July 2019
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FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA
July 2019
The Great
Outdoors
PLANET-FRIENDLY GRILLING
With Veggie Sauces and Marinades
BACKYARD GLAMPING
Rev Up Your Summer Parties
CALIFORNIA CACTUS CENTER
A Family Affair for Nearly
Half a Century
OUTDOOR FITNESS
Work Out in the Stadium
Of Champions
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arroyo
VOLUME 15 | NUMBER 07 | JULY 2019
15
PHOTOS: (top)Courtesy of WonderTent Parties; (bottom right) Brenda Rees
10 32
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
10 THE BEEFLESS SUMMER
Save the planet and your taste buds by grilling veggies and topping
them with dressings and marinades.
—By LESLIE BILDERBACK
15 GO GLAMPING, BACKYARD-STYLE
With a little (or a lot) of help, your summer party can be the talk of the town.
—By BRENDA REES
29 OUTDOOR FITNESS
Stadium Fitness promises to train you “where legends have played.”
—By NOELA HUESO
32 A FAMILY AFFAIR
The California Cactus Center nurtures botanical wonders and familial
bonds.
—By BRENDA REES
DEPARTMENTS
09 FESTIVITIES The Blue Ribbon lunches, Indecent opens, LACO
celebrates
27 ARROYO HOME SALES INDEX
37 KITCHEN CONFESSIONS Mixology Month
38 ARROYO COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH The Ginny Hendricks
39 THE LIST AmericaFest toasts July 4th, the Cal Phil celebrates Bastille Day and
more
07.19 ARROYO | 5
EDITOR’S NOTE
Sumer is icumen in, as my high school
music class used to sing many moons
ago. I have a lot more summers
under my belt than winters, ever since
trudging through Boston blizzards in
college and ice storms in Kansas City
where I worked on a local newspaper.
Actually, landlocked Kansas City
is the extreme weather champ, in my
experience: it’s both the coldest and
the hottest place I’ve ever lived.
Of course, there are other contenders
for sweltering summers,
including humid New York City and
Miami, where I also worked as a
reporter. I remember an early lesson in not being penny wise and pound
foolish when I neglected to buy a car with air-conditioning. Sometimes
I’d be sopping wet when I showed up for assignments.
SoCal summers may be much drier, but they carry their own hazards
— including deadly wildfi res — that are intensifying due to climate
change. But the ability to spend many summer days outdoors in comfort
is still a thing here, especially with our cooler desert nights. So this issue
celebrates the season of life en plein air, with suggestions for outdoor
fi tness, food, gardening and great parties.
The intrepid Noela Hueso scampered up and down the Rose Bowl’s
77 steps — four times — to sample the supercharged workouts offered by
Stadium Fitness at the legendary venue. Kitchen Confessions columnist
Leslie Bilderback explains why you should consider grilling vegetables
rather than the traditional red meat and tempts you with recipes for
delicious sauces and marinades. Brenda Rees visits East Pasadena’s
California Cactus Center, where one family has excelled in propagating
and selling rare and common cacti and succulents for 47 years.
And don’t miss Brenda’s story about a new entertaining trend —
backyard glamping (a.k.a. luxury camping). You’d be surprised how
much tents, pillows, movie screens, chandeliers and/or other accoutrements
can raise the fun factor of your outdoor parties this summer.
—Irene Lacher
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Irene Lacher
ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Richard Garcia
PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Yumi Kanegawa
EDITOR-AT-LARGE Bettijane Levine
COPY EDITOR John Seeley
CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Bilderback, Léon Bing,
Martin Booe, Michael Cervin, Scarlet Cheng,
Richard Cunningham, Tommy Ewasko, Noela
Hueso, Kathleen Kelleher, Frier McCollister, Brenda
Rees, Jordan Riefe, Ilsa Setziol, John Sollenberger,
Nancy Spiller
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase,
Rick Federman, Javier Sanchez
ADVERTORIAL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Bruce Haring
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Andrea Baker
PAYROLL Linda Lam
ACCOUNTING Perla Castillo, Quinton Wright
OFFICE MANAGER Ann Turrietta
PUBLISHER Dina Stegon
arroyo
FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA
SOUTHLAND PUBLISHING
V.P. OF OPERATIONS David Comden
PRESIDENT Bruce Bolkin
CONTACT US
ADVERTISING
dinas@pasadenaweekly.com
EDITORIAL
editor@arroyomonthly.com
PHONE
(626) 584-1500
FAX
(626) 795-0149
MAILING ADDRESS
50 S. De Lacey Ave., Ste. 200,
Pasadena, CA 91105
ArroyoMonthly.com
©2019 Southland Publishing, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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FESTIVITIES
FESTIVITIES
Jill Baldauf and Terri Kohl
Scott Harrison with Carol and Warner Henry and Anne-Marie and Leslie Lassiter
PHOTOS: © Luque Photograph (The Blue Ribbon); JBen Gibbs (LACO Concert Gala); Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging (Indecent)
Terri Kohl
Jackie Rosenberg, Jill Baldauf, Diane Morton and Terri Kohl
Nearly 140 Blue Ribbon members welcomed incoming President
Terri Kohl, a noted Pasadena philanthropist, at the Dorothy
Chandler Pavilion on May 22. “Terri is passionate about the
performing arts and making a difference and will guide The Blue
Ribbon into the future,” outgoing President Jill Baldauf told the
preeminent women’s support group for The Music Center at its
Jane Kaczmarek
annual general meeting and luncheon. The Blue Ribbon also
named arts advocate Diane Morton its 2019 Woman of the
Year; the longtime Blue Ribbon member has donated millions
to the Music Center, including a $1.25 million legacy gift to The
Blue Ribbon’s Children’s Festival Endowment, which she made
with her son, James Gelb…George Takei, Justin Kirk and
Richard Schiff were among the many actors who joined Pulitzer
Prize–winning playwright Paula Vogel and Tony Award–winning
Director Rebecca Taichman at the June 9 opening of their
play, Indecent, at the Ahmanson Theatre in downtown L.A. The
play, about a scandalous Yiddish theater production a century
ago, brought the audience to its feet and runs through July 7…
On May 2, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra moved to a sleek
new location — the InterContinental Hotel in downtown L.A. — for
its annual gala, co-chaired by Pasadena’s Carol Henry and
Anne-Marie Spataru. The ensemble welcomed Music Director
Designate Jaime Martin, who conducted a performance of de
Falla’s “El amor brujo” with Sierra Madre mezzo-soprano Suzanna
Guzmán, and honored acclaimed concertmaster Margaret
Batjer, who performed two Bach concertos against a backdrop
of city lights.
Margaret Batjer and Cho-Liang Lin
Jaime Martin, Laureate Jeffrey Kahane and Martha Kahane
George Takei Justin Kirk Richard Schiff Paula Vogel and Rebecca Taichman
07.19 | ARROYO | 9
THE BEEFLESS
SUMMER
Save the planet and your taste buds by grilling veggies
and topping them with dressings and marinades.
BY LESLIE BILDERBACK
It’s officially summer, which in Southern California (and
most of America) means outdoor
activities. The beach, the park, thepublic pool and, of course, the backyard. This
is the season when entertaining officially moves outside.
But lately, especially here in California, summer outdoor activities have
faced a number of obstacles. Though we’ve had a record wet spring, I am
bracing for a repeat of last year’s extreme heat, which drove me back inside
more than once. A sky full of smoke from wild fires, which experts warn will
become the new normal, also kept me in. And all that rainwater has produced
an unusually large crop of mosquitos, which made hanging outside in the cool
dusk — prime BBQ hours — miserable and hazardous. But even if none of those
elements keep you inside this summer, these environmental changes are going to
force us to reevaluate our idea of summer fun.There is no doubt that climate change has
altered our environment. That I can see it in my lifetime is upsetting enough. What lies
in store for my progeny is what keeps me up at night. Sure, your canvas tote bag and solarpowered
phone charger are totally helping. But if you really want to make an impact, there
is one significant thing you can do right now.
Stop eating beef.
By now, everyone is aware that factory farming is killing the planet. Numerous studies,
international political movements and films have been highlighting the dangers
for over a decade. (The 2008 film Food Inc. changed the way I sourced product at work.)
There have been moderate attempts to offer planet-friendly alternatives to the masses,
such as cage-free eggs and grass-fed meat. Chefs are creating plant-based menus, and the
faux “Impossible Burger” is available from the best white-tableclothed joint to Burger
King. But we still drool at the first whiff of charring meat. I’m fairly convinced that the
Char Boy burger joint in my neighborhood doesn’t need to vent its grill smoke onto the
street — but doing so is advertising genius.
What will it take to get Americans to lay off cows? Perhaps the best incentive is fear of
planetary extinction.
–continued on page 12
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–continued from page 10
While the “they’re coming for our hamburgers” rhetoric has been used as fodder
for the anti–Green New Deal faction (the deal that, by the way, mentions nothing
about beef), it is true that switching to a plant-focused diet is the single biggest thing
we can do to lower greenhouse-gas emissions. In fact, of the four most important
changes humans can make — eat plants, limit air travel, go car-free and have smaller
families — giving up meat will have the largest impact, and it is the only one I am
readily able to do. (Reminder — broccoli is cheaper than a Tesla.)
A recent National Academy of Sciences study on the environmental impact of
animal foods looked at five of the most consumed animal products — beef, dairy,
pork, poultry and eggs. It makes perfect sense that beef, the largest of the factoryfarmed
animals, is 10 times more damaging to the planet than other animal foods we
consume. Beef production is responsible for 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
Cutting out red meat would do more for the planet than abandoning cars. It would
also be easier and faster. (Which is a relief, because I love driving my manual transmission
way more than I love beef.)
Although total livestock is the largest land user worldwide, the beef production
uses 28 times more land, and 11 times more water, than each of the other four animal
products. This means that you don’t even need to go as far as veganism to make an
impact. Although, when compared to plant food production, beef uses 160 times
more land, and creates 11 times the emissions. And because we live in a droughtfamiliar
part of the country, you might find it interesting that one pound of beef
requires 2,400 gallons of water, while one pound of wheat uses a mere 25 gallons. So,
yeah, thanks for putting that brick in your toilet tank and turning off the faucet while
you brush, but how ’bout you lay off the carne asada this weekend? It will save more
water than a year of skipped showers.
I know. It’s grilling season. And grilling is as ’Merican as hamburger. And while I
am encouraging you to lay off meat completely, I will settle for a temporary abstention
from beef. To facilitate this, I am offering some suggestions for beef-free grilling
that will not only make your smoke-choked, mosquito-infested barbeque a success,
they will also help stem the tide of global warming.
