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UCLA Lectures Focus On Climate Change

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The 2011 Mautner Memorial Lecture Series will present two free lectures on climate change by Dr. James E. Hansen, a leading scientist in the field.   The first, ‘Climate Sensitivity,’ a research lecture, is oriented toward academics and scientists, but is also open to the public at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22 in the Ackerman Grand Ballroom at UCLA (parking lot eight).   The second, ‘Human-Made Climate Change: A Scientific, Moral and Legal Issue,’ offers a more accessible discussion of the topic for non-scientists, and will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 23, in the Grand Horizon Room of Covel Commons at UCLA (parking lot SV).   Hansen is adjunct professor of earth sciences at Columbia University’s Earth Institute. Since the late 1970s, he has worked on studies and computer simulations of the Earth’s climate for the purpose of understanding the human impact on global climate.   The lecture series is sponsored by Pacific Palisades resident Marguerite Perkins Mautner through the College of Letters and Sciences in memory of the late Leonard Mautner.   Reservations (at https://eventsrsvp.ucla.edu/Mautner2011) are recommended early.

Literary Events

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‘The Memory Palace’ Author at Village Books

  Mira Bartok, author of the bestselling memoir ‘The Memory Palace,’ will appear at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, February 17.   Bartok tells the story of growing up with her gifted but schizophrenic mother, so desperately ill that her daughters must break nearly all contact with her, communicating only through letters to a post office box for 17 years.   ’Even now, when the phone rings late at night, I think it’s her. I stumble out of bed ready for the worst,’ the first chapter begins. ‘ The last time my mother called was in 1990. I was thirty-one and living in Chicago. She said if I didn’t come home right away she’d kill herself.’   After the author, an artist, suffers a debilitating brain injury in a car crash, she tracks down her mother in hopes of recovering some lost memories. She and her sister find a storage locker filled with notebooks, letters, drawings, newspaper articles and objects belonging to her mother and Bart’k is flooded with recollections.   She is inspired to paint a memory palace’a visual map to remember people and events. The original works are interspersed throughout the book, along with passages from her mother’s writings.   Publishers Weekly recommends the story with this review, ‘a haunting, almost patchwork, narrative that lyrically chronicles a complex mother-daughter relationship.’

’24’ Producer Gordon Debuts Thriller Novel at Village Books

  Palisadian Howard Gordon will discuss and sign copies of ‘Gideon’s War,’ at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 25 at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore.   Gordon, who served as executive producer on the television series ’24,’ makes his novel debut with an action thriller centered on themes of political intrigue and international terrorism. Simon & Schuster published the book.   In the story, Gideon Davis, world renowned as a peace negotiator, discovers, to his horror, that the U.S. government’s most-wanted terrorist is his brother.   ’True to form of my eight-year experience with Howard Gordon on ’24,’ ‘Gideon’s War’ is a rip-roaring thriller,’ Kiefer Sutherland said.

Gregory Alper’s ‘Palisades Panoramas’ on View at Village Books and Caf’ Vida

  Artist, composer and musician Gregory Alper will sign copies of ‘Palisades Panoramas,’ a collection of 40 of his photographs, at 7:30 p.m. on February 24, at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore.   A series of the panoramas, interpretive shots of Pacific Palisades, are also on exhibit at Caf’ Vida, 15317 Antioch, through March 30.   Alper did not use a wide-angle lens for this work, but panned across the horizon with an ordinary camera and then edited multiple shots together. He believes the technique creates a dynamic effect that more closely mimics the motion of the eye. The images are printed on canvas to enhance the painterly feel of the work.   For his father’s 80th birthday, Alper edited photos of his father and himself, taken over many decades, combining images from different shots into a single composite. This time-bending exercise inspired Alper to create a series of composites from other subject matter, two of which will be included in the exhibit at Caf’ Vida.   For more information, go to alperdigitalart.com.

Thursday, February 17 – Thursday, February 24

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17

  Storytime for children ages 3 and up, Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real.   Mira Bart’k discusses ‘The Memory Palace: A Memoir’ about the 17-year estrangement of the author and her homeless schizophrenic mother, and their reunion, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18

  ‘The Young Victoria’ with Emily Blunt screens, 1 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. The 2009 film follows the accession to the throne and early reign of Queen Victoria and her marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.   Theatre Palisades presents ‘The Diviners,’ 8 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. The show runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8, Sundays at 2 p.m. through February 20. For tickets ($20-$16), call (310) 454-1970 or visit theatrepalisades.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19

  Village Green monthly gardening and maintenance, 9 to 11 a.m., at pocket park at Swarthmore, Antioch and Sunset. Bring shears and gloves. Contact Marge Gold at (310) 459-5167 or visit www.palisadesvillagegreen.org.   The Culinary Historians of Southern California will present ‘Drinking with Shakespeare and Jane Austen,’ 2 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. Writer and food historian Richard Foss will discuss traditional English beverages from 1600 to 1800. Contact: (310) 459-2754.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20

  John Malcolm, general counsel to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in Washington, D.C. will speak on human rights and religious freedom, 9 a.m. in the Founders’ Living Room at St. Matthew’s Episcopal church, 1031 Bienveneda. All are welcome and admission is free.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24

  Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited.   Palisadian Gregory Alper displays his book, ‘Palisades Panoramas,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. For more information, go to www.timedimensionalart.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25

  Palisadian Howard Gordon will discuss and sign copies of ‘Gideon’s War,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore.   Gordon, who served as executive producer on the television series ’24,’ makes his novel debut with an action thriller centered on themes of political intrigue and international terrorism.

Northern Trust Open Tees Off Today at Riviera

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BACK IN BLACK: Defending Northern Trust Open champion Steve Stricker tries to get out of a bunker last year at Riviera. Ranked No. 8 in the world, the 43-year-old already has two top-ten finishes to his name in 2011.
BACK IN BLACK: Defending Northern Trust Open champion Steve Stricker tries to get out of a bunker last year at Riviera. Ranked No. 8 in the world, the 43-year-old already has two top-ten finishes to his name in 2011.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

