Now they think I’m crazy to open a<br />
restaurant in Baywood.”<br />
Coates builds me the daily special, the “Cali Gold,”<br />
which is melted brie, smoked turkey, honey mustard,<br />
bacon, avocado, and the works on squaw bread. Gooey<br />
and savory, the contents meld into the soft, sweet<br />
bread, then onto my hands and down my arm.<br />
Fierce independence never tasted so good.<br />
<strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
OOEY GOOEY HISTORY<br />
Ever wonder how<br />
“Monterey Jack” cheese<br />
got its name? Originally<br />
a product of the<br />
California missions, it<br />
was called queso blanco<br />
pais. When Mexico sold<br />
California to the U.S. in<br />
1948, an opportunistic<br />
businessman named<br />
David Jack purchased<br />
thousands of acres in<br />
Monterey and decided<br />
to market the cheese<br />
as his own, calling it<br />
(rather cunningly)<br />
“Jack’s Cheese.”<br />
84 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
SCIENCE AND CHRISTIANITY<br />
Explore spiritual law and hear examples<br />
that illustrate that law in action.<br />
International speaker,<br />
Mary Alice Rose, is a<br />
practitioner and teacher of<br />
Christian Science healing<br />
and a member of the<br />
Christian Science<br />
Board of Lectureship.<br />
At Semmes & Co. Builders,<br />
we are guided by environment.<br />
As pioneering green builders on California’s Central Coast,<br />
we believe in building responsible, healthy and inspiring<br />
living spaces – just as we’ve done since 1978.<br />
“The Science of Christianity”<br />
Saturday, <strong>May</strong> 11th at 2:00 p.m.<br />
First Church of Christ, Scientist<br />
1326 Garden Street<br />
San Luis Obispo CA 93401<br />
FEATURED PROPERTY:<br />
Modern Farm House, Arroyo Grande<br />
visit us on HOUZZ<br />
CA LICENSE #962529<br />
Semmes Homes: Built with purpose.<br />
ph 805·466·6737 · fx 805·466·6739 · semmesco.com<br />
7900 El Camino Real, Atascadero, California 93422<br />
Creators of bench<br />
built lighting fixtures<br />
by local artisans.<br />
The jewelry for<br />
your home.<br />
HANS<br />
DUUS<br />
BLACKSMITH INC<br />
2976 INDUSTRIAL PARKWAY . SANTA MARIA<br />
805-570-0019 . HANSDUUS@GMAIL.COM<br />
HANSDUUSBLACKSMITH.COM<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 85
| KITCHEN<br />
WEEKDAY SALMON<br />
A perfect dish for a busy schedule without sacrificing<br />
health or taste—cabbage, cilantro, carrots, and oranges<br />
give this salmon dish a lovely pop of color—and flavor.<br />
BY CHEF JESSIE RIVAS<br />
86 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
JESSIE’S TIP:<br />
Black cod and/or scallops can<br />
be substituted for the salmon.<br />
And, you can always add more<br />
or other citrus to the salad such<br />
!as grapefruit.<br />
WEEKDAY SALMON<br />
4 5 oz pieces of salmon or ½ wild salmon, skin on<br />
¼ cup oil<br />
½ cup light miso<br />
3 oz sake or 2 oz vodka<br />
3 Tbs organic honey<br />
1 ½ Tbs brown sugar<br />
2 Tbs dark soy sauce<br />
2 Tbs butter<br />
kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper<br />
In a small saucepan add miso, sake, honey, brown<br />
sugar and soy sauce. Simmer on low just until sugar is<br />
dissolved. Add 2 tablespoons of butter as you take it<br />
off the heat and let rest.<br />
Season fillets with kosher salt and fresh cracked<br />
pepper (yes it does make a difference). Put fillets on a<br />
small cookie sheet.<br />
With a pastry brush, coat salmon with the sauce. Let<br />
rest at room temperature while preparing salad.<br />
4 cups cabbage<br />
½ bunch cilantro roughly chopped<br />
¼ bunch thai basil julienned<br />
4 green onions cut on bias<br />
2 carrots julienned<br />
1 orange (segments and juice only)<br />
¼ cup rice vinegar<br />
2 Tbs vegetable oil<br />
In a medium sized mixing bowl add cabbage, carrots<br />
and orange segments with juice. Mix in cilantro, thai<br />
basil and green onion. Dress with rice vinegar, olive<br />
oil, salt and pepper<br />
Preheat broiler to high.<br />
Once oven is hot, place<br />
fillets in oven with the<br />
flesh side up. Cook for<br />
3 minutes. Take salmon<br />
out and cover with rest of<br />
sauce. Cook for 3-4 more<br />
minutes until done.<br />
