Filming in the Palisades Photos courtesy of Emmett Whitaker
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Several shows with a loyal viewership have had multi-year gaps between seasons.
Fans of Marquez Knolls resident Bill Hader’s “Barry” had to wait almost three years between season two, which ended May 19, 2019, and season three, which premiered April 24, 2022.
“Curb Your Enthusiasm”—created by and starring Palisadian Larry David—just concluded its 12-season run, which was spread out over nearly 25 years, with its biggest gaps between September 2011 and October 2017, then December 2017 until January 2020.
The wait was worth it for Alphabet Streets resident and Palisades Charter High School senior Emmett Whitaker, who, after a nearly four-year break, just released the fourth season of “Survivor Palisades.”
“‘Survivor Palisades’ is a backyard version of the television show ‘Survivor’ that I started at 11 years old, where I bring together various teenagers from across LA County to play the game of ‘Survivor’ in the urban jungle of LA,” Whitaker explained to the Palisadian-Post. “Seven years later and four seasons, I’m still producing my own version of the show I fell in love with at 11.”
The Post last featured Whitaker in 2020, alongside the launch of the third season of the show. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic and being busy with high school commitments, Whitaker said the fourth season was “a bit stalled,” but was released on April 5, following a live premiere with the cast on March 22.
“Viewers can definitely expect the highest level of gameplay we’ve seen thus far in ‘Survivor Palisades,’” Whitaker promised. “So many backstabs, blindsides and big moves. More than that though, we have an extremely personable, passionate cast that are both going to be entertaining to watch navigate through the game and root-able for as they fight to stay alive.”
Season four features “11 brand new castaways,” Whitaker said. They were divided into two tribes: David and Goliath, which was based on “how they believed others often perceived them.” Originally there was meant to be 12 contestants, but Whitaker explained that one got sick, so they had to proceed without her.
“The David tribe is composed of underdogs used to proving themselves and facing adversity in their day-to-day lives, while the Goliath tribe is made up of teens with high levels of success at a young age—competitive athletes at the top level, nationally recognized students, business-starting teenagers,” Whitaker explained.
Production days started filming around 7 a.m., wrapping at about 6 or 7 p.m. Filming for the season was meant to start in March 2020, but had to be delayed due to the pandemic.
“As a full-time high school student involved in a varsity sport, when I got back to in-person school, it became challenging to prioritize editing the fourth season on my own,” Whitaker explained. “So, I took some time off from my childhood project and came back to ‘Survivor’ after finishing college apps. I’m super glad I’ve gotten back into creating this series, as it has really been the passion project of my childhood.”
Whitaker said he felt it was “essential” to finish editing the fourth season, as the show “is really one of the most defining parts” of his childhood identity. As he finishes up high school, Whitaker shared plans of going into film production professionally, with hopes of one day becoming a writer/director.
“After finishing college applications, I knew I had to finish off my series right, to both the viewers, the cast and crew who participated, and to my 10-year-old self who fell in love with ‘Survivor’ and just wanted to create it,” he added.
A fifth and final season of the show is in the works, Whitaker said. It will feature the return of 14 All-Stars: “The best of the best to ever play, coming back for one final battle,” Whitaker said.
When it comes to his crew, Kira Prudente has been a member for seven years, while Brian Chanes, Stratton Chanes and Sammy White have been a part of it for six years.
“I really couldn’t thank anybody more than the Cudzil family, however, who, year after year, have lent me their house to be the set of ‘Survivor Palisades,’” Whitaker said. “From tribal council to challenges to camp life, everything happens there, and without Jerry, Lorie, Sean, Abigail and Emily Cudzil, I’m unsure if this series would even exist.”
Whitaker also said his family has been “unbelievably helpful throughout the series,” that them allowing him to pursue this interest “really speaks to how great they are.”
“Part of the reason why ‘Survivor Palisades’ functions is the family that’s been created around it, as, year after year, I’ve been lucky enough to have the same cast and crew members come back to assist and play in the game,” Whitaker said. “‘Survivor’ fans from all over Los Angeles County have come forth to help, and it’s created an atmosphere … passionate for elevating the show as much as possible.”
Palisadian Conan O’Brien has been globetrotting for his new show, “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” which premiered on April 18.
The MAX original series “follows Conan O’Brien as he visits new friends he made through his podcast, ‘Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,’” according to a synopsis, “and engages in in-depth discussions with viewers from all around the nation and the globe.”
The podcast—co-hosted by Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley—was launched when O’Brien realized, after 25 years at the “Late Night” desk, the “only people at his holiday party are the men and women who work for him.”
“Over the years, and despite thousands of interviews, Conan has never made a real and lasting friendship with any of his celebrity guests,” according to the TEAMCOCO synopsis. “So, he started a podcast to do just that. Deeper, unboundedly playful and free from FCC regulations, ‘Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend’ is a weekly opportunity for Conan to hang out with the people he enjoys most and perhaps find some real friendship along the way.”
Recent episodes of the podcast include “Amish Brotherhood,” where O’Brien speaks with Danielle from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and “Rum and Cokes in the Bathroom,” with Brie in Utah about her post-Mormon experiences.
“Conan O’Brien Must Go” features the comedian surprising guests that were on his podcast—“while also taking in local culture, cuisine and sights.” The first episode was filmed in Norway. Other locations featured in a trailer for the show include Thailand, Ireland and Argentina.
