See what the press is saying about Goldcoast Coin on page 16

Transcription

ValleyLife
ISSUE NO. 2 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2007
VALLEY KID
JORDAN FARMAR IS
HAVING A BALL
Real Estate
CORNERING THE
MARKET
Interior Design
LIVE IN YOUR
WHOLE HOUSE
Body & Soul
YOGA AND THE
HIGHER SELF
WEST VALLEY MAGAZINE
Valentine’s
Day
TIPS FROM THE HEART
L.A. Scene
SEEING STARS
Weekend Getaway
MAMMOTH SKI RESORT
THE OAKS AT OJAI
Sports
BORN TO RUN
Performance, Comfort, Safety and Reliability.
ACURA 101 WEST
24650 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA
I
877-711-8899
I
www.acura101west.com
contents
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 I ISSUE NO. 2
COVER STORY
From local legend at
Taft High School and
UCLA to NBA Rookie
with the L.A. Lakers,
JORDAN FARMAR
is having a ball
28 WEEKEND GETAWAY
7 ZACH’S VIEW
MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN
THE OAKS AT OJAI
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
8 REAL ESTATE
34 PARENTING
CHOOSING AN AGENT
RAISING A HEALTHY EATER
10 HOME
LIVE IN YOUR WHOLE HOUSE
THE DIVINE IS IN THE DETAILS
AN INTERIOR DESIGNER’S STORY
16 BUSINESS PROFILE
35 CASE STUDY
GETTING YOUR DAILY JOLT
36 LOS ANGELES MARATHON
BORN TO RUN
GOLDCOAST COINS
38 BODY & SOUL
18 IN-TOWN
YOGA AND THE HIGHER SELF
SEEING STARS
20 SPORTS
20
JORDAN FARMAR
24 ROMANCE
VALENTINE’S DAY
BRINGING SEXY BACK
10
36
24
26 28
4 VALLEYLIFE
I JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007
18
38
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 I VALLEYLIFE page 6
editor’snote
>> PicKING WinnerS
Congratulations to Oak Christian High’s Lions for another
perfect season, finishing 15-0!
Coach Bill Redell was named
the Sportexe National Football
Coach of the Year and the team
was ranked No. 1 in the state by
Cal-Hi Sports!
S
ince the debut issue of
ValleyLife Magazine this
past November, we have
been overwhelmed with an
outpouring of support from the
community. From the onset of
this endeavor it has been our core focus to
connect with the people of the West San Fernando Valley and Conejo Valley in a real and
tangible way. Never has there been a magazine with a title truer to its purpose. ValleyLife is about where you live, how you like to
spend your time and the places that you love
to go and visit. We have been sincerely moved
by the news, which has arrived via countless
phone calls, letters and emails full of overwhelmingly positive feedback. Thank you, it
means a lot.
One thing that has been particularly compelling, and manifests itself in the content
of our January/February issue, is how many
of you are interested in contributing to the
magazine, especially in the field of fitness
and health. It’s true that few places in the
country are more suited to an active, healthy
lifestyle than Southern California with our
year-round glorious weather, access to fresh
produce and abundance of open spaces within a short driving distance. Whatever reason
so many people are engaged in issues pertaining to wellness, it’s encouraging. Among
popular trends, I would have to say that one
centered on living a healthier and more fulfilling life is welcome indeed.
Inside this issue you will find content ranging from interior design to profiles of local businesses and interesting personalities,
all of which have a direct and vital connection to the place that we live and the people that we live amongst. And yes, I would
have to say there is a rather healthy vibe that
runs throughout. Maybe it’s just the time of
year—the winter months following the holiday season—that often leaves many of us a
few pounds North of our target weight and
one or two minor complications away from a
nervous breakdown, or maybe it’s more than
that. One thing is for sure: the content of this
magazine speaks to who we are right now, at
this time and place, and something that falls
under the title, ValleyLife.
Brian Spero
Editor
>> Watch The Road!
Please Jay [Leno],
make sure you come
to a complete stop before reading our feature on the Rock Store
in our debut issue.
Demand of ValleyLife
Issue No. 1 was in
high demand over on
Mulholland Hwy.
Wondering where to find these beautiful examples from
last issue’s “Getting A Grip: Replacement Knobs And
Pulls” article (pg. 14-15)? Lucky for us these one of a
kind little works of art just happen to come from Santa
Monica. Visit Zietta Clara on the web at www.ziettaclara.
com or call 310.459.2909 for product information.
Zietta Clara
“Luscious little pieces of art for the home”
Zietta Clara, 212 26th Street #173
Santa Monica, California 90402
>> The Big Chill
Its good to be
here...in Southern
California that is.
Enjoy our winter
weather because
that’s (see photo)
what other folks
experience in
the rest of the
country.
>> Welcome 2-007 –
“Vodka Martini - Shaken Not Stirred.”
45 years after the first 007, Dr.
No, Bond is back just in time for
the New Year. With solid reviews
and a strong box office showing, we are looking forward to
bonding with Casino Royale star
Daniel Craig more in 2007.
>> Candy Cane LANE
>>Music To OUr Ears
This past Christmas’s light display
was more spactacular than ever.
The residents of
Candy Cane Lane
did it again!
Our chat with piano instructor Edna Babayoff really struck
a chord with our readers. Her
phone has been ringing off the
hook with inquires from parents of perspective students.
ValleyLife
Boaz Gabbai CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
Publisher/creative director Kelly Bonanno
Brian Spero Kay Cole
editor LorI Denman
Mona Loring
ZACH McLARTY
Dawn Ritchie
Kathryn L. Robyn
Rochelle Scott
KIM SMITH
letters to the EDITOR: [email protected]
for advertising please contact 818.340.3362
or email us at: [email protected]
VALLEYLIFE
>> Lost in translation
ValleyLife Magazine is published bimonthly. Reproduction in
whole or part without written permission is prohibited. All articles, photographs and artwork printed in ValleyLife Magazine
are the sole property of ValleyLife and may not be duplicated or
reprinted without written permission. All ads designed by ValleyLife Magazine are the property of ValleyLife Magazine and
cannot be duplicated or reprinted without written permission.
ValleyLife assumes no responsibility for care or return of unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. All correspondence must
include an address and a daytime telephone number. The views
presented in the editorials are those of the writers. They do not
necessarily reflect the views held by ValleyLife or its staff.
ValleyLife magazine
6411 Antigua Place, West Hills, CA 91307,
T: 818.340.3362; F: 818.340.9099;
Email: [email protected].
Printed in U.S.A.
zach’sview
BY ZACH MCLARTY
New Year’s Resolutions
Require Too Much Resolution
N
ew Year’s resolutions
are great. They represent a chance to wipe
the slate clean, while
affording an opportunity to atone for personal shortcomings. We work too much. We
work too little. We don’t workout
enough. “I’m going to spend more
time with the family this year and
get back into shape.” We all make
them. Even people who say they
don’t usually know what theirs
would be if they did. Yet by April
most people won’t be able to tell
you what it was they had decided to resolve. Heck, by then many
people can’t remember if they even
HAD a New Year’s resolution. So
why do we do this every year; and
what comes between us and our
New Year’s resolutions?
To simply say that New Year’s
resolutions don’t work is too vague.
Sure, it’s possible that John from
Accounting really had no chance
of going without doughnuts for
an entire year. But placing blame
squarely on the shoulders of the individual, while in some cases true,
can’t explain the lackluster efforts
by people everywhere of completing their resolutions. There must
be a more universal reason for so
many broken promises on an annual basis. With much dismay, I
have decided that society and modern culture are the culprits. That’s
right: It’s the world’s fault. So this
year when you aren’t able to carry
out that pesky New Year’s resolution, don’t take it so hard. Blame it
on the world we live in.
Really, with stimuli at an all time
high, who has an entire year to
complete a task? We live in a resultoriented world. Work is expected to
be done yesterday. Emails should
be responded to in five minutes or
less. I don’t care if you are traveling!
My friends, we are knee deep in a
stiflingly (technologically) advancing era. The age of the videoconference is upon us, where no one
thinks it a task to talk face-to-face
with someone in Japan in a matter
of seconds. When a coffee craving
comes, a Starbucks can’t be but a
five-minute walk from your home
or office (sorry, I forgot that this is
LA. Change “five minute walk” to
“two minute drive”). Even my fantasy football statistics are updated
every two minutes. It’s mind-boggling! Surely all this craziness must
be affecting the behavioral patterns
of human beings everywhere. But
how exactly? Is there an adjustment
people are making to ingest this unprecedented amount of stimulus? I
believe there is. I call it the Instant
Gratification Syndrome.
The Instant Gratification Syndrome, or IGS, seems to have a
grapple hold on America. Who
wants to wait for anything anymore? I don’t. I’ll admit it. In the
early 80s I wouldn’t think twice
about waiting six to eight weeks
for something I mailed away for
to arrive. You really didn’t have
the option of, say, ordering it on
the Internet with next day delivery. In 1987, if someone told me I’d
have the ability to order anything
I wanted on a computer and get it
the next day, I’d have called them
crazy and then would have had an
aneurysm trying to process that
thought. But here we are in 2007
and that’s our reality. We can complete tasks at a pace that was unimaginable even 15 years ago. So
why act like times haven’t changed?
Embrace, I say. Embrace your IGS
as if it were a favorite personality
trait. You are merely assimilating
to societal standards. Which leads
back to the concept of the New
Year’s resolution, and the term that
it implies, lasting a year, or, dare I
say forever (yikes!).
How can we be expected to hold
out when so many variables are
against us making it past February?
We can’t do it. Period. Not in this
day and age. Thus, I propose that
next year we ask less of our New
Year’s resolutions. A week is long
enough. If resolutions only lasted
a week, think of the possibilities.
Everyone would have a resolution,
and almost everyone could realistically complete it! This idea would
change everything. People would
actually TRY to do something
beneficial for a week. Some peo-
ple would have a great week helping
feed the homeless. Others would
have a terrible week of not drinking. It really doesn’t matter. People
would actually be doing something
they otherwise wouldn’t. The experiences would make people more
interesting, and quite possibly
make life more enjoyable. Imagine
the conversations you could have.
“How was the resolution?” “Pretty
amazing. Camping with the family
changed my life.” Or “Worst week
ever. I had no idea that you got the
shakes from going cold turkey on
CSI reruns.”
Plus, weeklong resolutions would
do wonders for self esteem. Individuals wouldn’t feel as if they had
failed (yet again), which is exactly what’s happening with our current system. When someone keeps
a New Year’s resolution into March
they shouldn’t feel disappointed
that they did not carry it out the
entire year, but instead they should
be commended for having a strong
will. Life should be rewarding and
so should resolutions. Just coming
up with something to resolve alone
deserves a pat on the back.
So next year, do yourself a favor
and make a New Year’s resolution
that will last a week. You’ll be able
to see it through, have the satisfaction that you finished what you
started, and still have the time to
keep up with this fast and frenetic
world we live in. u
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007 I VALLEYLIFE 7
BUSINESS
realestate
REAL
ESTATEMARKET
CORNERING THE
CHOOSING A REAL ESTATE AGENT CAN BE A SLIPPERY
SLOPE, ESPECIALLY IN A CHANGING MARKET
W
elcome back to
Cornering the
Market, ValleyLife’s exclusive
Q&A with Kay Cole, one of
the most highly regarded real
estate agents in the West Valley. In this “changing market”
that we are experiencing, it is
more important than ever to
make sure you have an agent
in your corner who knows the
lay of the land. That’s why
this month we sat down with
Kay, an agent and partner at
Ewing & Associates Sotheby’s
International Realty, to pick
her brain on how to choose
the agent that is right for you,
and make sure you get what
you are paying for.