JESSIE RIVAS is the owner<br />
and chef of The Pairing Knife<br />
food truck which serves the<br />
Central Coast.<br />
Serve salmon on top of<br />
coleslaw salad or with your<br />
favorite rice. <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 87
| WINE NOTES<br />
GIVE RIES A CHANCE<br />
Don’t let those long, slim bottles fool you. Once known as sugar-laden wines, these dry<br />
Rieslings are loved as a refreshing drink, swimming with flavor, and light on sweetness.<br />
Originating from Rheingau, Germany, Riesling is used widely all over the world to<br />
produce dry, not sweet, crisp, clean and refreshing wines. I once had a teacher that<br />
said that Germany makes the most beautiful Rieslings, but you will have to go there to<br />
experience them because they drink all the good ones and ship all the rest, the sweet<br />
ones, to other countries. Save that international ticket, people! You get to experience<br />
something special right in your backyard. Our own Edna Valley is reinventing this old<br />
grape’s reputation. Take a look at these dry and sometimes slightly sweet goodies just a<br />
stone’s throw from your front door.<br />
BY ANDRIA MCGHEE<br />
Talley Vineyard // 2017 Bishop’s Peak Riesling // $24<br />
In 1982, Oliver Talley began a Vineyard at the very end of Orcutt<br />
Valley Road where he found great sloped hills, a fantastic setting<br />
for growing great wines. Riesling was near to his heart. He planted<br />
it on a plot of land that was special enough to give his own name:<br />
Oliver’s Vineyard. To this day, the tasting room shows views of<br />
vines with a classic warm and friendly California environment.<br />
Though you may know them for their<br />
harvest boxes, Talley vines produce<br />
quality grapes. Sometimes this vintage<br />
is produced off-dry, which, as opposite<br />
as it sounds, means a touch sweet.<br />
This year struts a dry wine that smells<br />
floral and tastes lemony with a slight<br />
pineapple flavor. I tasted a faint olive oil<br />
flavor a bit after the wine had left my<br />
mouth. Could this be an invitation to<br />
drink with some white fish cooked in<br />
lemon and caper sauce? I think so. >><br />
ANDRIA MCGHEE received<br />
her advanced degree in<br />
wines and spirits from<br />
WSET in London and enjoys<br />
travel, food, wine, and<br />
exercise as a means to enjoy<br />
those around her.<br />
88 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
smart, eclectic, art to live on<br />
1599 Monterey Street | 805.544.5900 | sloconsignment.com<br />
(at the corner of Grove Street, across from Pepe Delgados)<br />
Open Monday - Saturday 10-6pm<br />
EDNA VALLEY PIONEERS • SINCE 1973<br />
Join us for a tasting of our world class<br />
Chardonnay & Pinot Noir<br />
Dedicated to Rosé<br />
Inspired by Provence • Made in California<br />
Join us at the #MaleneScene - our 1969 Airstream<br />
mobile tasting room and picnic grounds, just 10<br />
minutes from Downtown <strong>SLO</strong>.<br />
10 MIN FROM DWNTN <strong>SLO</strong> • CHAMISALVINEYARDS.COM<br />
805.235.3338 • malenewines.com<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 89
Claiborne and Churchill<br />
2017 Dry Riesling Edna Valley // $22<br />
Despite a challenging year of unpredictable weather<br />
in 2017, this year’s Riesling is shining. The grapes for<br />
this wine are grown on the same plot of land as Talley’s<br />
(Oliver’s Vineyard- remember those awesome hills?). The<br />
interesting thing is that the two wines are different. This<br />
is the influence of winemaker Coby Parker-Garcia in the<br />
winemaking process.<br />
Imagine two artists who see the same landscape, use the<br />
same paints and paint brushes, yet the two canvases end<br />
up so different. These wines are two different products.<br />
This one has a lovely floral nose when you swirl it in<br />
your glass. I adore how the minerality and acidity, the<br />
elements that make your mouth water, balance the citrus<br />
and stone fruit flavors. Parker-Garcia, a San Luis Obispo<br />
native, strives to reflect the positive aspects of grapes of<br />
a vintage in the wines he produces. Have it with a nice<br />
meal to really let it fly. I’m going to try it with crab cakes<br />