“This is a travel show I’m doing,” O’Brien said in the trailer, “where I visit my fans from around the world.”
The show is a follow up to “Conan Without Borders,” which, hosted by O’Brien, aired on TBS as a series of specials of his talk show, “Conan.” There were 13 episodes, with the series ending due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and end of “Conan” after 11 seasons in 2021.
“There are funny people all over the globe and they all have their own rhythm,” O’Brien said during a conversation with Nick Kroll at SXSW, as reported by Variety. “Everyone in Ireland is a comedian … I love talking to people who don’t know who I am, don’t care. I’m a connection junkie, I like to connect with people. I think this show is my way to get my fix.”
The four-episode series “Conan O’Brien Must Go” became available in its entirety to watch on April 18.
Sergio and Coyolli Jimenez Photos courtesy of Bill Buerge
Young Topangan Coyolli Jimenez Has Been Designated This Year’s Butterfly Day Goodwill Ambassador, Set to Take Place May 5
By BILL BUERGE | Contributing Writer
“Coyolli” is an Aztec name for a small ringing bell. It’s also the first name of the 12-year-old daughter of Sergio Jimenez, the man in charge of butterflies at The Mountain Mermaid in Topanga.
Sergio’s wife, Yaotl, said Coyolli has been helping her dad raise butterflies since she was 5 years old. Propagating live butterflies for the fifth annual Topanga Butterfly Day at Mermaid Mountain on May 5 is job-one for Sergio and Coyolli.
It seems only fitting that Coyolli be named this year’s Butterfly Day poster child with her image gracing, quite literally, the posters and other announcements proclaiming the event.
Butterfly Day at Mermaid Mountain
Thirty-three years ago, when I bought the historic Mermaid—originally a country club built in 1930—it was a crumbling ruin ready to collapse. I hired Sergio to work on the restoration crew and, long story short, he made himself indispensable, has lived here ever since and has embraced butterflies to such a degree that he’s known as “The Butterfly Whisperer” here in Topanga.
Butterfly Day is a nonprofit, pollinator-promoting nature festival that we host at the Mermaid every year. It’s a uniquely Topanga event for all ages, featuring a live butterfly house, California native butterfly plants for sale, environmental organizations, a live music festival, native Tongva ceremony, bee exhibit, a reptile and raptor show, face painting, arts and crafts, food and drink, and more.
About 1,500 people attended last year. This year, Sonic Butterfly, an inspired giant long-string harp that literally turns the entire Mermaid into a spectacular 100-foot-long musical instrument, will kick off the international migration tour of the monarch butterfly.
Pacific Palisades
Kids are instinctively drawn to butterflies. I know firsthand, since I fell hopelessly in love with butterflies as a youngster growing up in Pacific Palisades in the 1950s.
Back then, the Palisades was more like Topanga is today. There were wide open fields and running creeks, and a single mom-and-pop grocery store. My dad said he could have bought all of Potrero Canyon for $700.
Walking to Palisades Elementary School, I was awestruck by the colorful striped swallowtail caterpillars on the bright green anise plants growing wild everywhere and smelling like licorice. I collected the anise caterpillars and those of other species, and reared them in my bedroom.
Like a mother bird, I brought them anise cuttings to eat, and watched in wonder as they morphed into chrysalises and then into flying color-saturated creatures. I’ve always had an artist’s eye, and butterflies are the ultimate eye candy.
It’s a familiar story told by many lepidopterists and entomologists (butterfly and insect scientists), that they got hooked on butterflies and insects when they were knee-high to a grasshopper. Suffice it to say that for me, raising butterflies for the Mermaid butterfly house and hosting Butterfly Day is a boyhood dream come true.
Growing Butterflies
Potting plants behind the butterfly house
Growing butterflies in captivity is a challenging and protracted process, requiring much patience following the elongated and complex four-stage butterfly lifecycle from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis, culminating in the winged adult.
Rearing butterflies is an arcane endeavor practiced for fun by hobbyists, or for profit by butterfly breeders and butterfly farmers to provide specimens for live butterfly exhibits, scientific research, and for release at weddings, memorials, and such.
Sadly, many butterflies are propagated each year only to be euthanized, pinned, mounted and sold to butterfly collectors or as souvenirs, or trafficked illegally on the global black market for rare and endangered species
Webster’s defines a butterfly house, flight-house, conservatory or lepidopterarium as a facility that is specifically intended for the breeding and display of butterflies with an emphasis on education. The Mermaid Butterfly House is strictly for learning, inspiration and delight, with proceeds from Butterfly Day donated to various nonprofit environmental organizations.
Without plants, animal life would perish. Coyolli and her dad know all too well how fundamental plants are to butterfly farming. You need large amounts of the right kind of plants at the right time. Butterflies and plants evolved together over millions of years worldwide, and are inextricably interdependent and specialized one to the other.
Each species of butterfly has only one or a select few plant species, called their host plants, that they are able to eat as caterpillars. Adult butterflies, however, are not as picky as the caterpillars and will consume flower nectar from most any flowering plant, which are called their nectar plants.
Egg Stage
We have found it most effective and disease-free to begin rearing butterflies by collecting butterfly eggs in the wild. Knowledge of butterfly behavior and host plant relationships helps Sergio and Coyolli locate the tiny eggs.