My biggest peeve regarding vegetarianism is the compulsion many feel to make
it seem like meat. Plants taste good as they are, and to disguise them does Mother
Nature a disservice. Literally anything can be grilled, and everything is improved
with the taste of the grill. Vegetable grilling is not rocket science, and there are a
plethora of ideas in cookbooks and on the Internet for you to sift through. I have
rounded up some of my favorites, with the caveat that you can easily create your
own versions. I routinely grill all kinds of vegetables in the summer — not just the
standard Portobello mushrooms and corn (which are perfect and delicious). Try
quartered cauliflower, skewered Brussels sprouts, sliced winter squash, asparagus
spears (place them perpendicular to the grill slats!), whole cherry tomatoes, hearts of
romaine or radicchio and avocados (halved and pitted with skin on). Once the veggies
are charred, they can be tossed with a dressing, chopped and stuffed into flatbread or
sandwiched between buns.
Giving up meat altogether would be the ideal. But asking 400 million people to
go meatless without some sort of immediate incentive (because it’s obvious that saving
the planet is not enough of a motivator) is going to be challenging. What I will
ask, though, is for you to give up red meat, at least a couple days a week. By doing
this, you can still significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
GRILLED VEGETABLE DRESSINGS
AND MARINADES
All of these marinades are prepared by simply mixing all the ingredients together and
macerating with your chosen vegetables for about 1 hour before grilling. When the
veggies hit the grill, cook them until they are marked and a little charred. No need to
check internal temperatures! Times will vary depending on the vegetables, but nothing
will take longer than five to 10 minutes. You can grill veggies individually, lock
them into a grilling basket or thread them on skewers. It’s easier, healthier and more
conscience-soothing than a steak ever was.
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Indian Curried Yogurt Marinade
Try this with quartered red onion, cauliflower, halved new potatoes, green beans and
pumpkin. It’s great for chicken too. Scoop it up with some garlic naan.
INGREDIENTS
2 cups plain yogurt
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 to 3 tablespoons grated ginger
Middle-Eastern Pomegranate Marinade
Try this with halved parsnips, turnips, carrots, romaine hearts or summer squash.
Not bad with lamb either. Serve with some grilled pita and fresh hummus.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup pomegranate juice
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1 chopped shallot
Thai Green Curry Marinade
Try this with red or yellow bell peppers, zucchini, whole green onions, new potatoes,
sweet potatoes, asparagus and wedged green or Savoy cabbage. Toss them into a dish
of noodles or over a bowl of rice. It’s also great for shrimp.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup coconut milk
Grated zest and juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons coconut or canola oil
1 tablespoon grated ginger
Provençal Marinade
Perfect for zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggplant, fennel and artichokes. Chop
them and layer onto a grilled flatbread, then top with goat cheese for a decadent summer
pizza.
INGREDIENTS
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
¼ cup red wine vinegar
½ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoons tandoori or garam masala
spice blend
¼ cup coconut or canola oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
¼ cup fi nely chopped cilantro
2 to 4 tablespoons green curry paste
1 tablespoon prepared pesto
1 tablespoon herbes de Provence (or
½ tablespoon each of thyme, oregano,
rosemary, lavender)
Soy Balsamic Marinade
Use this for summer squash, eggplant, whole baby bok choy, green onions, broccoli
and carrots. It’s also perfect for your favorite firm fish filet. Finish with fresh chopped
cilantro and black sesame seeds.
INGREDIENTS
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
Sesame Peanut Marinade
Try with bok choy, cauliflower, whole small or halved large carrots, parsnips, zucchini,
sweet potatoes and even pineapple wheels. Terrific on pork too.
INGREDIENTS
¼ cup peanut butter
¼ cup rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame oil
Spicy Marinade for Tropical Fruit
Try this marinade for mango, pineapple, kiwi and bananas, firm melons and cucumbers.
Then serve the finished fruits over cool sorbet with a coconut macaroon.
INGREDIENTS
½ cup maple syrup
Grated zest and juice of 1 lime
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
Honey Port Marinade for...
Try this with whole figs, peaches, plums, pears and, when the season arrives in the
fall, persimmons. Spoon over vanilla ice cream, or into a crispy meringue cup.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup Port wine
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 tablespoon honey
1 to 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce or
Sriracha
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cayenne
Grated zest and juice of 1 orange
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
07.19 | ARROYO | 13
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GO GLAMPING, BACKYARD-STYLE
With a little (or a lot) of help, your summer party can be the talk of the town.
BY BRENDA REES
PHOTOS: Courtesy of WonderTent Parties
The staycation phenomenon spotlighted the pleasures of hanging out inside your home,
offering you a chance to relax and unwind in the comfort of your own recliner or bed,
where you can get lost in an assortment of Netflix-binging options. And a new trend
aims to reintroduce you to your patio, porch, deck and backyard in ways you didn’t think
possible.
Now glamping, or luxurious camping — combining a nature experience with lavish furnishings
— is hitting closer to home. Backyard barbecues are becoming more extravagant,
baby showers more memorable. Birthday sleepovers are celebrated with enchanted flair, and
simple family gatherings are benefiting from greater creativity.
Backyard glamping is officially a thing. Just scan Pinterest and see the thousands of images
folks are posting of their elaborate thematic setups, their clever use of lighting draped
inside and outside of canvas tents that are artfully decorated with throw pillows, Moroccan
rugs and hanging chandeliers. Kids’ sleepover parties are enhanced with Martha Stewart–
inspired crafts, tasteful design elements encircling the “campfire” (a.k.a. fire pit) and giant
outdoor versions of Jenga and Connect Four.
If these extras sound exhausting for the time-crunched host and hostess, don’t worry.
A handful of companies are making it easier for clients to throw a backyard glamping
experience, because organizing a gathering — no matter how big or small — comes with its
own set of stresses. Hosts work with designers to tailor the events (such as bridal showers,
graduations, book-club meetings or girls’ night-outs) to be as elaborate or simple as needed.
On the day of the event, all the necessary gear and accessories will be delivered and often
set up for you. After the shindig, crews pack everything up so there’s no post-party hassle
and cleanup.
“We started thinking we would focus on children, but we learned quickly that adults
want these kinds of experiences as much as kids do,” says Trish Healy, founder of Studio
City–based WonderTent Parties, launched in 2017. Originally from Australia, Healy said
the idea for the company was sparked by a request from 13-year-old Celia, a child she and
her husband were fostering at the time. Celia’s Christmas wish list included a sleepover,
something she had yet to experience. This simple request turned into not just an unforgettable
event for Celia (who’s now officially adopted by the couple) but a business opportunity
for Healy, who decided to elevate the humble slumber party into a memory-making event.
And who can blame parents when they see kids having fun with their friends in a
relatively nondigital manner? In addition to tents, sleeping bags, mattresses and lanterns,
parties can include a karaoke machine, popcorn cart, dress-up clothes and more. Adults,
says Healy, have options to kick it up a notch with five-star experiences that have included
gourmet dining on low tables, wine or tequila tastings, massage tables, sushi sampling, a
Tiki bar, tarot card readings and more.
Of course, low-key requests are also popular. Healy once organized a Father’s Day
backyard glamping party for a few families that involved a dinner, a movie and tents. “The
families brought the dads’ favorite recliners outside for them to watch the movie,” she says,
explaining that clients often personalize their parties with items they already own. “Backyard
glamping is all about creating a shared experience with others.”
–continued on page 16
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–continued from page 15
Another company that serendipitously fell into serving backyard glampers is Los
Angeles–based Joymode, which has been offering camping bundles for folks wanting to
camp — without the ruggedness and/or the gear hassle — at such far-flung destinations as
Joshua Tree and the Pacific Coast. Joymode drops off all the gear for you at the campsite
(yes, you have to set it up yourself) and picks it up afterward. In addition to warm canvas
tents, they supply rugs, air mattresses, sturdy camp chairs and other accoutrements to
make your campsite the envy of the others.
Realizing that a campsite can be a close as a client’s own backyard, Joymode started
offering home glamping bundles which can, according to Molly Schmidt, the company’s
head of merchandise, “take an ordinary weekend or sleepover party and turn it into a
magical event because you are outdoors. You can do all the traditional camping things —
roast marshmallows, tell ghost stories, snuggle in your sleeping bags — but you’re not far
from home. It’s the ultimate in low-tech comfort.”
Camping gear is bulky and often needed only sporadically, so renting from a company
that will supply and sanitize everything is a popular choice, says Schmidt. If a person has
never set up a tent before, detailed but simple instructions are included for novices. Rental
products are intensely curated so folks will experience the crème de la crème of blenders,
projection screens, Go-Pro cameras, even TheraGun professional massagers. “This is a way
for many of our clients to get access to these items and test them out,” says Schmidt. Clients
often suggest items for the company to carry; a big request lately is baby gear available
for traveling parents who don’t want to lug all the extras with them. Likewise, Healy has
had clients who have fallen in love with certain items (usually cushions and tableware along
with kids’ products) and want to purchase them outright. “That’s another area we never
thought about before,” she says.
But cool accessories aside, the experience is what really matters. When her preschool
daughter’s annual camping trip to Big Pines was rained out earlier this year, Mary Everard
of West Los Angeles canceled her Joymode gear delivery but decided to rent a backyard
tent package that included a projector and screen for Disney movies. “It was really fun, we
made a weekend of it,” she says, explaining that she wanted her two older children (ages 3
and 5) to have good memories of these “little things that are out of the ordinary that they
did with their family when they were young.”
At its core, backyard glamping is about human connection, explains Healy. “We
are living in an age when people are a little removed from each other, even with social
media,” she says. “This is about bringing friends and family together in a loving home
environment where you can create amazing experiences. It’s a natural extension of the
comfort and warmth of your home — and how wonderful that you want to share that with
friends and others around you.” ||||
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SHOULD YOU BACKYARD GLAMP?
Hosting an event in your own backyard has pros and cons, says Kelsey Sheofsky, the
founder of Shelter Co., a luxury pop-up camping and outdoor-events supplier based in
Northern California. In addition to managing large events, Sheofsky has overseen numerous
backyard kid’s parties, bar mitzvahs and 50th birthdays as well as large weddings and
other formal events.
Smaller events are easier to plan, and “when you are in your backyard, you are on familiar
ground,” she adds. Crowd control is not the only issue with large events. “There are lots
of considerations and costs, especially things you might not automatically think about, like
landscape lighting, parking and how a septic system will hold up,” she says.
For overnight events, there is always a fear that guests won’t enjoy the experience.
“People are always concerned, saying that ‘My family doesn’t camp!’ They don’t like being
outdoors” says Sheofsky. “But 100 percent of the time, we get people telling us that they
have had the best sleep in years in our tents. So warm and cozy. Don’t be afraid if you think
you don’t have an outdoor crowd — they will really enjoy themselves.”
