SLO LIFE JunJul 2021

LIFE 

SLOmagazine 

HEALTH 

TRENDS 

SUMMER 

GETAWA 

REAL ESTATE 

BY THE NUM 

TAKING 

IN THE 

VIEW 

SEASONAL 

FAVORITES 

EXPLORING 

LOCAL 

SCENE 

TASTE 

KIDS 

FAVES 

RE 

ST 

GS 

SAN LUIS OB 

JUN/JUL 2021 

BIKE TRAIL 

CENTAL COAST 

SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM 

MEET 

DANA MCGREGOR 

JUN/JUL 2021 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 1

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2 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | JUN/JUL 2021

M O D E R N • C L A S S I C • J E W E L R Y 

1 1 2 8 G A R D E N S T R E E T S A N L U I S O B I S P O W W W . B A X T E R M O E R M A N . C O M 


THANK 

YOU. 

Thank you for wearing face coverings, maintaining physical 

distancing, washing hands thoroughly, staying home when 

feeling ill and using SLO Transit for essential travel only. 

Thank you SLO for preserving the health and wellness of our 

community. We appreciate you. 


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CONTENTS 

Volume 

22 

24 

26 

12 

Number 2 

Apr/May 2021 

30 

Briefs 

View 

Q&A 

MEET YOUR 

NEIGHBOR 

12 

PUBLISHER’S 

MESSAGE 

14 

16 

18 

20 

Info 

Sneak Peek 

Inbox 

Timeline 

8 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | JUN/JUL 2021 

28 

NOW HEAR THIS 

38 Author

Surf is Up 

Downtown 

Moondoggies’ Randy Adler with son Dane 

MoonDoggies Beach Club 

Central Coast native Randy Adler wins our award for the most diligent 

merchant in Downtown SLO. During the past year we watched as he 

worked incredibly hard to keep his locally-owned surf shop on Monterey 

Street open, and he tells us that his business now couldn’t be better. 

“It’s almost unbelievable. People are looking for new outdoor activities, 

and surfing is one of the biggest beneficiaries of that. Our surf equipment 

and apparel business is doing really well.” If you ask us, it couldn’t 

happen to a nicer guy, and we’re proud to have Moondoggies as an 

important part of the San Luis Obispo Collection. 

D O W N T O W N S L O I S T H E P L A C E W E W A N T T O B E . 

Court Street • Monterey Street • Downtown Centre 


| CONTENTS 

56 

60 

Real Estate 

Health 

68 

TASTE 

74 

WINE NOTES 

40 

ARTIST 

42 

Explore 

44 

On the Rise 

78 

Brew 

46 

Dwelling 

82 Happenings 


exceptional landscape 

design + build contractors 

805.574.0777 

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| PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 

Ark 

This summer feels different. It’s actually reminding me of a different season: spring. Specifically, the 

spring that blossomed along the California coastline twenty-six years ago following the El Niño 

deluge of 1994/95. Then, I was a college student living in the Crown-Merrill Apartments on campus 

at UC Santa Cruz (Go Slugs!). 

I had never seen rain drops so large. It felt as if I were aboard Noah’s ark alongside shivering giraffes 

and pandas, hypnotized by the metronome-like redwoods swaying under sheets of cascading water. 

We were all so hunkered down, sometimes told to stay at home for fear that we’d end up under the 

trunk of a fallen tree. This was before Zoom meetings. And it didn’t matter anyway because the power 

was often out. We studied by candlelight. 

One day, it stopped. That spring was unlike anything I had experienced before. After so much cold 

and wet and gray—and isolation—everyone seemed to be vibrating on some higher ethereal plane 

when the sun finally came out again. 

It feels that way now. Except it’s not spring, it’s summer. And it’s not 1995 but 2021. Historians describe a cyclicality to events, as in “history 

repeats itself.” Many say we’re on the brink of a “new Roaring Twenties.” I’m not sure what that means exactly, and while speakeasies and dance 

crazes sound great to me, the historical cycle I’m most interested in right now is my own. 

This time around, I’m not a college student, instead I’ve got one of my own. 

Between our three kids, I’ve lost count for how many “graduations” my wife and I have attended (for the record, I put the word “graduation” in 

quotes because I don’t really count moving from the first grade to the second as graduating). Still, there’s always a ceremony and everyone shows 

up to take pictures and clap deliriously when the “diplomas” are conferred upon those deemed worthy of coloring between the lines. 

The fact that our first-born is graduating high school this year—a week before her eighteenth birthday no less—is forcing me to continually 

ponder a question: Where did the time go? 

Of course, there is nothing unique about that particular question, which has been tackled with vigor by philosophers and scientists alike. The 

truth is, it simply evaporates like an El Niño mud puddle drying out while we race around to dance recitals and t-ball games and “graduations.” 

This past year has been tough. A long winter. Cold and gray. But there were rays of sunshine peeking through the clouds at times as we bobbed 

up and down on the ark, squinting hard in the search for land on the horizon, somewhere to dock. With nothing else to do, we turned toward 

one another, those on board with us, the giraffes and pandas, our families, friends, and neighbors. We didn’t have to ask where time went 

because we were in it—together. 

Now, when that question starts to bubble up in my mind again—“Where did the time go?”—I answer it differently, with a question of my own, 

borrowing the intellectual jujitsu so often expertly employed by our sixteen-year-old son. 

It turns out that the answer to one of life’s most enduring and intractable questions is “Who cares?” 

Trying to figure out where time went only serves to accelerate its departure. I’m better off, I’ve decided, to embrace every fleeting moment I’ve 

got with the giraffes and pandas, give thanks for the sun—and the rain—hold on, and enjoy the ride. 

Thank you to everyone who has had a hand in producing this issue of SLO LIFE Magazine and, most of all, to our advertisers and subscribers— 

we couldn’t do it without you. 

Live the SLO Life! 

Tom Franciskovich 

tom@slolifemagazine.com 

p.s. If you’d like to read more visit me at tomfranciskovich.com 


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Elder Placements realizes the 

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Charlotte Alexander 

Jeff Al-Mashat 

Brant Myers 

Lauren Harvey 

Paden Hughes 

Zara Khan 

Jaime Lewis 

Andria McGhee 

Joe Payne 

Brian Schwartz 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 

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Todd Meaney 

Mark Nakamura 

Vanessa Plakias 

Nicole Pratt 

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

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| SNEAK PEEK 

ON THE COVER 

behind the scenes 

DANA MCGREGOR 

BY VANESSA PLAKIAS 

Let’s see, shirtless surfer—once soccer pro— 

wearing a Captain America Goat cape while 

“rainbowing” a soccer ball over his goat …Yep! 

This was going to be a super fun shoot! 

When I first arrived, I met Cody. He had just finished up a surf lesson 

with Dana. Cody was thrilled to surf on a board with a goat. He just 

went for it! It’s a memory Cody and his family will cherish forever. 

At one point, we heard some commotion behind us. 

Someone had lost their dog and good samaritans were trying 

to help the nervous pup. They needed a leash and Dana was 

quick to grab his goat rope to lend a hand. Everyone was 

grateful the dog made it back to its owners safe and sound. 

During our shoot a paramedic/surfer, Neil, and his mom came 

over to meet the goats. Neil went in for a milk refresher right from 

the goat’s teat! Then his mom, Diane, then me! It was warm and 

creamy and I asked where the chocolate and cinnamon were. 



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| INBOX 

TAKE US WITH YOU! 

Send your photos and comments to info@slolifemagazine.com or visit us online at slolifemagazine.com 

CASTLE ROCK, CODY, WYOMING 

SEDONA, ARIZONA 

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| TIMELINE 

LOCAL 

april 2 

The Pentagon approves the use of Camp Roberts, a California Army National Guard base 

in northern SLO County, to temporarily house unaccompanied migrant children. It is not 

clear if, or how many, children might be placed at the camp, but the U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services confirms that the camp is under consideration. After being 

processed by the Border Patrol, children are transferred to Health and Human Services, 

then eventually released to a sponsor, usually a parent or close relative. 

april 19 

Attorneys for Ruben and Paul Flores enter “not 

guilty” pleas on behalf of their clients during 

an arraignment hearing in connection with the 

May 1996 death of Cal Poly student Kristin 

Smart. The father and son were arrested by San 

Luis Obispo County Sheriff ’s officials on April 

13 at their separate homes. Paul, 44, is charged 

with first-degree murder for allegedly killing 

Smart while trying to rape her, while Ruben, 

80, is charged as an accessory after the fact for 

allegedly helping conceal Smart’s body after she 

was murdered. A preliminary hearing date is 

tentatively set for July 6. 

PHOTO BY NICOLE PRATT 


april 18 

Team Coastal Cancel Cancer Crew, 

a multi-generational coterie of 

seventeen volunteers, hosts “Run 

for a Cure,” a five-mile fun run 

relay held at the beautiful Chateau 

Noland in Avila. The Crew, led by 

SLO High School students Matthew 

Davi, Savanna Henderson-Witt, and 

Mattea Kalpakoff, joined two other 

teams, each running in honor of a 

local Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 

Hero—three children battling blood 

cancer. Even with COVID restrictions 

on the number of runners, the three 

teams together raised more than 

$7,500 to support cancer research and 

patient support. 

april 25 

The City of San Luis Obispo begins replacing 

old outdated parking meters at individual 

parking spots with all-new multi-space pay 

stations. The change, in line with a City plan 

to open up sidewalks and expand the parklet 

program, means people pay for their parking at 

one strategically-placed station, rather than at 

individual meters, which clutter up the sidewalk. 

Drivers simply punch in their license plate 

numbers, select an amount of time, pay the fee, 

and go on their way. Plans call for completing 

the replacement of downtown meters at twohour 

spaces by July 2022, as well as developing 

a parking app by July of this year that allows 

people to bypass the stations and simply use 

their cell phones. 

april 27 

Alaska Airlines announces it will offer daily 

nonstop flights between San Luis Obispo and 

both Portland and San Diego beginning June 

17. The San Diego service had been launched 

in January 2020 but was put on hold during the 

pandemic, and the Portland service was scheduled 

to begin last June but never launched. Alaska 

already provides nonstop service twice daily 

between SLO and its hub in Seattle.

REVIEW 

may 2 

Cal Poly alum and NASA astronaut Victor Glover, along with three other 

astronauts, splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico after spending nearly six 

months in space aboard the International Space Station. Their safe return to 

Earth on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon was the first nighttime splashdown since 

the Apollo missions of the 1960s. The crew spent 167 days on board the 

space station, completing 2,688 orbits around Earth. The mission was historic 

for Glover, the first Black crew member aboard the ISS for an extended stay. 