8 VALLEYLIFE
ValleyLife: In a market like the one
we are seeing today, what is the first
thing you should consider when you
choose a real estate agent?
Kay Cole: Clearly, you need to select an agent that is knowledgeable about what the TRUE current
market conditions are and who
also knows where there are niche
markets that may affect your situation. You need to be able to discern where the truth stops and the
fantasy begins. There’s a real market there and an agent who understands the idiosyncrasies of that
market can help you price a property appropriately, market it the right
way and negotiate the best price.
VL: You want to be leery of an agent
that paints too rosy a picture, but at
the same point, you want someone
who will bring a positive energy to
the situation no matter what.
Kay: That is a really important
thing to consider. You don’t want
an agent who is unrealistic about
what the challenges of a changing
market are. You do want an agent
that is confident they can do the
job, is upbeat and seems to be enjoying what they are doing. When
there is a seller’s market and things
are selling with multiple offers, the
ranks of agents tends to swell. If the
market has any kind of changeable
direction whatsoever, and believe
me, it’s changing on a weekly basis right now, you really need someone who has a finger on the pulse–a
“seasoned agent”!
VL: What qualifies an agent
as seasoned?
Kay: I think there are lots of ways to
“season” an agent. It helps to have
witnessed the cycles, if, however
they’ve learned from them. Even
if an agent has not lived through
the transitions, it is still possible to
be smart and intuitive enough to
read the signs accurately. Seasoning
doesn’t necessarily mean longevity
in the business. The agent you are
looking for should have an awareness of where the market is today
and what that means historically.
VL: What about credentials?
What’s important?
Kay: Your agent should be a certified Realtor and belong to the appropriate local Real Estate Boards.
Being a member of organizations
like the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is critical, and by the way, there
are several MLS possibilities. If you
have just listed your home, you cer-
tainly would want it in the local MLS,
but you may also want an agent who
is a member of additional boards,
so they can reach beyond the local
board to expose your property.
VL: When you identify a real estate
agent you might work with, what
does that first meeting consist of?
Kay: If you are unfamiliar with an
agent and are having your first meeting, you want to see how they present themselves. This is important, as
it is going to demonstrate how they
will represent you and your property. As a seller, it’s incumbent for an
agent to bring some current market
analysis that will support how they
analyze the property and determine
pricing. As an agent meeting a perspective client, I want to focus on
what I bring to the relationship that
demonstrates that I may be more
qualified than the other agents they
are interviewing.
VL: How do most people find
their real estate agent?
Kay: A substantial number of
agents depend very heavily on personal referrals. If they’ve done a
great job for somebody you know,
then chances are they will also do a
great job for you.
VL: How many agents do you
want to interview?
Kay: If you don’t already have an
agent that you know and trust than
you probably want to interview two
or three.
VL: What other factors should
you consider?
Kay: A traditional listing period is
generally six months, but whether
it’s 30 days or 300 days you need to
be very comfortable with the person
you have hired. Your agent should
be someone that you will look forward to hearing from—good news
or bad—and, by all means, you
need an agent that’s truthful. If an
agent’s only motivation is to add
your property to their listing inventory, hoping for a fast or lucky sale,
they may opt to tell you what you
WANT to hear, not what you NEED
to know. With all the anxiety that
you are likely to be experiencing in
marketing and showing your home,
it is monumentally important to like
and trust the person you have chosen as your listing agent. And, as a
buyer, it is additionally critical that
your agent is diligently working to
find you a home that suits your requirements and staying in continuous touch with you.
VL: So you have an agent you like,
what other things should you go
over before making a decision?
Kay: Before signing a Listing Contract, ask the agent to provide a
comprehensive marketing plan that
outlines all the things they will commit to do for you during the listing
period. Some agents will show you
materials such as brochures and
magazines, and the seller naturally
assumes that they are going to have
these materials, but that may not
always be the case. You also want
to receive a documented marketing plan that includes a strategy
that develops over the listing period. There’s a real estate “adage”
that states: 80% of your marketing
is done when you set the price of
the house. As this is probably very
true, it’s imperative to have that
critical discussion when you select
your agent.
VL: What other services can you
typically expect from your agent?
Kay: The agent is expected to repre-
sent you in all facets of the transaction, so first you will want to agree
on how the property is going to be
shown. Follow-up after a showing is
also very important, as it provides
important feedback as to how your
home is being experienced by the
buyers and their agents. Another issue that needs to be understood is
what kind of contact you can expect
from your agent. How often are
they going to call you? There’s no
right or wrong but it’s critical for an
agent to understand your expectations and set up a regular type of review. Finally, it’s important to have
not only the support of your agent,
but they should be from a company
that provides advertising and support for their agents.
VL: How long is a normal length of
listing?
Kay: The traditional length of listing
is six months. A good listing agent is
going to spend time, energy and not
a small amount of money on promoting the property. You need to
allow the agent the time to exercise
the marketing plan that was provided to you at the time of the listing.
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VL: What if an agent is not fulfilling
their promises?
Kay: Assuming the agent is part of
a larger company, a seller always has
the right to go to the Broker that the
agent works for. Of course, having a
good relationship with your agent
should resolve most differences, but
if you really have an issue or concern
about your agent, whether it be related to attitude, work ethic or lack
of performance, then certainly it is
appropriate to go to their superior
and see how you can work it out.
VL: What makes a great agent?
Kay: The qualities of a great agent
are very intangible. I believe that
integrity would top the list, for
if that quality is present, all the
above-mentioned items will have
been presented honestly. You need
somebody who is willing to commit
financially to the marketing of your
property, but also has the experience, the background and the negotiating skills, so that when they
do find a buyer, they will know how
to successfully complete the transaction and facilitate your sale with
professionalism and skill. u
Designs By Valerie
VALERIE PUGLIESE INTERIOR DESIGNER
SPECIALIZE IN SELECTING OF MATERIALS FOR REMODELS
AND NEW CONSTRUCTION
342 HOUSTON DRIVE, THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA 91360
TEL. 805.379.0080 • EMAIL: [email protected]
W W W. D E S I G N S B Y VA L E R I E . N E T
HOME
interiordesign
BY KATHRYN L. ROBYN
HOUSE RULE #1
LIVE IN YOUR WHOLE HOUSE
L
et’s agree on one thing: The desire to live in The Valley
reflects a desire to live a great life. One where urban and
suburban opportunities; contemporary and traditional
cultures; and a lifestyle that includes ready access to
the beach, the mountains and great restaurants all come
together. Living a great life is not so much about having a great big
house as it is about having a home that supports your lifestyle. An
“Emotional House,” as realtors call a home that has been loved so
much that it gives back to the one who has cared for it, is not about
the “wow” factor; it’s about the “ahh” factor. Every home should
support the quest for a great life, but if you are having trouble
putting it all together, here is one hint: Live in your whole house.
10 VALLEYLIFE
The kitchen is today’s hearth, providing
nourishment or physical sustenance in its
practical function and the feeling of being
taken care of emotionally. It produces the
flavor of love, whether you’re aware of it
or not. How you set it up, keep it and use
it determines whether that flavor tastes
bitter, sour, or sweet and healthy.
EVERY ROOM SERVES
A PRACTICAL AND AN
EMOTIONAL FUNCTION
H
omes are designed with all of
your general needs in mind,
with each room serving a practical
and an emotional function; but we
have to figure out how to furnish and
use these rooms to support the specific things our lives require. There
are the basic needs like food, water,
shelter and security, which evolve as
they are met into emotional needs
for freedom or privacy, connection
to others, contribution to the whole,
a need for our minds and spirits to
grow and so on. When either the
practical or the emotional function
of a room doesn’t work, the room
fails to serve your needs. The more
money you have, the more bells and
whistles you can employ to upgrade
the practical functions of your home
while putting more space into service. But you don’t need wealth to
see to it that the emotional functions are served. You need what are
called “emotional depots.” In a big
house you can have a separate room
for every emotional need—a studio
space, adult-only gathering room,
kids-only game room and so on.
In a tiny studio apartment or small
guesthouse you simply divide the
space into smaller depots. It’s easy
to do and helps you bring the order
of fulfillment to the chaos of needs.
I keep hearing from people who
live in only one room. There’s the
mother of three who never leaves
the kitchen except to sleep; the
single man whose bedroom has become a catchall, so he sleeps on the
couch; and the Hollywood manager
who conducts all her business from
her bed. These people are eating,
hanging out, reading, working,
talking on the phone and sleeping
all in the same room. Then there
are those who decorate for display
purposes rather than use and spend
no time at all in large portions of
their beautiful homes. The house is
for show, but real life is hidden beneath the cushions or behind closed
doors. None of these folks are living
in their whole house and they are
cutting themselves off from parts
of their own special souls. Why
would anyone want to do that? In
this world where we have so little
time for ourselves, why take away
space as well?
The answer is often an underlying
emotional wound that has caused a
disconnection from the need itself.
It can be a major traumatic event
or just an ongoing build-up of disappointments that suppresses an
emotional need, a painful childhood, for example, causing a disengagement from the need to connect with others. The end result is
a lack of wholeness, and if you let
it take over, large parts of your life
will suffer, guaranteed.
However, by addressing each
room in your house with your basic
and emotional needs in mind, you
can overcome such disconnects, initiate new practices, create fresh routines and benefit from the proper
utilization of your space. The result
is often a more balanced and satisfying life.
SO WHAT ARE THESE
EMOTIONAL DEPOTS?
L
Let’s look at three. The foyer is
a gate or a bridge; emotionally
and practically helping you transition between your house and the
outside world. A mirror, a bench,
bins or secretary’s table, for example, with a place for keys, gloves,
sports equipment and such is essential here. Bringing in elements
of the outdoors, such as a floral or
water element also helps. If you
have trouble getting out the door
or dread coming home, consider
redoing your entryway to better
serve you in making that important
transition.
The kitchen is today’s hearth,
providing nourishment and physical sustenance in its practical function and transferring the feeling of
being taken care of emotionally. A
filthy kitchen might indicate that
being cared for often comes with
a lot of garbage attached; a sterile
kitchen might denote a starving
heart. A functioning kitchen is all
about good workflow. It should
also be safely accessible to everyone, with knives stowed high out
of the reach of children and bowls
and spoons procurable to their
little hands. Cozy seating is important, even if it’s a café table in the
next room or a couple of stools at
the counter. It gives you a spot for
a light meal as well as an inviting
place to sit and keep the cook company. Next are three types of food
always on hand: something you can
throw together quickly, something
nutritious and something deliciously comforting. Out of your kitchen
comes the flavor of love, and how
you set it up, keep it and use it determines whether that flavor tastes
bitter, sour or sweet.
The living room is your “tribal
council,” where you go for fellowship and entertainment and enjoy
the benefit of camaraderie. You
want comfortable seating that encourages conversation, tables to set
a beverage in reach of every seat
and three kinds of lighting [ambient/overall lighting, accent lamps
and task or reading lamps]. This
room is most likely to fall into the
show room category. If you have
a den, a family room and a formal
parlor and are using the kitchen
or the dining room for a variety of
needs other than cooking and dining, consider repurposing these
other rooms. A home office for example, a music room, a homework
or project room and so on.