Looking for infinitesimally small butterfly eggs on big bushes and trees is not unlike trying to find the proverbial “needle in a haystack.” Better to spot a female butterfly on the wing and try and follow her to see exactly where she lays her eggs.
Females can lay between 300 to 500 eggs over a two- to five-week period and can sense their host plants from great distances. As they hone in on their target, they will flit and bob from plant to plant, touching and actually tasting them through sense organs in their feet to pinpoint the proper host plant.
Males, on the other hand, are scouting for receptive females, and will exhibit different flying behaviors as they court and vigorously pursue prospective mates. Once a female finds her host plant, she will usually deposit the eggs out of the view of predators on the undersides of the leaves, excreting a rapidly hardening glue.
Coyolli and Sergio know to look mostly under the leaves for the eggs. Extracting the eggs one by one by hand would damage them, so Sergio has taught Coyolli to carefully snip off the leaves with the egg(s) still attached, then place them in a small container.
Caterpillar Stage
Gulf fritillary catepillars
Caterpillars eat voraciously and will increase in size thousands of times during their lifecycle stage. Upon emerging from the egg, a caterpillar will first devour its eggshell and then begin eating the leaf onto which it was deposited. Sergio and Coyolli have to add more leaves to the rearing enclosures to keep up.
Caterpillars produce prodigious amounts of caterpillar excrement pellets, called “frass.” Captive breeding of any animal—cats or caterpillars—is an unnaturally crowded state prone to rapid disease transmission, so the rearing enclosures need to be cleaned often, and great care must be taken to sanitize hands and equipment.
The caterpillar stage is the longest in the butterfly lifecycle. It can last from several weeks to several months.
Sergio and Coyolli must be prepared with sufficient amounts of the various host plants for the many different butterfly species they are rearing. Fortunately, we have ample butterfly host plants in the Mermaid’s butterfly gardens where the leaves can be harvested for caterpillar food.
Examples of these are oak, sycamore, passion vine, citrus and milkweed. Other host plants are raised from seed and others are purchased.
There’s a number of nursery areas at the Mermaid solely dedicated to growing, potting and storing the hundreds of host plants required. Coyolli and Sergio also need to raise or buy additional hundreds of potted flowering nectar plants to feed the adult butterflies in the butterfly house.
For a long time it was believed that the contents of a chrysalis was an amorphous liquid goo. More recent science shows however that specific caterpillar body parts transmute inside the chrysalis into specific adult butterfly parts. For example, the caterpillar’s mandibles used for chewing will evolve into the adult butterfly’s proboscis, or feeding tube. (How cool is that?)
Chrysalis Stage
Swallowtail butterfly chrysalises
Once a caterpillar is fully grown, it enters the chrysalis stage, and will spin filaments of silk to attach itself to the tops and sides of the rearing enclosures. A hard, protective shell forms around it as if by magic.
Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis and transforms into an exquisitely folded adult butterfly package waiting to unfurl. The chrysalis stage typically lasts one to two weeks.
Adult Stage
Once metamorphosis is complete, the adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis fully formed and ready to soar, mate and lay eggs. The length of this stage depends on the species of butterfly, and can vary from several days to several months.
When a butterfly emerges from a chrysalis, its wings are seriously wrinkled. The butterfly will hang wings down and slowly pump them full of fluids to straighten them out.
The lifespan of most adult butterflies is two to three weeks, but it can vary greatly among different species.
We raise butterflies because we love being around them, and to have live specimens for our educational tours of the butterfly house throughout the year and on Butterfly Day.
I do wish our butterfly house was a bigger habitat so the butterflies had more room to fly. Maybe someday.
I find consolation knowing that the butterflies in our butterfly house have a far better chance of survival than those in the wild. In nature, only 1 or 2% of butterflies will make it from egg to adult.
The Mermaid Butterfly House is designed to be a predator-proof environment against ants, wasps, lizards, frogs, rats, mice, possums and racoons that all eat butterflies during one or more of butterfly life stages. Butterfly life may seem idyllic to us, but it’s a short and tough existence, fraught with danger.
Forty years ago there were few live butterfly exhibits worldwide. Since then, they have grown massively in popularity on every continent, spawning a big cottage industry in butterfly farming.
Farming butterflies as a livelihood has lifted many families out of poverty in third-world countries and all around the world. Live butterfly exhibitors usually purchase their butterflies from butterfly breeders and brokers, but our goal is to show butterflies that are homegrown in Topanga.
My Wild Ride in the Wee Small Hours
Due to the rainy, cold winter and late spring in Topanga last year, we had raised only a small fraction of the number of butterflies needed for Butterfly Day, so we ordered more from a butterfly farm.
But then, it got to be late in the day on the Saturday before Butterfly Day, and UPS had not yet delivered the butterflies. They had always arrived on time before without a hitch.
In a panic, I repeatedly called UPS until I finally got an after-hours rep who said they were now closed, the shipment was inside a locked facility at LAX, everybody had gone home and there was nothing he could do about it. What now?
In a cold sweat, I searched the web and called butterfly breeders for hours with no luck. Everybody was shut down for the weekend. What would Butterfly Day be without butterflies?
At half-past midnight, early on the morning of Butterfly Day, exhausted, bereft of butterflies and feeling hopeless, I finally gave up, resigned to my fate and crashed.
At 3 a.m. the phone rang. It was a man that I had called earlier saying he had more than 100 live butterflies that I could come get immediately.