He is one of eighteen NASA astronauts selected for the Artemis program, 

which aims to send humans back to the moon before 2030. 

may 3 

Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla introduce the Protecting Unique and 

Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act to increase 

protections for public lands throughout the Central Coast, northwest California, and 

Los Angeles. The package consists of three bills originally introduced in the House 

of Representatives, including the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act that would 

designate 288,000 acres of public land in the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo 

Plain National Monument as wilderness, 159 miles of streams as wild and scenic rivers, 

and two national scenic areas totaling 34,880 acres, and would establish a 400-mile-long 

Condor National Scenic Trail stretching from LA to Monterey County. 

may 4 

Seven SLO County Library branches open their doors for limited Grab & Go service 

after closing during the pandemic along with seven smaller branches. Arroyo Grande, 

Atascadero, Cambria, Los Osos, Morro Bay, Nipomo, and San Luis Obispo libraries are 

open Tuesdays through Saturdays for browsing, “holds” pickups, and express computers. 

No seating is available for leisure reading, however, and program rooms will remain 

closed. Cayucos, Creston, Oceano, San Miguel, Santa Margarita, Shandon, and Shell 

Beach libraries remain shuttered until further notice, but patrons can always “Ask a 

Librarian” at www.slolibrary.org. 

may 6 

Thursday Farmers’ Market, closed since March 2020, 

returns—concentrating its usual five blocks into two 

on Higuera Street from Osos to Chorro streets in 

downtown SLO. The first phase of opening includes 

familiar farmers and vendors, but precludes on-site 

dining, entertainment, and handling fresh produce. 

Designed like an outdoor grocery store, the smallerscale 

market offers produce and staples such as bread 

and coffee beans from more than thirty vendors, while 

a full-scale revival is projected for June depending on 

government restrictions. 

may 10 

One police officer is killed, and another wounded, in 

a shooting at an apartment on Camellia Court in San 

Luis Obispo. Detective Luca Benedetti, a twelve-year 

law enforcement veteran and member of the SLO 

regional SWAT team, died after a burglary suspect 

opens fire on officers serving a search warrant at his 

apartment. Another SLOPD detective, Steve Orozco, 

is wounded but expected to fully recover. The suspect, 

identified by police as Edward Zamora Giron, opened 

fire at the detectives and was wounded by return fire. 

He later committed suicide. 

may 13 

The director of the US Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention announces that people who are fully 

vaccinated do not need to wear masks or practice 

social distancing indoors or outdoors. State and local 

laws, however, remain in effect, meaning that wearing 

face masks indoors in California—and thus in SLO 

County—is still the rule. The future looks brighter, 

however, as the County announces plans to demobilize 

its Alternate Care Site at Cal Poly by May 31 and 

return it to its pre-pandemic status as the campus rec 

center. And earlier in April, Governor Gavin Newsom 

declared that California plans to discontinue its colorcoded 

re-opening tiers for individual counties in June, 

meaning the entire state could move at once to open up 

for “business as usual” on June 15. 



| BRIEFS 

$1.7 million 

Grant funds from the California Natural 

Resources Agency Urban Greening Program 

to help the City of San Luis Obispo improve 

the Anholm Neighborhood Greenway, a 

bicycle and pedestrian route along Chorro 

and Broad Streets connecting the downtown 

to Foothill Boulevard and the Highland 

Drive entry to Cal Poly. Construction, 

including safety lighting and public art, 

begins in early 2022. 

Plaza 

Pop-Ups 

A series of month-long activations 

adorning Mission Plaza in downtown 

SLO through summer 2021 and perhaps 

beyond. Featuring a different cultural 

nonprofit each month and funded by the 

City, each art installation is unique to its 

nonprofit’s mission. 

10,107 

AF 

San Luis Obispo’s available water supply 

last year in acre-feet (AF), which is 

consistent with the City’s current water 

supply needs. That’s according to the 

2020 General Plan Annual Report, which 

outlines the City’s four sources of H2O: 

Salinas Reservoir (Santa Margarita Lake); 

Whale Rock Reservoir; Nacimiento 

Reservoir; and recycled water from the 

City’s Water Resource Recovery Facility. 

Cracking the 

Government Code 

A series of interactive, fast paced, and 

informative sessions featuring experts 

who have wrestled in the trenches of 

community governance. Brought to you 

by the SLO Chamber of Commerce, it 

is designed to create lasting connections 

and share ideas in a safe, fun, and 

collaborative space. 

5,000 

The number of free showers that a local 

nonprofit has provided to people without 

access to running water and other hygiene 

supplies. Shower the People launched 

in October 2018 with sites in San Luis 

Obispo and Grover Beach. All guests also 

receive a new pair of underwear, socks, a 

t-shirt, and more. 

“Considering all 

that 2020 brought, 

it was a good year 

for California olive 

oils, especially the 

Central Coast.” 

Central Coast Olive Oil Competition 

chief judge Paul Vossen praised the 

olive varietals from the 2021 contest 

when results were announced in April. 

The thirteenth annual competition saw 

Pleasant Valley Farms in Aptos win Best 

in Show. Singled out for several Best of 

Class medals were Boccabella Farms and 

Rancho Asul Y Oro in San Miguel; Stagg 

Hill Cuvee, Mountain Springs Olive 

Ranch, and Fandango in Paso Robles; and 

Homestead Olive Ranch in Templeton. 

$75 

Your contribution to SLO Botanical 

Garden’s public art fundraiser “Pickets 

for Programs,” which could provide 

support for vital operations and expands 

educational programs. Each donation lets 

you paint a picket (instructions, brushes, 

and high-quality paints supplied) to adorn 

the fence surrounding the Children’s 

Garden. And it stays in place for three 

years for everyone to enjoy. 

ATP 

Cycle 5 

The California Transportation Commission 

is funding the County Parks Department 

Bob Jones Trail extension project to the 

tune of $18.25 million as part of Cycle 5 of 

its Active Transportation Program (ATP). 

The “City to Sea” project, a top priority for 

the SLO Council of Governments for more 

than two decades, will connect the existing 

trail in Avila to the Octagon Barn at the 

South end of San Luis Obispo. 

48% 

The percentage of SLO County’s 

population that Public Health officials 

estimate at the end of April had received at 

least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The 

County’s clinics in Arroyo Grande, Paso 

Robles, and San Luis Obispo administered 

3,144 vaccines on April 22, the most 

in a single day since the County began 

providing the vaccine in December. SLO LIFE 


E X P EC T B E T T ERSM 

125 INDIO DRIVE, PISMO BEACH 

This incredible ocean front property welcomes you to mouth watering views and amenities. Recently updated with the finest materials and craftsmanship, large 

windows frame the expansive ocean and sunset views along the Pacific Coast. The home has two family rooms with gorgeous fireplaces, a remodeled kitchen 

with breakfast nook and dining room, a master suite featuring its own balcony and fireplace, and views from almost every window. Several outdoor conversation 

areas await you on the patio including a stone fire pit with seating, a putting green, a hot tub, and unmatchable ocean views. 

LISA THOMPSON, REALTOR ® , LIC. #01417618 805.878.6206 

SOLD 

MONTECITO MORRO BAY SAN LUIS OBISPO 

SOLD for $15,975.00! A rare opportunity to 

enjoy panoramic ocean and mountain views 

within the serenity and privacy of nearly 11 flat 

acres, dotted with majestic oaks and mature 

plantings. The long graceful driveway leads you to 

the main residence, guest house, pool, pool 

house, and shop. 

COLLEEN CLARKE 

BROKER ASSOCIATE, LIC. #01267325 

ROB ROSE 

REALTOR®, LIC. #02035157 

805.550.1015 

805.471.8351 

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| VIEW 

WALKING 

BY MARK NAKAMURA 

Do you have a bucket list of things you want to do before you 

kick the bucket? See the aurora borealis? Run with the bulls 

in Spain? Walk the Camino de Santiago? 

How about seeing a cloud inversion on the Central Coast? A cloud 

inversion is when the normally warm air near the ground and the 

cooler air above it is flipped. The cooler air below is trapped near 

the ground and the warmer air is above it. This allows for a view of 

looking down on the clouds. 

It’s hard to get out of bed early in the dark and start hiking with a 

headlight to arrive at the top of the mountain before sunrise, but 

when it’s foggy in San Luis Obispo, chances are that if you go a 

thousand feet up in elevation, you can be looking down on a sea of 

clouds. 

Cerro San Luis, Bishop Peak, the mountain that is above the “P” 

at Cal Poly, and, my favorite, Reservoir 

Canyon Trail (also known as “The 

Tower” hike) are places of interest. 

Sometimes, you don’t have to get too high 

in elevation. Terrace Hill is an excellent 

place for photographs of the cloud 

inversion when the fog is low. 

This photograph was taken at the top of 

Bishop Peak on a foggy morning in San 

Luis Obispo. There were several Cal Poly 

students up there after I arrived and took 

this couple’s photograph with the clouds 

below them. One of the trailheads is on 

Foothill Boulevard, which is the one I 

use. 


MARK NAKAMURA, pursues 

his passion in landscape 

photography as well as 

capturing the joys of 

weddings, families, events, 

and sports around the 

Central Coast. Find him on 

Instagram @nakamuraphoto 


ON AIR 


| Q&A 

Born to be Wild 

In 1987, Pacific Wildlife Care was founded to deal with the oildrenched 

pelicans showing up on the beaches around SLO County 

following the Apex Houston oil spill. Fast-forward to today, the 

nonprofit organization now boasts over 200 volunteers, a small 

paid staff, a rehabilitation center, a full-time wildlife veterinarian, 

and for the first time in its history, an executive director, former 

Morro Bay City Councilwoman, CHRISTINE JOHNSON, who visited 

with us the other day. Here is some of what she had to say… 

We always start with this question, 

Christine: Where are you from? So I was 

born in Pennsylvania, on the western part of 

the state, but grew up on the eastern side, in 

Bloomsburg. My parents were teachers. I’ve 

got one brother, he’s younger, and in higher 

education now. We lived in a rural area and 

always had wildlife all around us. You learned 

quickly that you had to share your garden 

with the rabbits and deer. I had an aunt, 

actually a great aunt, Aunt Kay. She was an 

avid birder. We would spend a lot of time 

with her during the summer. At one point, I 

remember thinking to myself, “I’m just like 

my Aunt Kay, I love birds.” 

Did you go away to school? Yes, college 

was at Penn State, where I met my husband, 

Lee, and then I went on to get my master’s 

in student affairs and higher education. 

From there, I spent the first five years of my 

career in Philadelphia. I worked at Peirce 

College, which was originally established in 

1865 to educate Civil War veterans. It’s very 

diverse and, I’d say, 80% of the students were 

first-generation college students. It was very 

empowering to be a part of that, I really loved 

it. But, my husband, through his job had an 

opportunity to transfer to the West Coast, to 

Long Beach, so we did it. That’s when I first 

got involved working for a nonprofit, the Girl 

Scout Council. 