With the forecast predicting rain, as it seemingly always does in the middle of February, there maybe one excuse to watch this weekend’s Northern Trust Open from home.   But with a talented field that blends tour veterans, exciting up-and-comers and loads of major champions, there is a bevy of reasons worth watching in person. The tournament tees off today at Riviera Country Club and runs through Sunday.   Of the current top 10 in the world, half will be playing this week: two-time Northern Trust Open champion Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Paul Casey, Luke Donald and 2010 champion Steve Stricker. Currently ranked No. 8 in the world, Stricker sounded more than ready to come back and defend his title.   ’Riviera is one of the great places we play on Tour,’ he said during the tournament’s press conference in January. ‘To have won there is pretty special. It’s at the top of my list as far as wins go.’   The 43-year old is looking to become yet another back-to-back winner of the event. Mickelson won in 2008 and 2009, while Mike Weir also completed the feat in 2003 and 2004.   Mickelson and Weir are just two of the field’s 22 major championship winners, including Angel Cabrera, Retief Goosen, Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington, who’ve each won multiple major titles.   Some of the hottest players of the 2011 Tour season will also be on display at the Riviera. The entire top 10 of the PGA Tour’s money list is in attendance, including Mark Wilson, who is fresh off recent wins at the Waste Management Phoenix Open two weeks ago and Sony Open in Hawaii in the middle of January.   The diminutive 36-year-old’who clocks in at 5-foot-8 and 145 pounds’has earned more than $2 million in 2011 and tops the list of fresh faces worth watching over the course of the tournament.   A more lumbering up-and-comer is Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas, who at 26 has quickly become something of a PGA sensation despite having only seven career starts. Four of them have come in 2011, where he’s already won the Bob Hope Classic and finished third in the Farmers Insurance Open.   A forceful presence thanks to his 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame, Vegas has an equally powerful story, coming to the states nine years ago, speaking no English and immigrating from a country where President Hugo Chavez infamously denounces the sport of golf and closed a number of courses as a result.   Vegas, who ranks in the top 25 in driving distance, is just one of the game’s big hitters to watch. In fact, the top three longest drivers in the game’Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and J.B. Holmes’are all in the field. Each averages better than 310-yards per drive, the only three players on Tour to do so.   That trio’s strength will be on full display on one of Riviera’s signature holes, the 315-yard par 4 10th. The beautiful but compact hole was the fifth-shortest par 4 on Tour last year, with its tiny green within reach from the tee for the game’s ambitious drivers.   Interestingly, No. 10 is also the Kodak Challenge Hole selected for the Northern Trust Open. Created to celebrate golf’s most majestic holes, the 2011 Kodak Challenge chooses a single challenge hole for every tournament’and the player with the best cumulative score at the end of the year wins $1 million.   Between No. 10’s intrigue and the dynamic field of players, there are certainly plenty of excuses to catch the Open in person this weekend, rain or shine.

Globetrotters Showcase Skills for St. Matthew’s

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BALANCING ACT: Globetrotter “Special K” Daley makes use of his head by spinning a basketball on it in front of hundreds of St. Matthew’s students. Daley, a Panama City, Panama native, has been a Globetrotter since 2004.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

It’s not every day that kindergartener Charlotte Landis gets to spin a red, white and blue basketball on her finger, let alone at 9:45 a.m. on a school day at St. Matthew’s.   But that was the case last Thursday, when hundreds of students congregated at the school’s gym, the Sprague Center, to watch and cheer two members of the world famous Harlem Globetrotters, ‘Special K’ Daley and ‘Wun The Shot’ Versher.   ’This is the highlight of being a Globetrotter,’ said Daley, a seven-year team veteran whose position is listed as Showman. ‘The connection we get to have with these kids is really special.’   For the last decade or so, various Globetrotters have performed at elementary schools across the country. This year’s five-month North American tour spanning 220 cities, 46 states and six Canadian provinces will bring a mixture of basketball skills and comedy to hundreds of schools.   Daley and Versher packed a great deal into their hour-long performance, spending the last few minutes showing off their patented spinning and twirling basketball tricks to the tune of the team’s classic, whistling theme song ‘Sweet Georgia Brown.’   ’It’s amazing to be face-to-face with young minds of today and give them something positive, as well as entertaining,’ said Versher, a 16-year Globetrotter, who was with the team in 2000 when they were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2002 when they named Pope John Paul II an Honorary Globetrotter.   Amidst the positive message and tricks, the St. Matthew’s students were positively smitten with the atypical class assembly.   ’Oh my gosh, they had a blast,’ St. Matthew’s lower division principal Jane Young said. ‘They were all in heaven.’   The Globetrotters will take on the Washington Generals at considerably larger venues next month, playing at Ontario’s Citizens Business Bank Area on February 24 at 7 p.m., Anaheim’s Honda Center on February 26 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and the Staples Center on February 27 at 12 noon.   Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, the respective area box office, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Information on group tickets can also be found at www.harlemglobetrotters.com BALANCING ACT: Globetrotter ‘Special K’ Daley makes use of his head by spinning a basketball on it in front of hundreds of St. Matthew’s students. Daley, a Panama City, Panama native, has been a Globetrotter since 2004. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer

PaliHi Running Back Creer Picks Colorado

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Palisades running back Malcolm Creer laughs while addressing hundreds of students at lunch in the Pali gym on February 2. Creer will be attending Colorado next year on a football scholarship.
Palisades running back Malcolm Creer laughs while addressing hundreds of students at lunch in the Pali gym on February 2. Creer will be attending Colorado next year on a football scholarship.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

