Rebuilding with Wine and Chocolate

by Niki Chanel

Valmonte residents, Ellen Cook and her husband Brian hosted an amazing wine and chocolate tasting affair on Saturday, August 7^th at their home overlooking the lovely green canyon vista of Via Pavion. Their aim was to help raise funds for the Neighbourhood Church. It seems the cliffs on which the church sits, needs a hefty layer of Gunite to halt erosion to the south parking lot, when it is extended. It’s a huge undertaking estimated to cost around $500,000. Living on the Palos Verdes Peninsula we have all seen what can happen if our cliffs integrity is breached.

About 100 guests enjoyed the afternoon with Ellen’s wine distributor friend, Jeremy Wilkinson. He brought five white and five red wines, each one with its own story. One wine, he tells us, is quite rare; the Hugo Family Cellars only make 200 cases a year of their Sauvignon Blanc! Its name, Veris, is Latin for “the production of spring” and has a fabulous fruity tone with a hint of pineapple, yet is very well priced at $23 a bottle.

Each wine was paired with a tasty dish prepared and donated by local businesses like Trader Joe’s, Elephant Bar, Lazy Dog Restaurant, Giorgio’s, Bristol Farms, Whole Foods, Ralph’s, Admiral Risty’s, the Trio’s restaurant and the Red Onion. My favourite combination was the Pinot Grigio with the bruschetta.

Then there was the chocolate.

Marsatta Chocolate from Redondo kept our palettes clean with the heavenly cocoa finish between wines. I had a delightful conversation with Naomi, owner of Marsatta, as she explained some lesser known facts about chocolate making… tid-bits like

• their Venezuelan ingredients are organic and from only a single plantation;
• truffles were invented in France in 1895
• and their best seller is a 72% dark chocolate with a vanilla softener.

MMMmm. Their website, www.marsatta.com , has photos and information for ordering.

The relaxed and elegant afternoon was tied up nicely with a chocolate infused Port from Australia, Jeremy’s home turf. The Choco Bloc Port was served with a tablespoon sized ‘melt-in-your-mouth’ soft centered truffle covered in a thing coat of crackle-y dark chocolate.

If you weren’t already, it was enough to make you religious!

LiveJournal Tags: Palos Verdes,Valmonte Living Magazine,Valmonte,Jeremy Wilkinson,wine tasting,Marsatta Chaocolate,Neighborhood Church,Niki Chanel

Le Concours d’Elegance

by Alex Kent

On the third weekend in September, 2010, car owners and enthusiasts will amass in Founder’s Park, located at Donald Trump’s “most treasured property”, the Trump National 18-hole Golf Club that overlooks the beautiful ocean cliff view of Rancho Palos Verdes, for the 18^th annual Concourse d’Elegance.

This ‘competition of elegance’, as it is translated, dates back to 17^th century France when the aristocracy flaunted their refined (and sometimes ostentatious) horse-drawn carriages through the parks of Paris for summer fun and festive holidays. Eventually, the horse evolved into the motorized automobile we are more familiar with today, though terms like ‘fast paced’ and ‘horse-power’ remain. Unconsciously comparing the output of horses to the equal output of an engine, these and other such idioms still find their way into conversations about the fastest and most powerful vehicles. It should be noted that a unit of “horse-power” is not an exact science and the phrase is not recognized by the International System of units; it just helps us visualize how amazing a car can really be!

Each year the Concours features automobiles from a different country and this year it’s Germany’s turn with Mercedes-Benz as the featured marque.

The Concours is divided into three parts in two days:

• Saturday, September 18^th at 1:00 pm is the Tour d’Epicure Road Rallye starting at the Trump National Golf Club. Tickets are $190 for one car, two passengers (driver and navigator). A third adult will be an additional $90. Children 12 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.pvconcours.com or by calling the Concours office at

866.522.7746. Rallye sales close on September 8. This affair is open to both exhibition cars and the general public. The tour includes stops for refreshments and a treasure hunt, with a “Pirates of PV” flair.