Thinking about a summer backyard glamping event? Designers and party-planners say
to let your own creativity be your guide, especially when you want to keep the budget low
but fun factor high. Keep the audience in mind, whether it’s adolescent girls, middle-school
boys, members of your book club or out-of-town family members.
In general, look around your closets and garage for items that can — with a few glam
touches — be repurposed outside. Maybe a trip to local thrift stores, Ikea, Cost Plus,
Costco and Target is in order. Remember, style and substance along with unusual activities
can transform a simple gathering into the Best Summer Party Ever.
HERE ARE SUGGESTIONS TO GET YOUR
GLAMPING STARTED:
1) It’s glamping, so you’ve got to have a tent or a tent-like enclosure to define a
party-mood space. You can dust off that extra-large tent that’s been in your garage for
years, or assemble a series of pop-up canopies decorated with fabric swaths to create
a breezy gazebo structure. There’s always the “tie a rope between tall trees and create
tipi-like structures” approach as well. Depending on your gathering, you may want
just one main party space or a series of rooms. Will there be a food tent? Lounge tent?
Movie tent? Sleeping tent? Even for the budget-minded, this is one item you may want
to rent since it’s the main piece of infrastructure. You might want to think beyond
traditional canvas tents; consider inflatable bubble tents, which are all the rage in the
eco-glamping community. Based in Arizona, Bubble Huts (bubblehuts.com) offers a
selection of see-through structures so you can feel like you are outside...even when you
are technically inside.
2) Furnishings: From mud-cloth to frills, from velvety to plush — pillows of all
sizes and shapes will make your backyard event even glampier. Woven rugs add earthy
textures to the landscape. Colorful rugs beckon guests to sit, stretch out and relax
among friends. Low tables encourage lounging.
3) Eating spaces can be tricky. How formal or casual is the event? Simple dishware
can be easier to clean up. Will there be a sit-down area or buffet line? Maybe food will
be sprinkled throughout various tables and tents? Prepare food in advance so you’re
not stuck behind a grill the entire party. Finger foods are perfect. Of course, what’s a
camping dessert without the obligatory s’mores? Use dark chocolate, trendy flavored
marshmallows and toast over your fire pit.
4) Lighting: The event will probably incorporate dusk and nighttime — it’s camping!
Light up the Tiki torches and string twinkly white lights around the landscape.
Strategically position camping lanterns to set the mood. Opt for flameless candles.
Solar-powered wine-bottle lights cast a rosy golden glow after the sun goes down.
Create a kaleidoscope of color with Bliss Lights laser projections (blisslights.com),
which fling a whirl of rainbow colors onto trees, fences and outdoor walls.
5) Forgo the candles and bug spray, and glam up your insect deterrent. The Mosquito
Repellent DecoShield Lantern (decoshield.com) uses pleasant-smelling all-natural
essential oils and repels mosquitos and biting flies within a 300-square-foot space.
It’s encased in a stylish cover and also serves as a lantern, casting a soft glow.
6) The details: As with all creative endeavors, the devil is in the details. Arrange
cut flowers in mason jars. Incorporate antique sculptures and colorful swaths of flowy
scarves and other materials, lacy hangings and art weavings. Possibilities are endless.
7) But in the end, it’s the shared activities that will make your party. Have friends
bring over their guitars, ukuleles, bongos and keyboards for an impromptu jam session.
If it’s warm, splurge on a three-person adult-size inflatable pool (from Target)
and take turns. Oversized Jenga and Connect Four seem more fun outdoors. But
hands down, watching a movie on a large outdoor screen — maybe a GPX projection
screen — while you are snuggled up in a sleeping bag with your kids or cozying up
to your sweetie could be the ultimate in backyard glamping. Now, the big decision:
Which movie will you watch?
— B.R.
07.19 | ARROYO | 17
ARROYO
HOME & DESIGN
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
SURROUND YOUR
POOL WITH
FUN ADD-ONS
Innovative decking, swim-up
bars and giant slides are the
hot new trends for Southern
California pools
By Bruce Haring
18 | ARROYO | 07.19
continued on page 21
PHOTO: Courtesy of GARDEN VIEW LANDSCAPE, NURSERY & POOLS
07.19 | ARROYO | 19
20 | ARROYO | 07.19
—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—
continued from page 18
Southern California is known as the land of swimming pools. Given our
temperate climate and the recreation and relaxation possibilities afforded
by having access to a pool, many homeowners wouldn’t consider their life
complete without one.
But a pool is really just a hole in the ground filled with water. What really
makes them come alive are the accessories that you bring to it, including
decking, waterfalls, slides, pool bars and other add-ons. These truly make the
space exciting, and appealing added components round out the backyard
swimming pool experience.
US consumers are expected to spend $1.1 billion on their swimming pools in
2019, according to research firm IBISworld, a number that is expected to increase
year over year. That means the pool is increasingly the center of home social
life, and given the trend toward integrating indoor and outdoor spaces in home
design, it only figures to keep growing.
Here are some of the hotter trends in Southern California pool design and
accessories.
*** Giant slides: Sure, that 1950s small slide with skinny legs is still around in
some dated homes. But the really fun pools are featuring large slides that would
be right at home in a commercial water park, multiplying the fun and offering
new thrills to your guests. Carrying names like the Adrenaline, the G-Force, and
the Helix-2, these slides offer twists and turns on slides that can measure 20 feet
in vertical height. In many pools, large slides have replaced old-fashioned diving
boards as the center of attention.
*** Because the diving board is largely becoming a relic, so, too, are deep
ends of the pool being eliminated. A new trend is building a pool that’s about
four-feet to six-feet in depth, with some offering a one-foot-deep children’s
area. These are known as sports pools, and are popular with families that like to
get everyone into the water. The smaller depth has an added bonus: because
the water volume is less, it’s less expensive to heat and treat the water, and
installation costs are lower.
*** Part of the fun of socializing around a pool is enjoying some great food
and drink. Some pool owners are borrowing a concept from major resorts and
installing built-in bars in their pools, allowing people to swim up and enjoy a
beverage without leaving the cool waters.
*** Pool decking is becoming more than just a concrete rim around the
water. Decking featuring porcelain tile, a flooring product that can resemble
natural wood, stone or other materials, is popular, and gives the pool area a
contemporary feel. Also rising in stature is the concept of a beach entry, where a
slope allows you to gradually descend into the water, much as you would enter
the ocean from a beach. This touch can be incorporated into your surrounding
areas to create a beautiful landscape. Some decking areas are also featuring
slip-resistant stone epoxy, which lessens the slippery surface that concrete poses
when it gets wet. It’s available in various colors that can compliment the rest of
your design scheme.
*** Another trend in accessories is energy efficient pumps. Large cartridge
pool filters can lessen the need for costly cleanings. Similarly, pool heaters are
becoming more energy efficient, with solar options available for sustainable
continued on page 25
07.19 | ARROYO | 21
22 | ARROYO | 07.19
07.19 | ARROYO | 23
24 | ARROYO | 07.19
—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—
continued from page 21
pool warmth. Pool covers can also help keep the water warm and limit water
evaporation.
*** Most cities require you to install a fence around your pool for safety
reasons. But it doesn’t have to present a grim, rigid barrier. Glass fences or mesh
netting pool fences are rising in popularity, presenting a design aesthetic that
provides a unique touch. Just make sure what you propose passes muster with
the town officials before spending.
*** Lighting schemes are also becoming popular add-ons. Advanced LED
lights can change the color of the pool and allows you to keep an eye on all
areas of the water during evening swims.
PHOTO: Courtesy of GARDEN VIEW LANDSCAPE, NURSERY & POOLS
LOCAL TRENDS IN POOLS
Mark Meahl is the president of Garden View Landscape, Nursery & Pools,
a Monrovia-based and family-run business that’s been serving Southern
California’s swimming needs since 1978. The company just won the best Water
Feature installation in California from the California Landscape Contractors
Association for a project in Sierra Madre with a real rock grotto in a pool. They
also won the best Landscape renovation in California for another project in Sierra
Madre that had a Japanese garden theme with a pool and pergola.
Meahl says new pool installs and remodels are adding artistic and special
features that make the pool a greater part of outdoor living. “We generally
are placing the outdoor living room close to the pool, so that it becomes a
part of the social hub, along with a beautiful place to enjoy this great Southern
California weather,” Meahl says.
If you have a dream pool, the first step is to talk to an expert to determine
the viability of your vision and establish the budget. “I will come out to the house,
show a computerized portfolio while keeping notes on the clients tastes, style,
scope and budget,” Meahl says. “We will discuss style, theory and how art
applies to the design. We will have a discussion on a budget and break that
down into manageable pieces and discuss how to move forward.”
One trend Meahl has seen in Southern California is the ADU (Additional
Dwelling Units). Planning boards are being encouraged to innovate to help with
the regional housing shortage. ”In many cases, the rules have been relaxed and
these units can be also used as pool houses,” Meahl says. Besides building pools
and outdoor gardens, we are general contractors who employ carpenters and
can build all types of outdoor construction.”
Now, the all-important question: What’s a decent-sized budget? Although
there are plenty of projects below or above, Meahl says his average project is
between $100,000 to $200,000. But, he notes, “Investing in quality does not have
to break the bank. Poor quality is never a good investment for the long term.”
Which, when added together with the hours of enjoyment a pool will bring
friends and family, is a pretty good return on investment.
07.19 | ARROYO | 25
26 | ARROYO | 07.19
arroyo
HOME SALES ABOVE $1,100,000
~HOME SALES INDEX~
HOME SALES
-0.62%
AVG. PRICE/SQ. FT.