Besides these, the bedrooms,
the bathrooms, office and studio
areas, storage areas and even the
laundry room serve emotional functions beyond the practical needs of
sleeping, bathing, working, storing
things and washing clothes. Many
times rooms are multi-functioned
with several depots separated by
the way you arrange the furniture.
But if you have “hotspots” in your
house (i.e., clutter. disrepair, etc.), or
you are not using any part of your
home (while crowding your family
into other areas), chances are you
are avoiding something of an emotional nature, or somebody’s need
is not getting met—or both. If your
life is not measuring up to the great
life you deserve, start by changing it
one room at a time.
“Live In Your Whole House” is the
No. 1 rule in my book. I promise you
it will expand your life. u
Kathryn Robyn is co-author of The Emotional House: How Redesigning Your
Home Can Change Your Life (New Harbinger Publications, 2005).
HOME & LANDSCAPING
interiordesign
BY DAWN RITCHIE
HOUSE RULE #10:
THE DIVINE IS
IN THE DETAILS
he divine lives in the
details, and nowhere
in your home are there
more opportunities to
instill stunning architectural details than through
fine tile work. Ceramic, porcelain,
glass, granite, marble, limestone,
slate, metal, mosaic… the world
is your oyster when employing
this versatile design element.
The limitationsof where and what
can be tiled are restricted only
by your imagination.
12 VALLEYLIFE
ne visit to the Historic Adamson House on the Pacific Coast Highway with
its vibrant Malibu tiles will
open your eyes to the possibilities.
Ceiling murals serve up celestial vistas.
Friezes dress exterior walls, and splashes of color on tiled stair risers make every ascent a lively adventure.
Ambling through the grounds
you’ll encounter ceramic tiles in
burnt orange, aqua and white that
transform garden benches into art
pieces, windowsills into stunning
borders that frame the California
coastline, and garden fountains into living characters that almost
seem to breathe.
Inside the villa, tiled fireplace surrounds echo the profiles of the
arched entryways; and base moldings of tile and stone steer your
path through the expansive corridors like a welcoming companion.
The result is that every inch of this
warm and inviting home is a richly
transcendent experience.
Color somehow just works in California. Maybe it’s our sun-soaked
beaches that explode in a rosy halo
at sunset, or the way light and shadow zigzags through our canyons,
but trendsetting Californians have
always embraced tile. Hence the
ubiquitous tile showrooms and
stone quarry yards that dot nearly
every major thoroughfare of the
San Fernando Valley.
In part it is due to our agreeable
climate. We dine al fresco year
round and tile arabesques have
found their way onto our patios’
barbeque islands, outdoor firepits,
brick pizza ovens, patio decking,
poolside bars, and even on our gardens’ stepping-stones. Tile is, after
all, one of the oldest design elements found in history. Everything
seems a little brighter, a little more
inviting and a little more “finished”
when tiled.
But what tile style is right for you?
When you think of your home as the canvas
of your life it is much easier to decide on
which materials, textures and colors you
want to introduce into your daily experience.
(Photos: Cristi Walden, Adamson House)
Lisa Lesniak of Walker Zanger says
that homeowners generally tend to
be sensitive to the stylistic concerns
and influences of the local architecture. Many California ranches are still
cottage-cozy with peach and periwinkle tiled bathrooms and kitchens. Our Spanish architecture invites
palettes in the Tuscan, Moroccan
and Moorish tones. Organic hues
that blend easily one into another;
creamy ivories, smoky greens, hints
of warm golden sunlight and, of
course, the ever-present terra cotta.
Architects
Charles
Sumner
Greene and Henry Mather Greene
put their stamp on a bold motif
with their heritage Craftsman bungalows that adopted daring burgundies, oranges and greens. Modern contemporary homes in the
canyons tend towards Zen fusion
with flat straight-cut edges, creams,
black or sand-colored flooring and
white, mocha or chocolate walls.
But Californians are breaking out of
the old standbys. We are still the
trendsetters who push envelopes,
embrace the new, and reach for the
extraordinary—more style, more
color… more life. Which may explain why the hottest new trend
taking the industry by storm are colorful metallic finishes and wondrous
glass tiles. Glossy mesh-mounted
glass in palettes of pastels, light
blues and greens, or warm cinnabars and oranges reminiscent of an
east coast autumn are brightening
homes everywhere.
Glass tile is also showing up in
pools. The tired ultramarine of the
past is fading in popularity, replaced
by gorgeous weaves of glass like
Walker Zanger’s “Glass Montage in
Moroccan Blend” that dance with
the sunlight across the surface of
the water.
Virtually every area of the home
that currently utilizes ceramic, stone
and porcelain tiles are now using
glass—from showers and kitchen
backsplashes to fireplaces and, yes,
even floors. But consideration must
be given to the environmental issues of our region when using this
material. Earthquakes come into the
mix, according to Lisa Lesniak.
“Larger glass tiles are not suitable
for flooring because the surface tension doesn’t correspond well with a
moving earth condition,” she cautions. Smaller glass tiles are more
appropriate in this case.
Natural stone has also become
widespread in kitchens and bathrooms as California homeowners exercise their yearnings for the conservative elegance of hotel-styled spa
bathrooms and clean, uncluttered
kitchens. Yadira Hernandez of The
Tile Collection in the San Fernando
Valley states that the bulk of their
sales remain in muted palettes. But
while the natural world offers us sedately sophisticated patterns of
veined marble and speckled granite
invoking the passage of time, natural
stone will put a demand on your time
as well. It’s a high maintenance design element that requires constant
attention. Natural stone is porous
and must be sealed correctly before
first use and again annually to preserve its integrity, according to Yadira Hernandez. Dirt, soap scum and
mold are enemies ready to storm the
gates of any who don’t pay heed.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t
consider natural materials in the design of your home. There are plenty
of first-rate sealants out there ready
to do the trick. Miracle Sealants, to
name just one, offers an excellent
line of stone, grout and masonry
sealants, cleaners and polishes and a
Granite Care Kit to keep your investment up to par. But if all that work
puts a kink in your busy schedule,
consider the new breakthroughs in
porcelain tiles, which have a lower
water absorption factor and can
mimic that highly desired stone appearance. Porcelains work well in
high humidity areas like bathrooms,
kitchens and laundry rooms.
When you think of your home as
the canvas of your life, it is much easier to decide on which materials, textures and colors you want to introduce into your daily experience. What
better way to feel at home than with
a tiled kitchen mosaic that reflects
your culinary flare, or a beaded highrelief tile liner in your bathing spa
that elicits a sense of tranquility and
purity to your bathing rituals?
As the owner of a pool bordered
by gorgeous handcrafted Portuguese tiles, I can assure you not a
day goes by that their intricate detailing and colorfully affable palette
do not uplift me. If you haven’t already, it’s time to dive into the divine world of tile design. The divine,
does, after all, live in the details. u
Dawn Ritchie is co-author of The Emotional
House: How Redesigning Your Home Can
Change Your Life (New Harbinger Publications, 2005).
INTERIOR DESIGN
designerprofile
BY MONA LORING
VALERIE PUGLIESE
AN INTERIOR DESIGNER’S STORY
It is very hard to start a business, especially if you are a mom
with limited time and resources…just ask Valerie Pugliese.
Valerie, who grew up in Northridge, California, was raised in
the 70s by a single mother, and like many young woman at
that time, she lost her way for a while and ended up dropping
out of high school. From there the story is usually the same…
a bumpy road, a few kids and a couple jobs (the ones that
women without a high school diploma can get), but as you
are about to learn, this is not your typical story.
t the age of 25, determined to
make something of herself, Valerie passed the GED (General Education Development)
test, and at 35—after her
second son was born—
she went back to school to study interior design. After six long years of
balancing her studies with taking
14 VALLEYLIFE
care of her kids, she finally earned a
Certificate in Interior Design from
The Learning Tree University in
Chatsworth, CA.
While Valerie was in school, she
landed an internship as an assistant
designer with Lake Sherwood, located in a posh area in Thousand
Oaks, the city where she currently works and resides. She ended
up staying on at Lake Sherwood
for two years following her internship and gained most of her interior design background from the
practice—which dealt with hard
material design. Throughout her
time at Lake Sherwood, she helped
select and design over 40 beautiful
new multimillion dollar homes.
Valerie’s work with Lake Sherwood led her to become involved
in the Wellness Community
Charity Project—an organization
that helps individuals with cancer improve their health and wellbeing. The specific work she was
engaged in involved 20 local designers renovating a house in Lake
Sherwood. Although each designer was assigned to only one area of
the house, Valerie took on two—
a girl’s bedroom, the Enchanted
Sherwood Forrest Room (photo
below), and a bathroom. Her work
on this home was featured in Romantic Homes magazine and a coffee table book entitled, Spectacular
Homes of California (available on
BarnesAndNoble.com). Having
attained her education and getting
a taste of the professional life that
she longed longed for, it was about
time for Valerie Pugliese to take
the biggest and perhaps most uncertain step of her life.
In her early 40s, at the urging of
her husband (whom Valerie refers
to as her biggest fan), she decided
to open her own design firm. Al-
though her husband had just been
laid off, he was behind her all the
way. They put all their hopes and
dreams into the firm and in less
than one year she has already experienced enormous success. In addition to running her own design
firm, Valerie was recently elected
the president of the I.D.S. (Interior
Design Society) of their tri-valley
chapter. I.D.S. is an organization
that does community work such as
Kids To Kids (for wayward girls)
and the Kids Cancer Connection.
Valerie Pugliese is a kind-hearted career mom who has risked it
all and rededicated her life to helping people in her community with
their interior designing needs. Besides her strong will and desire to
grow her fledgling business, Valerie felt it was most important to tell
her story so that other women can
learn what can happen if you hold
onto our dreams. After struggles
with school, dyslexia and being a
mother of two, Pugliese has overcome all obstacles and persevered
to turn her dreams into reality.
As an experienced designer,
Valerie Pugliese has the education, professionalism and expertise
to help anyone with their interior design needs. A good reputation is earned through creativity
and quality service, and Designs
By Valerie is quickly building a
solid reputation throughout the
West Valley. Visit Valerie’s website at www.designsbyvalerie.net
for more information about this
talented designer and positive role
model for women everywhere. u
BUSINESS
businessprofile
BY BRIAN SPERO
Goldcoast Coin Exchange
A UNIQUE SHOP SERVING THE WEST VALLEY
TURNS OUT TO BE A RARE FIND
T
ucked away in the Woodland Hills Village shopping center on Ventura
Blvd. you will find a special little store that is as useful as it
is interesting. Goldcoast Coin Exchange just happens to be about
the only place in the Valley that
exchanges foreign money, and it’s
certainly the most convenient. No
matter where you are traveling
in the world, or what far and exotic place you just got back from,
Goldcoast has the currency you
are looking for. That alone makes
this a local business that everybody should know about; but it’s
just one thing that makes it such
a fun place to visit. Goldcoast
also happens to be the destination
of choice for area coin collectors,
young and old alike.
According to Lisa Lenk, who
owns and operates Goldcoast with
her husband Tom, “We are the
collector’s store because we have
one of the largest selections of collector’s coins in Southern Califor-
16 VALLEYLIFE
nia.” From wonderfully rare coins
worth thousands of dollars to U.S.
Mint collector sets, Goldcoast has
it covered. They specialize in having those “key” coins—the hardest ones to find—that are like shiny
little Holy Grails that hobbyists
search for to fill out their collections. It’s clear that Lisa and Tom
know their business, and that’s
because they’ve been involved in it
all of their lives. Lisa’s father owned
his first store in the Valley back in
1964, so as she tells it, “I was just
born into the business.” And Tom
Lisa Lenk with her husband Tom.
has been collecting since he was a
little boy. “It’s the only thing that
we’ve ever done,” says Lisa.