I got in my truck and raced to Orange County where I met him in his bathrobe on his front doorstep, paid cash and got the butterflies. Then he said he had another 50 or so of another species, so I bought them, too.
I sped back to Topanga, pooped, but proud, sleepy and struggling to stay awake, lest I fall asleep, crash and disappoint untold hundreds of expectant children. The sun was just coming up as I drove through the Mermaid’s front gates on the morning of Butterfly Day 2023, thanking the butterfly gods and vowing to have a better, fail-safe butterfly propagation plan for 2024.
Topanga Homegrown
A poster for the 2024 event
The goal for Butterfly Day 2024 is to raise all of our own butterflies. Sergio, Coyolli, Yaotl and I have been working on it all year.
We assembled a beautiful new butterfly propagation room with gleaming stainless steel tables and new breeding enclosures. Sergio purchased a new microscope for detecting pathogens and other butterfly rearing paraphernalia.
Butterflies are warm weather creatures with a natural tendency to go dormant or migrate during the colder months, so they are much harder to raise this time of year. I can’t make promises for mother nature, but so far, it’s looking good.
On a more sobering note, I fear we may be a lot further down the road of another mass extinction than we want to know. Granted, humans are an impressive species with big brains and such, but we are a self-absorbed and shortsighted one, and tend to play fast and loose with mother nature.
Scientists speculate that if all the insects perish, the food chain would collapse and humans would become a memory. Monarchs are fast going extinct. Bees are collapsing. Even ants that were once my common companions, I hardly see them anymore.
Unless we adapt and change our ways, humans could become an evolutionary afterthought on the ash heap of natural history. We can’t let that happen.
Special Thanks
It is an honor to be able to host Butterfly Day at the Mermaid again this year. My heartfelt thanks goes out to Dr. Alicia Land-Hill, Dr. Kent Hill and Stephen Powers, co-founding members with me of the Butterfly Day Organizing Committee, to the extraordinary community of Topanga, to my ever-patient and supportive neighbors, to the fabulous Topanga Canyon Docents who manage the Butterfly House on Butterfly Day, to Theatricum Botanicum and Clare Brown for use of their parking facilities, and to all the wonderful volunteers.
Thanks to Coyolli, for being our inspiration this year, and to the entire Jimenez family. All of you are the unsung, heavy-lifting heroes of Butterfly Day to whom I am eternally grateful.
And, last but not least, thanks to all of the gorgeous butterflies that bring so much beauty, joy and grace into our world.
Story and photos by Bill Buerge, proprietor ofMountain Mermaid in Topanga and former resident of Pacific Palisades. Butterfly Day will take place on May 5 from10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit butterflyday.org for more information.
Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2024 Women’s Leadership Awards Luncheon & VIP Soirée in March at Duke’s, honoring Marquez Knolls resident Ingrid Steinberg—co-founder of Resilient Palisades—with the Woman in Philanthropy Award. Other honorees were Bridget Thompson (Emerging Leader Award), Diane Kale (Member of the Year – Women’s Leadership Committee), Ani Dermenjian (Lifetime Legacy Award) and Alice Meyering (Woman of the Year).
Photos courtesy of Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce
National Charity League Westside Chapter Class of 2025 recently hosted a Career Panel event—themed “Be the Creator of YOUR Path”—at Brentwood Country Club, which included a panel discussion of “dynamic women excelling in their respective careers.”
“From the realms of finance to professional organization/lifestyle design and media/entertainment litigation, our esteemed panelists shared invaluable insights on career development and navigating the professional landscape,” read a statement about the event. “With a lively networking session, attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with these trailblazers, posing questions and gaining firsthand wisdom.”
Photo courtesy of NCL Westside Chapter
Las Madrinas hosted its annual meeting in February where new members—including Palisadian Traci Ann Young-Hillyer—were announced. During the meeting, a check was distributed for more than $1.8 million to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to conclude Las Madrinas’ pledge to the Las Madrinas Diagnostic Innovation Endowment at CHLA.
Photos courtesy of Las Madrinas
Valeria Serna of Resilient Palisades and Prana by Lana hosted a composting workshop on St. Patrick’s Day at Palisades Village Green. A representative from Cabbage Hill Fertilizer joined the workshop to provide information.
“Our goal is to establish a community compost hub in the Palisades,” said Sara Marti, social media lead for Resilient Palisades. “It’s a crucial step toward healing the land and working with the youth. We’re super excited to potentially collaborate with all the amazing garden projects in the area. If you’re interested in lending a hand, reach out to sara@resilientpalisades.com.”
2125 Sawtelle Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90025 310-473-0580 manpukuus.com
The corner of Olympic and Sawtelle, the beginning of the Japanese area of town and the two or three blocks to the north, has become one of the busiest food destinations in Los Angeles.
In the little shopping area in the first block, you can find my favorite Korean restaurant, where I order my favorite tofu soup. There is also a wonderful chicken take-out place—and Manpuku (meaning “full belly”).
Eating at Manpuku is not just eating, but an experience and a lot of fun. The setup is like the many Korean restaurants in town, with the grill tables, but the menu is different.
The prix fixe (meaning “fixed price”) menu looks really good to me, but it’s too much food for me at this stage of life. On that menu, for $69 per person, you get kimchi and bean sprouts appetizers, spicy beef soup, garlic fried rice, five different cuts of beef and some shrimp, all for grilling at the table, followed by ice cream.