A unique and memorable high school football career culminated last Wednesday at 11:50 a.m. during lunch at Palisades High’a career that almost never was.   Across the country, hundreds of future college football stars took center stage at their respective high schools on February 2 for National Signing Day.   At PaliHi, the stage belonged to Dolphins star running back Malcolm Creer.   Over 200 Pali students flooded the Dolphins’ gym. Creer’s uncle, Jabari, took pictures and video with his camera phone. Even the online football magazine Deep Coverage documented all the action with a professional camcorder.   The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Creer sat at a table amidst it all, facing a sea of supporters, teammates and family, taking everything in with a beaming smile. Banners from football powers Colorado and Washington draped his table, building the suspense. After briefly thanking everyone for coming out, Creer started a one-man fashion show.   ’It all started with Pali pride,’ he said, referring to his dark blue Palisades hoodie. Then he took it off to reveal another Pali shirt. Then a Michigan shirt. Three articles of clothing later, he was left displaying a black shirt with gold letters that revealed his decision: He’ll be attending the University of Colorado on a full football scholarship.   Creer’s mother, Donna Jones, was understandably aglow from the storybook ending to her son’s high school career.   ’The last two months have been a dream,’ she said. ‘The whole thing is so miraculous. He was so under the radar. But every time he put his hands on the ball, it was like ‘ ‘Wow!”   Coming into the 2010 season, Malcolm was just as his mom described, flying well under the radar following a modest junior year when he led the Dolphins in rushing with 660 yards. But last fall, he suddenly became a Division I prospect. Rushing for 1,270 yards and 19 touchdowns, Creer even saw a couple of his most impressive highlight videos go viral’including an 108-yard interception return and a long, infamous touchdown run that featured a spinning cartwheel to keep his balance and vicious stiff-arms.   Yet only a few short years ago, Creer’s football career wasn’t just under the radar’it was non-existent.   As a freshman at Pali, Malcolm hadn’t played a down of organized football in his life, choosing the hard court over the gridiron from elementary school on.   ’He was a basketball kid all the way,’ his mother said. ‘All the way.’   Starting at age seven, Creer made basketball his passion. His father, Eric, had played at Morningside High School and it wasn’t long before Malcolm was following in those footsteps. Between a handful of local Park-and-Rec leagues, playing for his grade school and in pick-up games, his basketball pursuits kept football at bay.   ’I’m surprised he (focused on) basketball for so long,’ Eric said. ‘Even as a little kid, he was big, always built for football. He’s a natural.’ Fast-forward to his sophomore year at PaliHi, where that football nature started to take shape. A former classmate, Conner Preston, Pali’s quarterback at the time, told Creer and his older brother, Michael, to give football a go. Malcolm, preoccupied with playing high school basketball, wasn’t convinced.   ’He told me I had the size to play football,’ Creer said, ‘but I just laughed it off.’   Preston, who later transferred to Serra and is headed to SMU next year on a football scholarship, kept making his argument. And eventually, he persuaded both brothers to give football a shot.   That season, they endeared themselves to the program and then-coach Kelly Loftus.   ’I fell in love with the Creer family through Michael,’ Loftus told the Palisadian-Post. ‘Then I met Malcolm. And I thought, ‘Shoot, you’re varsity material right now, just ’cause I know your family.’   Loftus’ instincts were spot on.   ’He was just a stallion,’ Loftus said. ‘He’s always been the same (size). If he had played football as a sophomore with the JV team, he would’ve had 100 touchdowns.   ’I may have done him a disservice by not letting him play as a sophomore with his peers. But on the other hand, I might have done him a favor.’   By his senior year, the highlights and 100-yard, multiple-touchdown games started to pile up and so too did the Division I schools interested in Malcolm, including Nebraska, Washington, Idaho State and Eastern Washington. A Washington scout even showed up at a Pali-Fairfax basketball game in January, in part to see the defense and energy that make Malcolm a key reserve for the Dolphins.   But in the end, Colorado won out.   ’I have a warm feeling about fitting into the program,’ Creer said. ‘Meeting with the coaches, they gave me the feeling that I could fit in and they’d push me to my full potential. I can get used to the cold quickly. It shouldn’t bother me a bit.’   That warm feeling’in spite of the Colorado cold’was brought on in large part by the high level of interest the Buffaloes showed in Malcolm from the start of the recruiting process.   ’I was already set for Colorado,’ he said. ‘Washington was just using me as a fall back plan. But I wasn’t a fall-back plan for Colorado. I was just their main guy, and that’s why I chose Colorado.’   As a Buffalo, Creer joins a program buoyed by Colorado alumni. New head coach Jon Embree and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy both played football for Boulder, and have injected optimism into a program that finished 19-39 the last five years and will join the Pac-10 this fall.   But for Malcolm, who is already taking classes at Santa Monica College to learn sign language and is interested in becoming a teacher, it was clear he needed to go somewhere that valued getting an education as much as getting into the end zone.   Which is exactly what he’ll get in Boulder.   ’The thing (Coach Bieniemy) and Coach Embree push is academics,’ Creer’s mother said. ‘They say, ‘You better believe as a football program, we’re going to use you. So you better use us. Get your education. Do well in the classroom and the rest will take care of itself.”   With a core GPA of 3.0, education has always been something that Malcolm has taken care of himself. As such, the prospect of getting a free education through football was something that hardly occurred to him for the majority of his high school career.   ’I’ve always just played football for the fun of it,’ Creer said, ‘and planned to get to college through academics.’   Though that plan didn’t materialize, if Malcolm’s celebratory signing-day ceremony and scholarship to Colorado are any indication, things turned out exactly the way they were supposed to.   And a football career that’s still in its infancy couldn’t look brighter.

Fire Races Through House on Kingman Road

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Firefighters took 77 minutes to knock down a fire in a single-family residence in the 700 block of Kingman Road in Santa Monica Canyon, Thursday morning. The fire, termed ‘stubborn’ by LAFD spokesperson Brian Humphrey, was reported at 6:43 a.m. by a 911 call from a mobile phone. Fire Station 69 (Carey at Sunset) was first on the scene and saw smoke coming from the home. The fire, which started in the basement/crawl space of the three-story hillside home, rapidly spread into the walls and then the roof, where accumulated leaves and debris fueled the flames. Two L.A.Fire Department helicopters maintained aerial reconnaissance and served as a command post. ‘There was concern that it could spread, but luckily there was no wind,’ Humphrey said. Along with Station 69, firefighters from Stations 11, 39, 23 and from Santa Monica responded to the fire, making a total of 71 firefighters. According to the Humphrey, there were two civilians on the scene, one adamantly declining care and a second departing immediately. A neighbor reported that one person had been led away in handcuffs. The West L.A. Police Department confirmed that a car had responded to the site, but could not confirm an arrest. When asked if brush clearance had been done around the home, Humphrey said that the home on this specific parcel was not located in a very high fire hazard severity zone. ‘Common sense would dictate clearing debris,’ Humphrey said, noting that the structure had been heavily damaged. A full report will appear in the February 17 issue of the Palisadian-Post.

CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10, 2011

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HOMES FOR SALE 1

FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY to own a large 3 bed, 2 bath home in sought-after Tahitian Terrace Mobile Home Park. Private lushly landscaped backyard w/ multi-level deck w/ spectacular ocean views. Rent control, pets ok. $395,000. Agent, Franklin (310) 592-6696

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

GUEST HOUSE. 3 rooms, garden setting, French doors, hardwood floors, laundry, very quiet. Available Dec. 1st. $2,100/mo. Utilities included, cat okay. (310) 454-8150

FULLY RENOVATED!!! 4 BD, 5.5 BA. * Built in 1927 by J. Paul Getty for his mistress. Original California tiles, great yard, patio, decks w/ all whitewater views. Whitewater ocean view from every room. Fully renovated to 4 bdrm, 1 billiard/recreation room, wine cellar, living & dining room, 3 door/car garage w/ loft. 3 story home w/ elevator. Big beams, romantic outdoor whitewater view spa, steam sauna, 3 indoor jacuzzi spa tubs, great storage & plenty of amenities. New lighting & closets. Live in a place of history & charm. $9,000/mo. 17809 Porto Marina Way, Pacific Palisades. (213) 494-0059

SPLIT LEVEL 3 bd, 3 ba, large studio. Nice canyon view, very clean, fireplace, new flooring, rugs, patio, garage, laundry room. Shown by appt. $4,800/mo. (661) 270-9231

DUPLEX FOR RENT. 2 bedroom + fireplace, 1 bath, quiet residential area near Village. $2,450/mo. (310) 738-4400

536 ARBRAMAR. 3 bdr, 2 ba. Solar powered (low electric bills), high-end gas range, dishwasher and washer/dryer; fireplace, hardwood floors, lots of attic storage, 2 car garage, fenced in yard. $4,500/mo. (310) 801-5020

ALPHABET STREET HOUSE. 2 BR, 1 BA, den, breakfast nook and dining room, hardwood floors, fireplace; enclosed garden, no dogs; 1 year lease. $3,500/mo. (818) 282-2253

UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c

BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED 1 BDRM APARTMENT. Best ocean views in town. Stainless steel appliances, wood floors, fireplace, pool, laundry onsite & parking. Small pets ok. Please call (310) 227-9612. Equal housing opportunity.