-0.06%
may
2018
972
HOMES
SOLD
may
2019
365
HOMES
SOLD
RECENT HOME CLOSINGS IN THE PASADENA WEEKLY FOOTPRINT
source: CalREsource
ADDRESS CLOSE DATE PRICE BDRMS. SQ. FT. YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD
ALHAMBRA
102 South Curtis Ave. 5/31/19 $1,120,000 5 2,179 1920 $813,000 4/5/06
10 North Primrose Ave. 5/28/19 $1,100,000 8 4,874 1926
ALTADENA
1560 Homewood Dr. 5/7/19 $2,895,000 4 4,922 1932
2709 Visscher Place 5/31/19 $1,985,000 5 4,204 1915
1374 Hull Lane 5/9/19 $1,566,500 4 2,611 1931 $1,417,500 2/9/15
838 West Heritage Oak Court 5/13/19 $1,475,000 5 3,886 1998 $732,000 1/10/02
1333 Pleasantridge Dr. 5/1/19 $1,400,000 5 5,672 1992
2140 Grand Oaks Ave. 5/28/19 $1,400,000 4 1,717 1948 $1,060,000 2/4/17
1221 New York Dr. 5/30/19 $1,400,000 3 2,355 1922
1163 Beverly Way 5/17/19 $1,340,000 6 2,248 1924 $740,000 2/2/12
1712 Midwick Dr. 5/14/19 $1,240,000 2 1,785 1950 $895,000 10/3/18
2011 Mar Vista Ave. 5/7/19 $1,189,000 5 3,719 1916
ARCADIA
960 Singing Wood Dr. 5/30/19 $3,000,000 3 2,605 1953
400 East Rodell Place 5/31/19 $2,780,000 $1,300,000 1/3/14
1230 Ramona Rd. 5/17/19 $2,530,000 4 3,264 1962
2018 South 6th Ave. 5/8/19 $2,200,000 5 5,500 1994 $900,000 1/25/99
1334 Oaklawn Rd. 5/9/19 $2,200,000 3 2,770 1953
1004 Mayfl ower Ave. 5/24/19 $2,180,000 $960,000 11/24/14
230 California St. 5/24/19 $1,650,000 3 1,850 1937 $1,180,000 4/3/15
1727 Highland Oaks Dr. 5/30/19 $1,508,000 3 3,049 1953
338 East Haven Ave. 5/14/19 $1,370,000 4 3,052 1995 $668,000 5/27/03
2566 Loganrita Ave. 5/29/19 $1,200,000 4 2,993 1948
1727 El Vista Circle 5/20/19 $1,190,000 3 1,645 1950
147 Alice St. 5/16/19 $1,110,000 3 1,797 1947 $640,000 12/16/08
E AGLE ROCK
2130 Hill Dr. 5/31/19 $1,492,000 2 2022 1921 $265,000 1/1/86
5329 Mount Royal Dr. 5/28/19 $1,434,000 3 2828 1930 $265,000 6/1/86
4834 Ray Court 5/7/19 $1,350,000 3 1,708 1947 $917,000 7/27/16
1547 Wildwood Dr. 5/15/19 $1,239,000 4 2,304 1965
1323 Brampton Rd. 5/22/19 $1,140,000 3 1760 1948 $769,000 4/23/18
GLENDALE
1407 West Kenneth Rd. 5/24/19 $6,000,000 5,696 1927 $3,375,000 9/13/13
1411 West Kenneth Rd. 5/24/19 $6,000,000 6,424 1927 $3,375,000 9/13/13
3429 Rosemary Ave. 5/30/19 $1,375,000 4 2,456 1927 $280,000 4/28/98
921 Calle Simpatico 5/30/19 $1,320,000 4 2,618 1990 $1,300,000 10/23/17
1810 Bel Aire Dr. 5/17/19 $1,220,000 6 2,626 1926 $375,000 4/2/98
1710 West Kenneth Rd. 5/24/19 $1,220,000 3 2,011 1930 $694,000 6/11/14
3381 Oakmont View Dr. 5/31/19 $1,218,000 5 4,176 1981 $1,202,000 5/24/05
1546 Grandview Ave. 5/16/19 $1,212,000 3 1,604 1946 $450,000 6/20/01
2333 Del Mar Rd. 5/29/19 $1,135,000 4 2814 1948 $528,000 3/7/11
1844 Fern Lane 5/1/19 $1,130,000 4 2,120 1958 $875,000 3/8/05
LA CAÑADA
4321 Chula Senda Lane 5/15/19 $7,750,000 5 9,669 2006 $6,900,000 8/25/14
1222 Green Lane 5/24/19 $3,450,000 4 3,090 1957 $1,875,000 4/7/15
5111 Alta Canyada Rd. 5/31/19 $3,000,000 3 4,582 1949
4616 El Camino Corto 5/30/19 $2,710,000 5 4,845 2006 $2,480,000 5/21/14
2021 Tondolea Lane 5/15/19 $2,655,000 4 4,175 2005 $1,815,000 3/2/09
4735 La Canada Blvd. 5/7/19 $2,570,000 4 3,014 1952 $2,375,000 4/5/16
4358 Beulah Dr. 5/2/19 $2,500,000 5 2,602 1950 $2,669,500 4/19/16
3747 Chevy Chase Dr. 5/3/19 $2,500,000 5 5,712 1954 $1,200,000 8/1/89
4368 Bel Aire Dr. 5/3/19 $2,480,000 4 3,189 2002 $1,705,000 9/21/06
1239 Lanterman Lane 5/14/19 $2,195,000 4 3,168 1960 $1,950,000 5/22/15
816 Chehalem Rd. 5/24/19 $2,150,000 3 1,810 1952 $1,160,000 4/21/15
1219 Olive Lane 5/8/19 $2,020,000 4 2,673 1962 $1,638,000 8/22/13
1628 Leycross Dr. 5/17/19 $2,000,000 4 3,140 1948 $1,190,000 9/19/07
4361 Bel Aire Dr. 5/1/19 $1,925,000 4 2,231 1938 $820,000 11/22/13
1932 Tondolea Lane 5/17/19 $1,925,000 4 2,987 1940
2102 Bristow Dr. 5/31/19 $1,438,000 4 2,213 1961
2322 Conle Way 5/16/19 $1,421,000 4 2,032 1969
4628 El Camino Corto 5/16/19 $1,300,000 2 2,527 1947
4551 Viro Rd. 5/23/19 $1,215,000 3 1,555 1946
4618 Lasheart Dr. 5/31/19 $1,100,000 3 2,074 1950
ALHAMBRA MAY’18 MAY’19
Homes Sold 23 37
Median Price $735,000 $670,000
Median Sq. Ft. 1552 1360
ALTADENA MAY’18 MAY’19
Homes Sold 24 40
Median Price $832,500 $805,250
Median Sq. Ft. 1445 1637
ARCADIA MAY’18 MAY’19
Homes Sold 23 31
Median Price $1,158,000 $950,000
Median Sq. Ft. 1950 1850
EAGLE ROCK MAY’18 MAY’19
Homes Sold 11 15
Median Price $769,500 $990,000
Median Sq. Ft. 1285 1688
GLENDALE MAY’18 MAY’19
Homes Sold 86 44
Median Price $742,500 $712,500
Median Sq. Ft. 1465 1526
LA CAÑADA MAY’18 MAY’19
Homes Sold 22 24
Median Price $1,655,000 $2,010,000
Median Sq. Ft. 2334 2638
PASADENA MAY’18 MAY’19
Homes Sold 104 136
Median Price $860,000 $862,500
Median Sq. Ft. 1432 1572
SAN MARINO MAY’18 MAY’19
Homes Sold 4 14
Median Price $1,955,000 $2,806,250
Median Sq. Ft. 2371 2746
SIERRA MADRE MAY’18 MAY’19
Homes Sold 14 10
Median Price $1,135,000 $980,000
Median Sq. Ft. 1698 1680
SOUTH PASADENA MAY’18 MAY’19
Homes Sold 12 14
Median Price $1,037,000 $1,470,500
Median Sq. Ft. 1601 1802
TOTAL MAY’18 MAY’19
Homes Sold 972 365
Avg Price/Sq. Ft. $570 $605 –continued on page 28
The Arroyo Home Sales Index is calculated from residential home sales in Pasadena and the surrounding communities of South Pasadena, San Marino, La Canada Flintridge, Eagle Rock, Glendale (including Montrose), Altadena, Sierra
Madre, Arcadia and Alhambra. Individual home sales data provided by CalREsource. Arroyo Home Sales Index © Arroyo 2019 . Complete home sales listings appear each week in Pasadena Weekly.