Browsing the display cases that
line the shop like a jewelry store
is akin to visiting a museum of
American money. You will find
complete Eisenhower dollar collections; half dollars, silver dollars
and rare proof coins dating back
100 years or more. Plus, there are
all manners of collectable quarters, buffalo nickels, dimes and
rare and expensive pennies. One
penny your eyes may settle on is
from 1909, a little rough looking
because it had once been in circulation, with an “S” on it denoting
that it was minted in San Francisco, and marked with the engraver’s
initials, “VDB”, which in this case
makes all the difference. That coin
sells for somewhere near $650.
However, don’t get your hopes
up because you have a 1909 penny in your piggy bank from when
you were a kid. The value of coins
doesn’t just go by age, but varies
by year, some being more popular
than others; by what shape they
are in; and by where they were
minted. A plain old 1909 penny
without the right mintmark might
only be worth a couple of dollars.
“It has to have all [the right] components,” Lisa explains.
Want to see what money looked
like way back when? Goldcoast
has a beautiful collection of gold
coins that people used to carry
around instead of paper mon
money. There’s also wonderful old
paper money, the likes of which
many have never seen.
“One-Thousand dollar
bills and $500 dollar
bills are fun for a lot of
people to collect,” Lisa
says, adding that older,
large-size paper money has become
hot among collectors, doubling its
value in the past 10 or 15 years.
“Money was big, it had color and
it was beautiful, she says.” And of
course, Goldcoast has more common items for new and young collectors, like the U.S. Mint 50 State
Quarters, Sacagawea dollars and
coins with errors in how they were
printed or pressed that make them
valuable and rare.
Besides all that pretty money,
Goldcoast Coin Exchange has everything you need to start a collection, including albums to keep your
coins in, books to help you know
what you are looking for and gifts
and sets to get new and first-time
collectors hooked for life. For the
collectors that hang around the shop
(think comic book shops or places
where they sell rare record albums),
there are rotators full of coins to sort
through for filling out collections.
Another service that Goldcoast
offers is buying gold, silver, jewelry and flatware. So those that have
jewelry they do not wear, or gold
and silver items just sitting around
in storage, can trade them in and
take advantage of the high-market price of gold right now. It’s all
part of the business, and Goldcoast
Coin Exchange is family run, dependable and fair.
Goldcoast Coin Exchange is
special mostly because of the people who work there, who know the
business and are passionate about
what they do. “I personally love to
watch the young collectors,” says
Lisa, whose favorite customer is
a little boy around nine years old
who has a collection that rivals
most adult collections. However,
Lisa enjoys the foreign exchange
side of the business just as much.
“I like to help people who are traveling. You get a lot of good travel
tips. You also see people all stressed
out before they leave, and you can
always tell when they just got back
because they have a completely different aura around them.” If you
are about to take a trip out of the
country and need to exchange
money, or if you are a coin collector or know one, it might be time
for you to take the most worthwhile short journey you’ve taken in
a while. Go to the rare find hidden
right in Woodland Hills: the Goldcoast Coin Exchange.
For more information call
818.347.0000 or visit their website
www.goldcoastcoinexchange.com.
You can also visit their store located at 20929 Ventura Boulevard, in
Woodland Hills. u
We have one of the largest
selections of collector’s coins
in Southern California, from wonderfully
rare coins worth thousands of dollars
to United States
Mint collector sets
AROUND & ABOUT
aroundtown
BY BRIAN SPERO
A337<5AB/@A
5@7447B6=0A3@D/B=@G@3=>3<AB=@/D3@3D73EA
L
os Angeles may be the
premier place on the
planet for seeing Hollywood stars, but it’s also
a great place to see the
stars in the sky. Located in L.A.’s
Griffith Park, the newly renovated
Griffith Observatory is designed to
stimulate imagination and curiosity
by awakening the senses to the mysterious wonders of astronomy.
Griffith J. Griffith, a 19th century
mining speculator and great benefactor to the city of Los Angeles,
was first exposed to the wonders of
astronomy in 1904. Griffith was so
inspired by the experience of gazing
18 VALLEYLIFE
through a telescope at an object so
far away suddenly made close that
he wished to share it with his fellow
man. In 1912, Griffith, having already
donated the land and resources to
found Griffith Park, bestowed the city
of Los Angeles, $100,000 to construct
an observatory on top of Mount Hollywood featuring an astronomical
telescope, the use of which would be
free to the public; a Hall of Science to
house exhibits and a theater to show
educational films (which would later
evolve into a planetarium as technology progressed). Sadly, Mr. Griffith
would not live to see his vision come
to fruition, however, he left a de-
tailed will with implicit instructions
as to how the observatory should be
constructed and the kind of equipment it should house.
The Observatory opened on May
14, 1935 and has since sat high atop
the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles
as a beautiful ornament to art and
architecture, as well as a beacon of
education and inspiration. In 2002
the observatory was closed for the
first time for major renovations and
re-opened this past November, much
to the delight of stargazers everywhere. The 12-inch Zeiss refracting
telescope that has been the centerpiece of the observatory for more
than 70 years has allowed over seven
million visitors to look into the far
reaches of outer space, making it the
most used telescope in the world.
Now those numbers are on the rise
as the observatory moves into a new
era following the many impressive
renovations which have restored
the aesthetics of the structure to its
original grandeur. New additions
and upgrades, along with innovative
and captivating exhibits, only begin
to describe a total makeover the
likes of which would make Griffith J.
Griffith proud of his legacy.
Among the most popular features
of the Griffith Observatory include
“Man’s sense of
values ought to
be revised. If all
mankind could
look through
that telescope,
it would change
the world!”
-Griffith J. Griffith
the state-of-the-art Samuel Oschin
Planetarium, the new 200-seat
multi-media Leonard Nimoy Event
Horizon Theater and amazing exhibits like the Hall of the Eye, which
examines how people throughout
time have observed the sky and the
implications of their observations.
Still, the main attraction are the
telescopes, where people can view
the stars in the night sky or take
advantage of the coelostat and solar telescopes which allow daytime
visitors to look at the sun spots and
solar flares of our local star, the sun.
On most nights there are a number
of freestanding telescopes on the
lawn or terrace to maximize the
number of opportunities to view
the stars from the observatory. One
of the main goals of the renovation
project was to “expand public space
to improve the visitor experience,”
allowing more people to enjoy the
serene setting and engaging program that the Griffith Observatory
offers. There has never been a better time to see the stars in Los Angeles, and here you not only will come
away with a deep and profound
perspective of the universe that we
live in, you also do not have to worry
about being mistaken for a member
of the paparazzi. u
Visiting Griffith Observatory
Right now visits to the Griffith Observatory are by appointment only.
You need to have a timed-entry reservation and a Shuttle ticket.
Tickets for The Samuel Oschin Planetarium are not included and
must be purchased separately, however they are not guaranteed.
The Planetarium can only accommodate about half of the visitors
per day and sell tickets to the planetarium on site on a first-come,
first-served basis. Families with young children should note that kids
younger than five are only allowed to attend the first show of the
day. For all the ins and outs of getting the most out of your visit to
Griffith Observatory call 1-888-695-0888 or go to their website at
http://www.lacity.org/rap/observatory/vshuttle.html.
SPORTS
showtime
BY BRIAN SPERO
THE KID FROM
TAFT HIGH SCHOOL
FROM LOCAL LEGEND TO NBA ROOKIE
JORDAN FARMAR IS HAVING A BALL
J
ordan Farmar is a veteran of the
Los Angeles basketball scene,
even if he is only a rookie
with the Lakers. As the star
player for Taft High School in
Woodland Hills, Jordan led the Toreadors
to the City Championship. Last year, as a
sophomore at UCLA, Jordan electrified
Southern California basketball fans as the
Bruins made an incredible run to the NCAA
Tournament Championship Game. In his
first year in the NBA, Farmar is earning
minutes and turning heads. What makes
this talented player with strong ties to the
Valley tick? Find out that and more in this
exclusive interview as ValleyLife goes
one-on-one with Jordan Farmar.
20 VALLEYLIFE
ValleyLife: What was it like growing up in L.A. and playing basketball in the Valley?
Jordan: I was born and raised in West
L.A. and my mother moved out to
the Valley later on. I have some good
memories out there. My friends and
I would go to the Valley YMCA and
that’s kind of where it really started.
It just took off from there.
VL: I understand you come from an
athletic family. Your dad, Damon
Farmar, was a professional athlete
and your godfather is former baseball great, Eric Davis. How did that
influence you?
Jordan: It definitely helps a lot. Being around professional athletes
my whole life kind of grooms you
for this lifestyle and what it takes
to make it to this level. All the dedication and hard work they put into
it everyday and all the outside aspects that come with it…just seeing it everyday kind of gets you
ready to deal with it when it was
my turn to be here.
VL: Who were some of the other people who helped get you to
where you are today?
Jordan: My family first and foremost. They always supported me
in whatever it was that I wanted to
do. In terms of basketball I would
have to say people who coached
me. I’ve had great coaches my
whole life. The biggest reason I’ve
been so successful is that I learned
how to play the game the right way
and learned all the fundamentals.
At every level I took something
from each coach I had.
VL: What was it like playing for Taft
High School? What makes them so
good every year?
Jordan: They just have a good
coach, and then we get kids from
the inner city at Taft. It’s just a crazy-good dynamic because you have
good athletes out there in the Valley and you combine them with
some good kids coming in from the
inner city and it’s just a good combination. We just play hard. And the
whole atmosphere around there—
it’s a powerhouse, and the expectations are really high. When you
have high expectations and people
who want to live up to them, good
things happen. I think I just came in
“Winning the City
Championship with
Taft…a Valley team
didn’t win the City
Championship for
40 years or something, so to be the
only one to do it was
really special. ”
(Photos: NBA Photos)
-Jordan Farmar
sports
at the right time and was the leader
they needed to push them over the
top. And now they’ve been doing
well ever since.
VL: What was the highlight of the
time spent there?
Jordan: Winning the City Championship. A Valley team didn’t win
the City Championship for 40 years
or something, so to be the only one
to do it was really special.
VL: Did you always want to play for
UCLA, being from the area?
Jordan: No (laughs). I wasn’t a big
Bruin fan growing up, but I’m a
Bruin for life now. The older and
more mature I got, I realized what
UCLA really meant and how special it was. Growing up I was a big
Arizona fan. Gilbert Arenas is from
the Valley, so his dad was my AAU
coach and I was a big-time Arizona fan. When it was time for me to
make my decision, UCLA was just
too good. They had too much tradition and too good a situation for
me to pass up.
What makes UCLA such a special
place to play?
Jordan: You really feel like part of
the family. There’s nothing like it.
There’s no basketball program in
this country that comes anywhere
close to what UCLA has accomplished. And being one game away
from putting another banner up in
Pauley Pavilion was really special. It
was tough to walk away not accomplishing that, but at the same time
that was a stepping-stone, a platform for me to get here.
VL: You guys were on such a hot
streak going into the tournament
and through your run all the way
to the Final Four. What’s it like being a part of a team like that?