NEUTRA BUILDING! ARCHITECTURAL WONDER. 2 bed + 2 bath on Sunset Blvd. Huge wood deck w/ jacuzzi white water ocean view, private yard, and garden facing the ocean water and dolphins @ 17050 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 for $3,300/mo. Spacious living room, wood floors, beautiful fireplace, high vaulted wood ceilings w/ gigantic window, building courtyard, outdoor fireplace. Kitchen: gas stove, dishwasher, and white tile countertops. Bedrms: wood floors, lots of closet/storage space. Bathrm: tile floors, granite countertop. 1 car garage parking w/ washer and dryer hookups. Vintage architect property built on Pacific Palisades Hills simulating a sinking ship into the ocean has 4 units on our newly remodeled 4 leveled building. For more information contact (213) 494-0059 or fidel@benleedsproperties.com or go to http://leeds.postlets.com

PET FRIENDLY! 1 BD IN PAC PAL! ‘ 1/2 block from Gelson’s & the Village. Parquet floors, ocean view, laundry room, quiet building, on site manager, swimming pool & parking space. Ready to move in! $1,745/mo. * Move in special with 3rd month free! * Call Jeff at (310) 573-0150

LOVELY 2 BEDROOM 1st floor apartment in 5 unit building. Hardwood floors, new carpet & paint. Laundry on site. Carport parking. Large shared backyard patio. Short walk from Palisades Village & El Medio Bluffs overlooking ocean. $1,975/mo. 1st month free! (310) 435-5582 or kderby77@gmail.com

CONDOS, TOWNHOMES FOR RENT 2d

GEM IN THE PALISADES, Sunset & Almar. 2 bdrm, 2 1/2 ba townhouse. Hardwood, tile, carpet, w/d, dishwasher, roof deck, parking. $3,250/mo. (310) 395-1073

AMAZING OCEAN VIEWS! 1932 Palisades Dr. Beautiful 3 bd, 2.5 ba Medit Villa. Open flr plan (3,031 sq ft), cathedral ceil, office/study, gym/bonus, ample closets & storage. In/outdr living w/ 4 spacious balconies, vast cyn & ocn vus! Many amenities. $5,700/mo. Robbie Sikora, agent, (310) 710-5214

PALISADES HIGHLANDS, roommate wanted to share 2 bd, 2 ba twnhse. Attached priv garage, hdwd, priv patio, pool, jacuzzi, tennis, steps to cyn hiking. Pets considered. (310) 962-8482, resort3@earthlink.net

ROOMS FOR RENT 3

1 BEDROOM W/ PRIVATE BATHROOM. Full house privileges, washer & dryer. Must be willing to run light errands. 1 person, no pets. $500/mo. Call Peter at (310) 459-3650

RENTALS TO SHARE 3a

2 ROOMS FOR RENT. 1 master suite. Huge yard, full hse priv, all utils incld, shared W/D. Trained dogs welcomed. 1,000 yards from beach. $1,500/mo.-master, $1,000/mo.-other. (310) 454-1956

WANTED TO RENT 3b

FURNISHED HOME NEEDED. German family of 5 needs furnished home July-Aug. 2011. Local references available. Preferably under $8,000/mo. Mitch, (310) 454-1844

OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c

OFFICE SUITE in the Atrium Building on Via de la Paz. 2 offices, reception area and restroom. Attractive space approx. 900 sq. ft. One year plus sub-lease. Rent negotiable. Great space. (310) 459-5353

OFFICE FOR LEASE. Professional building in Pacific Palisades Village for lease. Lovely and spacious suite available. Reasonable rent price. Excellent tenant improvements. 850 square feet. Please call Tracy Rasmussen at (310) 459-8700 for more details.

WRITER’S RETREAT * Quiet office suite with private access and bathroom. This 350 sq. ft. space is bright and airy. Available February 1st. (310) 702-1107

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5

INVESTOR/PARTNER WANTED. Secured collateral loans, low risk w/ high return 40% LTV of loan amt. Please call for details, (714) 520-1119

BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b

ACCOUNTANT/CONTROLLER. Quickbooks/Quicken setup. Outsource the hassle’all bookkeeping needs including tax prep for home or office. Get organized now! (310) 562-0635

NEED HELP WITH FINANCIAL MATTERS? Financial mgmt, bookkeeping, reconciling, bill paying, etc. Caring & confidential. (310) 459-2066 or (310) 218-6653

COMPUTER SERVICES 7c

MARIE’S MAC & PC OUTCALL. I CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE WITH: ‘ Consultation on best hard/software for your needs ‘ Setting up & configuring your system & applications ‘ Teaching you how to use your Mac or PC ‘ Upgrades: Mac OS & Windows ‘ Internet: DSL, Wireless, E-mail, Remote Access ‘ Key Applications: MS Office, Filemaker, Quicken ‘ Contact Managers, Networking, File Sharing, Data backup ‘ Palm, Visor, Digital Camera, Scanner, CD Burning. FRIENDLY & PROFESSIONAL ‘ BEST RATES. (310) 262-5652

YOUR OWN TECH GURU * EXPERT SET-UP, OPTIMIZATION, REPAIR. Problem-Free Computing Since 1992. Work Smarter, Faster, More Reliably. If I Can’t Help, NO CHARGE! ALAN PERLA, (310) 455-2000

THE DETECHTIVES’. PROFESSIONAL ON-SITE MAC SPECIALISTS. PATIENT, FRIENDLY AND AFFORDABLE. WE COVER ALL THINGS MAC ‘ Consulting ‘ Installation ‘ Training and Repair for Beginners to Advanced Users ‘ Data recovery ‘ Networks ‘ Wireless Internet & more. (310) 838-2254, William Moorefield. www.thedetechtives.com

USER FRIENDLY’MAC CONSULTANT. User friendly. Certified Apple help desk technician and proud member of the Apple consultant network. An easy approach to understanding all of your computer needs. Offering computer support in wide variety of repairs, set-ups, installs, troubleshooting, upgrades, networking, and tutoring in the application of choice. Computer consulting at fair rates. Ryan Ross: (310) 721-2827. email: ryanaross@mac.com ‘ For a full list of services visit: http://userfriendlyrr.com/

