16000 Marquez Ave, May 9 at 8 p.m. Suspects smashed rear door, ransacked residence and fled with property.
14000 Sunset Blvd, May 11 at 8:30 p.m. Suspects smashed rear glass door and entered the residence. Victim was inside the house and yelled at suspects. Suspects immediately fled without taking property.
Burglary/Theft From Vehicle
Sunset Blvd & Temescal Canyon Road, May 5 at 9:10 a.m. Suspect smashed vehicle window, took property and fled.
Sunset Blvd & Temescal Canyon Road, May 5 at 4:45 p.m. Suspect entered vehicle, took property and fled.
Sunset Blvd & Muskingum Ave, May 7 at 9:45 p.m. Suspect used unknown method to remove door locking system of vehicle, took property and fled.
Provided by LAPD Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin. In case of emergency, call 911. To report a non-emergency, call 877-275-5273.
Photos courtesy of Yalda Paydar/No Alcohol Company
Huntington Resident Yalda Paydar Launched No Alcohol Company, Offering a Line of Alcohol-Free Wines
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Imagine a dinner party with friends, a drink in hand. You have work early the next day, but there’s no fear of a hangover, sluggishness, not feeling well—or, in some cases, saying something regretful.
Why? Because you’ve been sipping on wine by No Alcohol Company—launched by Huntington resident Yalda Paydar in January.
Founder and CEO Paydar launched the brand during a time of “healing her mental, emotional and physical health,” read the NoAlchCo website. She originally “set out to create her favorite beverage without the drawbacks.”
“I’m actually an attorney by trade,” Paydar explained to the Palisadian-Post. “I went to law school in New York.”
She moved out to Los Angeles after law school with the man who would become her husband, as he was from Malibu. They originally lived in Marquez Knolls before moving to the Huntington about a year ago.
“We moved here and I liked it, but now that I know LA better, I can’t imagine living somewhere else,” Paydar said of the Palisades.
Paydar continued to practice law for three years before burning out around 2021.
“I went back and forth about, ‘Oh, should I keep doing this? Maybe I just need a break,’” she recalled. “So, I quit. Then when I took this break, I started thinking, and I did some therapy and I was doing a lot of self-reflection.”
She thought back to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic: “A lot of people started to drink more.” Paydar said that she loves wine, it has always been her “drink of choice.”
“I wasn’t doing anything crazy,” she described, “but every night at like 5 or something, I’d be like, ‘Oh, [time for] my glass of wine now’ … and then I’d have like two more with dinner. Over time, I was just like, ‘I’m getting really slow.’”
One day, Paydar thought about how amazing it would be to have her rosé without the alcohol in it—and then, after sharing that thought, people told her it would be “such a great idea” and that “no one’s done this before.”
Paydar began her research at the end of December 2022 and found that while people have, in fact, started to do this, it’s still a “very fresh industry in terms of the wine component.”
Data shows that Americans are drinking less: According to a Gallup report that was published in Wired, 65% of American adults drank alcohol in 2019. By 2021, that number went down to 60%. The number of alcoholic drinks consumed per week also went down from four in 2019 to 3.6 in 2021.
Paydar found during her research that there were options for mocktails, capturing the “ready-to-drink section of the industry.”
“So I decided to go down this route,” Paydar said about embarking on her journey with alcohol-free wine. “I told myself—because I’m not from the beverage industry—to just do one thing at a time and see how far you get … and then I did it, did it, did it and then I ended up making a product.”
She spent all of 2023 working on getting NoAlchCo launched, creating a drink that is designed to be “flavorful, aromatic and sophisticated … without the headaches,” according to the website.
In addition to no alcohol, the wine has no added sugars or artificial flavors. It is made from 100% Californian grapes, which are fermented as “traditional” wine.
“Each varietal goes through a method of vacuum distillation called Spinning Cone Column Technology,” according to information shared by Paydar. “This technology allows for the extraction of alcohol by using alternating rotating cones that spread out the wine to a thin film to produce the desired result—removal of alcohol while maintaining the balance and complexity of each wine varietal.”