Jordan: It’s extremely special. You
just know that no matter what’s going on you’re going to win. That’s
how it feels. Walking on the court
it’s like, ‘I don’t care what’s going
to happen in this game, we’re going to end up winning.’ We had
guys who were determined; we
played for each other and we were
just going to get it done when it
counts. Even against Gonzaga, we
were down by 11 with two minutes
to go or something, and it’s like:
It’s not over. We’re still in this and
there’s a lot of time left. And we
22 VALLEYLIFE
Jordan Farmar
and teammate
Vladi Radmanovic
instruct a future
star during a surprise visit to Carr
Elementary School
in Torrance.
(Photo: NBA Photos)
just got it done. It felt like that in
the National Championship game,
but Florida, was just better on that
night. But we still had that feeling
and we came to play for each other and we loved each other and we
just grew together. That’s the biggest thing about being a basketball
player and part of a team in general. As long as you continue to grow
and improve as an individual and as
a team, it just creates a feeling of
supreme confidence where you feel
like you can’t be stopped.
VL: Did that experience let you know
that you were ready to step up to
the next level? You came so close
to the Championship. Did that help
you move on or make it harder?
Jordan: A little bit of both. What we
came to do is put UCLA back on the
map, and make it to the pros. We
all want to be pro basketball players. You have to go in this business
when the time is right. You can twist
an ankle and that can mess you up
for a whole year. There are so many
setbacks that can happen—when
your time is right, your time is right.
On the other hand, wanting to win
the National Championship and being so close and feeling that we had
the team that could definitely do it
made it tough to go. Knowing that
I was the point guard and leader
of the team it was really tough to
step away from my guys. I try to go
over there as much as I can, since I
got lucky enough to be in L.A. I go
and hang out, go in the dorms with
them, watch practice, go to the
games, and sit courtside to just let
them know that I am definitely still
a part of the family.
VL: Did you grow up a Lakers fan?
Jordan: Oh yeah. In L.A. you’re definitely a Lakers fan. Showtime and
the more recent times with Kobe
and Shaq winning championships—
I was a big Lakers fan.
VL: When did you get the idea that
you might be in line to be drafted
by the Lakers?
Jordan: I worked out for them a few
times before the draft. That’s rare
to have a team bring you in more
than once. They said they liked me
and the day before the draft they
brought me in again to get a last
glimpse. I didn’t expect, nor did
they, that I’d still be around at the
26th pick in the first round, but I
wouldn’t take it any other way.
VL: What was draft day like?
Jordan: It was crazy. Crazy things
happen on draft day. They tell you
that, but until you are actually sitting there waiting for your name
to be called you don’t understand
how things can change. You know,
trades and people getting picked
who are “not supposed to get
picked” and stuff like that. That’s
how it works and it just worked out
perfectly for me.
VL: What does it feel like when
your name gets called? It’s something you’ve dreamed of all of your
whole life . . .
Jordan: Yeah, my agent kind of ruined it for me. Kept calling me tell-
ing me that the Lakers were going
to take me, so I kind of knew before that I was going to get picked
by them. I had my whole family at
the house with me and it was just
a great feeling. I worked my whole
life to make it to this level and now
I get to play for the home team that
I’ve loved my whole life.
VL: What has your experience been
like so far?
Jordan: The rap on [Lakers’ coach]
Phil Jackson is that he doesn’t like to
play rookies, but I’ve just been trying
to be a good teammate and do what
I know I can do. I’ve been fortunate
enough to play somewhere around
17 minutes a game, which is a lot, especially under Phil. The main thing I
said when I made the jump [to the
pros] is that I know how hard I am
willing to work. Whether I get sent to
the Developmental League, whether I get hurt or get drafted and play
a lot—I’m still going to be the hardest working person out here.
VL: Who has taken you under their
wing, whether it is a player or a
coach or member of the organization who has helped make the transition easier?
Jordan: Everybody has been helpful.
[Lakers assistant coach] Kurt Rambis
coached me in the summer league,
so we have a little bond. I just take
a little bit from everybody and it really helps me be successful.
VL: What has been the biggest eye
opener?
Jordan: Really, being a rookie is
“I’m a winner. I love
to win and I’ve won
everywhere I’ve
been, so I want to
bring that back to
Los Angeles with this
great organization.”
tough. You get fouls called on you;
you don’t get fouls called for you.
You’re going to make mistakes;
you are going to have to do all the
rookie chores around the facility.
So being a rookie is just a different
experience. Most guys up until this
level have been “that guy.” That’s
how it has been for me. I’ve always
been the one who everybody came
to see, a leader and the captain and
now I am starting at the bottom of
the Totem Pole. That’s probably the
biggest transition.
VL: How about your goals in life?
Jordan: I feel I have so much more to
offer the world than just basketball.
Me staying in L.A. will really help me
with that. I’m a smart kid; I’m definitely going to go back to school
and get my degree and, depending on how my career goes (and
how I’m feeling), I may go to Law
School. I’m interested in real estate,
things where you can amass wealth,
so I can help my family be stable for
future generations. And you know,
we’re in Los Angeles, so lots of crazy
things can happen out here. u
POWER AND GRACE:
JORDAN FARMAR SOARS
OVER THE COMPETITION.
(Photos: NBA Photos)
VL: What are your goals in the NBA?
Jordan: I just want to reach my maximum potential, no matter what
that is. I just want to really improve each year, year in and year
out, game to game. Get better, get
more comfortable, become a leader
and have a long and successful career. I’m a winner. I love to win and
I’ve won everywhere I’ve been, so I
want to bring that back to Los Angeles with this great organization.
ROMANCE
valentine’sday
BY KELLY BONANNO
Valentine’sTips
(FROM THE HEART)
It’s that time of
year when everyone
searches for clever
little ways to express
their love. It’s a holiday
filled with anticipation and expectations.
Whether you dread
Valentine’s Day or
think it’s the most romantic day of the year,
chances are you fret
over what to give and
where to go. Well, stop
wracking your brains,
because we’ve come
up with a few ideas
that are sure to please.
GREAT GIFT IDEAS
J
ewelry is always a good idea.
Stop by perLei at The Lakes in
Thousand Oaks and check out
their vintage heart-shaped lockets
by Natalie B. These aren’t knock
offs; they are true antiques circa the
late 1800s through the early 1900s.
You might even find the photograph
worn by the original owner inside!
Also at The Lakes is Sophea Parros where you’ll find gifts that are
tailor made for the sophisticated
lady in your life, such as L’Artisan,
a designer French perfume with a
deliciously musky scent. Think she
would prefer a more floral scent?
Try Bond No. 9. Or surprise her with
one of their high-end purses by
Kooba, Rafe or Tylie Malibu.
Why not get the man in your
life tickets to see his favorite
sports team? Is your guy into gadgets? You’ll find plenty of ideas at
Best Buy and Fry’s Electronics.
Nothing says I love you like a High
Definition TV.
Pop over to Barnes and Noble
and pick up a pair of Italian handcrafted alabaster floating-heart
bookends in gorgeous red for the
book lover in your life.
If your valentine has a sweet
tooth, order a box of delectable
chocolate covered strawberries from
Berrygourmet.com. They arrive
beautifully wrapped in a red foil
box. Mrs. Fields will personalize a
heart-shaped cookie cake for you.
And you can’t go wrong with a time
honored Valentine tradition like a
box of chocolates from See’s candy!
A simple bouquet of flowers just
isn’t enough? Then give them all year
long. Calyxand corolla.com offer
three, six and twelve-month plans.
You’ll find an array of bath and
body items at L’Occitane. They’ve
come out with a limited edition line
especially for Valentine’s Day in a
yummy scent of rose, infused with
blackberry. The line will include a
candle, a fragrance, a spray-on body
lotion and massage oil. Locations
include The Oaks mall in Thousand
Oaks, The Commons in Calabasas
and the newly renovated Westfield
Topanga mall in Canoga Park.
Belle Gray in Calabasas and Sherman Oaks has all sorts of goodies
that will make your Valentine smile.
What girl wouldn’t love getting cozy
in their signature cashmere wrap?
Or choose something from the new
apothecary line from Juicy. Looking
for something a little more intimate?
A lacey thong or boy shorts by Mary
Green are fun and sexy.
Oriental Trading Company (orientaltrading.com) has everything
from stickers to glitter if you want
to personalize the holiday with a
homemade valentine.
Want more gift ideas? You’ll find
hundreds at personalshopper.com.
ROMANTIC THINGS TO DO
M
ake the spirit of Valentine’s Day last by enrolling in a class together. Choose something you’re both
interested in learning, such as cooking, yoga or ballroom dancing, and make a date of it every week.
Voted the most romantic thing to do on Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles for many years now is the
sunset dinner ride at Sunset Ranch Hollywood. On horse back, they lead you on a romantic ride up through the
Hollywood Hills to dinner at Viva Fresh Mexican Restaurant. Horseback riding not your style? An Enchanted
Carriage in Moorpark will pick you up in a horse drawn carriage, serve you champagne and take you to the
destination of your choice.
For a relaxing experience try a soothing couples massage at In Touch Massage and Day Spa in Thousand Oaks.
An overnight or weekend getaway at your favorite hotel or bed & breakfast tops the list of romantic things to do.
24 VALLEYLIFE
PLACES TO DINE
A
great meal is the most popular way to
celebrate the occasion. With its zebrawood and soothing waterfalls, P6 Dinner Lounge in Westlake Village offers a tranquil atmosphere with a high class and exciting
vibe. They’ll feature a special four-course menu
for two.
If you love the nightlife Chapter 8 Steakhouse and Dance Lounge in Agoura Hills is a
hot spot with a lively bar scene and live band, so
you and your honey can dance the night away.
Both Fins locations—Calabasas and Westlake
Village—will have a special sweetheart menu,
live entertainment and the dining room will be
decked out with festive Valentine décor.
Many couples have been making it a date
at Seashell Restaurant in Woodland Hills for
over 30 years.
If you want a romantic setting with an ocean
view, take a drive over to Malibu. Both Geoffrey’s and Moonshadows have a great menu
and offer seaside dining.
Located at the landing in Westlake Village is
Zin Bistro. Dine out on the fire lit patio that
overlooks the lake and enjoy the elegant yet
casual atmosphere.
Another new hot spot is Bamboom Restaurant and Lounge in Agoura Hills. They feature
everything from steak to sushi. After dining
hours, their DJ kicks things up a notch to set a
more energetic mood.
Keep in mind that Valentine’s Day is the busiest day of the year for most restaurants so make
your reservations early.
The most important thing about this holiday
is being together. So you might want to avoid
the crowds by ordering in. Dim the lights, burn
some candles, turn on some soft music and enjoy each other. Happy Valentine’s Day! u
Happy
Valentine’s
Day!
ROMANCE
romanticgifts
odiva’s After Dark
is a one-of-a-kind store
designed to redefine the
idea of a boutique with adult
products. Open since June, Rochelle Scott’s new boutique is a sophisticated adult shop, the likes of
which most have never seen. Inside
the store you will find a stunning
array of sensual items, from rhinestone jewelry, masks and feathers to
chocolate body frosting and chocolates that make for suggestive
gifts, as well as essential supplies.
Godiva’s is low on the sleaze factor and high on romance, stocking
items like genie bottles made to
hold secret messages between lovers, board games that stimulate the
imagination and spark communication, and ingenious little items
like a candle that melts into massage oil. Whether you are looking
for the perfect favors for a bachelorette party or a gift for someone you love or an intimate gift
for yourself, Godiva’s After Dark
has a full line of specifically chosen products that help to enrich
and stimulate a couples’ personal
romantic journey.