How long were you there? Five years, then 

we had another opportunity through my 

husband’s work again, and we decided to do 

it. He was with an international shipping 

company, so I had to very much reinvent 

myself as the trailing spouse. We went briefly 

to Columbus, Ohio before bouncing around 

during the next ten years: Santiago, Chile; 

Korea; Northern New Jersey where our son 

was born, he’s now sixteen; Panama; Brazil; 

St. Louis; and then Morro Bay. Back in 1990, 

when Lee and I graduated from college, we 

took a trip along the California coast, just 

like every other tourist from the east does. 

We camped here for two days and just fell in 

love with the area, as so often happens with 

people. We never forgot about it. 

Okay, so how did you get involved with 

wildlife rehabilitation? So, first off, 

everybody here in Morro Bay has seagulls in 

their neighborhood. And, one day, we found 

one in our yard that had been injured and 

unable to fly. I didn’t know what to do, so I 

asked my neighbors and one of them said, 

“Oh, you should call these people.” And I 

did. There was a hotline, and they take these 

kinds of calls. Somebody came out right 

away, picked up the gull, rescued it. The 

whole experience was great, it was so good to 

know that there was somebody doing that. 

That was my introduction to Pacific Wildlife 

Care, or PWC. They’ve been operating for 

over thirty years, doing this great work in our 

community rescuing wildlife. The idea is to 

rehabilitate the animal and get it back out 

into the wild as soon as possible. 

Let’s talk about our local wildlife. 

You know, that’s a big reason why we ended 

up here on the Central Coast in the first 

place. We’re so abundant in wildlife here. 

There’s so much biodiversity here in this 

county. You just feel like you’re so much a 

part of the natural world every day, which 

is so much different than living in a city 

where you barely see any other living 

thing except for people. I’d say it’s similar 

in some ways to where I grew up in rural 

Pennsylvania, in terms of daily encounters 

with wildlife, and understanding, too, that 

our human interactions have an impact on 

those animals. And so, PWC does a great 

job in my opinion of helping us balance 

out important things that we do need to 

do for people, like more housing and better 

transportation. But there is sometimes a cost 

to that, to the natural world. So, I feel happy 

to be able to play a role in maintaining that 

balance by helping wild animals as much as 

we possibly can. SLO LIFE 


A Day at 

the Beach 

I’m the thinker. 

Yep ! 

Did he say 

“stinker” ? 

See Karen 

Helping you hear the things you love, since 1978 

Call us today 

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| NOW HEAR THIS 

Bringing 

BY JOE PAYNE 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRASS MASH 

the Brass 


According to The Power of Live, a global 

study that captured the trends and 

behaviors of music fans ages thirteen 

to sixty-five from eleven countries, live 

music is one of the most powerful human 

experiences and the ultimate escape from 

digital overload. 

Anyone who has been to a Brash Mash show can attest to the studies 

findings. Performing live the first Friday of the month at Liquid 

Gravity in San Luis Obispo, the band can be found mashing up 

unexpected pop tunes with artful horn arrangements. The venue allows 

for outdoor gatherings to enjoy live music, band leader Colin Dean 

explained, and the response has been huge, “There was a two-hour wait 

to get in the door last time and people waited!” Dean said. “Maybe it’s 

the tacos, maybe it’s the beer, maybe it’s us.” 

Whatever it is, Brash Mash is a tacos and beer kind of band. The 

group usually performs with anywhere between eight or 12 players, 

Dean said. Most are “band nerds” who’ve grown up, and in the case of 

Dean and a few members, are actually band directors at local schools. 

“We have a whole fleet of saxophones, trumpets, trombone, tuba, and 

we have some killer kit drummers,” he said. “What’s specifically fun 

is having people who are trained in classical and jazz; everyone in the 

band, if they don’t have a music degree, it’s pretty close.” 

Dean is a trombone master himself, comfortable when he “kicks up 

in the high register” or going low for some “elephant sounds.” While 

a brass group like his is best known in New Orleans, Dean says that 

Brash Mash is not a “NOLA band,” but rather a horn ensemble 

perfectly suited to the San Luis Obispo area. 

As band leader, Dean is also the group’s principal arranger. As the “onthe-nose” 

band name suggests, he mashes up two or more known pop 

songs. The point is usually to combine two songs you never thought 

you’d hear together, and to cater to the taste of the locals all at the same 

time. “This isn’t an urban place, this isn’t a rural place, we’re like our own 

thing here,” he explained. “It’s like 30 percent classic rock, 30 percent 

pop music, and like 30 percent random things that people like including 

country and Americana--infused things.” 

There’s an inherent humor to the choices Dean makes, a playfulness only 

understood when you hear Britney Spears somehow combined with 

Black Sabbath. That humor was a big part of his formative years as a 

musician. “Honestly, it’s kind of a band nerd thing,” he said. “For those 

who grew up in band in high school, people are always joking around 

with each other musically, and trying to play the most annoying song.... 

We’re always trying to one-up each other.” 

That camaraderie is part of what makes a great band, and brass players 

understand that earlier than most musicians. With literally a whole gang 

of band directors and devoted horn players with him, Dean admits he’s 

“spoiled” by both the level of skill and the camaraderie of his compatriots. 

Dean’s current lineup of dedicated 

performers for Brass Mash are Brett Malta 

on tuba, Sean Sullivan on drums, Sam 

Franklin on baritone saxophone, Anthony 

Yi on alto saxophone, Tim Crooks on 

tenor saxophone, Ben Kerr on trumpet, and 

Breanna Chambers on trumpet. They are 

often joined by a few revolving members 

as well, Dean said, all of whom contribute 

to an engaging and fun live concert. “The 

hang is the best,” he said. “I get to hang out 

with horn players all day? And they’re killer 

players? And they’re smart? And we get 

to play Offspring songs and BS? And do 

something that’s fun and people enjoy it and 

keep showing up? That’s amazing.” SLO LIFE 

JOE PAYNE is a 

journalist, as well as a 

lifelong musician and 

music teacher, who 

writes about the arts on 

the Central Coast. 


| MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR 

joy 

ful 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VANESSA PLAKIAS 

“Iconic” and “Toyota Prius” are words that very rarely 

go together, except here on the Central Coast where the 

overloaded “goat-friendly hybrid” is a familiar sight at 

local beaches. The driver, DANA MCGREGOR, transports 

his precious cargo that includes a dozen surfboards 

strapped precariously to the roof, a handful of damp 

and sandy wetsuits in the trunk, and a goat named 

Pismo riding shotgun. It’s all done for one purpose: “To 

bring joy up and down the coast.” And, judging by the 

smiles of curious onlookers, it appears that the mission 

is being accomplished. From professional soccer to 

the art of clearing poison oak, from cryptocurrency to 

childrens’ books, here’s his story… 




kay, Dana, let’s talk about where you’re from. I grew up here, Pismo 

Beach, California. I went to Arroyo Grande High school, went to Shell 

Beach Elementary, Ocean View, so I kind of grew up in this neck of 

the woods. We moved here in the fourth grade. My family basically 

moved up here from Riverside area. My dad was a general contractor, 

and his grandfather was a goat surfer . . . no, I’m just joking! That’d 

be funny if we had an ancient history of goat surfing and I’m just 

carrying on the next generation. I think our family, the McGregors, 

we got kicked out of Scotland for stealing sheep. So, we went for goats Oinstead. Actually, I think that McGregor is a common shepherding name from Ireland and Scotland, 

but I’ve also got some Belgian in me, too, so I’m kind of mixed. 

What were you like as a kid? I’ve had a passion for soccer since I was twelve years old, and I wanted 

to play at the highest level I could. I kept playing every single day and practicing until I made the 

Olympic development team. I did that for a couple years, then I got a soccer scholarship to play at 

Fresno State. I actually didn’t want to play in college. I wanted to go straight to Europe to play, but that 

was the only opportunity that was open at the time. So, I went to college and ended up having a “come 

to Jesus moment” during my freshman year of college, and my life kind of transitioned from that point. 

I finished playing soccer there in Fresno and then sort of got burned out on the sport. 

What did you do instead? I worked for a couple years after college at a Christian group home. One 

day, one of the kids there said, “Mr. McGregor, why don’t you go play professional soccer?” And it hit 

me. I was probably twenty-three or twenty-four at the time. And dang, that hit me really hard. Why 

don’t I do that? I kind of stopped playing for a couple of years after college, I stopped doing something 

I loved. So, I thought it through and realized, “Oh, you know what, that makes sense and I’m still 

young enough to do it,” so I ended up trying out for a semi-pro team in Oregon. And that team had 

a thing called Professional Soccer Ministry where they sent two players to different countries to play 

professional soccer. We went to South Africa, Cape Town. Then, I lived in Beirut, Lebanon for a season. 

After that, I went to Ohio for a couple of years where I played for the Cleveland City Stars. 

How long did you play professionally? I was probably about twenty-nine when I finished my 

career—I’m forty-two now—so, I moved home when my folks were going through a separation. I felt 

like I needed to go home and take care of the fam and see for myself what was going on. So, it was 

then, when I returned, that I saw someone bring in a bunch of goats to clear out the poison oak. They 

eat that stuff, no problem. A year, maybe two, later, we kept dealing with poison oak in my mom’s 

backyard. So, I thought it would be kind of cool to bring in a goat, have it around a little bit so it could 

clear away the poison oak. Then when my friends from Africa would come into town we’d eat it. That 

was a big part of what we’d have for dinner over there. But, every time I’d leave the house, the goat, who 

I called “Goatee” would start to cry. And I’d be like, “Oh dang it, we can’t have that.” I didn’t want him 

to be upset. 

Well, what did you do? So, I loaded up the goat in my car whenever I went somewhere, including 

when I’d go surfing. One day, she was acting like she wanted to go out in the water, so on a whim, I 

took her out there with me. And I was like, “Dude, this is so awesome!” And it just sort of took off 

from there. Before we knew it, we’re on the Today Show, just me and Goatee riding waves. It was 

funny because I never meant for it to be anything except for just messing around and having fun. But 

it somehow blossomed. Every time I’d leave the country, she’d get pregnant because I’d leave her at the 

goat farm. Now I’ve got Pismo and Grover, too. Pismo’s the one who likes to surf the most. He’s more 

of an adrenaline junkie like me. 

Okay, so what’s it like to surf with a goat? I describe it as an out of body experience, or an out of this 

world experience. I mean, when you’re doing it, the whole time you’re thinking, “Wow, this is incredible!” 

You’re putting an animal that is out of its element in this super unique environment and it’s experiencing 

that feeling that you can only get from riding waves. And then when get them to kind of like it, it’s a 

whole different level! So, the whole experience is a trip, it’s pretty supernatural, pretty crazy. And then 

once you get other people involved so they can have the experience, too, it takes it up another notch. 