07.19 ARROYO | 27
–continued from page 27
ADDRESS CLOSE DATE PRICE BDRMS. SQ. FT. YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD
PASADENA
870 South San Rafael Ave. 5/29/19 $7,053,500 7 5744 1923 $3,400,000 9/9/10
380 South Arroyo Blvd. 5/24/19 $4,255,000 5 5091 1919 $3,597,500 7/12/18
1155 Lida St. 5/29/19 $4,125,000 3 3835 1921 $2,925,000 8/9/17
1570 San Pasqual St. 5/30/19 $3,487,000 5 4878 1926 $3,200,000 7/5/18
1906 Country Lane 5/22/19 $3,218,000 4 6670 2010
1490 El Mirador Dr. 5/20/19 $3,105,000 4 3990 1963 $3,050,000 11/16/17
1812 Linda Vista Ave. 5/24/19 $2,926,000 5 5055 1933
1059 Laguna Rd. 5/7/19 $2,800,000 3 3952 2012 $2,280,000 4/23/13
333 South San Rafael Ave. 5/2/19 $2,700,000 2 1903 1949 $1,750,000 6/4/13
1261 Afton St. 5/10/19 $2,675,000 2 2140 1953 $1,500,000 3/26/18
251 South Orange Grove Blvd. #10 5/20/19 $2,673,000 3 3092 1980 $1,350,000 1/19/05
615 West California Blvd. 5/29/19 $2,535,000 5 3576 1910 $950,000 7/8/98
885 Linda Vista Ave. 5/21/19 $2,500,000 4 3162 1938
487 West California Blvd. 5/15/19 $2,420,000 4 3,664 1910 $2,286,000 10/3/16
1339 Linda Vista Ave. 5/7/19 $2,250,000 3 2906 1993 $2,200,000 5/12/15
2103 San Pasqual St. 5/16/19 $2,098,000 5 3,154 1927 $425,000 3/1/87
3416 Avondale Rd. 5/15/19 $2,050,000 4 3,575 2008 $1,885,000 2/8/19
1717 Linda Vista Ave. 5/16/19 $1,950,000 4 3,187 1954 $1,860,000 4/14/05
201 Glen Summer Rd. 5/29/19 $1,950,000 4 2837 1936 $1,175,000 4/11/13
817 South El Molino Ave. 5/1/19 $1,900,000 5 3269 1913
831 South El Molino Ave. 5/15/19 $1,893,000 5 3,337 1915
233 North Grand Ave. #2 5/15/19 $1,870,000 3 2,559 1990 $1,350,000 9/19/13
741 South Madison Ave. 5/10/19 $1,800,000 6 4846 1904
1640 Knollwood Dr. 5/21/19 $1,775,000 5 3348 1955
330 San Miguel Rd. 5/8/19 $1,700,000 3 1572 1949
268 South Orange Grove Blvd. 5/9/19 $1,700,000 5 4482 1892 $1,215,000 9/19/13
626 Bellefontaine St. 5/15/19 $1,695,000 5 2,183 1904 $1,400,000 1/24/07
2047 North Raymond Ave. 5/2/19 $1,650,000 8 5216 1931 $818,000 4/5/04
3340 Calvert Rd. 5/30/19 $1,640,000 3 2940 1953 $432,500 11/5/98
150 Linda Vista Ave. 5/29/19 $1,590,000 3 2394 1959 $1,400,000 6/10/15
3600 Landfair Rd. 5/17/19 $1,585,000 4 2,121 1951 $1,100,000 4/9/18
3000 Clarmeya Lane 5/14/19 $1,524,000 4 2,435 1952 $1,305,000 9/7/05
670 South Oak Knoll Ave. 5/7/19 $1,520,000 4 2277 1994 $1,018,000 8/2/12
1058 Linda Vista Ave. 5/10/19 $1,460,000 3 2016 1965 $1,500,000 7/12/17
2082 Lambert Dr. 5/22/19 $1,432,000 3 3073 1924 $1,200,000 5/20/17
1848 Kinneloa Canyon Rd. 5/29/19 $1,380,000 4 4109 2004 $770,000 5/28/10
3540 Grayburn Rd. 5/21/19 $1,320,000 3 1931 1940 $900,000 7/12/05
67 North Meridith Ave. 5/31/19 $1,288,000 7 3702 1923
1000 North Madison Ave. #A 5/29/19 $1,275,000 5 1837 1914 $918,000 1/7/15
755 North Chester Ave. 5/6/19 $1,240,000 3 1104 1921 $561,000 8/23/16
1321 Ontario Ave. 5/14/19 $1,230,000 3 1,650 1939 $364,540 3/1/92
1679 Rose Villa St. 5/31/19 $1,200,000 3 2240 1921
238 South Arroyo Parkway #412 5/16/19 $1,199,000 3 1,920 2008 $755,000 8/25/09
ADDRESS CLOSE DATE PRICE BDRMS. SQ. FT. YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD
PASADENA
640 Westbridge Place 5/6/19 $1,180,000 3 1591 1954
1895 Brigden Rd. 5/15/19 $1,160,000 3 1,983 1925 $1,045,000 5/10/16
550 Eaton Dr. 5/24/19 $1,160,000 2 1449 1948 $852,000 11/13/17
3171 East Villa Knolls Dr. 5/24/19 $1,150,000 3 2424 1966
136 North Bonnie Ave. 5/31/19 $1,132,000 2 2185 1911 $140,000 3/1/86
3825 Landfair Rd. 5/16/19 $1,128,000 4 1,989 1950
845 Adelaide Dr. 5/24/19 $1,125,000 3 1798 1934 $962,000 2/17/15
1160 Valley View Ave. 5/17/19 $1,050,000 3 1,669 1951 $732,000 8/28/09
3952 East California Blvd. 5/31/19 $1,043,500 3 2155 1950
201 North Grand Ave. #12 5/14/19 $1,025,000 3 1,824 1979 $832,000 11/30/10
2337 Loma Vista St. 5/3/19 $1,015,000 3 1614 1937 $825,000 2/15/07
245 South Bonnie Ave. #D 5/22/19 $1,010,000 2 1276 1921 $600,000 8/31/18
SAN MARINO
1450 Old Mill Rd. 5/13/19 $5,689,000 6 7,048 2015 $6,080,000 11/23/15
1606 Virginia Rd. 5/31/19 $4,200,000 4 4165 1932 $2,000,000 4/18/03
1660 Oak Grove Ave. 5/16/19 $3,900,000 5 3,508 1926 $3,900,000 6/7/18
2900 Sheffi eld Rd. 5/1/19 $3,120,000 2 1599 1947 $1,100,000 4/25/17
1316 Westhaven Rd. 5/8/19 $3,055,000 4 3049 1937
1527 Cambridge Rd. 5/2/19 $2,998,000 5 2484 1946
1435 Bellwood Rd. 5/7/19 $2,980,000 4 3015 2015 $1,660,000 6/29/15
1840 Carlisle Dr. 5/29/19 $2,632,500 4 3028 1937 $1,300,000 4/5/12
2784 Fleur Dr. 5/20/19 $2,250,000 4 3007 1927 $2,383,000 6/10/15
2759 Doresta Rd. 5/23/19 $1,780,000 4 1841 1928 $685,000 6/24/99
1872 Alpine Dr. 5/10/19 $1,700,000 4 2470 1937
2395 Roanoke Rd. 5/14/19 $1,682,000 3 2,078 1947
1965 South El Molino Ave. 5/22/19 $1,580,000 3 2075 1924 $455,000 3/1/00
1620 Rubio Dr. 5/2/19 $1,330,000 2 1510 1950
SIERRA MADRE
427 West Montecito Ave. 5/13/19 $2,550,000 2 2,668 2005 $340,000 7/17/02
491 West Montecito Ave. 5/9/19 $1,486,000 3 1310 1908
521 East Orange Grove Ave. 5/8/19 $1,350,000 3 2337 1948 $1,190,500 7/23/15
776 Valle Vista Dr. 5/23/19 $1,350,000 5 2853 1965
SOUTH PASADENA
1950 Mill Rd. 5/3/19 $2,650,000 5 2520 1948
5016 Harriman Ave. 5/31/19 $1,950,000 2 1057 1952 $433,500 12/12/03
1912 Alpha St. 5/29/19 $1,859,000 4 2675 1976
648 Arroyo Dr. 5/2/19 $1,710,000 5 2578 1948 $880,000 8/13/04
835 Milan Ave. 5/1/19 $1,678,000 3 2123 1914
1115 Maple St. 5/23/19 $1,649,000 3 2220 1922 $1,050,000 7/27/18
220 Camino Del Sol 5/24/19 $1,525,000 3 1812 1965 $1,285,000 10/3/14
1137 Fairview Ave. 5/10/19 $1,416,000 4 1658 1908 $350,000 6/1/90
2042 Pine St. 5/23/19 $1,400,000 3 1658 1921 $789,000 9/28/05
850 Lyndon St. 5/28/19 $1,330,000 3 1648 1938 $815,000 10/28/09
337 Pasadena Ave. 5/2/19 $1,300,000 3 1792 1923 $790,000 8/13/15
727 Meridian Ave. #V 5/30/19 $1,125,000 3 1831 2005 $905,000 12/9/15
28 | ARROYO | 07.19
OUTDOOR
FITNESS
Stadium Fitness promises to train you
“where legends have played.”
BY NOELA HUESO
PHOTO: Courtesy of Stadium Fitness
It’s 5:55 a.m. on an overcast Friday in late May and I’m standing outside
the entrance of the venerable Rose Bowl stadium in the Arroyo Seco.
Looking around, I notice that the crowds of recreational runners and
bikers so common on the weekends are nowhere to be found. It’s still and
quiet. I turn back toward the stadium and think about its history: how
it has been home to 105 New Year’s Day post-season collegiate football
contests; how A-list musical acts, from Journey and Depeche Mode in
the ’80s to Taylor Swift and Beyoncé in recent years, have performed
here. I think of all the events I’ve personally attended: AmericaFest, the
Independence Day fireworks extravaganza, UCLA football games, the
longstanding annual Turkey Tussle game between Pasadena and Muir high
schools, end-of-year American Youth Soccer Organization presentations,
Billy Graham’s last Southern California crusade, in 2004. But this
morning, I’m not here as a spectator. I’m here as a participant in what can
only be considered an exceptional workout opportunity: In five minutes, I
will be inside the Rose Bowl, running 77 stairs to the top of the stadium
alongside other early risers who have made their way here for a 6 a.m.
workout.
I like the idea of exercising outside again, especially now that the days
are warmer and longer. Running on the three-mile loop that surrounds the
Rose Bowl used to be part of my regular routine, but lately my workouts
— primarily weights and fitness classes — have been inside the gym. As I
wait for the stadium gate to be unlocked, I’m not 100 percent sure what I’ll
be doing this morning besides scaling the stairs. But I’m excited; I love new
athletic challenges. Who will be in this early–morning session, I wonder.
Marathon runners? Elite athletes? I soon find out that it’s a lot of regular
folk who are just interested in staying healthy in a very cool setting.
David Liston, the founder and co-owner of Stadium Fitness, has a
unique arrangement with the Rose Bowl Operating Company that has
allowed him to bring health and wellness to the community, as well as the
bowl’s own employees, since 2009. He greets me warmly at the gate and
tells me to head into the stadium. If you’ve never done it, I recommend
walking into a completely empty Rose Bowl. It’s a bit of a cinematic moment,
heading through the dark tunnel and emerging into the early morning
light (even on this gray day) to be greeted by the historic green field
that has seen so many contests and the nearly 91,000 seats that surround it.
“You should see it when it’s clear and the sun is just coming up,” he tells me.
There are about 16 of us this morning and we come in a wide range of
ages. Liston is particularly proud of Bernie, 75, the group’s senior member,
who has been maintaining her fitness by working out in the stadium three
times a week for years.
Before I even begin, Liston asks me what kind of physical activity I
already do, gauging my fitness level. I tell him about my gym repertoire and
about the triathlons and half-marathons I’ve done in the past. Confident
–continued on page 30
07.19 | ARROYO | 29
–continued from page 29
that I can handle a lap around the perimeter of the field, he sends me off with the other
folks doing the same. Liston doesn’t lead a class in the traditional sense; rather, he works out
each of his clients according to their ability, giving what he calls “individual workouts in a
group setting.”
When I return, warmed up and eager for the next challenge, he asks me if I’m ready
for some stairs. I nod enthusiastically. My next assignment is to run — four times and row
by row — up the 77 steps that lead to the top of the stadium and back down again. In a
race with myself, I bound up the stairs, making great progress…until I reach the 65th step.
That’s when my legs start burning from the exertion, slowing me down to a walk-run pace.
It’s not enough to make me stop, though. I make it to the top, feeling triumphant, before
heading down for round two. By the time I reach the bottom, my legs have recovered
enough for me to begin sprinting up the next row. Each time, I slow at stair 65. But I make
it, and I feel good.
It turns out that Stadium Fitness workouts aren’t just about running. For the next hour,
I alternate between stair sets and other moves that target my arms, legs and core: lunges,
bicep curls, triceps dips and pushups. After each exercise, Liston checks in with me: “How
do you feel?” “How are the legs?” “Ready to run the stairs again?”
Liston began his career as a seventh-grade social studies teacher in his native Massachusetts
before arriving in Pasadena in 1996 to work with his brother, who was already involved
in fitness. It’s easy to see that he still loves teaching. During the course of the hour, Liston
connects with all his clients, not just me. He remembers each one’s workout goals, ailments
and what’s going on in their lives. “I try to ‘touch’ everyone three times an hour. I can have
multiple conversations going on at the same time. My wife says I would be a good air-traffic
controller,” he says with a laugh.