26 VALLEYLIFE
Bringing Sexy Back
Godiva’s After Dark “A Boutique For Romance!”
Q & A W I T H W O O D L A N D H I L L S’ N E W Q U E E N O F R O M A N CE , R O CH E L L E S CO T T
ValleyLife: What made you want to
open a store like Godiva’s After Dark?
Rochelle Scott: I also own Godiva’s Secret Wigs, which is about a
block away. Our specialty is working with cancer patients over there,
so after 10 years of working with
cancer patients and survivors, we
found that most of our clients had
a desire to better express their sensuality, but wouldn’t dare walk
into a typical adult store.
ed steps, and then over time they
just end up doing the two-step over
and over again. This store is about
doing the jitterbug and the mamba—everything, and keeping it
unexpected and fun.
VL: So how has the reaction been?
VL: What’s the mission of the store?
Rochelle: Although my original
objective was to provide for cancer survivors, all kinds of women
are coming in and saying, “Wow,
this is sophisticated. I’m comfortable in here.”
Rochelle: Well so many couples,
when they first get on the proverbial dance floor together, do the twostep, the cha-cha, the tango and all
types of mysterious and unexpect-
VL: What elements did you incorporate into your business plan to ensure
that this would be something different from any other adult shop?
Rochelle: It has to do with everything from the furniture to the fixtures. Every product that is in here
has been hand selected. All of our
items have been tested and approved, so to speak, so we can talk
with confidence as to how to use
them and what they are for.
VL: How do you handle a situation when a client is a little shy?
Rochelle: Because of our background working with cancer patients, we are already accustomed
to speaking to people gently
about sensitive subjects. So, when
people come in here apprehensive and shy we commend them
and acknowledge that they took
Rochelle’s Tips For Putting Romance
Back In Your Relationship
pSet time aside for “romance” on your “to-do” list. It’s too easy to get lost in day-to-day chores.
Sunset on the beach with snacks and blankets will do. p Find ways to bring fresh, unexpected
ideas to your partnership. Dress differently, buy a wig, create a mystery date or try a new toy. p
Stop pre-judging what you haven’t yet experienced. Be open to change—no whining allowed. Say,
“Yes, I’d love to” and see where it takes you.
p Introduce your lover to a heightened awareness
of all their senses, not just vision. Let them listen, sniff, touch, and taste with eyes covered. Experiment with feathers, chocolate kisses and juicy fruits.
p Your romantic partnership has a person-
ality all its’ own. Is it happy, content, peaceful, or in turmoil—bored and disinterested? Chances
are your mate feels the same way. Step out of your comfort zone for the possibility of creating an
adventure that will provide new levels of joy and exhilaration for both of you!
the action to come in, and then
we just speak the facts and have a
great communication.
VL: Besides all the unique products
that you have, what are some of the
special services that you provide?
Rochelle: Well, we like to refer to
ourselves as a romance concierge,
because we really can put ideas together. If somebody comes to us
with an event, like a birthday or
anniversary, we can really help create something unusual. We can
even go to a hotel room ahead of
time and set it up for an evening of
great romance.
We host Goddess Parties, which
are women only. We do it for groups
of 10 to 30 at no charge, so a woman can invite her friends here for
a birthday or divorce party or just
a girls-night out and we lock the
doors, play music and I take them
on a tour of everything the store
has to offer. We also have coming
up regular men-only nights with a
panel of three woman [so they can
ask honest questions they might
not be able to ask their partners],
as well as women-only nights with
three men on the panel.
VL: What has been the biggest challenge so far?
Rochelle: That’s been helping people find their way to my boutique,
because once they come in they
love it and they tell their friends.
VL: What kinds of interesting interactions have you had in the store?
Rochelle: Everyday is unique.
People shares with me very interesting and intimate stories. What
I am finding out is that most people want to play, but they’ve forgotten how somehow. I’ve heard it
all and I could write a very interesting book!
VL: What do you enjoy the most?
Rochelle: Helping people experience more joy in their lives. And
from working with women with
medical challenges, I have learned
that life can change in an instant.
So if something makes you giggle,
if something turns you on, then
that’s a great thing.
5
G
GREAT
GIFTS FOR
ENERGIZING A RELATIONSHIP
EN
With the most romantic day of the year coming up, here
are a few gift ideas for that special somebody.
CHOCOLATE STENCIL KIT This kit comes with delicious chocolate
body frosting, a paintbrush and stencils to write and draw on each
other. Inspire the artist in you! $24.99
FUR AND SATIN MASKS Stimulate and awaken the other senses by
covering your partner’s eyes. Include items that taste, smell, touch
and sound romantic to light your lover’s fire. $12.95-$30.95
DELICIOUS SCENTED CANDLES Made of hemp and soy, these
circular candles become massage oil as they burn. Use the attached
spoon to scoop oil to apply for a sensual massage. $19.95
THE “LIPSTICK” MASSAGER Unique and unexpected, it fits perfectly
into a purse or makeup bag. Available in pink or magenta, this sexy
“lipstick” is a definite hit! $26.95
LOCK BOXES These beautifully lined boxes are the size of a shoebox.
They become a wonderful hiding place for private pleasures,
letters, etc. Available in masculine and feminine prints. $42.95
VL: So, is it safe to say you are making
the West Valley a happier place?
Rochelle: Um, yes [Laughs]. I’m
doing this for my community!
Visit Rochelle at 22565 Ventura Blvd.
in Woodland Hills (Between Shoup and
Fallbrook) or call 818.222.LUV1.
Rochelle Scott demonstrates the difference a wig can make.
TRAVEL & LEASURE
weekendgetaway
BY BRIAN SPERO
Mammoth
skiresorts
Nestled in the heart of the Eastern
Sierra Nevada Mountains at the inspiring
height of 12,000 feet above sea level sits
Southern California’s winter play land,
Mammoth Mountain. It’s an area that
features unique natural beauty, diverse
landscapes and climate, as well as great
conditions for skiing. Mammoth Mountain is just that, a big mountain, and it
gets lots of snow. For those of us who
ski, snowboard, make snowmen or just
love to wake up with a hot cup of cocoa
and look out the window and see snow, it
doesn’t get much better than this.
28 VALLEYLIFE
M
ammoth Mountain
is the second most
visited ski area in the
country, and 80%
of visitors venture there from the
warm and sunny confines of Southern California. According to Communications Director, Dana Vander
Houwen, there are more reasons
to visit Mammoth than ever. Mammoth’s long season results from its
extremely high elevation, which
allows the mountain to stay open
well into the spring. Unlike many
other ski resorts, Mammoth makes
it’s own rules when it comes to
opening and closing, and will often
start the season off early if there’s
snow, and refuse to close its slopes
if there’s still good powder on the
trails. “We’re really more about the
passion for skiing,” Vander Houwen
said. “While it certainly isn’t as busy
during the late season, we still like
to be able to provide a place for
people to ski.” With an average of
400 inches of snow a year (the last
two years Mammoth has averaged
600 inches) and 300 sunny days,
Mammoth is one of the most accommodating places to ski anywhere.
Besides being a haven for skiers,
snowboarders and winter sport enthusiasts, it’s also one wonderful
place for families, and especially appealing to people who live in more
urban environments. “It’s surrounded by untouched beautiful wilderness, so it’s a great place to get
away from things,” Vander Houwen
confirmed. Just one more reason
why Mammoth Mountain, while
far enough down the mountain
that it’s usually not snowy. A scenic Gondola ride to the top of the
mountain is not to be missed, and
of course Mammoth offers lots of
lessons with an improved beginner
area, expanded group and private
lessons, clinics and camps.
NIGHTLIFE
Photos courtesy of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area
WHEN TO GO
not technically part of Southern
California, is proud to be Southern
California’s mountain.
LOCATION AND WEATHER
Mammoth gets a lot of snow, but if
it’s not snowing it’s usually sunny.
A fresh snow makes the sunny days
that follow all the more glorious,
something the ski industry calls a
“blue bird day,” when you wake up
and there’s two feet of fresh powder and perfectly blue skies. Mammoth, besides offering a clearer
climate than many of the mountains of the Pacific Northwest,
also boasts a more temperate climate than the well-known resorts
of Colorado, with typical winter
mornings starting in the low 20s
and topping out in the 30s.
While Mammoth opens as soon as
they have snow (late October/early
November) and stays open well into
May, January and February offer the
best chance of snow. Weekdays are
great to escape some of the crowds
and find a deal; and special events
are always fun. Mammoth hosts a
number of ski and snowboard competitions, the best of which happen
during Springfest (May 4–6), which
is the biggest party weekend with
the whole mountain and Village
bustling with activity.
WHERE TO STAY
The Mammoth Mountain Inn is at
the Main Lodge and is open if the
slopes are. Best of all the newly remodeled Inn leaves you truly slopeside! Roll out of bed and you are
on the mountain. If you are going
to Mammoth to ski your brains out,
then this is the place.
The next spot down the mountain is The Village Lodging. Accommodations are condo style,
with studios, one, two and three–
bedroom units available with full
kitchens. If you like to be in the
center of the action, this is the
scene. The Village is connected to
the top of the mountain by a gondola that gets you on the slopes in
about six minutes.
Next is Juniper Springs resort.
This is the lowest place on the
mountain to find slope-side lodging. Juniper, like The Village, offers
condo-style accommodations and
is a favorite with families. It’s quiet,
convenient to some great beginner
terrain, and now has group ski and
snowboarding lessons on site.
Tamarack Lodge and Resort is
tucked away on the backside of the
mountain. At Tamarack you have
your choice between lodge rooms
and cabins. This is a place for the
adventurer looking to connect
with nature or with someone special. The setting is rustic and beautiful. The Tamarack is also home to
the small and romantic Lakefront
Restaurant.
FOR THE FAMILY
It seems Southern California families love to play in the snow. Sledding is great when you are not taking lessons or hitting the slopes, but
you never run out of fun things to
do on a visit to Mammoth. Among
the family favorites are activities
like dogsled rides, snowshoeing,
cross-country skiing and exploring.
For a few days around every full
moon there are snowshoe tours
that offer an unforgettable experience. Families often enjoy a side
trip to Mammoth’s sister ski area,
June Mountain (about 20 minutes
drive), which features a slower
pace, gentle intermediate runs and
jaw-dropping views.
FOR THE NON-SKIER
Every family has one and Mammoth has plenty of shopping opportunities, movies and exciting
activities like snowmobile adventures to keep them busy. Also a
visit to Bishop (the closest town)
make a fun destination and great
location for rock climbing; and it’s
Mammoth used to be a place
where you came up to ski hard
and crash quietly, but now with
the new Village options abound.
This is the central hub of nightlife
at Mammoth, where you can go
out to eat, hit a bar and dance the
night away until 2am. There’s a really cool Hawaiian bar called Lakanuki, there’s a wine bar and lots of
places to take off the ski boots and
kick up your heels.
WHERE TO EAT
On the mountain you will find lots
of cafeteria style dining, places to
grab a bite to eat and cool sun decks
to sit outside and refuel with some
really tasty BBQ. Besides the aforementioned Lake Front Restaurant,
which offers your best bet for really
fine dining, there’s the Mountain
Side Grill in the main lodge and everything from Japanese to Mexican
food in town.
For a special experience during
the busiest times of the year, snowcat dinners are a must. Picture cruising up the mountain on a snow-cat
with a glass of champagne in hand.
Your destination: Parallax, the
highest fine dining at Mammoth,
where you will enjoy a five course
meal, complete with wine pairings.