•. Saturday the 18^th at 4:00 pm the Rallye ends at the Edelbrock Automotive Museum in Torrance. In keeping with the German theme, the evening of the 18^th will continue with Oktoberfest and honoring the Grand Marshal, Andy Granatelli. Oktoberfest is included in the price of the Tour d’Epicure tickets; however, if you do not wish to go on the Rallye, Oktoberfest tickets are $90/person and again can be purchased at www.pvconcours.com or by calling the office at 866.522.7746. Saturday’s festivities conclude at 8:30pm

• Sunday the 19^th is the Concours d’Elegance’s main event - the Automotive Exhibition, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Entrance tickets for Exhibition are $35.00 per person unless you buy them online at www.pvconcours.com , where you get a $10 discount.

There will be items of interest for everyone: classic, exotic, vintage historical and special interest vehicles, like Andy Granatelli’s Indy 500 turbine racer, will be on display. Vendor tents offering car and non-car related goods will be available for purchase and, of course, there will be plenty of food - both German and American.

Throughout the day, classic car restoration demonstrations will be going on at Restoration Alley, or Wiederherstellungsallee in German. Look for the big trailers in the parking lot. This will be the second year for the Alley, as it was a big draw last year and likely to be an even bigger attraction this year.

This is the eighteenth year the Palos Verdes Concours has been held on the peninsula and is one of the west coast’s premiere concours, attendance increasing each year. Over five thousand spectators are anticipated this year to view the exhibitors from all over southern California in twenty-three classes including pre-World War II, post-war, convertibles and motorcycles. Part of the allure can be attributed to the charity funds this event generates, the Palos Verdes Art Center and the Palos Verdes Rotary Foundation being the main recipients.

Judging for the ‘invitation only’ Best of Show award is accompanied by the Most Exciting Open Car, the R. Eric P. Allan Elegant Car, Best Design and Best Paint Finish awards. First-, second-, and third-place trophies of etched-glass, made especially for this event, will be announced in all twenty-three classes on Sunday, between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

Directions to the Concours are fairly simple for locals, as Palos Verdes Drive South runs by the entrance to the Trump National Golf Course at Ocean Trails Drive, a continuation of Forrestal Drive, located between Portuguese Bend and Palos Verdes Drive East.

From the 405, exit heading on Hawthorne Blvd. approximately 12 miles all the way up the Palos Verdes Peninsula, to Palos Verdes Dr. South. Turn left and proceed to the Trump entrance.

From the 110, exit Gaffey Street going west. Take Gaffey to 25^th Street and turn right. Proceed west on 25^th Street past Western Avenue. 25^th becomes Palos Verdes Blvd. South and leads to the Trump entrance.

Apparel should be comfortable though tasteful as, traditionally, “one dresses for such occasions” since the 17^th century originators were all about showing off. Some participants will even be in period costumes so you may want to get in the spirit of things and wear your lederhosen!

To register automobiles for consideration for the 2010 show or to inquire about sponsorship and vendor opportunities, contact Andi Lingman at andilingman@pvconcours.com, tel. 866-522-7746.

Photos by Mary Jane Schoenheider; carriage composite by Alex Kent; Special thanks to Nissen Davis

LiveJournal Tags: Concours d'Elegance,auto show,Palos Verdes,Valmonte Living Magazine,Valmonte,Niki Chanel,Alex Kent,Nissen Davis,Mary Jane Schoenheider

Foundations

by Alex Kent

Jonathan, Logan and Whitney Marie Young grew up in Valmonte. The neighbourhood their parents had moved to, from Torrance, was perfect: monthly luncheons, block parties, Christmas caroling – even a street directory. Then there were the trees… Eucalyptus, Jacarandas, California Pepper, Pine, Palm and Cork amply adorn the area.

Whitney went to PVHS and pursued sports like soccer and cheer with ‘spunk and spirit’. Upon graduation she attended Mesa Junior College in San Diego, planning to continue on to Cal. State San Diego. Her love of young children was convincing her to go into teaching.