The last time I was there I started with the roasted garlic, kimchi and slices of the Kobe filet. We cooked the filet to rare, and it was delicious, but because it was fairly thick it was hard to eat without a knife and fork.
Then we ordered the Kobe ribeye, which the waiter said was the most popular selection. There was no bone, just slices of well-marbled beef and it was perfect. Then we tried the Jidori chicken thigh, which was good, but not great.
There are a lot of dishes that I haven’t yet tried, but will in time: There are assorted mushrooms, Kurobuta pork sausage and Kobe tongue, all dishes I love. And there are lots of different ways to eat the proteins, such as getting wrapping lettuce.
The menu is much more varied than one would expect. There are three separate types of beef: American Wagyu, U.S. Prime and the Japanese “signature” beef. Then there are some pork selections, chicken thighs or breast, and seafood. There are three kinds of rice, five soups, eight appetizers and five sashimi selections.
The bottom line is that you have to come back many times to experience this restaurant. I loved grilling the beef at the table, so it is cooked just how I like it and stays hot.
There is also an extensive drink menu, taking up the whole back side of the menu, which includes Sapporo on tap, an excellent selection of wine and one of the best sake lists I’ve seen (hot and cold).
Some of what separates this from the Korean BBQ I frequent is the broad extent of the menu, the reasonable prices and the Japanese influence. I recommend it.
Merv Hecht, like many Harvard Law School graduates, went into the wine business after law. In 1988, he began writing restaurant reviews and books. His latest book “The Instant Wine Connoisseur, 3rd edition” is available on Amazon. He currently works for several companies that source and distribute food and wine products internationally. Send comments to mervynhecht@yahoo.com.
How to Road trip from Pacific Palisades to Mendocino
By MIKE SCHIBEL | Contributing Writer
With today’s hustle and bustle, finding moments to escape and reconnect becomes essential for all of us.
I embarked on a road trip from Southern California to Mendocino for a celebratory birthday getaway, seeking adventure, good food, fantastic wine and quality time together with my wife and dog. With Barbara—our fur baby who loves road trips—accompanying us, we set out on a journey filled with endless breathtaking landscapes, delicious cuisine and cherished memories.
Secret Tips for Creating Our Road Trip
This road trip is the perfect four- to five-day getaway with a special someone or a great friend. For this birthday celebration getaway, we had some guidelines we wanted to stay within to make this the best road trip possible:
Under a 10-hour drive from home. This can easily be broken up into two manageable days of driving with a fun stop.
Stunning natural beauty.
Open roads.
Variety of local places to stay and eat.
Activities and experiences unique to the destination.
A Memorable Stop in San Francisco
We stayed at one of the most iconic hotels in the city, atop Nob Hill: The Mark Hopkins InterContinental. San Francisco is a city rich in history, and the Mark Hopkins Hotel has been a part of many years of fascinating stories.
Perched on the corner of California and Mason Street—with trolley cars passing by the front door and 360-degree city views—the once-mansion was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and opened as a hotel in 1926. A member of Historic Hotels of America since 2011, the hotel has hosted some of the most noteworthy people in history, from Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland and Betty Grable to Elvis Presley.
Stepping into the lobby, the hotel’s rich history surrounded us with its opulent decor and classic charm. Our room was a spacious suite adorned with luxurious furnishings, with spectacular views of the city and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. It was a perfect blend of modern comfort and classic elegance.
The hotel’s dog-friendly policy was a massive plus for us, and the staff went above and beyond to make Barbara feel like the queen she is. From a warm welcome to a photo session for the VIP (Very Important Pet) wall and yummy treats, the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel truly understood the importance of making every family member feel special.
No visit to the Mark Hopkins is complete without visiting Top of the Mark, a legendary rooftop lounge on the hotel’s 19th floor. Note: You don’t need to be a hotel guest to visit Top of the Mark.
Our Stays in Mendo
Photos courtesy of Mike Schibe
With under 1,000 people, one could call Mendocino a hidden gem in California. Known for its rugged cliffs, walking trails, active sea life and expansive beaches, it was the heaven we needed and the Shangri-La we sought.
Nestled along the enchanting Mendocino Coast, Little River Inn emerges as a timeless gem, offering a warm embrace to travelers seeking respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life. For over 80 years, Little River Inn has welcomed guests to its coastal paradise, creating a haven that is a testament to the region’s rich history and commitment to hospitality.
Our two-night stay at Little River Inn began with settling into a cozy room featuring a welcoming fireplace. The sound of waves crashing and seals barking in the distance provided a soothing backdrop as we relaxed on our porch, absorbing the breathtaking views.
The evenings at Little River Inn were nothing short of magical. Opening a bottle of wine from Lula Vineyards in Philo, a delightful stop on our way to Mendocino, we witnessed the sun dipping below the ocean horizon.
A culinary journey awaited us at the Little River Inn restaurant, where the menu boasted freshly caught fish and locally sourced vegetables. The meal, service and overall vibes were exceptional, providing a gastronomic experience highlighting the region’s commitment to quality and flavor.
A delightful breakfast was delivered to our room each morning at the appointed time. The spread included fresh orange juice, aromatic coffee, creamy yogurt paired with granola and a perfectly crafted omelet.
The Little River Inn also offers spa treatments, a golf course with incredible views and tennis—a great spot also for family celebrations from weddings to reunions.