FAVORITE SLOPES
Cornice Bowl, the main run off the
top of the mountain, is groomed
so that good skiers can say they
skied the top of Mammoth without risking life and limb. It’s not for
beginners, but not as intimidating
as some of the other slopes at the
top. On the backside you will find
beautiful views, a place to grab a
bite and hangout and great skiing
at Chairs 13 and 14. If you love to ski
the trees, Chair 9 is the place to be.
Mammoth is also well known
for their three half pipes and terrain parks, which is extremely
popular with the kids, especially
early and late in the season when
there’s less snow. u
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T. 818.340.3362
E-mail: [email protected]
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weekendgetaway
BY BRIAN SPERO
THE OAKS AT OJAI
SPRING-CLEANING FOR THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL
Looking for a place to
recharge, refresh and
renew? Rediscover
the very best of you at
the Oaks at Ojai.
L
ocated in the mystical
and beautiful Ojai Valley,
The Oaks represents a
health spa where one can
come to refresh and recharge. According to Elizabeth Horton, director of activities at The Oaks, “Most
people [that come here] are on the
same mission; however, everybody
has different goals. Some people
come here to relax and unwind,
to have somebody cook for them,
to motivate them to exercise and
to kick-start their routine.” Within
minutes of being on the property
you will encounter a soulful pres-
ence and inviting nature that The
Oaks is famous for. However, it’s
only after a few days of soaking up
the atmosphere, taking part in the
incredibly diverse activity schedule
and eating their delicious spa food
that you will begin to enjoy the
healing benefits of The Oaks’ program and philosophy.
“A big percentage of our clients
are return customers,” says Horton.
“They come back because it’s so
very comfortable and they feel at
home.” The recently refurbished
health spa, geared mostly for women who want to relax, unwind and
get back into the groove of exercising and eating right, is a great place
to get away from the rigors of everyday life and reconnect with the person that you are and always wanted
to be. The positive and ultimately
healthy vibe of The Oaks is invariably set by the owner and founder
Sheila Cluff, a fitness pioneer in her
own right, who has always taken a
hands-on approach when it comes
to her family-run spa. Sheila and
her expert and caring staff have
instilled an air of welcome that is
as unassuming as their approach to
getting their guests to move their
bodies and relax their minds.
THE OJAI VALLEY
Some say the Ojai Valley gets its
spiritual aura from its physical attributes, being one of the rare valleys
in North America that runs from
east to west. Whether it truly has
spiritual and healing powers or not,
open minded, artistic people have
been drawn to Ojai through the
decades, making it one of the most
unique and diverse places to visit in
Southern California.
THE PROGRAM
Brisk morning walks, low impact
muscle-conditioning, yoga, aqua
toning, stretching and more, The
Oaks’ schedule is designed for all
trip to spend a couple weeks and
recharge is the comaraderie that
they will experience in this supportive environment. Perhaps 95%
of clients are women; however,
men are welcome and feel relaxed
despite being out -numbered by
the fairer sex.
THE STAFF
From the person who greets you
at the front desk to the instructors
who will make you feel comfortable and safe in their classes, everyone working at The Oaks seems
to be part of the family. The casual
atmosphere here will be the freshest you’ve encountered at a spa in
a long while.
SERVICES AND
ENTICEMENTS
fitness levels and will have you
moving all day long, yet feeling
strong and refreshed at the end
of the day. Odds are if you spend a
few days at The Oaks you are going
to try something you’ve never attempted before. Well-timed meals
and breaks for things like potassium broth, smoothies and veggies keep you energized for more
sessions than you could have ever
imagined you would attend.
GUESTS
The atmosphere inside The Oaks
is very familiar, friendly and family-like. However, no one will ever
push you to be social beyond your
comfort level, or intrude on your
solitude if that’s what you seek.
One of the reasons why The Oaks is
a favorite place for not only Southern Californians looking to get
away from the hustle and bustle of
their lives, but for women traveling
in the region or making a special
Messages and body treatments, in
addition to nutrition and fitness
counseling, are on site and usually part of the game plan. The spa
food, while delicious and ranked
among the best in the industry, is
as guilt-free as it comes. The local
environment is prime with outside
adventures like biking, hikes and
rollerblading. Other local attractions include shopping, art galleries, horseback riding, kayaking and
a visit to local wineries.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Godiva’sAfterDark
A BOUTIQUE FOR ROMANCE
22565 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364 (Between Shoup & Fallbrook)
818.222.LUV1 (5881) I wwww.godivasafterdark.com
“The Best Place To Be!”
ValleyLife
WEST SAN FERNANDO AND CONEJO VALLEY MAGAZINE
Reach over 160,000* Readers
Within the Spanish inspired architecture of The Oaks, you will find
everything from standard twin,
double rooms to the recently added double courtyard suites that include a private patio with a courtyard fountain, two large rooms
with fireplaces and more.
All the rooms are comfortable,
and have a rustic, serene feel that
helps bolster the peaceful and relaxing approach of the spa.
TYPICAL STAY
While some come for the day, the
large majority stay for five nights
or more. Packages are available
for a variety of durations, and a
minimum overnight stay of two
days is required. u
For advertising information, please call 818.340.3362
www.valleylifemagazine.com
*Based on Circulation of 40,000
valleyscene
SunRISE over the
San Fernando Valley
An early morning view from West Hills
32 VALLEYLIFE
Photo: Boaz Gabbai
parenting
healthykids
by kelly bonanno
Raising a Healthy Eater
biotics. They also carry a variety of
organic deli meats. Because white
bread has little nutritious value,
make sandwiches with whole grain
bread. If you need a quick meal that
is sure to please, Annie’s makes a
line of organic pasta and macaroni
& cheese.
Even if your child only has a
PB & J is a good choice, but for
taste of certain foods, you’re mak- a change of pace switch it up by reing progress. Studies show that it placing the peanut butter with aloften takes 10 to 15 mond or soy butter. These are also
exposures to a food good substitutions if your child is
before a child might allergic to peanuts.
decide she likes it. So
Rather than stocking your pandon’t give up. Con- try with the typical sugar laden cetinue serving those reals found on grocery store shelves,
Brussels sprouts and opt for versions that have less sugar
your child may sur- and more vitamins. Kashi’s Heart
prise you one day.
to Heart and Go Lean
Read them Dr. Seuss’s Green
Crunch are tasty
Eggs and Ham and refer back
alternatives. Envito it. It’s a great book about
ro Kids has a line of
trying things!
cereals that kids love.
There are healthier substiClifford’s Crunch by
tutes for many of the foods
Cascadian Farms and
kids love. Because hot dogs
Barbara’s Puffins are
are a perennial favorite, it’s
also good choices. Look
hard to keep them off the
for crackers that don’t
menu permanently. Health food contain artery clogging trans fats
stores like Whole Foods sell organic and hydrogenated oils. You’ll find
uncured hot dogs that do not con- many of these healthy alternatives
tain added nitrates, nitrites or anti- at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and,
if you look hard enough, at the larger chain grocery stores.
Quick & healthy snacks:
Make an effort to offer a wide ar> Fruit
ray
of healthy meals and snacks so
> Celery topped with peanut butter
your
children don’t miss out on the
> Nuts (for kids over 4)
nutrients
a varied diet provides and
> Low fat yogurt
you’ll
be
ahead of the game. An> Raisons & dried blueberries
> Applesauce
other important thing you can do is
> Milk
practice what you preach, be a good
> Edamame (soybeans)
role model and help yourself out by
eating healthy, too. u
My 4-year-old son was disappointed when a classmate of his
beat him at “wrestling.” I told him that little boy probably
eats his vegetables because they make us strong. At dinner
that night he ate every piece of broccoli on his plate!
i
t’s a challenge nearly every
parent faces. How do we get
our children interested in eating anything other then pizza, macaroni & cheese and
sugary snacks? Moderation is key
when it comes to these foods. The
number of children who are overweight in this country has tripled in
the last 25 years. The diabetes rate
among children has also tripled.
Empty carbs lack the nutrients to
properly slow down digestion, so
they are rapidly converted to glucose and go through the system too
quickly. This can leave kids feeling
hungry and cause overeating.
Getting kids to eat vegetables
is an age-old struggle. We all have
memories of our own parents harping on us to eat our veggies. Frankly, most adults don’t eat enough.
Coming up with clever ways to entice our kids to eat vegetables is not
easy, but there are a few tricks. You
can jazz up veggies with different
dips and sauces. Many kids like to
dip baby carrots, strips of bell pepper and broccoli florets in ranch
dressing. Let your kids experiment
with different sauces such as marinara, teriyaki or hummus.
Make steamed veggies more palatable by melting low-fat cheese on
top. Try sneaking shredded carrots
and zucchini into you meatloaf.
34 VALLEYLIFE
Chop up veggies and add them to
spaghetti sauce and chili. Try a “salad-bar” night. Put out assorted veggies in bite-size pieces and let your
kids put together their own combination. Make sweet
potatoe “fries” by lightly coating strips with
vegetable oil and bake
at 400 degrees until
golden brown, about
10–12 minutes.
It’s usually not too difficult to
coax kids to eat some fruit, but
picky eaters who don’t even like
grapes may enjoy a homemade
smoothie. Whip up some nonfat vanilla yogurt, strawberries, a
banana, orange juice and ice in a
blender. Experiment with different
fruit to see what your kids like best.
If you often go grocery shopping
with your children, let them pick
out the produce to help get them
excited about their smoothies.
case study
currentbuzz
Most people believe the
phrase “part of this nutritional breakfast” refers to
a bran muffin, a piece of
fruit and a glass of pulpfree Tropicana. Throw in
a hot cup of coffee and
most of us are good to
go. However, this is not
quite the case anymore.
Thousands of Americans
are in fact trading in their
morning O.J., and cup of
Joe, for a tall, cold glass
of…Cocaine.
E
nergy drinks like Cocaine,
Jolt, RockStar, Red Bull,
Monster and others are
fueling not just Americans, but the American economy
itself. According to market research, energy drinks are a $3.7
billion industry with revenues that
have increased by more than 50%
in the past year. Alluring ingredients like caffeine act as stimulants and are attracting those who
crave a boost most: the 16 to 28year-old age group. Fruit juices,
teas, and herbal supplements like
ginseng and glucosamine are frequent additives. Amino acids like
taurine, essential to growth in infants, are added and advertised
even though scientists say they offer no real benefits to adults. So do
energy drinks like Red Bull really
“give you wings”?
Jamey Kirby says yes. Kirby,
inventor of the new beverage Cocaine, describes his drink as a
“fruity, atomic fireball.” While
Kirby’s concoction thankfully
contains no actual cocaine, it does
by Kim Smith
Getting Your Daily Jolt
Potent energy drinks like Red Bull, and the highly potent
Cocaine, are quenching young America’s thirst to catch
a buzz. Are these legal drinks drugs?
contain approximately 280 milligrams of caffeine and promises a
euphoric buzz about 15 minutes
after consumption. The buzz, perhaps due to Cocaine being 350
percent stronger than Red Bull,
according to Kirby, lasts five to
six hours. People do not experience the “sugar crash” or jitters
that he says some of the other energy drinks can produce, however
Kirby also states there is a secret
“throat-numbing” ingredient [a
typical side-effect of cocaine-use
is a numb throat] that he refuses
to divulge.
“There’s an American subculture out there that loves the idea
of being wired,” says Dr. James
D. Lane, professor of medical
psychology at Duke University.