But a promising future, a supportive family and a zest for life cannot stop the speeding car of a drunk driver.

In November of 2006, Whitney and some of her friends were walking back from entertainment near campus, enjoying the Southern California evening. As they were crossing Montezuma Road, terrible squeals of rubber on asphalt rushed toward them in seeming desperation, tangling with the group for a moment before racing on… leaving Whitney victim of a hit-and-run.

No parent should have to out-live a child is my first thought when I hear about the Young’s tragedy. I cannot fathom the depths of their loss because I know their pain is unfathomable.

Marlene, Whitney’s mom, recounts the details with tears in her eyes.

Whitney’s situation, unconscious and in seriously critical condition from head injuries, inspired one officer with four daughters of his own, to take an interest in the case and he returned to the scene of the crime. During his investigation a broken piece from the perpetrator’s car (that witnesses thought might be a Mitsubishi) was recovered and sent to police forensics. It turns out automotive paint is pretty specific to the model, make and year of a vehicle, so when the tests came back establishing that the car was, in fact a BMW, the officer now knew what to look for and returned again to the Montezuma neighbourhood. Cruising the area, he found a damaged BMW parked in a driveway. The broken piece of evidence… was a perfectly fit.

When the police knocked on his door he knew why they had come, though he said he thought he had hit a raccoon. He was arrested and charged with a felony for leaving the scene of an accident. Whitney died two hours after his arrest, making it manslaughter.

The District Attorney learned that the driver, a twenty-one year old male with a prior DUI, had been drinking since 4:00pm that fateful afternoon. He had been drunk at 6:00pm, still drunk at 9:00pm, continued to drink through to midnight and maintained his state of inebriation until 2:00am when he finally got behind the wheel. Studies have shown that “a first time convicted DUI offender has driven drunk an average of 87 times before they are caught”. He was a disaster waiting to happen.

Once the prior DUI was discovered and his drinking established, the charges were raised to second degree murder. He pled guilty to felony hit-and-run and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and was sentenced to eleven years in prison. He will probably only have to serve half that time. Whitney’s sentence, however, is forever.

Marlene and Steve addressed their grief by establishing the Whitney Young Children’s Foundation in order “to keep Whitney’s love of children alive” and to help children and young adults to triumph despite life’s challenges. Marlene is president of the Foundation, though her primary job is Director of Major Gifts at Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation. Whitney’s dad Steve, a Long Beach attorney, is Secretary of the Foundation and helps to inform sponsors about legislative progress in areas regarding the prevention of drunk driving. One such development is the recently passed law AB91 for the counties of Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare which requires a mandatory installation of an ignition interlock on all cars of convicted drunk drivers, preventing them from driving drunk and helping to decrease repeat offenses. The costs of the lock and installation are paid for by the DUI offender. In time, all cars may be installed with this equipment.

In all these efforts, the Young’s are not alone; MADD, Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, holds a walk-a-thon every year in Long Beach to raise money to further these and other community outreach programs. This year, the “Walk like MADD” annual 5K walk will be on Saturday, September 25th, at the Queen Mary events park. For more information and to walk with “Whitney’s All Stars”, one can contact the Young’s by email: msy@kyl.com .

These horrible details are just that: horrible. However, it is so often true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - foreknowledge prevents catastrophes. It is hoped that this retelling can serve as an education and reminder that driving ‘under the influence’ can be a deadly affair. Please drive sober.

 

           Whitney Marie Young

 

 

 

BuzzNet Tags: Whitney Marie Young,Whitney Foundation,MADD,drunk driving,DARE

Lisa Z.

by Alex Kent

Shopping in the Hollywood Riviera is a relaxing experience, no doubt about it. There is an unhurried, friendly feeling in the neighborhood and Lisa Z is part of that community.