or chicken l’orange.<br />
Wolff Vineyard<br />
2015 Dry Alsatian Style Riesling // $22<br />
This winery is a charmer. No wonder they thrive mostly<br />
on club memberships and visitors, which is truly<br />
impressive. From the view on that little hill, which the<br />
wine tasting room sits upon, you can see the sprawling<br />
vines from Wolff and neighboring vineyards as well as<br />
those beautiful sister mountains. Even seeing storm<br />
clouds rolling through when I visited just took my<br />
breath away.<br />
Like the owners of Claiborne and Churchill, this wine is<br />
inspired by the wines from Alsace, France and the reason<br />
they labeled this wine Alsatian. The region is well known<br />
for their Riesling grapes, located just south of Rheingau,<br />
Germany. Their Riesling has the typical floral nose and<br />
crisp acidity, but leaves me with a warming feeling. No,<br />
it’s not the alcohol that I mean. It’s the tropical notes<br />
that make me think of warming cold bones on a beach in<br />
Hawaii. The citrus takes me back to the orange blossoms<br />
of my Southern California youth that bloomed in the<br />
spring. They were so intoxicating. It has a touch of<br />
sweetness, which is well balanced. This is a fun wine.<br />
The Central Coast is making great European wines so<br />
easily accessible. My hope is that you give Riesling a try.<br />
You’ll get a light, crisp wine with some fun, uplifting<br />
flavors. Other lovely varietals from the same regions as<br />
Riesling are Gewürztraminer (pronounced Gev-ertstrah-meener),<br />
or Grüner Veltliner, traditionally from<br />
Austria, have similar crisp flavors. My prediction is that<br />
Grüner Veltliner will be an up-and-coming favorite.<br />
Grab a bottle of any of these from the tasting rooms<br />
directly, or from your local shops and grocery stores. I<br />
spotted a couple at Central Coast Wines on Higuera,<br />
Bev Mo, and <strong>SLO</strong> Provisions. Here’s to trying new or<br />
already beloved wines. Cheers! <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
90 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
Book Your<br />
Lighting<br />
Consultation<br />
Appointment<br />
Call: (805) 548-0800<br />
Text: (805) 440-9945<br />
corey@stollmeyerlighting.com<br />
Lighting Design<br />
New Construction . Remodeling<br />
LED Recessed Lighting . Smart Control<br />
Interior . Exterior . Landscape<br />
SHOWROOM<br />
2304 Broad Street<br />
San Luis Obispo<br />
. parking in back .<br />
www.stollmeyerlighting.com<br />
Your Central Coast Lighting Experts<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 91
| BREW<br />
BEER<br />
101<br />
BY BRANT MYERS<br />
What makes a beer, a beer?<br />
According to the Germany<br />
Beer Purity Law of 1516, beer<br />
can only contain water, barley,<br />
and hops. They failed to<br />
mention the most important<br />
ingredient, since they didn’t<br />
know about yeast yet, but<br />
to be fair, they were wrong<br />
about the definition of purity<br />
even 400 years later. These days, you would be hard-pressed to<br />
find a beer that had just these four basic ingredients, and with<br />
the highly publicized war between a macro-brewer that uses rice<br />
calling out a macro-brewer that uses corn, adding non-standard<br />
ingredients to beer has become a hot topic and a national trend.<br />
Let’s delve deep into the fascinating world of adjuncts.<br />
In the beer world, an adjunct is anything added to the brewing process in a<br />
supplementary role. The list is wide and ranges from the aforementioned grains,<br />
any variety of fruits, vegetables, spices, sugars, syrups, honey, and animals (oyster<br />
stout or lobster saison, anyone?). It’s been the Wild West for craft brewers over<br />
the past few years with fads and niches to be chased. Some breweries are looking<br />
to highlight a locally sourced ingredient for the ultimate farm-to-table drinking<br />
experience, or push the boundaries with a radically different flavor or texture. The<br />
most widely used type of adjuncts would be the use of non-standard grains ranging<br />
from rice to kernza.<br />
Why would a brewery use rice or corn in their beers? Well, there are two main<br />