“But caffeine produces real psychological and physiological dependence.” The question is does a
drink like Cocaine have a place in
our society, and how irresponsible
is it to peddle a beverage named
after a dangerous and addictive
controlled substance to kids?
While the Food and Drug Administration does not standardize the legal amount of caffeine
in soft drinks, the suggested serving is 68 milligrams of caffeine or
less per regular 12-ounce serving.
However, the average cup of coffee consumed in the United States
contains between 40 and 150 milligrams of caffeine. Studies on the
long-term effects of high caffeine
intake in young adults are ongoing, although surveys have shown
that the majority of those who
over-consume caffeine tend to be
in their early 20s. Although death
from overdose is rare, caffeine has
numerous toxic effects, and in
large doses can result in arrhythmia, coma, and on the rare occasion, death.
At any rate, Jamey Kirby is
planning on producing more than
200,000 additional cases of his Cocaine drink due to an increase in
orders. “We’re getting a phenomenal response…It’s an energy drink,
and it’s a fun name,” says Kirby.
“As soon as people look at the can,
they smile.” Maybe not everyone,
as the popularity of these types of
buzz drinks spreads, more people
are voicing their concern as to the
dangers they represent to society.
Whether some sort of legislation
is on the way limiting the potency
of drinks like Cocaine is unclear,
and the debate on the effects they
are having on young people is just
perking up. u
Healthy Ways to Accelerate Your Days
1. Lighten Up
Time and energy can become consumed by stress. Simply by
chatting with friends, taking up stress-reducing activities like
yoga or listening to music can provide relief.
2. Hit the Gym
Exercising promotes better blood circulation throughout the body,
in effect delivering more oxygen to your brain and muscles. It also
tires your muscles out, helping achieve a more sound sleep, letting you feel more relaxed and well-rested.
3. Make Your Body Happy
Drink more water. When your body is short of fluids, the first indicator is fatigue. Being well hydrated enhances performance in the
workplace and at the gym.
4. Become energy-conscious
Who said you have to stick to three meals a day? Eating in small
amounts every few hours throughout the day can reduce your perception of fatigue. Foods with a low glycemic index are especially
helpful here; their sugars are absorbed more slowly… allowing
your body to think itself full for a longer period of time.
SPORTS
los angelesmarathon
BY BRIAN SPERO
BornTORun
23 YEARS AFTER DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE AND WINNING THE 1983 NEW YORK
MARATHON ROD DIXON IS STILL MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE
W
hen the Los Angeles Roadrunners, the
organization which
implements the official training program for the L.A.
Marathon, brought former Olympian and cross-country racing star
Rod Dixon on board as the Director of Coaching, it was an inspired
decision. Dixon, one of the all-time
great athletes from New Zealand,
knows a thing or two about being a
winner, and we don’t just mean being the first to cross the finish line.
Sure, Dixon took home his share of
victories over his long and impressive career, but it was his ability to
adapt to any condition, rise to the
biggest challenge and never stop
believing in himself that made him
a running legend.
Today Rod Dixon is an ambassador to his sport, in addition to
being engaged in training the average athlete to perform a great
feat like running the Los Angeles
Marathon. For more than 20-years,
however, Dixon was one of the
36 VALLEYLIFE
most versatile runners the world
has ever known. At the 1974 Olympic Games in Munich, Dixon won
the bronze at 1500m, and as a testament to his brilliance at any distance over many years ran 10th in
the marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. In his day, Dixon beat
all the great runners of his time,
and was called by John Walker,
the 1976 Olympic gold medalist at
1500m, the greatest cross-country
runner ever. However, it was at the
1983 New York Marathon that Dixon cemented his legacy, in addition
to finding inner peace.
Rod Dixon watched the 1982
N.Y. Marathon at close range, and
the following day made a pledge
to himself that he would run the
contest the next year and win. For
the runner that was thought to
be too old and not experienced
enough at the long distance to win
a marathon, it was a year of total
dedication and commitment, of
which he admits required the most
intensive training he had ever un-
“As you get older, your
body is your life. If
your body stays in
good shape, you can
lead a much fuller and
more energetic life.”
–Rod Dixon
dertaken. While traveling to New
York the day before the race, Dixon recalls having a feeling of total
peace and contentment knowing
he had done everything possible
to prepare. On October 20, 1983,
Dixon won (photo above) the race
by chasing down Geoff Smith in
one of the most dramatic finishes
in the event’s history. It was a moment of ultimate success for Dixon,
and a transcending vision for those
looking on in awe, inspired by the
courageous performance of a man
who was born to run.
It’s easy to see what attracted
the Roadrunners to a man like Rod
Dixon, and conversely why Dixon
would be interested in coaching.
With a lifetime of competition behind him it is in his blood to pass
the gift of running to the masses
and share the experience of personal satisfaction that comes with
completing one of the great tests
of human endurance. u
LOS ANGELES ROADRUNNERS
The L.A. Roadrunners administer the official training program for the
City of Los Angeles Marathon. The program, which Rod Dixon oversees, offers “professional marathon training for the everyday athlete.”
The training, which has an amazing 99% finish rate and has helped
almost 27,000 runners finish the race since 1990, is a 28-week program
that includes many different pace groups, expert lectures, a training
manual and calendar to track progress and all the support you need to
be at your best on race day. The Roadrunners meet every Saturday during the training period at three locations from Ventura to the Inland
Empire. For more information on the Los Angeles Roadrunners and
their training program, visit www.laroadrunners.com.
6
TRAINING TIPS
FOR RUNNING
A MARATHON
XXII LOS ANGELES
MARATHON
MARCH 4, 2007
The 22nd L.A. Marathon will
run on an entirely new course,
which will likely be the fastest
in the race’s history. The 26.2mile race will take place on
its first ever “point-to-point”
course—beginning in the valley
at Universal Studios Hollywood
and ending at 5th and Flower
Sts. opposite the Central Library
in downtown Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Marathon is
the largest marathon held in
California, the fourth largest
in the country and the seventh largest in the world. It is
expected to draw more than
26,000 runners from 50 states
and 100 countries in 2007.
1 Keep track of the amount that
you run and the time it takes.
You want to work up to being
able to run 2 1/2 to 3 hours
straight.
2 Know what you are getting
into. For most runners of
various levels, training for
a marathon is a six-month
commitment.
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3 Taper your training. By running various distances at different speeds your body will
become stronger and more
ready to absorb the punishment of a 26-mile course.
4 Eat a proper diet. We’re
talking low-fat, high-carbohydrate, high-protein foods and
lots of fluids.
5 Run shorter distances (3–5
miles) during the week and
longer runs (8, 10, 15, 20
miles) on the weekends.
6 Get in the right frame of mind.
You need to believe that you
can do it, so don’t underestimate the importance of
preparing yourself mentally
for the race and bringing lots
of supporters. They call it a
marathon for a reason, so
be ready to fight through the
pain and stay focused on
the finish line.
BODY & SOUL
yourbody
BY LORI DENMAN
TRANQUIL TRASFORMATION:
YOGA AND THE HIGHER SELF
I
The word yoga has its origin in the Sanskrit word “Yog,”
meaning “union.” It is the union of the organ systems in
the body with the consciousness in the mind. The postures, called asanas, and breathing techniques, called
pranayama, produce a union of body, mind and energy that
introduces a state of calmness resulting in better physical
health, mental control and, ultimately, self-realization.
f someone offered you the
key to enlightenment, would
you graciously accept it or
put it in your pocket? If you
are tired of living in the box,
take the key, open the doors to
your first yoga class and unlock
your dreams.
This promise of spiritual fulfillment might sound distant and
unattainable. However, I speak
to you from the experience of an
eight-year practice. I admit this
truth. The journey began with an
open mind. My days before yoga
were not pretty. I felt small and
insignificant within the crowds
of Los Angeles and trapped by
the confines of a repetitive dayto-day routine. Life was boring
and mundane. Keeping in shape
wasn’t easy. I literally felt like a rat
in a cage running on the treadmill. Eventually, my metabolism
slowed down and led to weight
gain and a downward spiral of
physical and spiritual neglect.
A close friend was watching
my love for life deteriorating. She
stepped in and literally dragged
me to my first yoga class in Calabasas. I had heard relentless rumors and feared the worst. Images
of Gumby-like yogis with their
feet behind their heads circulated within my mind. I couldn’t
even touch my toes and lacked all
forms of coordination!
I entered the yoga studio and discovered all shapes and sizes of people. A man my grandfather’s age
was to my right, a professional basketball player stood to my left and
a teenager with tattoos stretched
out in front of me. The variety of
students set my mind at ease. If
they could do it, I could too!
The instructor guided us through
almost two hours of slow moving
poses. We were never asked to put
our feet behind our heads, and he
encouraged each student to move
within their range of motion. Meaning, if we couldn’t reach our toes, we
could touch our knees. This concept was quite refreshing, compared
to the “no pain, no gain” motto.
I had experienced a newfound stillness at the
close of the class.
My mind was
put at rest. Suddenly, repetitive
worries did not exist. I learned
that the movements had stretched
out the muscles that stored tension from everyday stresses, tension
and trauma that are imprinted in
the body. The deep stretching in
the “storage depots” of the body,
especially the hips and shoulders,
cleansed the toxins and released
tension. I realized then that cleanliness did lead to godliness.
There are many types of yoga.
Beginners like to warm up with
“gentle” or “easy flow” classes
that teach them how to learn
“A person is said
to have achieved
yoga, the union
with the Self, when
the perfectly disciplined mind gets
freedom from all
desires, and becomes absorbed in
the Self alone.”
– Bhagavad Gita
correct alignment and breathing in basic yoga postures. The
next level whisks a person into
the world of Power Yoga, a type
of practice designed by instructor
Bryan Kest. Kest owns studios in
Santa Monica and also opened Inner Power Yoga with Linda Pushkin and Anya Longwell, who are
now the owners. Power Yoga is a
term that Kest describes as “a type
of yoga with an increased emphasis on meditation, gentleness and
consciousness…a practice that
touches all parts of the body.”
“We have all discovered so much
and made so many realizations in
our life, thanks to yoga,” Kest explained of the practice. “It has
helped us learn and grow. When
you do yoga, you really quiet down
your mind, which allows a lot of
stuff to come through that otherwise would not have been able to
because you are clogging up your
channels of thought.”
Through these mechanics of
moving energy, yoga blesses the
mind and replenishes the spirit. It
becomes more than a workout. It
is a system of exercise that fully integrates the mind and body. The
word “yoga” explains it all. The origin is a Sanskrit word “Yog,” meaning “union.” It is the union of the
organ systems in the body with the
consciousness in the mind. The
postures, called asanas, and breathing techniques, called pranayama,
produce a union of body, mind and
energy that introduces a state of
calmness resulting in better physical health, mental control and, ultimately, self-realization.
In time, yoga simply brings
you to you. The layers of ego, materialism and superficiality are
stripped, revealing your inner
core. Your mind and heart open
to the beauty of life and all that is
possible. On a personal note, my
practice has produced abundance
and gratitude, leading to gifts of
self-confidence and the discovery
of my missions in life. These are
the gifts that are available to anyone and everyone. Take the key,
open the doors to fulfillment and
say hello to your higher self! u
(L-R) Wayne, an instructor at Inner Power Yoga Studio in Calabasas, in Ardha Chandrasana (Half
Moon Pose) and stands proudly in Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II Pose) . Photos: Lori Denman
valleyscene
rain drops
Photo: Boaz Gabbai
ValleyLife
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