And how do you think the goats feel about the whole thing? I mean, if we wipe out and eat it, which 

we’ve done many a time, he’s not too happy with me. That’s not an enjoyable feeling. So, I try to have 

some success with it where we get a good ride in, and especially on this huge board that I have, it’s 

pretty large. It’s pretty darn safe now for him so we rarely wipe out, unless you try to go too big. To be 

JUN/JUL 2021 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 33 

>>

honest, it’s really fun. Even wiping out. I honestly think when he wipes 

out, he’s a better goat. It kind of humbles him. It’s like people. We kind of 

get humbled when a big wave gets us. It’s kind of the same thing. It’s like, 

“Dang, wow, okay.” It just puts things in perspective and brings us back to 

humility. And he trusts me because we’ve been through some hard times 

and hard waves. 

How do you get the goat and all of your equipment to the beach? Well, 

you may have seen me driving my Prius around town. It’s got a picture 

of Goatee on the side. That’s my transport, my goat-friendly hybrid. I 

took the seats out and put down some artificial grass. From there, I walk 

him down the beach. He goes pretty willingly straight to the water. Most 

goats don’t like water. In general, I’ve found that to be true. But Pismo’s 

cool with it for the most part. So, what I do is, I lead him to the beach, 

then I’ll pick him up, put them on the board, so he doesn’t even really get 

wet. He kind of looks like royalty. He gets to go surfing almost without 

getting wet. It’s pretty funny. He looks like a king out there, like he’s on 

his throne. 

Is this what you do for a living? It’s a very big part of my lifestyle, but 

I wouldn’t say it generates a major income. I do other stuff. I invest in 

cryptocurrency. I’ve been doing it for four years. So, that’s been working 

out. It’s kind of freed me up to be able to do more of the things I love, and 

I love helping people and bringing joy to people. For example, this last 

week we had a really cool situation. It was totally unplanned, but we just 

met this kid. He wasn’t supposed to make it to his seventeenth birthday 

because he has some sort of very rare disease. Only several people have 

it worldwide. Well, he just made it to seventeen and I asked him if he 

wanted to go surfing. He was really excited, so I asked him, “With our 

without the goat?” He said, “With.” So, I said, “Well, let’s do it!” So, we 

put the goat on the board and he’s holding onto the goat for balance. And 

every time we go over the waves, he’s letting out this shout of joy. I’m just 

thinking to myself, “Oh my God, it’s Magic Mountain, but in the ocean.” 

It was so cool. 

That is so cool. I enjoy doing stuff like that because you don’t have to 

charge them. I can kind of pay myself a little or do whatever, just enough 

to take care of myself, so I can do stuff like that for free. And we do have a 

nonprofit where people can donate, if they want. But we also do individual 

surf lessons, or we have surf lessons with a group that includes the big 

party wave board. We call it “the Rapture” because it takes people really 

high, gets people real high. Gets people really full of joy. It’s pretty rad. 

You could take six or seven people and a goat on it. It’s pretty hilarious. 

That’s what inspired a children’s book that I wrote, it’s actually the >> 



second one and it’s coming out soon. It’s called “Pismo’s Party Wave.” 

It’s kind of about a dream that came to me one night, a story I tell 

through Pismo’s perspective. 

What times stand out the most for you? Oh, wow. There’s a lot of them. 

I would say almost every one of them involves kids. We do these things 

we call “Beautifully Abled Camps.” We take kids with autism or Down 

syndrome out with Pismo. We’ve even taken a kid out who was blind. He 

surfs now! I’m like, “Wow, these kids are amazing and they’re going in my 

next book because they need to get recognized.” I mean, they’re surfing, 

doing something that’s so cool—surfing without having the ability to 

really do it. So, those experiences have been really special to me, just seeing 

how much joy it brings to people and kids. 

Has anything ever gone sideways out on the water? [laughter] Okay, 

this is not a bad thing, but it’s sort of funny. There was one time that I 

took Pismo out on my board when we had a good swell. We caught this 

big wave and I sort of lost my balance for a moment and sort of pushed 

him off on accident. He was not happy. So, then, on the next wave he’s 

like, “Oh, no you don’t—you’re not pushing me off this time, buddy!” We 

were riding along on the wave and he head butts me right off the board! 

And, keep in mind, this was a good-sized wave, eight foot, maybe nine. 

I fell off and got thrashed around for a minute until I finally made my 

way up to the surface. I treaded water and just watched Pismo ride that 

wave all the way into the beach. I was like, “Are you kidding me?! You’ve 

got to be kidding me!” Somebody got a video of it, and they screened it at 

the Fremont [Theater] one year for the film festival. People were asking, 

“How’s that even possible?” 

Is that the typical response? Usually, they’re kind of wowed by it. 

Everyone’s so different, but I would say the majority just stop on the beach 

and they have to watch us surf for a bit. They have to kind of witness it. 

Yeah. When we’re done, I’ll usually play soccer with him a bit. I’ll throw 

the ball at Pismo and he’ll hit it back to me. It’s a pretty crazy thing to 

watch. He’s a pretty cool goat, kind of a dog personality. I think people can 

relate to that for the most part. But, you know, we’re mostly just trying to 

bring joy. That’s what it’s about. That’s the only reason we do it. In addition 

to the camps and the lessons, we also do a little work with some rehabs. 

And I think we’re going to do a surfing goat documentary about how the 

goats have impacted our community. We’ll probably do that, but mostly 

we want to just keep doing our thing, making people happy—bringing joy 

up and down the coast. SLO LIFE 


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| AUTHOR 

LOCAL READ 

From the Persian Gulf 

to the Central Coast 

BY BRIAN SCHWARTZ 

Before becoming a successful author and independent publisher, 

Ed Cobleigh flew fighter jets with the US Air Force, US Navy 

(TopGun), Royal Air Force, French Air Force, and the Imperial 

Iranian Air Force. During his service, he also worked with the 

CIA, FBI, and MI6. Visiting over fifty countries in his lifetime has 

given Ed a wealth of experiences to draw from. 

In 2005, his memoir, “War for the Hell of It,” was published by Berkley Publishing 

Group. Cobleigh later revised and republished it in 2016 and it soon reached #1 on 

Amazon (in his genre) and continues to sell well to this day. 

As an independent publisher, his books have sold over 27,000 copies in twelve 

countries and three languages. 

In Cobleigh’s second fictional work (published at the end of 2020), he takes us 

from the lethal skies over the Persian Gulf to California’s coastal wine country. 

Fly with the Falcon delivers romance, ethical dilemmas, falcon lore, and a 

showcase of the central coast from an aerial perspective. 

I first met the author at SLO Nightwriters, a support group for writers in San 

Luis Obispo. While his life as a fighter pilot in Vietnam was the source of his 

highly successful memoir, I wanted to learn more about his latest work which has 

a strong connection to the beautiful California Central Coast. 

What inspired you to write “Fly With the Falcon?” 

I wanted to write a novel set on the Central Coast, a book touching on sexual 

harassment, and a subject I know best, flight. The creative challenge was to meld these 

disparate themes into a single tightly written narrative. 

What do you hope readers will take away from it? 

For world-wide readers, the allure of our part of California. For locals, the fierce grace 

of Morro Rock’s peregrine falcons. For everyone, the 

problem with sexual harassment and the promise of 

redemption from it. 

Why did you decide to venture into the sensitive topic 

of sexual harassment now? 

The #metoo movement publicized this serious problem. 

I portray the wild falcon as a symbol and a tool of escape 

from a harassment victim’s mental prison. 

As a past presenter at the Central Coast Writers 

Conference, Cobleigh is generous with his time and 

advice to aspiring authors. For the younger set, Cobleigh 

teaches a STEM course on the aerodynamics of raptors. 

He and his wife, Heidi, currently reside in Paso Robles. 

You can learn more about Cobleigh’s other books on his 

website at www.edcobleigh.com. SLO LIFE 

BRIAN SCHWARTZ is a 

publishing consultant and 

advocate for local authors. 

He can be reached at 

brian@selfpublish.org. 


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| ARTIST 

PROFILE 

Abbey 

Onikoyi 

N 

BY JEFF AL-MASHAT 

There are a number of variations on this quote, but Jerry Garcia’s style 

of playing music has been described as “never wasting a note.” As has also 

been said about Garcia, “every note had a purpose.” 

If there is a painter whose work is akin to that concept, it’s the Central 

Coast’s Abbey Onikoyi. Every brushstroke seems exciting. It is electrifying 

to look at his work, because there is so much to experience as you move your 

eyes around the canvas. 

Movement seems to define Onikoyi’s life, whether physical, spiritual, or 

geographical, and his paintings reflect that principle. 

The Los Osos-based painter began life’s journey in Nigeria, where he was 

one of 18 children. From there, he moved to Newbury, England, where 

he spent his boyhood, while his father worked in advertising. Eventually, 

Abbey moved to the United States to pursue further education. In Chicago, 

where, like his dad, he pursued a career in advertising, working for industry 

giants like Ogilvy and BBDO. Then he was on to Hawaii, where he gave 

up many of the creature comforts he had become used to as an advertising 

executive to dedicate himself to his art full-time. While living in a tent in a 

friend’s backyard, he would often paint through the night and sleep during 

the day. 

Full time painting led him to Big Sur’s Esalen Institute, where he taught 

about drawing, painting and culture. It was also an opportunity to further 

develop his painting style and process, which starts with music, dancing and 

splattering paint across the canvas: “From there, I seek to find out what is 

there.” 

Oftentimes, it is family or friends, people who have inspired him, or spirits 

he has a connection to. Onikoyi never sketches anything out in advance. 

Once he begins a piece, his eyes move throughout the work connecting 

colors and shapes--but the figures that emerge never look back. All of 

the eyes of Onikoyi’s subjects are closed. “I realized that I didn’t like eyes 

looking back at me,” he says. “When the eyes are open, the viewer focuses 

on those eyes. Having them shut allows people to look deeper into the 

painting.” 

Onikoyi says that he wants people 

to experience the spirituality in the 

paintings and shape their own journey. 

While he admits it is hard for him to 

stay in one place, he feels at home in 

Los Osos. Advertising film shoots had 

brought him to San Francisco and Los 

Angeles earlier in life. He fell in love 

with the California vibe, the land, and 

the climate. But it wasn’t until living in 

Big Sur that he traveled down the coast 

to San Luis Obispo and couldn’t believe 

there was a place like it on earth. 


JEFF AL-MASHAT is a 

writer and visual artist with 

an MFA in painting from 

Georgia State University. He 

lives in Grover Beach. 


ADVENTURE, PASSION 

JUN/JUL 2014 & POLITICAL ACTION 

Dr. Arnie Horwitz 

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live the SLO LIFE! 


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| EXPLORE 

Going 

Electric 

BY PADEN HUGHES 

Recently my family showed up in Avila Beach on 

a beautiful sunny day and cruised into BoltAbout, 

a bike store located behind the restaurant Blue 

Moon Over Avila. BoltAbout was started by 

three Cal Poly grads. They originally intended 

to provide fun transportation specifically for 

students. They pivoted their business model to 

serve locals and tourists alike in Avila. 