reasons and they boil down to just plain good business. Government subsidies have<br />
lowered the cost of American-grown corn and rice to the point where if you want<br />
to sell a mass-produced beer at a competitive price you could cut out the timeconsuming<br />
process of malting your barley by using trucks full of rice or syrup made<br />
of corn (not to be confused with high fructose corn syrup). It also has the added >><br />
92 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
eethoven<br />
“<br />
eroica ”<br />
SATURDAY, <strong>May</strong> 4, <strong>2019</strong><br />
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER,<br />
SAN LUIS OBISPO<br />
concert begins 7:30 p.m.<br />
RAVEL | Le Tombeau de Couperin<br />
BARBER | Adagio for Strings<br />
WALTON | Crown Imperial March<br />
BEETHOVEN | Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”<br />
get tickets now | 805-756-4849<br />
slosymphony.org<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 93
onus of producing a drier finish and a lighter color—everything<br />
you want in your cheap domestic lager. On the other end of the<br />
spectrum, is the hottest craze of 2018-<strong>2019</strong>, the New England<br />
Style IPA. Often referred to as haze or juice, this ale utilizes flaked<br />
wheat to provide a smoother mouthfeel and soft, pillowy texture to<br />
your normally transparent IPA. A process familiar to the German<br />
beer style of hefewiezen. Speaking of which, let’s have a frank and<br />
earnest discussion about that slice of orange on the top of your glass.<br />
Fruit adjuncts have been wildly popular over the past few years<br />
adding a more impactful flavor to craft beers by either flavoring it<br />
with fruit, such as an apricot pale ale, or emphasizing the subtle<br />
hop aromas of an IPA with the complementary addition of mango<br />
or pineapple extract. This has a two-fold approach of allowing<br />
beers to become more accessible to entry-level drinkers who would<br />
normally be turned off by hop bitterness, and it allows brewers<br />
to expand their creativity through a more robust line-up due to<br />
the near limitless flavor combinations. All acceptable reasons,<br />
especially bolstered by the historical use of fruit by the Belgians<br />
in their famous styles, such as the cherry-laden Kriek or raspberry<br />
Framboise ales. So, back to that orange slice in your hef or the<br />
lime in your Mexican (German) lager. Picture a white sand beach<br />
with turquoise waters and a clear, long neck bottle of beer in your<br />
hand. What’s in the top of that bottle but a lime. Pure tropical bliss.<br />
However, it has a much more sinister past than a garnish to liven up<br />
your vacation.<br />
I’ve already ranted about pouring beer into the proper glassware,<br />
but let me tell you about the clear beer bottle and how it ticks all<br />
the boxes for how a beer can go bad. Steel caps stamped over a glass<br />
bottle might stop the beer from coming out, but it doesn’t prevent<br />
air from coming in; that clear glass can’t prevent light coming in<br />
any more than a picture window, and being brewed and stored in<br />
a country notorious for hot temps warms your beer up just so. All<br />
three factors can oxidize and accelerate off-favor production even<br />
before you pop the top. In a truly genius marketing campaign, the<br />
manufacturer decided that instead of addressing the issues, they<br />
would wedge a lime in the top and instantly you can’t smell the beer<br />
but only a sweet citrus aroma and a taste of the tropics. In regard to<br />
the notorioius orange slice, it was marketing, too.<br />
Back at the beginning of the latest craft beer boom, a macro-brewer<br />
got sneaky and decided to craft an “American” hefeweizen, which<br />
lacked much of the subtle flavors of its German counterpart. Add<br />
to that a bit of marketing genius, and the advent of an orange slice<br />
on your glass to get attention in a crowded market would soon<br />
change the craft beer scene for decades to come. Oranges and their<br />
peels contain loads of oil, the villain to beer’s aromatic foamy head<br />
superhero. If you have a mass-produced<br />
beer that doesn’t smell as magical as the<br />