Although we’re not down on the field today — the South Korean boy band BTS recently
performed and, as a result, new sod has been laid — Liston says that about 75 percent of
the time his groups are down there running sprints and “doing a lot of fun group exercise
stuff” such as partner and running exercises, relay races and agility training. Stadium Fitness
participants work out in the locker room on occasion, particularly in the winter. “If it’s
39 degrees [outside] everyone is like, ‘Can we please start inside?’” he says. They also stay
inside when it rains.
Kids as young as 11 have worked out with Stadium Fitness — Liston accepts youth
based on their maturity level — but the youngest average about 12 or 13, he says. Particularly
in the summer, “we encourage people to bring their kids to the 8:30 a.m. class,” he
says. The 6 a.m. class I am sampling is for people, like me, who have to go to work.
The hour goes by quickly and, when it’s over, I ask Liston what makes his workouts so
popular. “For most people, exercise has to be fun for them to do it on a regular basis,” he
says. “Eighty percent of exercise is getting to the place to do the exercise. It’s easier to let
someone tell you what to do.”
STADIUM FITNESS
(626) 232-6900 • stadiumfi tness.com
Classes are ongoing and meet Mondays at 6 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.;
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 and 6:30 p.m.; Wednesdays and Fridays, 6
and 8:30 a.m.;
Single class $25/Student $18
10-Class Pack ($22/class): $220
24-Class Pack ($16.63/class): $399
1-month unlimited: $150
Other pricing available
PHOTOS: (left) Courtesy of Stadium Fitness, (right) Noela Hueso
30 | ARROYO | 07.19
PHOTO: Noela Hueso
Boot Camp Pasadena’s Stephen Cooper
BOOT CAMP PASADENA
A couple of days before I ran the stairs with Stadium Fitness, I sampled a 5:45 a.m.
class with Boot Camp Pasadena, another early-morning group-exercise business that has
been putting people through their paces for a decade.
Founder Stephen Cooper, a personal trainer with nearly 30 years of experience, leads all
the early-morning and early-evening (6 p.m.) classes, which take place Monday, Wednesday
and Friday or Tuesday and Thursday near the Pasadena-Altadena border. (Contact
him for details.) Despite what the name implies, there’s no military-style training at Boot
Camp Pasadena. You won’t find Cooper wearing camouflage or barking instructions. His
approach is decidedly low-key and he considers his clients friends, not soldiers. “I don’t
think instructors have to yell to be effective,” he says.
Cooper touts BCP as a toning and fat-burning program. There’s no running of stairs,
just some sprints, along with targeted muscle work using TRX suspension training, medicine
balls, kettle bells and boxing, among other things. “People love the stress release of
boxing,” Cooper says, “and some people have a lot of stress!”
His clients, who are primarily in their 30s to 50s, come to Boot Camp Pasadena not
only because they want accountability in their workouts and wouldn’t necessarily exercise
on their own but because it’s a friendly environment where people of different fitness levels
can work out together. There’s no competition among the participants; in fact, they encourage
one another. “They like being in the group because there’s camaraderie,” he says.
Cooper wants his clients to make their workouts a regular part of their lives, and a
number of them have been with him almost from the beginning. “I can tell when it clicks
with people; for a while they’re hoping that some kind of fad diet is going to help them lose
the weight or change them dramatically,” he says. “It takes them a while to realize, ‘Okay,
this is a serious commitment, it’s a habit; once they realize that, they’re calmer and they see
the payoff.”
Like Stadium Fitness’ Liston, Cooper prides himself on knowing his clients’ needs. It’s
that personal touch, he says, that keeps bringing people back.
— N.H.
BOOT CAMP PASADENA
(626) 509-9958 • bootcamppasadena.com
Classes are ongoing and meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays or Tuesdays and
Thursdays:
Mornings: 5:45 to 6:30
Evenings: 6 to 6:45
One-time rate: $18–$20 per class
Monthly rates: $135–$175
07.19 | ARROYO | 31
Sisters Thongthiraj: (from left) Sue, Malinee and Arree
32 | ARROYO | 07.19
A FAMILY
AFFAIR
The California Cactus Center nurtures the
botanical wonders of cacti and succulents
along with familial bonds.
BY BRENDA REES
When the six Thongthiraj children were growing up in Pasadena in the 1970s, going
to Disneyland was the high point of their summer break. But before the daughters
could get into the car for a pricey day with Mickey and Minnie, they were told they
needed to contribute to the family business. “Our father insisted that in order for us to go, we
needed to propagate 1,000 flats of plants,” Arree recalls of her childhood with a laugh. “And
we always managed to do that before the summer ended. He was very smart that way. That
project certainly kept us busy and out of trouble.”
Indeed, keeping busy has long been a family affair at the California Cactus Center, which
has been at its original East Pasadena home since it opened in 1976 with a simple setup — just
a couple of benches, a gravel floor and a modest selection of home-propagated plants. Today,
five of six daughters are actively involved in the day-to-day workings at the nursery known
internationally for all things cacti and succulents. With 23 additional acres of propagation
facilities in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, the center specializes in rare and hard-tofind
plants with specimens from all over the world.
Away from the buzz of busy Rosemead Boulevard, a steady stream of customers wanders
among rows of sculptural exotic plants that are often weird, fuzzy, prickly, knobby and mesmerizing.
The center was a natural offshoot of the beloved hobby of Arree’s father, Zhalermwudh,
who, along with wife Maleenee, immigrated from Thailand in the 1950s. He had fallen
under the spell of desert cacti and succulents in his adopted country so he started to investigate
species, perfect propagation techniques and learn everything he could about these plants —
long before the Internet made such research easy.
–continued on page 34
PHOTO: Courtesy of Brenda Rees
07.19 | ARROYO | 33
–continued from page 32
Albuca spiralis
34 | ARROYO | 07.19
Malinee and Zhalermwudh Thongthiraj
Euphorbia lactea variegata
In the 1960s, Zhalermwudh dove deep into his botanical fascination while working
as an X-ray technician at Huntington Hospital. Back then, IVs came in plastic bottles,
not bags, and Arree recalls her father recycling numerous IV bottles at home. “He’d cut
the corners off the bottoms and make tiny little pots,” she says. Through trial and error,
he developed his own soil recipe — the same popular mixture the nursery sells today.
Growing up, the sisters carefully studied how their father made cuttings from the
plants he bought, positioned them in the tiny plastic IV pots and tended them as they
grew and flourished. Plants took over the backyard where the Thongthiraj sisters received
their horticultural education — despite the occasional poke, scrape and scratch.
The rest of the family caught Zhalermwudh’s cacti and succulent bug, taking frequent
trips to local deserts where they expanded their knowledge by seeing these plants in
their native habitat. “The Huntington Garden was also our playground,” adds Arree.
“We went there practically every weekend, spending hours in their desert garden.”
While Zhalermwudh taught his girls about plant names, propagation techniques
and plant care, mother Maleenee “taught us how to pot and arrange them,” says Arree,
who continues in that artistic vein, offering design services for customers who want to
integrate these drought-tolerant plants into their yards and homes or businesses. “I do a
lot of on-spot design, especially for people who have just purchased a house,” she says.
Indeed, the demand for California Cactus Center plants is impressive. You’ll find
them at numerous L.A. Department of Water and Power stations, a SoCal Google
campus, Huntington Gardens, UC Riverside, Claremont College and even Disneyland.
Celebrity clients include Martha Stewart, Paul Weller, Diane Keaton, Barbra Streisand
and James Brolin, to name just a few.
Yet for some clients, unconvinced at first, Arree needs to nurture their appreciation
of cacti. (“People think they are just thorny, but that’s not true.”) She explains why they
have become prized garden additions: “They really appreciate that they are low maintenance
and can look good all year round. Plus they want the most they can get out
of their money; they want longevity, which these plants offer,” she says. “Rather than
spending weekly or biweekly on flowers, they know they can get a cactus or succulent
and it will last — you don’t have to replace it all the time.”
With a degree in art, Arree encourages clients to consider cacti and succulents as
an art form on their own, especially when appropriately paired with others in tasteful
containers. “The plant is the art piece and the pot is the frame,” she says, adding that as
the plant grows, its changes can be a form of “performance art. No plant is ever going to
stay the same size, right?”
There are rows of artful displays of well-curated plants with delightful shapes and
textures in stylish bowls and dishes; no wonder these mini-gardens are in high demand
as wedding centerpieces, party favors or gifts for birthdays, showers and other celebrations.
There is also a selection of local pottery, including a series crafted by a NASA
scientist who embeds fossil prints on the sides of his amber-and-rust-colored creations.
As she leads a visitor on a tour, Arree points out selections that are rare and impressive,
including two that are more than 100 years old: a Pachypodium succulentum from
South Africa and a desert rose (Adenium obesum) sporting gorgeous pink blooms. There
are frilly-shaped crested euphorbias (created by a mutation) and the sea urchin–shaped
Euphorbia obesa, commonly known as the baseball cactus (which is special to the family
PHOTOS: (Second from top) Courtesy of Calfonia Cactus Center; (plants and soil) Brenda Rees
Lithops (living stones)
PHOTO: Brenda Rees
since it was one of the first specimens in Zhalermwudh’s collection).
This slow-growing cactus with no needles requires a delicate procedure to fertilize
the female flowers in order to produce seeds — a task the Thongthiraj girls learned
at an early age. Arree would use a horsehair brush to gather the pollen on the male
flowers and gently deposit the powdery substance onto the female flowers. “We made
cones out of window screen material and placed them on top of the female flowers in
the summertime,” she says. When the heat caused the seed pods to finally burst open,
she adds, there was a “popcorn-like noise all over the place. It was pretty fun and very
neat.”
These days, Arree’s sister Sue handles propagation duties at the nursery. She’s often
behind her work table, prepping containers, observing the progress on certain youngsters
and carefully extracting and cultivating small offspring. Cuttings are the easiest
way to propagate; seeds can take up to two years to germinate.
Sue’s hands hold the descendants of her father’s collection. Many plants at the center
can be directly traced back to the Thongthiraj home, whether they were propagated
via seed dispersal or cuttings. “My father had a personal goal of propagating a million
golden barrels from seed,” she says, as she shows a selection of tiny seeds collected
from the cactus flowers of Echinocactus grusonii.
Zhalermwudh did not achieve that benchmark during his lifetime; Arree and Sue
roughly calculate that he got to about 500,000 before he passed away in 1998. (You
can see 550 of Zhalermwudh’s golden barrel descendants at the Getty Center.)
While friction is common in any family business, Arree and her siblings have
managed to keep drama down while improving on and expanding their father’s dream.