Upon our arrival we were greeted by a cute little 

shop lined with charming beach cruiser electric 

bikes, ready for rent. They also had scooters, 

which is next on the top of my list for fun date 

ideas (sans kids). We had made a reservation 

online for two bikes and a kids trailer. I told my 

kids it would be like royalty pulled in a carriage— 

they bought into the idea and were thrilled to hop into 

their attached cart. 

Within 5 minutes we were dodging tourists and their dogs 

and happily throttling our way out of downtown Avila 

towards the Bob Jones Trail. 

I have walked, jogged, golf carted and pushed a stroller 

down Bob Jones Trail what seems like a hundred times 

since moving to the area in 2004, but never have I enjoyed 

it as much as I have on an electric bike. 

Now as someone in fitness, advocating for an electric 

experience over using your own athletic performance, is 

about as rare as it gets. But in the name of fun, electric 

wins for me for a couple of reasons. 

First, you can arrive dolled up for a date and jump on 

an electric bike and not break a sweat. So, anyone who 

is worried it’s too physical, rest assured—the only thing 

you will be experiencing on an electric bike is the wind 

through your hair and enjoying the uphill as much as the 

down. 

Now of course electric is only there if you want it. You can 

still choose to peddle your heart out. I thought I would 

do that, but then I found the throttle lever. Which brings 

me to my second reason I had so much fun: the thrill of 

bolting ahead so easily and smoothly, took over. It was the 

TIP! 

Check out 

bikeslocounty.org 

for regional bicycle 

maps and future 

bikeway paths. 


most fun Michael and I have had on an outing with the kids in 

months and a crowd pleaser for the whole family. 

If you start on the Bob Jones trail in Avila you can ride it to the 

trailhead in San Luis Obispo at Ontario Road, right off Highway 

101. Since 2007, the League of American Bicyclists recognized 

the city of San Luis Obispo as a Bicycle Friendly Community. 

With more than 75 miles of bike lanes and paths, and over 150 

secured bicycle parking spaces, it’s not hard to see why cycling in 

SLO, whether electric or not, is so popular. 

For our next trip we plan to start in Avila Beach and head south 

off the Bob Jones Trail into Shell Beach and explore. SLO LIFE 

PADEN HUGHES is 

co-owner of Gymnazo 

and enjoys exploring 

the Central Coast. 


| ON THE RISE 

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT 

Genevieve Dandurand 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LANDEN WILLIAMS 

With multiple awards and accolades to her name, 

this San Luis Obispo High School senior is ready for the next 

leg in her journey towards a successful future. 

What recognition have you received? I’ve been acknowledged as an AP Scholar With 

Distinction; College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Winner; Rotary 

Youth Leadership Award; 1st in Art and 3rd in History at California Junior Classical 

League Convention; 2nd Place Team at AP Statistics Math Competition; and my 

writing is published in American Library of Poetry’s Annual Anthology “Accomplished.” 

What extra-curricular activities are you involved in? Throughout high school, I 

have been involved in the SLO County United Way Youth Board (Director at Large); 

SLO Noor Foundation (Volunteer); Speech & Debate Team (Vice President); Model 

United Nations; Harvard Model Congress; Latin Club (Associated Student Body 

Commissioner); Interact Club; National Honors Society; Young Democrats Club; 

Astronomy Club; Ceramics Club; Cross Country Team; Track & Field Team; Water Polo 

Team & Club; and Stanford Medicine Clinical Summer Internship Admit. 

What do you enjoy outside of school? For fun, I enjoy making ceramics that I sell 

at Harmony Glassworks and online at Etsy.com. I also love walking/hiking, reading, 

listening to music, and yoga. 

What experience has influenced you the most? The summers after my freshman and 

sophomore year, I took classes on scholarship at Harvard, Stanford, and Brown University 

and having to go alone in such different environments really helped me blossom into 

the person I am today. I don’t believe I was ever shy, but these experiences made me very 

outgoing and independent. 

Do you have a career path in mind? I intend to become a Doctor, but from a PhD or 

Medical Degree, I am not sure. I plan to study either English, Bioengineering, or Human 

Biology, as I aim to become a professor or doctor to help others, while maintaining my 

own happiness. 

If you could go back in history and meet anyone, who would it be? “It isn’t what we say 

or think that defines us, but what we do.” These cathartic words, uttered by Jane Austen, 

appear on a sticky note adhered to my mirror, amplifying, “DO SOMETHING!” To be 

witness to the life of such a pioneer female authorship, would surely be my wish. 

Where did you decide to attend college? One of the happiest moments of my life was 

getting into Stanford University. I had been wanting to go since I was a freshman and 

it finally felt like all my hard work had paid off. When I opened the decision letter at 

almost midnight, I was overcome with joy and was so energetic and for some reason the 

song “Here’s to Never Growing Up” by Avril Lavigne kept going through my head so 

I went on a drive and with the windows down in SLO was belting out the lyrics to 

some cathartic songs. 


Know a student On the Rise? 

Email us at info@slolifemagazine.com 


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| DWELLING 


PICTURE 

PERFECT 

BY ZARA KHAN 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY 

DAVID LALUSH 


J 

im Moroney knew early on that he wanted to be involved 

with wine when he retired and planted the seed early on 

to his wife Barbara. While attending college in the Bay 

Area, the high school sweethearts, spent quite some time 

becoming well aquatinted with the classic Cabernets and 

Chardonnays in Napa Valley. Though they didn’t always 

live in California, they were always finding reasons to visit 

the golden state. While living in Texas, close friends of 

theirs decided to relocate to Cambria, and whenever the 

Moroneys visited their trips included wine tasting in Paso 

Robles. They were drawn to the rolling hills and down to 

earth people—this is where they felt they belonged. 

The Moroneys were no strangers 

to the building process. Each 

time they moved, they always 

made some changes to their 

new found house to make it feel 

more like a home. With a few 

remodels and one other new 

construction project under their 

belt they were ready for the next 

project. It was undeniable that 

the site had breathtaking views 

just waiting to be captured, but 

they knew enough to know 

that this project needed a solid, >> 

In addition to being an 

interior designer, ZARA KHAN 

is also a shoe aficionado and 

horror movie enthusiast. 



creative team because of the site constraints. They also 

knew the team would be their eyes and ears throughout the 

project since they would be living in Texas during the build. 

John Mitchell could not have come more highly 

recommended. It’s not often that you find a licensed 

Architect and General Contractor in one person. Mitchell 

found that this combination was key in his career. He 

had the unique ability to guide clients through the 

design process and also educate them on the budget and 

feasibility throughout the process. When it came time to 

bring the project to life, he had already worked through 

the challenging details in his mind. Throughout his career 

he had collaborated with Michelle Fanning of Design 

Collaborative and never passed up an opportunity to work 

with her. 

Before they could start the design, their first hurdle was 

how and where to position the home. The property had a 

major gas line running through it and even though it was 

a large parcel it came with a lot of constraints when you 

factored in the Moroneys’ desired list and limitations from 

the soil type, slopes and easements. A lot of planning when 

into the infrastructure—it was a complex puzzle to pull 

utilities to the site. 

The Moroneys had two requests: capture the views and 

make it a space where friends and family felt comfortable 

during their visits. To achieve the first, windows and glass >> 



were placed in as many places as possible. A majority of 

the walls are either glass panels or sliders that open up 

completely for a seamless indoor/outdoor experience. 

The home features a unique floorplan. All of the bedrooms 

in the home have independent walls and entrances so 

that guests really feel like they are having a private getaway. 

There is actually no way to access the bedrooms 

from inside the house, creating an added layer of privacy. 

During the planning phase, Mitchell had designed a 

unique ceiling featuring a 30’ popup lined with windows. 

It was his creative intuition that told him this would be an 

important architectural detail and the Moroneys trusted his 

recommendation. While its execution was one of the most 

challenging elements in the building process, its completion 

is one of the most striking details of the home. Fanning fell 

in love with the feature and used it as her inspiration for 

the kitchen design. 

When I asked the Moroneys, Fanning, and Mitchell what 

their favorite details of the home was they all had the 

same answer—the back kitchen. This concept was used to 

accommodate the Moroneys preferred entertaining style. 

The home has two kitchens. One visible kitchen and one 

hidden behind it. This allows them a full catering kitchen 

which keeps the behind-the-scenes hustle and bustle out of 

sight, while still allowing access to full kitchen for everyday 

use. They also appreciate the extra space and appliances 

when they have a full house of visitors. >> 


Selling Paso 

- by Miranda Battenburg 

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805-712-1362 

805-237-4700 

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Once their home began taking shape, the team started to 

shift their focus to bringing Jim’s dream to life—opening 

their own tasting room just below the home on the hillside, 

called Sixmile Bridge. With winemaker Anthony Yount 

at the helm, Jim knew that they would focus on Bordeaux 

wines even though the hillside was best known for producing 

Rhone varieties—it made the most sense to make what he 

liked to drink even if it was going to be a challenge. 

Along with the successful completion of the build, a 

friendship developed between the team and owners. 

Inspired by their camaraderie, I asked if they had any trade 

tips. Fanning advises getting 

an early start with the design 

process to make the project 

run more smoothly—if you are 

framing and don’t have a designer 

on board yet, it’s almost too 

late. Mitchell shares that there 

are times in a project where it 

is easy to get blinded by details 

and it is important to remember 

when it is all said and done, it is 

a home—a place to connect and 

DAVID LALUSH is an 

make memories. The Moroneys architectural photographer 

believe the key is to assemble a here in San Luis Obispo. 

team you trust, and trust them to 

advocate for you. SLO LIFE 



| SLO CITY 

REAL ESTATE 

BY THE NUMBERS 

laguna 

lake 

tank 

farm 

cal poly 

area 

country 

club 

down 

town 

foothill 

blvd 

johnson 

ave 

Total Homes Sold 

Average Asking Price 

Average Selling Price 

Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 

Average # of Days on the Market 





















2020 

16 

$674,863 

$667,969 

98.98% 

57 

2020 

8 

$800,255 

$795,451 

99.40% 

59 

2020 

10 

$1,081,700 

$1,069,900 

94.92% 

10 

2020 

4 

$1,249,250 

$1,211,800 

97.00% 

54 

2020 

19 

$1,036,579 

$1,005,485 

97.00% 

24 

2020 


14 


$754,314 


$762,179 

Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 101.04% 

Average # of Days on the Market 51 






2020 

18 

$1,084,133 

$1,048,078 

96.67% 

60 

2021 

31 

$731,038 

$740,509 

101.30% 

20 


28 

$973,180 

$962,976 

98.95% 

43 


19 

$1,045,089 

$1,014,686 

97.09% 

24 


9 

$1,414,444 

$1,401,883 

99.11% 

15 


36 

$965,100 

$977,718 

101.31% 

35 


15 

$880,027 

$886,967 

100.79% 

28 


21 

$1,071,457 

$1,109,953 

103.59% 

27 

+/- 

93.75% 

8.32% 

10.86% 

2.32% 

-64.91% 

+/- 

250.00% 

21.61% 

21.06% 

99.10% 

-27.12% 

+/- 

90.00% 

-3.38% 

-5.16% 

2.17% 

140.00% 

+/- 

125.00% 

13.22% 

15.69% 

2.11% 

-72.22% 

+/- 

89.47% 

-6.90% 

-2.76% 

4.31% 

45.83% 

+/- 

7.14% 

16.67% 

16.37% 

-0.25% 

-45.10% 

+/- 

16.67% 

-1.17% 

5.90% 

6.92% 

-55.00% 

*Comparing 01/01/20 - 05/19/20 to 01/01/21 - 05/19/21 

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ® 



Do you have big dreams for your new home? At Guaranteed Rate, 

we’re ready to help, with all the tools, technology, and dedicated 

support you need to make those big dreams a reality. 