EXPERT COMPUTER HELP ‘ On-site service’no travel charge ‘ Help design, buy and install your system ‘ One-on-one training, hard & software ‘ Troubleshooting, Mac & Windows, organizing ‘ Installations & upgrades ‘ Wireless networking ‘ Digital phones, photo, music ‘ Internet ‘ Serving the Palisades, Santa Monica & Brentwood. DEVIN FRANK, (310) 499-7000

DECORATING 7d

INTERIOR DESIGN AND STYLING. From ordinary to unique. Space planning. Paint specs. Furniture. Accessorizing. Hourly design consultations welcome. Carol Fox, ASID. (310) 454-0601, www.carolfoxdesign.com

GARAGE, ESTATE SALE SERVICES 7f

PLANNING A GARAGE SALE? an estate sale? a moving sale? a yard sale? Call it what you like. But call us to do it for you. We do the work. Start to finish. ‘ BARBARA DAWSON ‘ Estate/Garage Sale Specialist ‘ (310) 454-0359 ‘ barbdawson@roadrunner.com ‘ www.bmdawson.com ‘ Furniture ‘ Antiques ‘ Collectibles ‘ Junque ‘ Reliable professionals ‘ Local References

NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a

CHILDCARE. School pick up, activities & errands. Parent-Toddler teacher, Pacific Palisades. (310) 459-9149

BABYSITTER & HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE. Monday, Tuesday & Friday. Own transportation, local references, good English, experienced, loves children and pets. Marlene, (323) 423-2558

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER AVAILABLE Monday through Friday. I’m bilingual, hardworking, and honest with highest recommendations and 6 years experience. Call Jeimi Hernandez at (310) 779-9487

HOUSEKEEPERS 9a

PROFESSIONAL MAID SERVICES. In Malibu! We make your home our business. Star sparkling cleaning services. In the community over 15 years. The best in housekeeping for the best price. Good references. Licensed. Call Bertha, (323) 754-6873 & cell (213) 393-1419. professionalmaidinmalibu@google.com

SISTERS HOUSECLEANING. Would you like your home and business so clean they shine? Call us, we have good references. Serving the community for over 20 years. We offer final cleaning. For free estimate, call Flora at (310) 720-7751. Bonded. www.sistershousecleaning.com, cleaning411@gmail.com

MIRIAM’S HOUSEKEEPING. Available Monday through Friday. Has own car & CA DL. Local references. 14 years experience. Tel: (213) 746-4216 or cell: (310) 346-0360

EUROPEAN CLEANING SERVICE. Reliable, local references. Experienced. Own supplies. Call today. (818) 324-9154

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER avail. Mon-Sat. H.S. & vocational schooling, Bilingual, refs avail. 7 yrs exp. Maria, (323) 516-9378 or Alejandra, (310) 654-7067 alderete1220@gmail.com, benmay66@yahoo.com

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTING: Available Monday-Friday, some weekends. Own transportation, local references, good English. Please call Nidia/Yolanda at (310) 422-7624

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER/DRIVER ‘ Available Monday through Friday. Has own car, CADL & insurance. Local references. 10 years experience. Daisy, (323) 732-8192 or (323) 793-8287

HOUSECLEANING/NANNY. For 1 day or 5 days of the week. Excellent references, own transportation including CADL & insurance. Ask for Katherine or Karina, (310) 999-9463

LOOKING FOR A HOUSECLEANING JOB. Available weekends only. 12 years experience, own transportation, legal, local references. Call Delmy, (323) 363-9492, delmycleaning.com

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTING. 25 years experience. Excellent references. Reliable. Pet friendly. Willing to work weekends. Available now. Call Elizabeth, (323) 463-7889

EXCELLENT HOUSEKEEPER. Available Mon.-Sat. Good refs. Own transportation. CDL. Over 19 yrs exper in Malibu & Palisades. Speaks English. Call Yolanda, (h) (323) 731-6114, (c) (323) 580-2859

ELDER CARE/COMPANIONS 10a

HOME HEALTH AIDE seeking work in Pac. Pal. CNA certified, 15 yrs. experience, great local refs. Pac. Pal. resident, live-out, schedule flexible. Please call Maria at (310) 454-6370 (h) or (818) 804-7151 (c)

CAREGIVER AVAILABLE. Current CNA, CPR & HHA license, can provide all levels of personal care. Fridays & Saturdays available. 20 years experience. References available. Call Diana @ (323) 633-9503

DO YOU NEED P/T OR F/T HELP? Scandinavian lady w/ exp, good driving rec & refs. Avail for active senior/s as companion, cook, driver I.E. dr’s appts, errands etc. (has own car) Live out. Anna, (310) 312-6099

GARDENING/LANDSCAPING 11

PALISADES GARDENING ‘ Full Gardening Service ‘ Sprinkler Install ‘ Tree Trim ‘ Sodding ‘ Sprays, non-toxic ‘ FREE AZALEA PLANT ‘ Cell,(310) 701-1613, (310) 568-0989

FORTINO MARTINEZ GARDEN SERVICE ‘ Maintenance, clean-up, tree trimming, seed planting, sprinkler systems, concrete & brick work. 24 hours/7 days a week. 19 yrs exper. Free fertilizer, low prices, FREE ESTIMATES! Call (310) 256-0734, (310) 838-2429

APO’S GARDEN SERVICE ‘ Residential & Commercial ‘ Tree Trimming ‘ Sprinklers ‘ New Lawns ‘ Planting ‘ Exterior Design. Ludin, (310) 391-7424 or (310) 804-7115

POOL & SPA SERVICES 13e

PALISADES POOL SUPPLY. SWIMMING POOL SERVICE & REPAIR. 15415 Sunset Blvd., P.P. 90272 (310) 459-4357. www.PalisadesPool.com

STEREO, TV, VCR SERVICES 13g

1 REMOTE CONTROL THAT WORKS! Is your entertainment system not entertaining you? We can tune up your system, bring it up to date, hide wires, mount TVs, install speakers, etc. We can even reprogram or replace your remote control so it is easy to use. Call us, we can help! Lic. #515929. Stanford Connect, (310) 829-0872

AUDIO & VIDEO SPECIALIST ‘ TV installs, DIRECTV packages, telecom systems, CCTV, low voltage wiring, repairs & upgrades. Call for a free consultation. (888) 313-3995

WINDOW WASHING 13h

THE WINDOWS OF OZ. Detailed interior/exterior glass & screen cleaning. High ladder work. Solar panels/power washing also avail. Owner operated. Lic., bonded & insured. Free estimates. (310) 926-7626

MR. CRYSTAL WINDOW CLEANING. Please call Gary: (310) 828-1218 Free estimate, friendly service, discounts. Licensed & Insured.