Malinee Romero captains the center’s popular video channel, posting short tutorial
videos on all aspects of care of cacti and succulents along with design tips. Sister Molly
oversees the business side; and even Took Took, an English professor at Pasadena City
College, rolls up her sleeves at the center during school breaks. Along with the oldest
sister, Smanjai, the siblings all care for their 87-year-old mother.
To keep the business as a family endeavor, 10-year-old Evanlee, Arree’s nephew
and the sisters’ only offspring, has been coming to the nursery to learn the secrets of
succulents and cacti. “We’d like very much to continue as a family business, so we
are in the process of grooming him,” says Arree with a sparkle in her eye. Like the
generation before him, the youngster is learning the art of propagation (mainly from
his Aunt Sue) along with all the other horticultural complexities. Fortunately for him,
he won’t be required to propagate 1,000 flats as his aunties had to do.
Arree says her father’s presence is still felt every day as she walks past the giant
tree aloe from South Africa (Aloe bainseii) that graces the outside of the business along
with a Bombax ellipticum, better known as a shaving brush tree. “This is the largest
aloe tree you’ll ever see,” she says of the center’s stately unofficial landmark — originally
planted by her father. “He wanted to make sure we would be always be taken
care of; that’s why he created this business for us.” ||||
California Cactus Center is located at 216 Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena. Hours are
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday.
Call (626) 795-2788 or visit cactuscenter.com.
07.19 | ARROYO | 35
36 | ARROYO | 07.19
KITCHEN
CONFESSIONS
Mixology Month
REV UP YOUR SUMMER COCKTAILS WITH THE FRESHEST MIXERS.
BY LESLIE BILDERBACK
These past six months of examining the National Day Calendar have made me realize that,
for certain causes, certain awarenesses, the calendar is a brilliant way to get the word out
and expand their reach. For instance, July 1 is National Postal Worker Day, and I think
we can all agree that it’s nice to honor these dedicated workers. However, the calendar is also
clearly a place for loonies. Do the nudists of America really expect us all to strip on July 14 for
National Nude Day? (Probably not coincidentally, it is the same day as National Tape Measure
Day… I do not make this stuff up.) Some of these days have clearly been created by certain
groups just to show off how smart they are. I had to look up the meaning of National Yellow Pig
Day (July 17), which has something to do with calculus and the number 17. (Even after I looked
it up I’m still not sure what that’s about.) And I’m betting not many of you know who Edmund
Clerihew Bentley is, yet July 10 is National Clerihew Day, during which you are urged to write
a Clerihew –- a very specifically formatted biographical poem. It has four rhyming couplets (aa/
bb), must use a person’s name in the first line, must say something about that person and must
be humorous. Let try it, shall we?
Leslie Bilderback writes
And sometimes picks fights
Occasionally about food
Or whatever her mood
Okay, well, that was fun, and now I can see why they made it a National Day.
Although July is the season for grilling and patriotism, there are relatively few such days
in this month’s National Day Calendar. There is, however, a lot of booze. So much booze, in
fact, that it’s doubtful anything will get done this month. Stay hydrated, everyone, because we
have Anisette Day (July 2), Piña Colada Day (July 10), Mojito Day (July 11), Grand Marnier
Day (July 14), Daiquiri Day (July 19), Wine and Cheese Day ( July 25) and Scotch Day (July
27). All these boozy days are certainly a clever way for companies to boost sales, though I am
a bit worried that national productivity may find itself in a slump as a result. Nevertheless, I
have pledged to celebrate the National Calendar this year so, in response, I am offering some
homemade cocktail elements for your summer soirées.
Cocktail mixing has taken on a new life in recent years. In fact, bartenders have taken to
calling themselves mixologists to emphasize new creative aspects of this vocation that have
evolved. No longer is it simply the martini and gin and tonic. In finer restaurants, cocktails
— and the unfortunately named “mocktails,” without alcohol — are being paired, as wine has
traditionally been, with each course. Unique mixers, fancifully decorated rims, clever garnishes
and artfully molded ice cubes are all a part of the cocktail arsenal now. So, to ensure you don’t
look like a rookie this summer, I offer not drink recipes, but homemade cocktail ingredients that
will boost your cocktail game.
The easiest cocktail mixer to make is simple syrup, which is nothing but equal parts sugar
and water. (Combine them and bring the liquid to a boil until the sugar dissolves. That’s
it.) Simple syrup is the reason why drinks taste better at the bar than in your kitchen. It has
long been a component of cocktails, making its way into such classics as the old-fashioned,
the whiskey sour, the daiquiri, the julep — and many more. But today, the best mixologists
are infusing simple syrup with flavors, opening up infinite cocktail possibilities. I love
flavored syrups because, not only do they make interesting cocktails possible, they make great
homemade sodas. Just combine with soda water and ice for a refreshing offering your guests will
really appreciate. (FYI — designated drivers are really sick of Diet Coke.) I’m giving you below
not only my favorite summer soda syrup — strawberry rhubarb — but also lots of variations for
you to try.
The second cocktailing recipe is for homemade bitters. Bitters are another classic bar
ingredient, comprised of alcohol flavored with botanical aromatics and herbs. It is designed to
bring balance to your cocktail. The bitterness, which varies by brand, enhances the other flavors
of the drink and helps align the ingredients, much the way salt and acid work in cooking. There
are many bitters on the market, and most keep their ingredient list secret. But homemade
bitters are easy to make and, like simple syrup, can be concocted to suit your personal bitter
preferences.
continued on page 38
07.19 | ARROYO | 37
continued from page 37
Both of these recipes are just examples. There are hundreds of variations to be made of and I
encourage you to experiment. With these in your pantry, your summer barbecue will be the talk
of the town.
Syrup and bitters from scratch
Whip yourself up a big batch
With these in your bar
I declare you a star ||||
Strawberry--Rhubarb Syrup
If you have trouble laying your hands on rhubarb, replace it with a full 2 pounds of
strawberries, or substitute another tart ingredient, such as raspberry or cranberry.
In addition, you can use this same basic recipe with any number of fruit, fruit-and
spice or fruit-and-herb combinations. Use your imagination, and get creative.
You’ll find some variation ideas after the recipe.
INGREDIENTS
1 pound strawberries, washed, hulled and
quartered
1 pound rhubarb, washed and cut into halfinch
pieces
1 cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 cups water
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon sea salt
METHOD
1. Combine all ingredients in a large, heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring,
then reduce to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fruit has
softened to the point of mush. It should take about 20 to 30 minutes.
2. Place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl, and line it with cheesecloth.
Pour the fruit purée into the strainer and let it sit and drain slowly. For clear
syrup, it is best not to force or press the purée free of liquid; let gravity do it for
you. After an hour, if it appears there is still liquid suspended within the pulp,
squeeze it gently. Transfer the clear syrup into sterilized jars or bottles, and
store in the refrigerator. Syrups should last you through the summer. For longer
storage, pack in plastic containers and freeze for up to a year. (Defrost slowly
in the refrigerator for best results.)
Here are some of my favorite fruit syrup variations. You may need to adjust
the amount of sugar, depending on the ripeness of the fruit: plum--sage,
peach--basil, cherry--vanilla, mango--lime, papaya--lemongrass, pineapple-
-black pepper. Once you start syrup–making, it won’t be long before you
come up with your own signature syrup.
Homemade Bitters
This is a basic bitter, close in form to Angostura. But Angostura uses ingredients
such as cinchona bark and gentian root — not something you can pick up at
Ralphs. Here I use accessible ingredients, but the end result is equally effective.
If you catch the bitters bug after this, the more exotic elements can be ordered
online.
INGREDIENTS
Dried peel of 1 orange (remove with a potato
peeler, and set in the sun for a day, or
place in a dehydrator or very low-temp
oven for an hour or so, until stiff and
shriveled)
2 to 3 pieces dried apple or apple skin
6 to 8 pieces dried cherry
1 cinnamon stick, crushed
2 whole cloves
3 to 4 allspice berries, crushed
3 to 4 juniper berries, crushed
3 to 4 coffee beans
2 to 3 cardamom pods, crushed
1 teaspoon cacao nibs, crushed
½ teaspoon coriander seed, crushed
¼ vanilla bean, scraped
1 quart neutral alcohol, grain alcohol or
vodka (Rye or bourbon can also be used,
but will impart their fl avors to the fi nished
product.)
2 to 4 tablespoons simple syrup
METHOD
1. Combine all ingredients except alcohol and simple syrup in a large, sterilized
canning jar. Cover the ingredients with the alcohol, then cover with the
top and place in a cool, dark space for 2 weeks. Shake the jar once a day to
help distribute the infusion.
2. After 2 weeks, strain out the contents of the jar, and combine the infused
liquid with simple syrup to taste. (The sugar is not to sweeten as much as it is
to neutralize the bitterness.)
3. Return to a sterilized jar, and set aside again for another week. At this point
the bitters can be used, bottled and shared.
INGREDIENTS
THE GINNY
HENDRICKS
STORY AND PHOTO BY MICHAEL CERVIN
Granville opened on Lake Avenue in Pasadena earlier this year, its fifth
location in Greater Los Angeles. But what sets this branch apart is
its second-story open-air seating offering views of the San Gabriel
Mountains. This is a must stop for the adventurous aficionado, with 30 cocktails
on the menu. That includes Granville’s signature cocktail, the Ginny Hendrix, on
the menu since 2012.
“Pasadena is a more sophisticated crowd,” says food and beverage manager
Marc Dix, noting that more locals are staying close to home in the hunt for
quality cocktails rather than hiking to downtown L.A. “And gin is the hot
category right now,” Dix adds. So the Ginny Hendricks is a great bet. It impresses
with its layered flavors and juxtaposition of sweet, heat and earthiness. The gin’s
mild botanicals are noticeable as is the subtle fire from the jalapeño, balanced by
the sweetness from the puréed fruit. While this can work with a variety of foods,
try it with Granville’s New York strip steak or Thai ginger salad. ||||
1 ounce fresh cucumber purée
1 ounce fresh strawberry purée
6 mint leaves, sliced thin
THE GINNY HENDRICKS
1 ounce Monin Chipotle Pineapple Syrup
2 ounces Hendrick’s Gin
METHOD
Combine all ingredients in a shaker, then add crushed ice, cover and shake
vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with jalapeño slices.
38 | ARROYO | 07.19
THE LIST
COMPILED BY JOHN SOLLENBERGER
Descanso Jams
— Jazz, World
Music and Stone
Fruit
All events are included
in Descanso
admission of $9, $6 for students and seniors
and $4 for children 5 to 12; free for
visitors 4 and younger, unless otherwise
noted. Concerts run from 6 to 7 p.m.