Let’s keep the conversation going. Contact us today. 

Donna Lewis 

Branch Manager & 

SVP of Mortgage Lending 

O: (805) 335-8743 

C: (805) 235-0463 

donna.lewis@rate.com 

Ken Neate 

SVP of Mortgage Lending 

O: (805) 706-8074 

C: (925) 963-1015 

ken.neate@rate.com 

Maggie Koepsell 

VP of Mortgage Lending 

O: (805) 335-8742 

C: (805) 674-6653 

maggie.koepsell@rate.com 

Ermina Karim 


Dylan Morrow 


Luana Geradis 


O: (805) 329-4095 

C: (805) 602-0248 

ermina.karim@rate.com 

O: (805) 335-8738 

C: (805) 550-9742 

dylan.morrow@rate.com 

O: (805) 329-4087 

C: (707) 227-9582 

luana.gerardis@rate.com 

Zoe Thompson 

Licensed Sales Assistant 

Elieen Mackenzie 


Matthew Janetski 


O: (805) 335-8737 

zoe.thompson@rate.com 

O: (805) 212-5204 

C: (831) 566-9908 

eileen.mackenzie@rate.com 

O: (805) 329-4092 

C: (619) 300-2651 

matt.janetski@rate.com 

Joe Hutson 


O: (831) 205-1582 

C: (831) 212-4138 

joe.hutson@rate.com 

Rate.com/SanLuisObispo 

1065 Higuera St., Suite 100, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

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 Rate for current rates and for more information. 

Donna Lewis NMLS #245945; CA - CA-DOC245945 | Dylan Morrow NMLS #1461481; CA - CA-DBO1461481 | Eileen Mackenzie NMLS #282909 | Joe Hutson NMLS #447536; CA - CA- 

DOC447536| Ken Neate NMLS ID #373607; CA - CA-DBO373607 | Luana Gerardis NMLS #1324563; CA - CA-DBO1324563 | Maggie Koepsell NMLS #704130; CA - CA-DBO704130 | Matthew Kanetski NMLS #1002317; CA 

- CA-DBO1002317 

Guaranteed Rate, Inc.; NMLS #2611; For licensing information visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. • CA: Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act 


| SLO COUNTY 

REAL ESTATE 

REGION 

BY THE NUMBERS 

NUMBER OF 

HOMES SOLD 

AVERAGE DAYS 

ON MARKET 

MEDIAN SELLING 

PRICE 

2020 


2020 


2020 


Arroyo Grande 

107 

133 

65 

35 

$800,944 

$940,790 

Atascadero 

104 

142 

47 

16 

$569,824 

$692,297 

Avila Beach 

5 

9 

28 

36 

$1,109,477 

$2,023,667 

Cambria/San Simeon 

44 

61 

88 

52 

$815,642 

$1,007,574 

Cayucos 

17 

21 

164 

43 

$1,257,912 

$1,485,097 

Creston 

1 

3 

52 

62 

$956,000 

$1,186,667 

Grover Beach 

43 

62 

56 

14 

$570,611 

$708,562 

Los Osos 

43 

43 

28 

17 

$655,942 

$815,174 

BEN LERNER 

Originating Branch Manager 

NMLS395723 

805.441.9486 

www.blerner.com 

ben.lerner@myccmortgage.com 

Morro Bay 

Nipomo 

Oceano 

Pismo Beach 

Paso (Inside City Limits) 

40 

70 

24 

33 

97 

56 

110 

21 

58 

166 

67 

52 

85 

56 

55 

43 

29 

28 

39 

24 

$642,271 

$699,460 

$563,760 

$909,825 

$542,562 

$957,021 

$791,553 

$687,269 

$1,193,965 

$567,280 

Paso (North 46 - East 101) 

20 

16 

55 

39 

$698,830 

$801,559 

the lerner team 

CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE 

Paso (North 46 - West 101) 

Paso (South 46 - East 101) 

37 

17 

52 

23 

109 

78 

55 

43 

$596,172 

$618,118 

$930,596 

$858,474 


113 

183 

49 

30 

$929,719 

$1,013,973 

Santa Margarita 

8 

14 

108 

50 

$577,050 

$802,490 

Templeton 

41 

57 

97 

52 

$825,649 

$1,008,621 


Countywide 

828 1,185 

*Comparing 01/01/20 - 5/19/20 to 01/01/21 - 05/19/21 

62 31 $714,850 $858,678 

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ® 

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| HEALTH 

All About 

Adaptogens 

They’re the newest wellness craze. But do they work? 

BY LAUREN HARVEY 

A 

shwagandha. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Perhaps 

you recognize it from your new face cream, the 

supplements at the health food store, or even at 

your local smoothie stop. It’s promoted as a “stressrelieving 

super plant.” But really, what is ashwagandha 

and what, if anything, does it actually do? 

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, “a class of herbs 

intended to boost your resistance to and tolerance 

of stress – emotional and physical,” explains Brierly 

Horton, MS, RD. That is precisely what makes 

adaptogens like ashwagandha, and the en vogue 

cordyceps mushroom (often touted as a coffee 

replacement) so appealing to the masses. 

Allegedly, adaptogenic 

plants can reduce stress, 

squash fatigue and hone 

focus. Such claims can 

often skate by untested, 

hooking consumers with 

lofty life-changing promises 

left unfulfilled. Today, we’ll 

reveal the truth behind 

adaptogens: if, and how, 

they work, what types there 

are, and ultimately, if they 

are worth all the fuss. Let’s 

dive in. >> 

LAUREN HARVEY is a 

creative writer fueled by a 

love of cooking, adventure, 

and naps in the sun. 



Dr. Brenda Powell, co-medical director of the Center for 

Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine at the Cleveland Clinics 

Wellness Institute explains further, “Adaptogens train your body 

to handle the effects of stress.” While adaptogens don’t magically 

disappear stress, they do enhance your body’s ability to process it. 

“Adaptogens may tweak hormone production and physiological 

responses to stress to ensure that your body—from your mind 

to your immune system to your energy levels—functions as it 

should,” says Powell. 

However, it is imperative to note that not all adaptogens effect 

our bodies in the same way. Each of the over 70 adaptogenic 

plants provides different benefits. Ashwagandha, for example, was 

found to aid in managing anxiety in a 2014 study, while rhodiola 

can be used for stress relief and focus. A double-blind, placebocontrolled 

2012 study found that, “regularly taking rhodiola 

helped fight the kind of fatigue that dulls our mental performance 

and concentration,” notes Horton. 

HISTORY OF A SUPER PLANT 

The term adaptogen was first coined by a scientist in the USSR in 1947. 

Essentially, scientists were seeking a ‘superhero pill’ that would allow military 

pilots to fly better, faster, and for longer periods of time. The Soviet Union 

scientist formally categorized adaptogens as “plant-derivatives that can nonspecifically 

enhance the human body.” How wonderfully vague! 

The practice of seeking out and consuming adaptogens, however, has a 

much older, richer history. Rooted in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, 

“some of the original adaptogens include ginseng root [as an antioxidant 

and anti-inflammatory] and astragalus [for immune system support],” notes 

Keri Marshall, MS. “From a [traditional] Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine 

perspective, adaptogens are meant to literally help ground you so you can 

get your roots back, in an effort to restore balance in your life.” These roots 

and herbs, used for centuries, have recently catapulted into the mainstream, 

integrated in everything from tea to face cream. 

While I don’t believe adaptogens (or anything, really) can live up to the 

expectation of eliciting supernatural responses out of natural beings, adaptogens 

must provide some value if they have been safely used and consumed for 

thousands of years. 

ADAPTOGENS AT WORK 

The question remains: Do adaptogens really perform as well as its proponents 

claim? Mostly, yes. “More recently, several adaptogens have gone through 

scientifically rigorous studies and have come out with the equivalent of a 

scientific thumbs -up,” says Brierly Horton, MS, RD. The results are promising, 

boding well for adaptogen enthusiasts. Horton goes on to note that, “clinical 

trials have found several herbal preparations with adaptogens to reduce stressinduced 

endocrine and immune impairments, while also boosting attention, 

endurance and resistance to fatigue.” 

Scientific studies are now proving what Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine 

practitioners have known for centuries—these adaptogenic plants help support 

us in ways we need it most. “As the name suggests, [adaptogens] adapt to meet 

your needs. [They] bring balance the way a thermostat controls temperature: 

they turn up your energy when you’re fatigued and help you relax when you’re 

restless,” explains Horton. 

As for adaptogenic skincare, Los Angeles dermatologist Tsippora 

Shainhouse, MD recommends moringa and marshmallow root. 

“Stress has been shown to impair the skin barrier, leaving it prone 

to water loss and dehydration,” notes Dr. Shainhouse, “Moringa 

and marshmallow root may help to repair the skin barrier and 

increase skin hydration.” 

Whether you choose adaptogenic skincare, supplemental capsules, 

sip adaptogenic tea, or incorporate a premixed powder into soups 

or smoothies, the key to adaptogenic success is consistency. Laura 

Slayton, a nutritionist in New York, believes, “adaptogens need to 

be consumed consistently to see any effects.” Unfortunately, one 

cup of cordyceps is unlikely lower cholesterol or boost endurance. 

So remember, if you’re into the adaptogen experimentation 

mood, opt for investing in a powder, supplement, or tincture. As 

Slayton says, “If you’re putting a smudge of ashwagandha in your 

smoothie here and there, it’s unlikely to do much.” 

UNREGULATED 

Not all adaptogenic supplements, powders and tinctures are 

created equal. However, the burden of checking the quality of 

these supplements falls on consumers. “The Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) doesn’t monitor the quality of herbs and 

supplements like over-the-counter products,”’ says Debra Rose 

Wilson, Ph.D, R.N. When buying adaptogens, get to know the 

brand. Check the ingredients, seeking purity and lack of fillers. 

If you seek the cream of the adaptogenic crop, naturopathic doctor 

Keri Marshall, M.S. recommends opting for liquid tinctures. 

“Generally, liquid versions are going to be better than a powder. 

That’s because when a liquid extract is made, you have the ability 

to pull out the important medicinal components you want… 

Essentially, a liquid extract is more pure.” 