Ron and Lisa Zagha have been in the 'people' business for over twenty years. During the ‘70’s Lisa had a clothing store in Century City for four years, carrying the Ferguson's Sport Collection. About the same time, Ron had a clothing business in downtown L.A. and was a rep. for Chemin de Fer Jeans. When they met, it was love at first sight and not long before they moved to Via Pima, in Valmonte. Ron switched over to real estate with ReMax, concentrating in Southern California and Nevada for a few years. Looking for work closer to home, they decided to open a clothing boutique at 1901 South Catalina Avenue in Redondo Beach. Naming it 'Lisa Z' the store took up residence next door to where the fabled Talisman Trading Company was located.

After more than 30 years they still say working together is “great!”

“We do different things for the business.” explains Ron. “She's the talent.”

“He's the biz!” agrees Lisa. They both beam.

Their son Perry is a graduate business major from Loyola Marymount and is excited about his parents’ endeavors. With a little subtle influence from his dad, Perry tried real estate law and found he quite liked it. He is currently in real estate investment with Scott Rosenberg – got the job the day before he graduated!

Lisa inherited the retail gene by way of her mother who had a clothing store in Detroit.

“To see my mom, I had to go to the store. She was always there.”

In business for herself, Lisa's philosophy includes the whole woman. She believes women should be emotionally empowered rather than have a critical self image. “Dress for personality and please yourself. Dressing for others is so stressful – you can't possibly please everybody.”

Ron and Lisa are also very health conscious. “Vitamins and a positive attitude make you feel better.” Lisa has been likened to a neighborhood shaman, counseling her customers while finding that perfect ‘something’ to complete an outfit – something that feels just right.

Hats, shoes and jewellery are arranged to match day dresses, jackets and evening-wear. New ideas of how to assemble accessories and colours becomes fun again. Soft “T’s” and pale tinted cargo pants cover the casual comfort department while the elegant sweaters, classic dresses and handbags appeal to sophisticated needs. Lisa Z is Hollywood Riviera’s answer to fashion clothing.

The Zagha’s love living in Valmonte; “People here are wonderful, friendly and committed to their neighborhood. We all do the welcome wagon thing.” One gets a sense that they believe a close neighbourhood is a comfortable one. Talking with them about Palos Verdes and their business, Lisa’s enthusiasm was energizing; “Enjoy the life you have!”

 

 

 

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ July issue,Lisa Z.,Hollywood Riviers,Valmonte,Palos Verdes

Captain Kilowatt

When you do something considered dangerous for a living, people tend to give you odd names to describe their point of view. Keith Kent would be one of those examples. He is a lightning photographer.

The term Storm Chaser has been used for photographers interested in tornados and even hurricanes because of the fascinating images that nature serves up under these adverse conditions. Their labours are prized by hundreds of publications not just because the pictures are intriguing but because they are unrepeatable. One also does not get the chance to really look long and hard at such disasters to learn or even emotionally digest the occurrences - much better to see the thing printed on paper than be at its mercy…

Lightning is a little different. It too is fleeting and dangerous. The difference is knowledge and predictability. There is not predictable pattern to tornados or hurricanes. But lightning has the 1001, 1002 going for it. Under the right conditions and armed with information one can somewhat predict when lightning will strike; sadly, however, not where. For the lightning photographer it takes intuition.

Keith has a few techniques up his sleeve that help him get amazing shots of lightning. He will set up multiple cameras on tripods and set the shutters to various speeds. He sometimes used a metronome to help him keep timing accurate while he either opens or closes a shutter. Occasionally several strikes will be caught in a single image. Sometimes a beautiful strike will be captures by only one camera and it will be too far to the side to be effective for Keith’s agents. But that is the nature of the job.

The other main problem of the lightning photographer is the actual storm. They are not daily, weekly or even monthly occurrences. The best are in parts of the country that have few, poop or no roads to access. Mr. Kent’s favourite area for breathtaking strikes is Tucson, Arizona. There three mountainous regions focus warm air into a central column often creating thunderheads – the birthplace of lightning. When a bolt manifests the distance between ground and cloud it makes for a superior visual impact. It can be referred to as Tall Sky.