original, then just kill the part that smells<br />
and replace it with a garnish. Heathens.<br />
The divide between brewers and<br />
drinkers is a fine line that the marketing<br />
department can tip-toe around or tread<br />
heavily upon, but much like any art form,<br />
it’s best to leave the art to the artist. In<br />
other words, it’s okay to have fruit in<br />
your beer, just not on your beer, any more<br />
than it’s okay to use paint on a canvas<br />
but not okay to draw mustaches on the<br />
Mona Lisa. And, for the love of beer, if it<br />
doesn’t taste good to begin with... don’t<br />
drink it! <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong><br />
BRANT MYERS is a 13-year<br />
veteran of the Central Coast<br />
craft beer industry who<br />
enjoys sharing his passion<br />
with anyone who doesn’t<br />
put an orange in their<br />
hefeweiezen.<br />
94 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
EST. 1999<br />
Specializing in<br />
Spring Scenes<br />
805.927.0374<br />
ecotoneslandscapes.com<br />
LIC # 767033<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 95
| HAPPENINGS<br />
EROICA CALIFORNIA<br />
This world-renowned vintage<br />
cycling event has four routes of<br />
various lengths that showcase the<br />
best cycling in the area. As the only<br />
Eroica event in the USA, Eroica<br />
California is the perfect opportunity<br />
to experience the history of cycling<br />
first-hand in a stunning location. This<br />
region will soon enter every cyclist’s<br />
bucket list when Eroica California<br />
showcases Cambria in <strong>2019</strong> for the<br />
very first time.<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il 5 - 7 // ceroicacalifornia.com<br />
APRIL<br />
A PARTY FOR THE PLANET<br />
Celebrate a fun day for children of<br />
all ages, with interactive adventures,<br />
hands-on activities, exhibits by<br />
sustainability-conscious businesses,<br />
as well as demonstrations and<br />
workshops on native plant gardening,<br />
food waste composting, water<br />
conservation, beekeeping, and more.<br />
A Party for the Planet offers Earth<br />
Day activities that are full of fun and<br />
purpose and enjoyable for all at the<br />
cost of regular zoo admission.<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il 13 // charlespaddockzoo.org<br />
WINE 4 PAWS<br />
Join in on the fun to raise funds for<br />
Woods Humane Society—choose from<br />
over 80 local wineries, breweries, and<br />
olive oil producers. Visit any of the<br />
participating Wine 4 Paws tasting rooms<br />
and enjoy the bounty of the Central Coast<br />
while supporting a great cause.<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il 6-7 // wine4paws.com<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10<br />
11<br />
12<br />
13<br />
14<br />
15<br />
16<br />
17<br />
18<br />
19<br />
20<br />
21<br />
22<br />
23<br />
24<br />
25<br />
26<br />
27<br />
28<br />
29<br />
30<br />
79TH ANNUAL<br />
POLY ROYAL RODEO<br />
The Poly Royal Rodeo is back and for<br />
the third straight year will be held in<br />
Alex G. Spanos Stadium. As always,<br />
it’ll be fun for the whole family. Come<br />
out and enjoy a tribute to western<br />
heritage and watch college rodeo’s<br />
finest athletes rope and ride their way<br />
into the history books of one of the<br />
greatest college rodeos in the world.<br />
A concert follows both performances<br />
this year and is included with a ticket<br />
to the rodeo on that night.<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il 12 - 13 // tickets@calpoly.edu<br />
<strong>SLO</strong> COLOR BLAST FUN RUN<br />
The <strong>SLO</strong> Color Blast Fun Run is a<br />
non-competitive 5k run/walk where<br />
runners are covered in a multicolored<br />
array of special dust. The Fun Run was<br />
conceived to help fund scholarships in<br />
honor of <strong>SLO</strong>HS soccer player Alex<br />
Maier (#23) who was killed in a tragic<br />
car accident and to promote a day of<br />
fun, friends, and family.<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il 14 // slocolorblast.com<br />
96 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
Home & Garden<br />
EXPO<br />
SAN LUIS OBISPO ALEX<br />
MADONNA EXPO CENTER<br />