As for side effects, nothing major has been reported. Dr. Powell 

says, “there’s little evidence to suggest that adaptogens can cause 

side effects or health problems—though, like any plant, they 

can be allergenic or cause gastrointestinal distress for some 

people.” Furthermore, Keri Marshall, MS discourages adaptogen 

use, “if you’re on immune-modulating drugs.” Adaptogens 

themselves are immune modulators and may result in undesirable 

interactions. Jenn Miremadi, MS suggests it’s best to consult with 

your healthcare provider, “before taking any new supplements, 

including adaptogens.” >> 


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For all of their beneficial qualities, it’s imperative to remember that adaptogens are not a cure 

for anything. Adaptogens recent rise in fame may be due to their stress management qualities, 

appealing to those seeking relief from the increased stress of life in the 2020s. “People are 

basically wanting to take these adaptogens all the time for their chronic stress that they’re not 

managing otherwise,” says Dr. Powell. 

If taking a pill and being stress-free sounds to good to be true, that’s because it is. “There’s no 

good research that suggests adaptogens are a cure-all. And certainly not a substitute for triedand-true 

stress management techniques and medical care,” says Horton, MS, RD. 

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Not even the incredible power of adaptogens can cure us of all our fatigue, anxiety, and 

stress. Adaptogens are best used as a supplement combined with an overall healthy lifestyle, 

structured stress management, and attentive self-care. We may never be as stress-free as we’d 

like, but integrating adaptogens into our self-care routines will enhance our bodies natural 

abilities to keep itself balanced. 

FINAL WORD 

Adaptogens are a class of plants that assist our bodies’ natural stress 

management processes. Taken regularly, they may help manage stress, anxiety, 

and fatigue. Consult a medical professional before incorporating adaptogens 

into your daily routine. SLO LIFE

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| TASTE 

Kid Food 

Think grown-ups are the only ones interested in eating good food? 

These SLO kids will teach you to think again. 

I 

n 

what universe do children 

choose a bento box, shakshuka, 

or peshwari naan as their favorite 

foods? 

This one, it turns out. 

Over the last several months, I’ve 

learned there is a clutch of savvy 

kids who read this food column 

on the regular. (Children of SLO: thank you for being 

my most loyal readers!) After all these years of telling 

them where I like to eat, I figured it’s time I asked 

where they like to eat. So I invited a few of my pintsized 

foodie friends to show me the San Luis Obispo 

culinary scene through their eyes. 


BY JAIME LEWIS 

Did they choose burgers, hot dogs, pizza and/or ice cream? 

Nope. 

Instead they chose Japanese, North African and Indian cuisine 

— with no guidance or input from me. Really. 

This bodes well for the future of SLO and the future of 

humanity, in my opinion. Our kids are more aware and open 

than I ever was as a child. Good folks are coming up in the 

world, I’m happy to report. (My only concern is that they’ll 

put me out of a job.) 

Without further ado, meet Simon, Isaac, Ari, Leila, Lucy and 

Poppy, your guides to the good life in San Luis Obispo. You’re 

in excellent hands. 

JAIME LEWIS writes about 

food, drink, and the good 

life from her home in San 

Luis Obispo. Find her on 

Instagram/Twitter @jaimeclewis.

A place for everything, 

everything in its place 

Simon, seven years old, tells me he likes the kids’ bento box at 

Kumi Ko restaurant in SLO’s Marigold Center. We sit down 

together with his 10-year-old brothers, Ari and Isaac, plus my 

11-year-old Corban and 8-year-old Lulu, for a delicious Monday 

night takeout dinner. 

Visually, the contents of the bento box are ravishing: the bright 

colors of the vegetable tempura (veggies lightly battered and 

fried), the mound of sushi rice dusted with black and white 

sesame seeds, thin slices of chicken teriyaki, and spirals of apples 

and oranges. Every element gets its own compartment, a sort 

of prescribed orderliness that’s hard to resist. The bento box’s 

defined edges remind me how much all of us — kids and adults 

alike — need our boundaries. 

Aesthetics aside, the tempura is shatteringly crispy, the rice 

impeccably sticky, and the teriyaki perfectly sweet and salty. 

I watch all five kids chow down on their dinner, and realize I 

haven’t heard a single complaint. 

Lulu flings her dumpling across the table, trying to get the hang 

of using chopsticks. (#reallife) As she switches to a fork, I ask the 

group why they like this bento box so well. 

“There’s a lot to it,” says Isaac. No one else speaks up. I only hear 

the sounds of munching, which is explanation enough. >> 


So dang good 

“A bad poached egg is really bad,” says 10-year-old Lucy as 

she and her twin sister Leila slurp shakshuka with poached 

eggs and feta from Big Sky Cafe. This pureed tomato-based 

stew is a traditional North African breakfast, served at Big 

Sky with several slabs of pita bread. The girls introduce me to 

it, and I’m hooked on the sweet, salty, and spicy richness that 

Big Sky draws from the raw ingredients. 

“Yeah,” says Leila with a shiver, “a bad poached egg can be, 

like, sticky and gooey. Just wrong.” 

Corban is here, too, learning, listening, jostling for pita. “I 

like all kinds of things,” he says between bites. “Just not fish.” 

Leila’s jaw drops. “I love anchovies!” she cries, aghast that anyone 

could feel this way about seafood. “They’re so dang good!” 

“I like lima beans,” says Lucy, while breaking the poached 

egg and stirring it into the stew. The group goes quiet until 

Leila leans over her bowl once again and says, to no one in 

particular, “We have to come here more often.” >> 


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Where everybody 

knows your name 

When my daughter Lulu and I arrive at Shalimar Indian restaurant 

in SLO, 8-year-old Poppy and her mom Lizzy are already in deep 

discussion with owner Aasim Sajjad. As we sit down to join them, 

it’s clear that Poppy is a star customer. 

“I can give you menus,” says Sajjad, “or you can just ask Poppy. She 

knows the menu by heart.” 

I ask the star customer to order and she asks for peshwari naan, a 

dish that’s new to me. When it arrives, I’m completely taken aback: 

it’s soft naan bread filled with a thin, pureed mixture of maraschino 

cherries, coconut and pistachios. The color is electric pink, and the 

flavors are liltingly sweet, almost floral. Lulu and I applaud Poppy’s 

choice to eat dessert first. 

We order vegetable fritters to share, bright yellow savory dumplings 

as light as a whisper. I’m taken in by all the vibrant colors: pink 

cherries, marigold fritters, emerald mint sauce. What child wouldn’t 

want to eat a rainbow like this? 

I put in an order for chana masala, the piquant chickpea stew I’ve 

always loved. Lulu looks a little nervous. 

“Will it be spicy?” asks my precious girl. 

“Don’t worry,” Sajjad tells her with a smile, and looks over at Poppy. 

“I’ll make it mild—Poppy mild.” SLO LIFE 


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| WINE NOTES 

rosé roots 

BY ANDRIA MCGHEE 

T 

here’s no denying, France is the motherland of 

wine. We learn a lot from the French, but they also 

do from us with our willingness and ability to be 

more experimental in winemaking. 

It might not come as a surprise that our Central 

Coast vineyards mimic some very famous regions 

in France. Edna Valley is similar to Burgundy in 

the east of France while Paso Robles is like the 

Rhône and Southern France regions. We have a 

similar climate, similar soil, similar grapes to those 

world-class places, but we still have our own special 

terroir. 

Let’s take a look at how these areas have influenced 

our Central Coast selection of rosé. >> 

ANDRIA MCGHEE received 

her advanced degree in 

wines and spirits from 

WSET in London and enjoys 

travel, food, wine, and 

exercise as a means to enjoy 

those around her. 


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L’Aventure Rosé 2020 // $32 

Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Graciano, Petit Verdot 

Winemakers from all over the world who want to make the most of the 

varieties that we grow here meet every year at Hospice du Rhône in Paso. 

The collaboration of these winemakers is magic, improving the skill of 

winemaking for all parties involved. 

You have probably seen wines made from Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, as 

well as Cinsault (san-soe), Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier (vee-yoneyay) 

that grow so well in our Paso soil and have a strong history in the south 

of France and the Rhône valley. Our climate in the Templeton Gap feels like 

the cool breeze Rhone receives from the Alps that whips over the land to 

cool down the fruit when the days warm up. In France, the wines are named 

after their location, like Chateauneuf-du-Pape or Provincial whereas in 

California they are called by the grape, a brand name, or a winery. Both wines 

are highly sought after. 

How does L’Aventure make such an impact in our area with its winemaking? 

Stephan Asseo made wine in Bordeaux for 17 years and was frustrated with 

the strict rules that he had to comply with within that region of France. After 

a lot of research, he found Paso Robles to be an ideal place to grow wine, as 

well as an ideal place for their three children to get an education. In 1997 

he quickly started building a house and learning which vines work best in 

their new land. Asseo was free to make the wine that makes him and his wife 

happy. And he never ceases collaborating with winemakers. 

The 2020 Rosé, made at the request of Asseo’s wife Beatrice, is made mostly 

of Rhône grapes. It is very much like the rosé found in Southern France, such 

as Provence. The red grapes are picked later in the harvest season than other 

rosés, crushed, all the juice escaping the skins with minimal contact and then 

fermented in steel instead of a wood barrel. The flavor is luscious. I could say 

it is like strawberry and rose petals but It is a flavor of its own. Because of 

its later harvest, the flavor is so well balanced with acid that you don’t even 

notice anything until your glass is empty. It’s a perfect start to something 

special. 

Baileyana Rosé 2018 // $24 

Pinot Noir 

Where we learn so much from our pioneers in the old wine worlds, such as 

France, Catherine Niven and her husband Jack had a hand in pioneering 

what our Edna Valley AVA is today. They observed the weather and the 

changes that happened to the valley over time: where the wind was, what the 

soil was made of. With the help of experts, they founded Paragon Vineyard, 

the oldest vineyard in the Edna Valley. Still to this day they care about the 

farming practices. They aim to use wilderness to help take care of the vines 

they have worked so hard for. 

For the last 20 years, winemaker Rob Takigawa has kept the same care in 

winemaking that the Nivens have focused on that reflects the terroir of 

the Edna Valley. His specialty out of Cal Poly was Soil Science which is 

unique in understanding what the soil gives a grape and the wine it makes. 

This region compares to the Burgundy region in France where they grow 

primarily Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Like Edna, it benefits from the fog 

pockets that sit and cool off the grapes but then burn off with the sun rays, 

giving the grape skins a chance to dry off. This cooler climate makes worldclass 

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Most of the rosé in this region is 

made from Pinot Noir. 

The rosé featured right now is from 2018 and is a delight. Have you ever had 

a basket of ripe local Okui strawberries that have been sitting in the sun? 