HOUSESITTING 14b

HOUSESITTING/PETSITTING ‘ Available for short or long term. Sharp, reliable, recently retired professional. References. Susi, (310) 454-1457, susi824@aol.com

PERSONAL SERVICES 14f

NEED A TOAST FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION? Let me write a customized poem for you. Call Lawrie at (310) 749-3032

PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g

PRIVATE DOG WALKER/housesitter, Palisades & Santa Monica. S.M. Canyon resident. Please call or email Sherry, (310) 383-7852, www.palisadesdogwalker.com

GIFT IDEAS 14k

CUSTOMIZED POEMS * Let me write a heartfelt, customized poem for you to give a loved one for their birthday, anniversary, or Valentines day! Call Lawrie at (310) 749-3032

MISCELLANEOUS 14l

FINE ART INSTALLATION. Confused about where or how to hang your art collectibles? Rick Strauss has been installing fine art for years in homes and offices throughout the Westside. Reasonable rates. (310) 459-8212

SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTION 15d

PIANO INSTRUCTION. Give the life-long gift of music! Very patient, creative teacher. Music degree, USC. Qualified, experienced, local. Lisa Donovan Lukas, (310) 454-0859. www.palisadesmusicstudio.com

EXPER. NATIVE FRENCH TUTOR. Tutors JHS, HS, AP & SAT. Excellent refs. MA in Education. Malibu res. Enthusiastic! Cate, (310) 456-5398

TUTORS 15e

INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION. Children & adults. 20+ years teaching/tutoring exper. MATH, GRAMMAR, ESSAY WRITING & STUDY SKILLS. Formerly Sp. Ed. teacher. Call Gail, (310) 313-2530

MS. SCIENCE TUTOR. Ph.D., Experienced, Palisades resident. Tutor All Ages In Your Home. Marie, (310) 888-7145

PROFESSIONAL TUTOR. Stanford graduate (BA and MA, Class of 2000). Available for all subjects and test prep (SAT & ISEE). In-home tutoring at great rates. Call Jonathan, (310) 560-9134

SPECIALIZING IN MATH! All math subjects thru calculus, incl. standardized test prep. Students w/ ADD and other learning challenges welcome. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Local office in Palisades Village. Jamie, (888) 459-6430

EXPERIENCED SPANISH TUTOR ‘ All grade levels ‘ Grammar ‘ Conversational ‘ SAT/AP ‘ Children, adults ‘ Great references. Noelle, (310) 273-3593, (310) 980-6071

SCIENCE & MATH TUTOR. All levels (elementary to college). Ph.D., MIT graduate, 30 years experience. Ed Kanegsberg, (310) 459-3614

GROZA LEARNING CENTER. Tutoring K-12, all subjects & reading. SAT, ISEE, HSPT, ACT, ERB, STAR. Caring, meticulous service. GrozaLearningCenter.com ‘ (310) 454-3731

EDUCATIONAL THERAPY. All ages and abilities. Academic, Cognitive and Behavioral Support. Palisades Tutoring & ET Services’Local 10+ years. Arlana J. Morley, MS. (310) 459-4125, (310) 738-5099

READING & WRITING TUTOR. Credentials in general ed. & special ed. 30 years of teaching / tutoring experience. Offering individual / small group sessions. Elaine, (310) 454-6070

MATH, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS TUTOR * All math through AP calculus, AP chemistry and AP physics. Ask about homework club!!! www.clc90272.com or (310) 459-3239

NATIVE FRENCH TUTOR. Make learning or improving French a dynamic and fun experience. Tutors all levels & age groups in the comfort of your home. Palisades resident. Call Francois @ (310) 804-1650

SPANISH: Palisades resident from South America, patient & friendly, offers Spanish tutoring to all student levels. Learn, improve & gain self-confidence at school, traveling, work, etc. (310) 741-8422

FRENCH TUTOR, 10 years experience, excellent references. Helps students to improve their grades & be ready for finals. All levels. Please contact Suzie at (323) 356-1517 or email: learnfr@yahoo.com

MUSIC LESSONS & INSTRUCTION 15h

SAXOPHONE/FLUTE/JAZZ IMPROVISATION. Individual Lessons. All Ages/Levels Welcome. Call: (310) 283-9975

CONCRETE, MASONRY, POOLS 16c

MASONRY, CONCRETE & POOL CONTRACTOR. 40 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. New Construction & Remodels. Hardscapes, landscapes, custom stone, stamped concrete, brick, driveways, retaining walls, BBQs, outdr kitchens, fireplaces, foundations, drainage, pool & spas, water features. Exlnt local refs. Lic #309844. Bonded, ins, work comp. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 ‘ WWW.HORUSICKY.COM

CONSTRUCTION 16d

ALAN PINE, GENERAL CONTRACTOR ‘ New homes ‘ Remodeling ‘ Additions ‘ Kitchen & bath ‘ Planning/architectural services ‘ Insured ‘ Local refs. Lic. #469435. (800) 800-0744 or (818) 203-8881

PALISADES CONST. SERVICES. All phase construction and remodeling. All interior and exterior construction. Additions, concrete, tile, wood work (all), brick, patios, bathrooms, fences, bedrooms, permits. We have built (2) new 2,500 sq. ft. Palisades homes in the last 3 yrs. Please contact us to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION and FREE ESTIMATE. ALL JOBS WELCOME! Please call Kevin, Brian Nunneley, (310) 488-1153. Lic. #375858 (All Palisades referrals available)

CASALE CONSTRUCTION CO. LLC. ‘ General Contractor Lic. #512443 ‘ Custom Homes ‘ Kitchens ‘ Bathrooms ‘ Remodeling ‘ Additions. (310) 491-0550 www.reemodeling.com

ELECTRICAL 16h

PALISADES ELECTRIC. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. All phases of electrical, new construction to service work. (310) 454-6994. Lic. #468437 Insured Professional Service

LICHWA ELECTRIC. Remodeling, rewiring, troubleshooting. Lighting: low voltage, energy safe, indoor, outdoor, landscape. Low voltage: telephone, Internet, CCTV, home theatre, audio/video. Non-lic. Refs. LichwaElectric@gmail.com, (310) 270-8596

FENCES, DECKS 16j

THE FENCE MAN. 22 years quality work. FENCES: Wood, chainlink & iron. DECKS, PATIO OVERHANGS, GATES. Lic. #663238, bonded. (818) 706-1996

FLOOR CARE 16m

GREG GARBER’S HARDWOOD FLOORS SINCE 1979. Install, refinish. Fully insured. Local references (310) 230-4597 Lic. #455608

CENTURY HARDWOOD FLOOR. Refinishing, Installation, Repairs. Lic. #813778. www.centurycustomhardwoodfloorinc.com. centuryfloor@sbcglobal.net. (800) 608-6007 ‘ (310) 276-6407

JEFF HRONEK, 40 YRS. RESIDENT. HARDWOOD FLOORS INC. ‘ Sanding & Refinishing ‘ Installations ‘ Pre-finished ‘ Unfinished ‘ Lic. #608606. Bonded, Insured, Workers Comp. www.hronekhardwoodfloors.com (310) 475-1414

K&Z HARDWOOD FLOOR EXPERTS. Refinishing, installation, recoat, water & fire restoration. Free est. Lic. #804641. (800) 500-1146, (818) 905-0428

HANDYMAN 16o

HANDYMAN ‘ HOOSHMAN. Most known name in the Palisades. Since 1975. Member Chamber of Commerce. Non-Lic., but experience will do it. Call for your free est. Local refs available. Hooshman, (310) 459-8009, cell (310) 433-4720, 24 hr.