For our next two-night stay, we chose the magical Brewery Gulch Inn, a true hidden gem, inviting travelers to indulge in a tranquil retreat surrounded by natural beauty. This charming 11-room inn captivated us with its unique character and warm hospitality.
Situated just a few minutes outside of town, Brewery Gulch Inn is a well-kept secret offering an intimate and secluded getaway. One of the highlights of Brewery Gulch Inn was its stunning porches that overlook the bay. Spending moments on these porches, whether sipping on a morning coffee or enjoying the evening breeze with a glass of local wine, became integral to our experience.
Our daily breakfast, featuring made-to-order organic and locally sourced fare, fresh-squeezed juice, homemade pastries, including the highly recommended banana waffles, was a treat that kick starts each day with a burst of flavor.
One unique aspect of our stay was the evening happy hour with the best of locally sourced wine and beer, where the Inn served light meals in bento boxes featuring worldly cuisine using sourced local produce and meats.
Beaches and Walks
Just below the Little River is Van Damme Beach, a peaceful beach with a beautiful cove. Babs loved strolling off-leash on the beach and meeting other dogs. This is a smaller beach than others in the area, and even though it’s next to Highway 1, it’s still a fantastic beach and an incredible stop.
One of the more popular beaches in the area is Glass Beach, which is 15 minutes north of Mendocino, just outside of the town of Fort Bragg. Glass Beach is named for the abundant sea glass created from years of dumping garbage into an area of coastline near the northern part of the town. There’s an effortless walk from the parking lot to gorgeous, expansive beaches with tons of sea glass to pick.
Our favorite beach on Mendocino coast was Jug Handle Beach—a short walk down a path surrounded by trees and lush greenery. Once you’re on the beach, it feels like a secluded paradise.
Returning Home
Our recent escapade along the enchanting Mendocino coast left us spellbound, and we’re convinced you’ll feel the same. California never fails to surprise and delight, offering endless possibilities for unforgettable getaways even if you call this state home.
Born and raised in Marquez Knolls, Mike Schibel is the host of the Travel With Meaning podcast and a travel journalist. For help planning your next meaningful adventure, reach out to Schibel via hello@travelwithmeaning.com.
LACO performs at the April 6 gala celebration. Photos by Ben Gibbs
Riviera Residents Receive LACO ‘Heartstrings Award’ for Their Support of the Arts
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Riviera residents Shaheen and Anil Nanji were honored at the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Gala Celebration on Saturday, April 6, at Skirball Cultural Center.
Founded in 1968 by cellist James Arkatov, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra began as an artistic outlet for musicians in the recording industry. Arkatov had a vision for an ensemble that would allow artists to balance studio work and artistic collaboration.
“Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through intimate and transformative musical experiences which exemplify and foster artistic excellence, education and innovation,” according to the organization. “Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra seeks to be a cultural force in Los Angeles and recognized as a premier orchestra worldwide.”
The orchestra presented longtime LACO advocates and philanthropists Shaheen and Anil with the LACO Heartstrings Award, celebrating their commitment to and support of the arts.
Anil and Shaheen Nanji
Anil made the move from Kenya to England to attend boarding school at Malvern Boys College, where every student learns the music of English composer Edward Elgar, according to a press release from LACO. Anil went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy from the University College London, and an MBA from the London Business School. In 1981, he and his family emigrated to LA.
Shaheen emigrated from Tanzania to Vancouver in 1971 with her family, where she went on to attend Simon Fraser University and earn her bachelor’s degree. She also obtained an LLB from the University of British Columbia. Shaheen practiced as a civil litigator before moving to LA in 1988, when she and Anil were married.
Shaheen is known for dedicating most of her free time to philanthropy and activism. She has served on the Board of Artwallah—an organization that showcases South Asian musicians, dancers and artists in Southern California. She has also been active with the Aga Khan Development Network and served on the Board of Curtis School for eight years, “with a focus on diversity and inclusivity,” according to the press release.
Anil is currently president and owner of Integrated Magnetics, and a founding partner of NextGen Solawazi, a company that develops and operates utility-scale solar plants. The company supplies electricity to isolated mini-grids in Tanzania.
Shaheen and Anil were first introduced to LACO’s Silent Film series by a family friend nearly three decades ago.
“From concertgoers, they became volunteers and supporters, and in 2014, Shaheen began serving as a member of LACO’s Board of Directors,” the press release read.
Over the last four years, Shaheen has co-chaired the LACO Board Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
“LACO is delighted to salute Shaheen and Anil Nanji for their deeply impactful support of LACO,” LACO Board Chair Anne-Marie Spataru said in a statement. “In addition to their generous philanthropic support, they are both ardent volunteers who have helped introduce the orchestra to new audiences. Shaheen has also been a valued member of LACO’s Board of Directors for the past decade.”
When accepting their award, Shaheen and Anil expressed gratitude for LACO and its presence in their lives.
“Every great city has a beating heart made up of its cultural institutions, and here in LA, we are very lucky to have so many incredible organizations and patrons that make our city’s cultural landscape so rich,” the couple said. “Among these treasures, LACO occupies a very special place for us because it’s boldly adventurous in its programming, because it takes music directly to communities across our city, because of the tremendously talented virtuoso musicians who make up the orchestra, and because it is up-close and personal in a way that other world-class institutions find it hard to be.”