Music on the Main Jazz Concerts
July 4 — Lao Tizer
July 11 — Abe Lagrimas, Jr.
July 18 — Molly Miller
July 25 — Dayren Santamaria
World Rhythms World Music Series
July 2 — California Feetwarmers
July 9 — Boogaloo Assassins (above)
July 16 — Briseyda Zárate
July 23 — Dance India
July 13 — Urban Forager author Elisa
Callow leads a cooking class on stonefruit
and strawberry jam from 10 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. in the Boddy House kitchen.
Cost is $50 ($40 for members). A tasting
and book signing follow the class, starting
at 2 p.m. Advance registration is
required.
July 15 — The Shine a Light exhibition
by artist Carole Kim, Descanso’s fi rst
artist-in-residence, includes digital metal
prints, micro video projections, window
treatments and a multimedia installation,
on view through Oct. 27 in the Sturt
Haaga Gallery.
July 25 — A photography book by
former L.A. County District Attorney Gil
Garcetti, Protea: The Magic and the
Mystery, goes on display from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. July 25 to 28. Garcetti and writer
Larry Livingston will sign their book from
1 to 2 p.m. July 28.
Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso
Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. Call (818)
949-4200 or visit descansogardens.org.
A Grand Fourth
Downtown
July 4 — Grand Park
and the Music Center
in downtown L.A. host
a free family-friendly July 4th celebration,
with a rooftop fi reworks show atop the
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, a 75-foot
Ferris wheel, picnicking, music and
dancing, from 3 to 9:30 p.m. Music on
two stages includes headliner Boogaloo
ROSE BOWL HOSTS
AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY PARTY
July 4 — Once again, Rose Bowl Stadium is home to Americafest, a family-friendly
event celebrating the Fourth and climaxing with a big fireworks display at 9 p.m.
Parking lots open at noon, and the Family Fun Zone opens at 2 p.m. Stadium doors
open at 5:30 p.m., followed by performances of various types at 7 p.m. General
admission tickets are $15 and reserved seating is $30; children 5 and under are
admitted free. Field viewing experience tickets are $100.
Rose Bowl Stadium is located at 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena.
Call (800) 745-3000 or visit rosebowlstadium.com.
Assassins, along with The Delirians, Earth
Arrow, Victoria La Mala, South Soul Spinners,
Blaq Pages and Foreigner, as well
as deejays.
Events take place between Los Angeles
Street and Grand Avenue and Temple
and Third streets. Visit musiccenter.org.
All About Anime
at L.A. Convention
Center
July 4 through 7 —
The Anime Expo celebrates
anime, manga and Japanese
pop culture from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. each
night at the L.A. Convention Center.
Activities include previews of the newest
anime TV shows and fi lm productions, table-top
and videogaming, cutting-edge
fashion, exhibits from anime production
companies and manga comic companies,
licensed goods, a kids’ zone and
live concerts. It is hosted by the nonprofi t
Society for the Promotion of Japanese
Anime. Tickets cost $20 to $100.
The L.A. Convention Center is located
at 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Visit
anime-expo.org/register.
Muse/Ique Goes
to the Movies at
the Huntington
July 6 — The Muse/
Ique orchestra
launches its summer
series at the Huntington Library, Art
Collections and Botanical Gardens with
“Moving/Pictures,” a concert of fi lm
scores “that have moved our country.”
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the performance
starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50
to $130.
Call (626) 539-7085 or visit muse-ique.
com/museiquessummer.
Shakespeare in
the Park
July 6 through Aug. 18
— The annual Sierra
Madre Shakespeare
Festival presents free, family-friendly
weekend performances of Much Ado
about Nothing by professional actors at
7:30 p.m. in Sierra Madre Memorial Park.
Guests may bring blankets, lawn chairs
and picnics. Performance dates are July
6, 13, 19, 20 and 27 and August 2, 4, 10,
17 and 18.
Sierra Madre Memorial Park is located at
222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre.
Visit sierrashakes.com.
Pasadena
Heritage Walking
Tours
Historic preservation
group Pasadena Heritage
hosts two walking tours this month:
July 6 — The Old Pasadena Historic
District, formerly drab and rundown,
has gone through incredible revitalization
over the past 30 years. It was
nearly destroyed but now stands as a
top dining and entertainment destination,
offering a fi ne example of urban
revitalization. Guests can tour the district
from 9 to 11:15 a.m. Tickets are $20 ($18
for members).
July 13 — A walking tour of the Governor
Markham Landmark District, one of
Pasadena’s oldest neighborhoods, runs
from 9 to 11:15 a.m. Ninety-four percent
of the residences in the long-debated
710 Freeway extension route were built
between 1891 and 1933. Tickets are $20
($18 for members). Meeting location is
provided with ticket purchase.
Call (626) 441-6333 or visit pasadenaheritage.org.
Pops Rhapsody at Arboretum
July 13 — The Pasadena Pops 2019
Sierra Summer Series at the L.A. County
–continued on page 40
07.19 | ARROYO | 39
THE LIST
CONCERTS UNDER
THE DOME
July 7 — The Mt. Wilson Observatory hosts two Sunday afternoon concerts inside
the dome housing the 100-inch Hooker Telescope. This month’s “Voices in the
Dome,” performed at 3 and 5 p.m., features sopranos Hila Pittman, Sangeeta
Kaur, flutist Sara Andon, violinist Reina Inui, harpist Jacqueline Marshall and
guitarist Shea Welsh. The program includes works by Danaë Vlasse, Todd Mason,
Bruce Babcock, Mark McEnroe and Anthony Constantino. Tickets are $50, and
must be purchased in advance. Proceeds benefit the Mt. Wilson Institute.
The Mt. Wilson Observatory is located on Mt. Wilson Rd., La Cañada Flintridge. Visit
mtwilson.edu/concerts.
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Arboretum and Botanic Garden presents
“Rhapsody in Blue,” featuring the music
of the Gershwin era and the Jazz Age,
with songs by George and Ira Gershwin,
Duke Ellington and Harold Arlen,
including “I Got Rhythm,” “An American
in Paris,” “Stormy Weather,” “Rhapsody
in Blue” and others. Gates open at 5:30
p.m. for picnicking, and the concert
starts at 7:30 p.m. Michael Feinstein
conducts the orchestra and featured
performers LaChanze, Tony Yazbeck and
Frederick Hodges. Tickets are $10 to $95.
The L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic
Garden is located at 301 N. Baldwin
Ave., Arcadia. Call (626) 793-7172 or visit
pasadenasymphony-pops.org.
Improv and
Indian Music at
Norton Simon
Activities are
included in Norton
Simon Museum admission of $15 and $12
for seniors 62 and up; free for students
and visitors 18 and younger.
July 13 — A concert, “Freedom in
the Moment,” features bassist Marlon
Martinez (above) and the Jazz Marlonius
Quartet in an evening of original compositions
and jazz classics from the 1950s
to the 1970s. Martinez and his band
explore freedom of expression through
improvisation, from 6 to 7 p.m.
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THE LIST
–continued from page 40
July 19 — The exhibition Air Land Sea:
A Lithographic Suite by William Crutchfi
eld opens, offering a rare look at the
artist's works printed at the Tamarind
Lithographic Workshop in 1970. Featuring
trains, ships and airplanes, all portrayed
as overbuilt, fantastical models of modernity,
it runs through Nov. 4.
July 20 — “Ragas and Rhythmic Patterns
— An Exploration,” a concert drawing
on classical Indian music, features the
husband-and-wife team of Kamaljeet
Ahluwalia on santoor and Jas Ahluwalia
playing the tabla. Their innovative approach
simultaneously explores ragas
and intricate rhythmic patterns. The
concert, from 6 to 7 p.m., offers a 21stcentury
perspective on the emotional
themes in ragamala paintings.
The Norton Simon Museum is located at
411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call
(626) 449-6840 or visit nortonsimon.org.
Cal Phil Concerts
Reach from Paris
to Planets
Concert talks with
Maestro Victor
Vener start at 1 p.m.
and concerts start at 2 p.m. Tickets are
$37.50 to $140:
July 14 — The California Philharmonic
summer concert series at Walt Disney
Concert Hall, led by Maestro Vener,
continues with “Bastille Day” with the
Cal Phil Chorale. The program includes
excerpts from Les Misérables by Claude-
Michel Schönberg, Symphonie Fantastique
by Berlioz and Camille Saint-Saëns’
“Organ” Symphony. Featured performers
are Philip Smith, Anne Martinez and
Randal Keith.
July 28 — “Space: A Giant Leap”
features music from fi lm hits including
Apollo 13, Star Wars and Star Trek, plus
“Mars and Jupiter” by Gustav Holst and
Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan.”
Walt Disney Concert Hall is located at
111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Call (323) 850-
2000 or visit calphil.com.
Woman of the
Year Performs in
San Gabriel
July 14 — Genredefying
violinist and
12-language soprano Maki Mae (left)
performs on her “Woman of the Year”
tour around Southern California. July’s
performance takes place at 3:30 p.m.
in Cleaver Hall of Church of Our Saviour,
San Gabriel, with proceeds benefi ting
the Asian Youth Center. Her diverse
repertoire ranges from “The Phantom
of the Opera” to selections by Queen.
Mae was recently selected as this year’s
California State Senate Woman of the
Year. Tickets are $20 for students, $40 VIP.
Cleaver Hall is located at 535 W. Roses
Rd., San Gabriel. Call (626) 941-6418 or
visit makimae.com.
Summer Nights
Roar at the
LA Zoo
July 19 — The L.A.
Zoo Roaring Summer
Nights program offers fun activities for
adults 21 and older, including live music,
deejays, pop-up zoo talks by resident
experts, food trucks and full bars. This
month’s event features live music by
’80s tribute band Fast Times, plus Deejay
Severe, Deejay Johnny Hawkes and
Chulita Vinyl Club. Admission is $21 ($16
for members).
The L.A. Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Dr.,
Griffi th Park. Call (323) 644-4200 or visit
lazoo.org.
Playhouse Offers
Shakespearean
Acting Course
July 22 through Aug.
2 — The Pasadena
Playhouse teams with the London
Academy of Music and Dramatic Art for
a two-week summer acting intensive.
The practical, fast-paced program is
designed for students desiring more
confidence in performing classical work
from Shakespeare’s Elizabethan and
Jacobean periods. It combines scene
study with technical classes in movement
and voice, leading to an understanding
of the challenges of working with
classical texts. The course is open to
those 18 and older with some acting
experience. Tuition may be paid in full
or in installments, and the playhouse will
offer a limited number of scholarships.
The Pasadena Playhouse is located at
39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Call (626)
356-7529 or visit pasadenaplayhouse.org.
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