And sky is what Keith likes best. He is a pilot. His favourite sport is Ultralight flight. He has made several of these craft himself, redesigning existing designs to fit his needs. He often mounts a video camera onboard so he can share the experience with others. His website (www.thinkultralight.com) is being redesigned so he can spread the excitement of Ultralight flight.

And if that wasn’t satisfying enough he has over 1000 parachute jumps… but that’s another story.

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ July Issue,lightning photographer,Ultralights,thinkultralight,Captain Kilowatt,Niki Chanel

Destination Women

It takes a village… and two women to create a special place where women join together to help each other! The village is "Hillside Village", at the intersection of Via Valmonte and Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance. The two women are June Grossberg, owner of Concepts in Yarn & Needlepoint and Loretta Pierce, CEO & President of Master Design Clothing. The place is Destination Women boutique, a charming store with a whimsical theme filled with new, ever-changing treasurers that will delight every woman.

This shop is special in that the merchandise is mainly provided by women, sold by women (volunteers) and financially supports women through charities. The one-of-a-kind accessories and fashionable outfits are deeply discounted, yet of superior quality. Designer clothing, like Gever Originals of LA, hobnobs with paintings, antiques, furniture, hand-made dolls, gorgeous hand knitted sweaters and an ever changing array of creative gifts and keepsakes. The environment, whimsical and bright, the people friendly and approachable make for an easy and validating experience. One can go to peruse… or seek advice.

But the real difference here is the painless fund-raising for women’s issues. A percentage of all purchases are donated to a charity of the customer's choice. A growing list of approved charities is presented at the time of purchase, such as the YWCA of the Harbor and South Bay, H.E.L.P. (Healthcare and Elder Law Programs and Counseling), the Salvation Army of Torrance and Susan G. Komen-Breast Cancer Foundation, to name a few. Volunteers earn a modest commission, thereby helping to employ women with limited time available to work. The customer pays less, the sales force earns a percentage and choice charities and their recipients all benefit, too - it’s a win-win-win!

The boutique goes further than a discount store, sponsoring "events" like Mary Frances Handbag trunk shows, crocheted wire jewelry demonstrations by Mary Austin and the upcoming display of the extensive, nationally famed Annalee Doll collection. The store also sponsors make-up demonstrations showing how to wear makeup as an accessory, consultations and demonstrations on Mastering Color. Stacy Gross-Eldredge CPCP, takes appointments, educates and demonstrates Permanent Cosmetics techniques and tattoo removal. Many more interesting and exciting events are scheduled.

Another unique aspect of Destination Women is that June and Loretta are both entrepreneurial designers; they bring with them extensive business experience and know-how to assist and support other women in their quest for success. Master Design Clothing, Loretta's company, is considered to be the authority in dressing women in business for over 27 years. She provides high-profile fashion to business-women, helping to improve their status in the professional world. “Dressing with success in mind is a business strategy".

June, who has tremendous flair with style and color says, "You can't get away from people judging you by the way you dress." Both women stress how important it is for women to make a "personal style" statement!

The new website, www.destinationwomen.com is becoming another pillar of the organization. There, one can learn more about the charities acknowledged by the boutique and, as the site evolves, new and exciting interactivity will be added. Of special note: a survey designed to find out what causes cancer by delving into the personal habits of women who have experienced it first hand. This is extremely important as it goes further than faulting heredity or exposures to dangerous materials; it will collect personal information (possibly like sleeping habits, exposure to plants and animals, cosmetics) giving researchers more information to work with in an effort to find a cure. This is truly women helping women!

Destination Women is a consciousness-raising spot to meet other women, share stories and be a part of their successes. Come visit this fabulous find and see how women are benefited on all levels, helping other women in the process!

The shop is located at 24576 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, Ca. 90505, in the Hillside Village Center at the intersection of Via Valmonte and Hawthorne. You may call Master Design for more information. To volunteer, please call 310.375.6361.

See you there!