LABOR OF LOVE carpentry, plumbing, tile, plaster, doors, windows, fencing & those special challenges. Work guaranteed. License #B767950. Ken at (310) 487-6464

LOCAL RESIDENT, LOCAL CLIENTELE. Make a list, call me. I specialize in repairing, replacing all those little nuisances. Not licensed; fully insured; always on time. 1 Call, 1 Guy: Marty, (310) 459-2692

DJ PRO SERVICES ‘ Carpentry, Handyman, Repairs. ALL PROJECTS CONSIDERED. See my work at: www.djproservices.com. Non-lic. (c) (310) 907-6169, (h) (310) 454-4121

PALI HANDYMAN & CONST. SERVICES. LOW COST HOME IMPROVEMENT. All jobs welcome such as all painting exterior-interior-walls-moldings etc., un-sticking of doors & windows, concrete, tile, brick/block, carpentry, woodwork, patios, decks, all fencing, gates, doors, cabinetry, drywall repair, roofing, additions, flooring, bathrooms, kitchens, water damage, electrical, plumbing, pressure washing, picture hanging, lighting, stucco, repair, sanding, clean up and trash removal and all other projects or fix it problems needed. Call now for a FREE ESTIMATE! Kevin, Brian Nunneley, (310) 488-1153 (always working in Palisades). Lic. #375858, bonded and insured. 24 hr/7 days service available also!

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16p

SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942 (310) 393-5686

PAINTING, PAPERHANGING 16r

PAUL HORST ‘ Interior & Exterior ‘ PAINTING ‘ 56 YEARS OF SERVICE. Our reputation is your safeguard. License No. 186825 ‘ (310) 454-4630 ‘ Bonded & Insured

TILO MARTIN PAINTING. For A Professional Job Call (310) 230-0202. Refs. Lic. #715099

J W C PAINTING. Residential & commercial. Years of experience. Affordable & reliable. Local references. Lic. #914882. Free estimates. jwcpnc@yahoo.com. Call Jason Childs (Charlie), (310) 428-4432

REMODELING 16v

KANAN CONSTRUCTION ‘ References. BONDED ‘ INSURED ‘ St. Lic. #554451. DANIEL J. KANAN, CONTRACTOR, (310) 451-3540 / (800) 585-4-DAN

COMPLETE CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION ‘ Kitchen+bath ‘ Additions ‘ Tile, carpentry, plumbing ‘ Quality work at reasonable rates guaranteed. Large & small projects welcomed. Lic. #751137. Call Michael Hoff Construction, (310) 774-9159

ROOFING 16w

HOME IMPROVEMENTS, roofing, water damage, skylights, windows, chimneys, masonry, drywall, skim coat, stucco repair, carpentry, painting, tile, retaining walls, repairs, remodels. Non-lic. (310) 457-4652

HELP WANTED 17

HOUSEKEEPER POSITION. Half time housekeeper position, 5 days per week. Own transportation, CA D/L, and references required. (310) 459-5277

ANTIQUES 18

1964 STEINWAY BABY GRAND. Model S, 5-foot, satin ebony, tuned & player added. A small 1-inch repair, minor paint touch-ups. Great condition! A stunning Steinway! Blue Book: $21,000. (310) 801-1677

AUTOS 18b

MGB-GT ’73. Maroon, 87K miles, operational. Call 10 a.m.-12 p.m. only. (310) 393-6976

FULLY LOADED CHEVY TAHOE LT! 2004 Tahoe LT with every option! Perfect first car, or family car in amazing condition. Driven and solely owned by a Palisades mom. Non smoker, no accidents. Blk/tan leather interior, roof racks, dvd package/towing/side panels and more. Seats 7. 78,000 miles. $17,000 OBO.Please call (310) 650-3540 if interested.

PETS, LIVESTOCK 18e

PEDIGREE PUG PUPPIES * Fawn colored, 9 weeks old, male and female, very cute, shots, w/ papers. (310) 459-0405

Noted Chef Alain Giraud to Open Restaurant Here

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Taking over the former Dante Palisades location on Swarthmore Avenue, owner and chef Alain Giraud hopes to open his new restaurant, Maison Giraud, in May.
Taking over the former Dante Palisades location on Swarthmore Avenue, owner and chef Alain Giraud hopes to open his new restaurant, Maison Giraud, in May.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