The sold-out gala celebration drew over 360 attendees and raised a “record-breaking” $1 million to benefit LACO, and its artistic and educational initiatives.
The Palisades fire, captured in May Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
By SAMANTHA SONNETT | Intern
Once an occasional natural disaster in our community, wildfires have become incredibly common and a regular by-product of climate change. Brush fires plague much of Los Angeles, often near the California Incline, the Palisades Highlands, by the 405 freeway and in our neighboring mountains.
I remember evacuating our home here in the Palisades on more than one occasion in elementary and middle school, having to decide on the most important things in my life that I could pack into a little suitcase.
Besides the risk of property damage and severe injury, if the current wildfire crisis is left uncontained, the resulting greenhouse gas emissions would reverse much of the progress being made by a recent rush of state, federal and international greenhouse gas reduction initiatives.
The federal government announced plans in February to use $179 million to help contain the situation, according to a report by California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force. However, this won’t solve the problem. As citizens, it is our duty to continue calling on our government to take action to reduce environmental pollution and climate change.
In addition to an influx in carbon emissions, forest fires cause methane emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and effectively warms our atmosphere 86 times more than carbon emissions, as reported by Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
As discussed in an article I authored for the Palisadian-Post last month, California recently convinced several states and countries to join in its goal of reducing methane levels by 40% by the year 2030. But, according to a study published last year in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, the amount of emissions from California fires in a recent year equaled nearly 14% of the state’s total emissions, compared to an average of 1% in years past.
Further, a UCLA study concluded that the wildfires in 2020 released approximately 127 million megatons of greenhouse gases, which is twice the amount of total emissions that California had managed to cut from 2003 to 2019. This statistic is sobering, and facts like these should incite a need to encourage more awareness and action by our community members.
Climate change is a top issue for voters, not just because they necessarily care about the environment, but because they feel the effects of climate change daily. Twenty-five million acres—which make up a quarter of the state—are considered very high or extreme fire threat regions, according to California Air Resources Board, and more than 25% of California’s residents live in those areas.
Six of the largest wildfires in California have occurred in the last four years, as reported by Reuters. The Dixie fire is the most recent one, and the largest single-source fire in our state’s history. PG&E claims the fire may have started from its equipment, which quickly spread due to drought-causing brush and burned for almost an entire month in 2021.
What can we do to address the wildfire crisis? First, the environment must continue to be a focus in government policy making, as there are more wildfires due to climate change.
Second, priority should be given to proper forest management, as we’ve seen with the recent $179 million funding from our U.S. Forest Service. The money will be used to further California’s action plan to—among other things—create more beneficial fires, increase monitoring of electric utility equipment that could cause fires, encourage private landowners to properly maintain their trees and brush, and create fuel breaks, which are corridors of land that have been cleared of smaller trees, brush and twigs to stop fires from spreading.
It is worth noting that almost 70% of Gen Z voters (currently 18 to 27 years old) rank climate change as a top issue to ensure a sustainable planet for future generations, according to Pew Research Center. More and more of these young voters are running for office in the future, according to a 2022 study by Tufts University.
I hope the voices of our future elected officials will be heard and echoed by voters across the country so that later generations of children can enjoy our beautiful community.
Samantha Sonnett is a student at Palisades Charter High School and passionate about saving the environment. She is an activist with the American Conservation Coalition. She can often be found at the beach or strumming on her guitar. Sonnett hopes that the world can continue to fight for a more sustainable future, in order to preserve the planet and avoid further climate change.
Maureen Anne O’Sullivan, a one-woman force field of creativity, mindfulness, humor and compassion, passed away on February 28 in Santa Monica. She was 78 years old.
Maureen, or “Mo” to her many friends, was born May 29, 1945, in Lakeland, Florida. She is survived by a sister, Cathy Shorr, and three brothers, James, Michael and William. She was pre-deceased by one sister, Barbara, and a brother, John.
For many years, she made her home in the Santa Monica area, but she was also an avid traveler, residing for a time in London and Paris, and sailing out of Nantucket to the West Indies. Her many passions, including photography, prompted travel to far flung places, from Moscow to Morocco.
Maureen graduated from Syracuse University with a B.A. in 1972 and later received a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in 1994. Prior to moving to California, she worked as a video and radio producer in New York, hosted a radio program on WOCB in Nantucket, and hosted a weekly television program in which she interviewed Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, and Ted Kennedy.
She moved on to a career in marketing and public relations at Friedman-O’Sullivan Communications where she produced television and music specials, as well as events such as “A Rock ‘N Roll Summit” for Showtime. She was a cofounder of MusiCares with Michael Greene. She served on the board of directors for the Institute for Cinema Studies and the LACMA Photographic Arts Council.
In her last job, as an attorney for Disney Interactive, Business and Legal Affairs Division, she negotiated production, development and entertainment agreements.
When she retired in 2017, she was looking forward to more traveling. Her cancer diagnosis derailed those plans, but her spiritual journey took flight. A longtime devotee of Buddhist meditation and teachings, and sober for over 40 years, Mo’s ability to celebrate each and every moment of every single day was inspirational.
“We’re all going over those falls eventually,” she told friends, “and I am enjoying the ride.”
Mo loved collecting fine art photography and scarves. Her greatest pleasure, says her brother Michael, came from helping others.
“She was happiest making connections,” he added, “and helping people be their true selves.”
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 5, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford Avenue.