<strong>May</strong> 4th & 5th, <strong>2019</strong><br />
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10am - 4pm<br />
Free Admission<br />
Free Parking<br />
Over 100 Home &<br />
Garden Professionals<br />
Seminars and Workshops<br />
all weekend<br />
$5 Wine Tasting - benefiting<br />
inspiredexpos.com<br />
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 97
MAY 3<br />
THROUGH<br />
MAY 19<br />
| HAPPENINGS<br />
Call (805) 786-2440<br />
slorep.org<br />
SENIOR DISCOUNT . Mon & Tues 10 to 2 . $15<br />
1351 Monterey Street . San Luis Obispo<br />
(805)783-2887 . clippersbarber.com<br />
Dr. Arnie Horwitz<br />
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS<br />
Are you feeling overwhelmed<br />
and confused? I can help.<br />
Specializing in<br />
- Relationship Conflicts - Parenting & Self-Esteem<br />
- Separation and Divorce - Personal Life Planning<br />
- Grief and Loss - Career Uncertainty<br />
Therapy/Counseling/Coaching<br />
Dr. Arnie Horwitz • 30 yrs. Experience<br />
805-541-2752<br />
www.doctorarnie.com<br />
MAY<br />
WINE WAVES & BEYOND<br />
Come celebrate the best that Classic<br />
California has to offer. Enjoy three days of<br />
unforgettable events that embrace the love<br />
of California’s traditional surfing lifestyle<br />
and culture along with exceptional wine<br />
and food. Experience Central Coast wines,<br />
artisan brews, local California farm-fresh<br />
and seaport-inspired cuisine, as well as<br />
great music, art, and the amiable coastal<br />
community. Wine, Waves & Beyond<br />
events take place at several scenic venues<br />
throughout Pismo Beach and at the<br />
Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo.<br />
<strong>May</strong> 3 - 5 // winewavesandbeyond.com<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10<br />
11<br />
12<br />
13<br />
14<br />
15<br />
16<br />
17<br />
18<br />
19<br />
20<br />
21<br />
22<br />
23<br />
24<br />
25<br />
26<br />
27<br />
28<br />
29<br />
30<br />
31<br />
MIRACLE MILES FOR KIDS<br />
This beautiful 10K (6.2 miles) race<br />
course runs along the water’s edge<br />
from Morro Rock to the Cayucos<br />
Pier. At any given time, there are<br />
over 900 children in foster care in<br />
San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara<br />
counties who need support and<br />
services. Family Care Network<br />
partners with the community in<br />
Miracle Miles for Kids 10K to help<br />
meet these needs. Miracle Miles for<br />
Kids was created to raise funds that<br />
allow us to fully support the crucial<br />
needs of children, youth, and families<br />
impacted by trauma. Last year,<br />
over 2,500 people participated—all<br />
working to make a difference.<br />
<strong>May</strong> 11 // give.fcni.org<br />
live the <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong>!<br />
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!<br />
slolifemagazine.com<br />
98 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
SHABANG REBORN<br />
Bringing love for live music to the Central<br />
Coast, Shabang is an annual music festival<br />
that was born in San Luis Obispo’s<br />
backyard. What started as a few friends<br />
and a guitar has become a celebration of<br />
life, music, and breathtaking scenery, all<br />
driven by a mission of bringing music to the<br />
forefront of San Luis Obispo’s community.<br />
<strong>May</strong> 4 // shabangslo.com<br />
PASO WINE FESTIVAL<br />
The 37th Annual Wine Festival<br />
includes a selection of Winemaker<br />
Dinners at area restaurants on<br />
Thursday, and select wineries will<br />
feature their Library, Reserve, White,<br />
Rosé, and Futures complemented by<br />
fresh and local gourmet bites on Friday.<br />
Start your morning on Saturday with<br />
a fun and educational Winemaker<br />
Seminar where more than 70 wineries<br />
come together in the Paso Robles<br />
Downtown City Park to showcase<br />
their wines during the Grand Tasting.<br />
<strong>May</strong> 16 - 19 // pasowine.com
APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong> | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | 99
100 | <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> MAGAZINE | APR/MAY <strong>2019</strong>
Change language