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ July Issue,Destination Women,Concepts in Yarn & Needlepoint,Master Design Clothing,Gever Originals of LA,Annalee Dolls,Stacy Gross-Eldredge,Niki Chanel

Sacred Stone : Crystals and Collectibles

Ahhh… Gustav Schindler and Anne Sherwood have created a place of calm reflection and nurturing peace where you can find just the right gift for a loved one – or yourself.

When entering the Sacred Stone Gallery in the Hollywood Riviera, one feels immediately at home - but this isn’t home; this is a magical cave of gargantuan crystals, faceted touchstones and welcoming smiles.

The consummate Californian is the child who purchases his first surf board at age seven. A Torrance native, young Mr. Schindler was just such a lad, eager to live life to the fullest, and always first in line for excitement.

Drafted into the army at the age of 19, Gustav saw Vietnam as a whole new world filled with marvels and the unusual. It offered him new horizons and personal growth which he took to heart, both business-wise and spiritually. Seeking adventure, he volunteered for Riverboat Patrol duty knowing it was one of the more dangerous jobs during the war. For most of us, the mention of war-torn Saigon still arouses dark memories, yet for others it provided opportunity. During his tour, Gustav noticed that items from the United States were in great demand among the Asian allies, while the reverse was true for him; religious carvings and curios fascinated Gustav. Vietnam had exposed him to exotic, eastern artifacts and started in him a passion for collecting and trading.

Upon his return to the States, Gustav attended UCLA then went to work for McDonald Douglas as an exotic metals specialist. He continued his studies of Persian rugs, cloisonné, and American Indian artifacts, all the while adding to his personal collection. During the ‘70s, while living in Kauai, Gustav spent time at a Sufi healing camp studying their traditions and way of life. This is where he first became acquainted with the use of crystals as healing tools, giving his passion for collecting even more impetus.

When the aerospace corporation folded in the 1990s, Gustav used the lay-off as a chance to start his own healing practice in Palos Verdes Estates at the Malaga Cove Plaza. Working seven days a week, Gustav’s efforts quickly brought success, though his passion for collecting never waned despite the heavy demand for his time. Soon he realized he was outgrowing his 3000 square foot home. He simply had too many relics and too little space in which to store them.

About this time, Gustav met Anne Sherwood, a fellow crystal l over. She had escaped the harsh winters of upstate New York, trading them for Californian sunsets and hoping to find like-minded souls in Los Angeles. Among her many talents, she had minored in Geology in college and managed a retail store. Small wonder that Anne’s mineral knowledge and Gustav’s ever expanding collection struck a harmonious bargain and the two decided to open the Sacred Stone Gallery in 2002. Gustav would have the freedom to travel and meet with traders and private customers, while Anne would have the opportunity to create the sanctuary she had always dreamed of during those icy New York winters.

The first item to be moved into the store was a one ton Shivalingam - a naturally occurring, smooth, elliptical shaped rock from the Narmer River in central India where it is considered to be a sacred stone, giving the store its name. Though it is for sale, it’s not going anywhere fast. “When you weigh 2000 pounds, you get to be where you want” grins Anne. This rock is a gigantic version of the sacred stones seen in the Indiana Jones movie, ‘Temple of Doom’. She shows me a few of the many pocket-sized treasures of amber, tektites of meteoric glass, labradorite, garnet, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry and imported statuary that can be found here. “But the customers are the best part,” she beams. “Our clientele is an interesting lot bringing with them knowledge, experience and appreciation for what we offer. Visitors often stop by just to breathe in a bit of tranquility and beauty and leave feeling better. We love to share that with others.”

Store hours are 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and noon-6pm on Saturday & Sunday.

Located at 1832 South Elena Avenue, Redondo Beach, the store’s website is sacredstonegallery.com and the phone number is 310.378.8866.

Go have a complimentary cup of tea and see for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

BuzzNet Tags: Valmonte Living Magazine ~ June Issue,crystals,statuary,Gustav Schindler,Niki Chanel