Rob Hockley takes a break from practice on the Carl Lewis Track at Stadium by the Sea. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Palisades High Cross Country and Track Coach Rob Hockley Specializes in Physical, Mental and Spiritual Training
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
It is no wonder Rob Hockley has made a name for himself. He has dedicated his life to training and coaching young athletes and now the Palisades High cross country and track coach has a new website dedicated to Tri Core Coaching.
Originally from Bermondsey, a tough, working class part of Southeast London, he arrived in the United States in the late 1980s, doing commercials like Adidas, Coke, Nike, Coors Lite and playing soccer with the SoCal Champions and at the LA Coliseum and Rose Bowl.
In the mid-1990s he began to immerse himself in movement, training and coaching education and by the end of the decade he was training soccer players, runners and then female pro beach volleyball player Elaine Roque. He coacheds his son Jack at Pali High and the testimonials from individuals he has trained are plentiful.
“His training made a huge difference in my speed and strength as a runner,” says former Dolphins runner and Palisadian-Post Cup Award winner Ava Baak, who now attends the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. “He always motivated me to stay consistent and push my limits, even when I felt like giving up. More than that, he cared about the health and well-being of both me and others he coached. Rob allowed me to see my full potential as a runner and I’m so thankful I was able to work with him.”
To Hockley, health and and performance must be thought of as partners. The mother of another athlete trained by Hockley added: “My daughter did soccer specific speed training with Rob with great results on the field. Her ball skills, fitness and speed all improved.”
Hockley teaches that simplicity is on the other side of complexity.
“We all think we know about training and the human body, but nothing in comparison to what we don’t know and don’t worry about… the one to two percent, if not nailing the 98. Super shoes, thera guns, etc. are no good if sleep and nutrition are poor. my goals for athletes.”
Rob Hockley with his son Jack, who ran cross country and track and played soccer at Palisades High. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
When it comes to speed, Hockley offers the following words of wisdom:
“Before we ever offer a solution to the puzzle of improving athlete performance, we must first identify the correct problem. When assessing movement, consider not only the athlete’s body but also, the task and environment they perform in.Knowing KPI’s (key performance indicators and inhibitors and considering both content and context are crucial to this process.”
The secret is assessing postures, shapes and rhythms from multiple viewpoints qnd working on them to help improve speed. So when SPEED training is viewed as skill acquisition, rather than a grind to exhaustion, small doses can be done more frequently.
“The goal is to get athletes to their most efficient and effective movement given their specific and unique constraints,” says the four-time Iron Man and 11-time Escape from Alcatraz finisher, who has led the Dolphins to great success, including multiple City cross country titles and state finals appearances and assisted in the boys’ first ever track and field team championship by half a point in 2019.
A USTA Level II coach, Hockley ran the Leona Divide 50-mile race in Lake Hughes in 12:05:39 in 2013 and ran the 50K in 6:57:40 the next year. In 2010, he did the Bulldog 50K Ultra Run and 25K Trail Run in Calabasas.
Coach Rob Hockley with Palisades’ boys cross country team at the Woodbridge Invitational. Photo: Steve Emery
“Having always been an avid student of past distance coaching legends like Arthur Lydiard, Mihaly Igloi, Gordon Pirie, Percy Cerutty and the like…the lastfour or five years have taken a deep educational dive on all things “speed” and use of critical thinking, from the world class sprint coaches at ALTIS, who have ccached 120 Olympians,” Hickley adds. “It’s been an incredible experience and it’s still ongoing and has given me another lens to view training through.”
“Responsive coaching is a holistic practice, where the entirety of the unique individual and his or her surroundings must be considered, constantly observed and adjusted to,” Hockley says. “Health and performance must be thought of as partners. Athletes will not perform at their best if health is compromised.”
For the last 15 years, Hockley has focused predominantly on high school athletes, coaching hundreds of teenagers in multiple sports to fulfill their potential and help them win numerous individual and team titles.
Core principles he teaches are:
1. Coach the unique individual
2. Observe, observe, observe
3. Repeat frequently with variability
4. Elevate health and performance
Hockley is a certified coach with more than 25 years of experience in multiple sports and has studied with
incredible resources, including Pete Egoscue (posture, alignment, movement); Bobby McGee (distance running); world class coaches at ALTIS (distance, sprinting and sports speed); and a 30-year marriage and learning from former professional and world champion dancer Lisa Nunziella (rhythm, coordination and performance under pressure).
“The journey has always been an endless search for fluid efficient and effective movement,” he adds.
With a background in semi-pro soccer (he was once teammates with singer Rod Stewart), running, martial arts and triathlon, he has trained soccer and female pro beach volleyball players, runners and triathletes since the late 1990s in addition to being a conditioning consultant to the Hofstra University women’s volleyball
team and being invited as a trainer and presenter at two U.S. Olympic Training Centers while sending multiple qualifiers to the Ironman World Championships.
“Train to improve the five basic bio motor abilities: coordination, speed, endurance, strength and flexibility,” Hockley says. “Fostering adaptability, confidence, resilience, emotional and psychological wellness, elevating health and performance and preparing athletes not only for now, but importantly for what comes next.
The human body is a dynamic complex system, but this doesn’t mean simplicity in training won’t work; you have to nail the fundamentals and repeat frequently. To coach is to speak and teach, but more importantly it is to listen & learn.”
To contact Hockley, email rljhockley@msn.com or call 310-628-3346.
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