That is the taste of the rosé except with the bonus of a little touch of acidity 

that pairs well with some snacks or just with a chair and some sun. SLO LIFE 


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| BREW 

Taste 

of the 

Town 

BY BRANT MYERS 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD MEANEY 

n my excitement to rejoin society again, my first outings 

were naturally to my favorite breweries. With the ability 

to visit seven breweries on an eight-mile route, it was a 

no-brainer to visit them all in a single trip. So, I grabbed 

some friends and hit the San Luis Obispo Beer Trail. 

I wanted to try one flagship beer from each brewery so 

that I could revisit their particular styles, check out any 

changes to their décor, and re-educate my palette for 

the local brewing scene. So, come join me in discovering 

Iwhat we’ve been missing this whole time. 

Liquid Gravity Brewing Company 

Crashing the party before it started, I was greeted by the 

owners of Liquid Gravity, Brendan and Celeste Gough, as they 

were getting ready for a night filled with live music on their 

outdoor stage and the hottest pies in town from Benny’s pizza. 

Despite being closed, they were sympathetic to my need for 

their beer, so I was poured an LG IPA and we chatted at the 

bar about how fast the industry is shifting back to having an 

immediate need for more staff to keep up with their growing 

demand for Liquid Gravity beers both on draft at their tasting 

room and can for distribution. I try to get out of their way, so 

I make my way to the edges of their expansive back patio and 

watch the LG team furiously coordinate a night that is sure to 

be just another house party at their massive second home for 

serious beer fans. 

Liquid gravity IPA is a clean, modern West Coast IPA with a 

bright, tropical hop character, refreshing bitterness, and crisp 

finish. Bursting with an intense bouquet of passionfruit, guava, 

and tangerines, this 100% mosaic dry-hopped beer is the 

cornerstone of the Liquid Gravity lineup. >> 

SLO Brew Rock 

Thirsty for a cold beer on a warm afternoon, my first stop was SLO 

Brew’s The Rock. Local workers and hungry patrons were enjoying 

their lunches in the airy taproom and scattered around the large 

outdoor space. The design of the facility with a large rock in the 

middle is great for breaking up into small groups and finding the 

perfect niche to enjoy beers under the sun. We cruised around, 

poking our head into the music venue, which looked to be set for an 

intimate show, complete with sofas, plush chairs, and tables to keep 

pints frosty while listening to tunes. I ran into an old acquaintance, 

John Nguyen, who offered to take me behind the scenes on his 

way into a meeting. I had a cold pint of their flagship IPA, which 

has changed names but is still the gold medal and award-winning 

standard IPA that has become synonymous with the West Coast. 

According to SLO Brew, their Mustang IPA is “dedicated to the 

100,000+ alumni that have made SLO Brew an institution.” Crisp, 

clean, and clocking in around 7% ABV, this beer has tasting notes of 

hop-forward piney resin and an aroma of citrus, mainly orange and 

Meyer lemon. It quenches the thirst and is a great segue over to the 

grassy lawn and cornhole sets waiting to be played with. 

BRANT MYERS is a beer 

industry veteran and 

founder of SLO BIIIG, a 

hospitality consulting firm. 


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Oak and Otter Brewing Company 

Tucked away on the corner of a building a 

few hundred feet behind Trader Joe’s, Oak 

and Otter offers an intimate tasting room 

where you’re likely to be served by the owner 

while watching the brewer run back and forth 

between the back and front of the house. I 

flag down Dylan Roddick as he’s doing this 

exact thing and pick his brain for a bit about 

the beers he currently offers. Readers might 

remember that I featured O&O around this 

time last year, and they are back at it again with 

the collaborations with local environmental 

non-profits. It’s always a beautiful sight to see 

a tasting room beer board full of new brews. 

Staying true to my plan, I go with a beer that 

is about as permanent a feature as possible 

for a brewery that rotates styles and brews 

whenever they can. I get a pour of their Hoppy 

Otter IPA, a light-bodied West Coast IPA full 

of citrus notes and bursting with hop aroma 

derived from the generous use of Mosaic and 

Amarillo hops. Reminiscent of a Sierra Nevada 

pale ale, with a subtle pineapple scent, I grab 

my pint and sit outside on their quiet patio and 

soak in the sunshine. 

There Does Not Exist 

Walking into TDNE, I was pleased to see the owner/founder/brewer Max 

Montgomery there as he came over and joined us at the bar. We discussed 

his popular artwork, our passion for the narrow Kolsch glasses, and he 

poured me an Infinite Eclipse IPA. While drinking and jawing I noticed 

some new glassware, a row of dimpled mugs. Not a traditional pint style 

outside of Germany. Max went on to show off his very cool foamer taps 

and explained that he uses it with his Moonset Dark Lager to pour a 

layer of foam first, then pour the beer underneath. This wet-foam method 

protects the beer from touching outside air to minimize oxidation even 

while drinking. Neat stuff! I had to drink one and it immediately took me 

back to Munich. My first beer was the Infinite Eclipse, a West Coaststyle 

IPA brewed with 2row & Pilsner base malts to keep the body light 

and dry. It was hopped, hot side, with Chinook, Mosaic, and Talus. This 

laid down a citrusy/stone fruit base for a double dry-hopping with Citra, 

Simcoe, and more Talus. The resultant beer is super tropical with notes of 

papaya, green mangoes, mandarins, and a little bit of lemon zest. 

Libertine Brewing Company 

Heading into the heart of downtown, we next visit the 

Libertine’s SLO location for a palette cleansing wild 

ale. Although always experimenting with different 

barrels and fruit combinations, I go with their yearround 

offering of Pacific Ocean Blue Gose. This tart 

and slightly salty golden ale is a brewery favorite and 

offers an extreme terroir of the Central Coast region 

with the use of Pacific Ocean seawater for salt additions. 

That’s right, it’s brewed with ocean water pulled 

directly from the Pacific. It has a mid-level tartness 

that’s softened by the addition of salt. The restaurant is 

just getting ready to come out of the afternoon lull and 

get fired up for some dinner service, as the bar is full of 

friends of the staff enjoying a drink and a conversation. 

Central Coast Brewing 

Ending closest to home, we head into CCB like it is 

my second home. Being so close to me, I spent many an 

afternoon in their tasting room and was happy to see 

their front patio facing Higuera street full of familiar 

faces. After getting two beers, one for each hand, I 

walked through to the shaded and quiet rear patio as 

we stood over the creek and commented on the orange 

trees lining the riparian environment. I sipped my 

Lucky Day IPA like I was comforting an old friend. 

This beer has a firm upfront bitterness, a soft midpalate, 

and a resinous lingering bitterness that is sure to 

appease any hop lover. The aroma is loaded with tropical 

fruit, citrus, and pungent hop flavor and then heavily 

dry-hopped to achieve its intoxicating aroma. 

There are many breweries and styles to explore here in 

town, so I suggest grabbing a few friends and checking 

out some of your old haunts, and maybe even a new one 

while you raise a pint glass and toast to the best coast. 

Cheers! SLO LIFE 

TODD MEANEY is a 

landscape, product, and 

lifestyle photographer 

living the SLO LIFE with his 

brewery-loving Great Dane. 


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| HAPPENINGS 

Culture & Events 

100 Years After the 19th Amendment 

Commemorating a century of women’s 

constitutional right to vote, the SLO 

County Bar Association presents a 

traveling exhibit at the SLO Public 

Library curated by the Library of Congress 

and showcasing the largest expansion 

of democracy in American history. The 

seven-banner free-standing exhibit features 

historic photos and artifacts, identifies 

issues of gender equality that remain today, 

and celebrates Black, Native, Latina, and 

Asian American suffragists. 

Through September 18 // slobar.org 

Barefoot Concerts on the Green 

Sea Pines Golf Resort’s Barefoot 

Concerts on the Green series has 

returned to entertain Central Coast 

friends and families with live music 

and barefoot dancing on the putting 

green. Join Greg Mendoza on 

percussion, Brian S. Cram on bass, 

and Bob Boulding on guitar for some 

great music-making on a midsummer 

Saturday afternoon. 

June 26 // seapinesgolfresort.com 

SLO Grilled Cheese Festival 

Grab a map online and head out across 

SLO County to discover some of the best 

grilled cheese and twists anywhere. The third 

annual event, benefiting Restorative Partners, 

supports local restaurants and gives you a 

chance to vote for your favorites: Most Ooey 

Gooey, Best Twisted, and Best in SLO. 

Through June 30 // slogrilledcheese.com 

MBAA Salon 2021 

Celebrate seventy years of Morro Bay Art 

Association members with selections of their 

own work that each feels best represents his 

or her own personal artistic journey. You be 

the judge of the exhibit, which is installed 

in the traditional French Salon format, 

large groupings at different heights and in 

alphabetical order, at the Art Center Morro 

Bay. The three who receive the most public 

votes for “best artist” will be featured in a 

future show. 

Through July 12 // artcentermorrobay.org 

Atmospheres Deep 

The SLO Museum of Art and 

SUPERCOLLIDER, a Los Angeles-based 

gallery that creates immersive science and 

art experiences, presents a multimedia group 

exhibition guest curated by Richelle Gribble and 

Emma Akmakdijan. This journey is designed to 

reawaken a connection to the ocean, examining 

coastal regions above and below the ocean’s 

surface to uncover the human impact on a vast 

region of multispecies cohabitation. ” 


Light Towers 

A stunning new exhibit at Sensorio has 

been created by internationally acclaimed 

artist Bruce Munro to celebrate the 

variety of the Paso Robles wine country. 

Colorful six-foot-tall towers composed 

of more than 17,000 wine bottles are 

illuminated with glowing optic fibers 

whose colors morph to a moving musical 

score. In addition to “Light Towers,” 

Sensorio continues to offer its “Field 

of Light” attraction made up of 58,000 

solar-powered, fiber-optic lights. 

Through September 30 // sensoriopaso.com 

Funding Our Future BBQ 

The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo 

hosts a drive-through barbecue to raise 

money for scholarships awarded to local 

students who have faced significant 

personal challengers while excelling 

in their studies. Purchase meal tickets 

online for $35 in advance or $40 dayof. 

Each meal feeds two people and 

includes your choice of chicken, tri-tip, 

or vegetarian, along with sausage, beans, 

sourdough bread, and dessert. 

June 6 // slorotary.org 

Future Veterinarians Camp 

This virtual session of Woods Humane 

Society’s week-long Critter Camps lets 

youth in grades three to six learn about 

basic vet care, shelter medicine, careers 

in the veterinary field, and more. They 

meet a practicing veterinarian, take on 

fun at-home challenges and activities 

that can be completed in home or yard, 

and receive a collectible camp button 

memento. A must for all future vets! 

June 28-July 2 // woodshumanesociety.org 

California Mid-State Fair 

The date for this year’s “biggest little 

fair anywhere” is set, with the safety of 

attendees, exhibitors, and staff remaining 

a top priority. If State guidelines allow, 

expect all the carnival rides, livestock, 

exhibits, corn dogs, live music, and cold 

beer you’ve come to enjoy. 

July 21-August 1 // midstatefair.com 

Through August 1 // sloma.org SLO LIFE


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