It’s often said that as one door closes, another opens. Even as diners packed Dante Palisades last Saturday night to eat a final meal and take home a sentimental doggie bag, a new owner was making plans to meet his contractor there on Monday morning.   Chef and owner Alain Giraud says his plans for the Swarthmore Avenue space are to ‘simplify and clarify it,’ to make it ‘more contemporary, light, clear.’ One major change will be an expansion of the sidewalk dining to accommodate outdoor seating for about 20 patrons.   The restaurant, Maison Giraud, will feature a bakery, and the chef is already imagining Palisadians dropping in for coffee and a toasted brioche with homemade preserves.   ’The key for us is to be part of the community of the Palisades,’ Giraud told the Palisadian-Post Monday. He will open seven days a week, all day, and likes to think about the restaurant as a home to the village.   ’I’m all the time referring to a home,’ he says. ‘If you show up in my home, even if it’s not dinner(time), I will give you something.’   So it will be at the Maison, which will open as early as 7 or 7:30 a.m., with busy moms stopping in before or after dropping off kids, and residents coming by for a ‘typical California lunch’a salad, something green, something light.’ He’ll stay open through the afternoon, offering ‘go’ter,’ which means ‘taste’ in French and also denotes the country’s traditional 4 p.m. snack. Perhaps his customers will pick up cannel’s, little cakes from Bordeaux, before worrying about dinner.   Part of Giraud’s charm lies in his delightful descriptions of food, replete with small histories or legends. He offers never just a tomato, but instead his thoughts on heirloom tomatoes and whether they are overrated, before a quick assembly, in his mind, of a juicy slice topped with a bit of fleur de sel and settled next to some crusty pain de campagne, grilled and brushed with olive oil.   Giraud was born in Paris to a family of restaurateurs. He studied at the Culinary Institute in N’mes from 1974-76 and then cooked at four restaurants with two-star Michelin ratings in Paris (the H’tel de Crillon) and the south of France.   The chef came to the U.S. in 1988, planning to stay for only a couple of months. But he stayed on, first gaining recognition in Los Angeles cooking with Michel Richard at Citrus. He opened Lavande in 1998, then launched Bastide in 2002. Along the way, he garnered numerous awards, including Chef of the Year from Bon Appetit magazine in 2003 and the California Restaurant Writers Association in 2000, and a rare four-star rating from the Los Angeles Times for Bastide. In 2008, he and two partners started Anisette, a brasserie in Santa Monica (they decided to close last September despite strong reviews).   With all his experience, acclaim and training, Giraud says he will keep things ‘not complicated’ at his new restaurant on Swarthmore and follow a mantra of ‘ingredients, ingredients, ingredients.’   ’We (chefs) have to have guts to simplify and not complicate the food,’ he says.   He’s animated about shopping at the farmers’ markets in the Palisades and Santa Monica and using locally grown fruits, herbs and vegetables. ‘The most exciting thing for me,’ he says, ‘is that America is beginning to realize the bounty that we have here.’   Giraud, engaging and open, without any of the hauteur one might expect from a chef of his stature, speaks a strongly accented English peppered with endearing sound effects like ‘zoom,’ ‘clack, clack,’ and ‘ching, ching,’ in the most unexpected places.   He’s reluctant to characterize the new venture in traditional French terms, both because he feels they are sometimes misused and because he just doesn’t like labels.   ’It is not a bistro, not a brasserie’it is a restaurant,’ he says. ‘A restaurant with a twist, for sure.’   His wife, Catherine, has a business of her own called Lavender Blue. She began 15 years ago selling only table linens and only from Provence, but now offers ‘everything for the table,’ says her husband. ‘She buys the things by instinct, by taste.’   Giraud will take advantage of that taste by locating her new retail boutique on one side of the existing space (towards Monument). It will be separated by a wall and have two entrances of its own, one from the expanded patio outside. But Giraud plans to have four windows running across the dividing wall to bring the lively texture of that space into the restaurant.   Back to that dinner. Giraud is set to offer residents a number of dining options in what he finds to be ‘a rare place in the sense of a village and community.’   Parents will be able to find a simple family dinner as early as 5:30 p.m., but the restaurant will also cater to couples looking for a later, more romantic meal. Those who don’t feel like going out at all will be able to ring Giraud and order something like ‘a roast chicken, a lovely salad, a strawberry tart, and add some small cookies for the kids.’   ’We want to create something that is about lifestyle,’ the chef says. ‘The traditional high-end restaurant is one dimension; we want something that is very convenient for the community.’   At least once a month, he will show off a bit, building a meal around one ingredient when it is at the peak of the season.   But first, drawings are being plan-checked, demolition work is about to begin and all the hard work of staffing and launching a new restaurant must take place.   Giraud hopes to welcome Palisadians to Maison Giraud in mid-May.

Residents Savor Final Meals at Dante Palisades

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Owner Angelo Sambeat with closing night customers (left to right) Rene Ezer, Mitchel Ezer, Carl Rosenthal, Laurie Rosenthal (Carl's daughter-in-law) and Dylan Rosenthal. Carl and Mitchel, friends since childhood in Chicago, have lived in the Palisades since the mid-1960s.
Owner Angelo Sambeat with closing night customers (left to right) Rene Ezer, Mitchel Ezer, Carl Rosenthal, Laurie Rosenthal (Carl’s daughter-in-law) and Dylan Rosenthal. Carl and Mitchel, friends since childhood in Chicago, have lived in the Palisades since the mid-1960s.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

‘We wanted to celebrate and show our support for this community treasure,’ said Laurie Rosenthal, one of several hundred patrons who enjoyed a farewell dinner at Dante Palisades Saturday night. Owners Angelo and Cynthia Sambeat, who were dating when Angelo and an early business partner opened Dante on Swarthmore Avenue in July 1980, told the Palisadian-Post that they had their best nights ever on Friday and Saturday. (See Viewpoints, page 2.)   Saturday night diners included a cross-section of Pacific Palisades residents, from former Citizen of the Year Joan Graves and ‘Gidget’ (Kathy Zuckerman) to Middle East author Ann Kerr (with spouse Ken Adams) and NPR’s Matt Miller and his wife, Jody.   ’We’re going to miss this place terribly,’ said Dr. Jean DeKernion, chair of UCLA’s department of urology. ‘I’ve lived here 32 years and Dante’s has been one of the wonderful things about the Palisades’great service, a nice atmosphere, and good food at a good price. You didn’t have to fight background music here. You could sit down with people and converse without having to shout.’   ’This is my fourth night here this week,’ said Dottie Larson, who was enjoying one of her favorite Dante dishes’pasta with fresh salmon. She was joined by her daughter Susan, who had driven down from Port Hueneme.   ’Angelo told me on Monday that he was closing on Saturday, so I started calling my friends,’ said Larson, who was Citizen of the Year in 1959. ‘I don’t blame Angelo for wanting to retire, but I’m grieving. What a wonderful asset we’re losing. I ate here every week.’   Angelo Sambeat was born in Zaragoza, Spain. After college, he owned several businesses in Paris before moving to the United States in 1973. Although he spoke no English, he found a job as a wine steward at a Los Angeles restaurant and eventually started working at La Scala in Beverly Hills. He and his business partner opened Dante on Wilshire Boulevard in West L.A. in 1975 before coming to the Palisades.   In 1984, Angelo separated from his business partner, sold the Dante on Wilshire and took over sole ownership of Dante Palisades.   Angelo met his wife, Cynthia, in early 1980. A graduate of UCLA, where she studied journalism and art, Cynthia began helping out in the restaurant after they became engaged in 1981. After marrying in March 1982, they moved into their Pacific Palisades home. Cynthia helped host the restaurant for many years and took care of the business side of the restaurant.’   The Sambeats have two daughters, who both attended Corpus Christi School and Marymount High School. Stephanie graduated from Colgate University in 2006 and now lives in New York City, where she is project and development manager for The ONE Group in the hospitality industry. Marisa graduated from Pepperdine in 2008 with a B.A. in communication and public relations and now lives with her husband, Robert Scheff, in Malibu.’   ’Saturday’s closing of Dante Palisades was bittersweet for Angelo and me,’ Cynthia told the Post. ‘Many customers, friends and relatives came to celebrate the final two nights, and we tried to accommodate as many people as possible.’Both kitchen and front-of-the-house staff worked tirelessly right up until we locked the doors at 11:55 p.m.’   She added, ‘Angelo and I exited together, as we had on countless nights over the years. I said, ‘I can’t believe it’s over,’ and we exchanged a kiss and a hug.’   Angelo and Cynthia can be reached at danteatrio@gmail.com or 15332 Antioch St., Box 898, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.

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