Paydar said there is “one real company” that does the removal process. She purchases wine from a winery and sends it to them to remove the alcohol. She said that reds are the most difficult to create, as the “gusto” is hard to recapture once the alcohol has been removed.
Then, NoAlchCo reintroduces some of the original natural flavors and aromas that are associated with each varietal, avoiding sugar and using only natural flavors to “maintain the integrity of the wine varietal.”
Paydar recognized that alcohol brings people together, both during moments of celebration and as a “peaceful place” after a long day of work.
“However, we also recognize the ways in which alcohol can actually hinder the very joy and peace we seek to gain from it,” the NoAlchCo website read. “Our decision to create an alcohol-removed wine was not about denouncing a beloved ritual; but about honoring the ever-evolving relationship we have with it.”
Paydar said that she expected mostly sober people to be interested in the product, but that she has found that “a lot of people who still drink” are “trying to be a little bit more mindful.” She said that whatever a person’s reason for not drinking alcohol—whether it is for health or beyond—they have been “very excited” because “they want to be a part of the social gathering that alcohol, like having a cocktail or drink, brings,” and they “always felt left out.”
“Before, there was water,” Paydar said. “Now they have something else that they can enjoy and try, so the reception has been really great.”
NoAlchCo’s current lineup includes alcohol-removed Sauvignon Blanc (“a dry, crisp and mineral finish with hints of apricot and jasmine”), Chardonnay (“an oaky, smooth and round finish with hints of peach and orange blossom”), Rosé (“crisp, mineral and refreshing finish with hints of rose and strawberry”) and Cabernet Sauvignon (“a round, smooth finish with hints of black pepper, chocolate and blueberry”). For those who want to try all four varietals, NoAlchCo also offers a quartet pack.
In addition to achieving her goal of bringing an alcohol-free wine to fruition, Paydar said an added benefit of pursuing NoAlchCo is that it allowed her “branch out into” her “creative zone.”
“Being an attorney is … creative in some ways, in terms of your writing that you get to write maybe more creatively,” Paydar explained, “but there’s definitely things that you have to do and a way to do them.”
Paydar said she got to explore her creative side when it came to things like designing labels and picking what she wanted on the website.
“Before this, I never considered myself a creative person,” Paydar said. “Then when I started doing this, I said, ‘Oh, I am creative, it just was hiding.’”
While alcohol-removed drinks are a relatively “new industry topic,” Paydar said, she has noticed “there’s a lot of women in this space,” which she “really loves.”
“We’re putting passion and emotion into this,” Paydar said. “I think it’s really interesting that the people who are trying to do more innovative things and innovative products in general—natural products, whatever it may be—are all of these females who are tired of the same Oreo that’s been there. I mean, I love an Oreo, but sometimes you want something different.”
Paydar is currently working on expanding the brand to be sold at local stores and served at restaurants, but until then, interested Palisadians can find NoAlchCo wine at its website: noalcoholcompany.com.
Palisadian J.J. Abrams’ career continues to soar with his latest work on naval aviation documentary “The Blue Angels,” which became available for streaming via Prime Video beginning Thursday, May 23.
From director Paul Crowder and producers Abrams, Hannah Minghella, Sean Stuart, Glen Zipper, Mark Monroe and Glen Powell, Amazon MGM Studios and IMAX’s “The Blue Angels” documents one year with the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron.
“Soar with The Blue Angels in a brand-new documentary featuring never-before-seen footage that chronicles a year with the Navy’s elite Flight Demonstration Squadron—from selection through the challenging training and demanding show season—showcasing the extraordinary teamwork, passion and pride that fuels America’s best, the Blue Angels,” according to IMAX.
The film takes viewers behind the scenes for a look at what it takes to become a Blue Angel, from the selection process to the training and “demanding” eight-month show season, according to Amazon.
“[‘The Blue Angels’] pays tribute to the extraordinary teamwork, passion and pride of the hundreds of men and women of the Navy and Marine Corps who have had the honor to serve in the Blue Angels squadron—past, present and future,” according to Amazon.
“The Blue Angels” film had an IMAX run for one week, from May 17 to 23. Amazon Studios acquired worldwide rights to the documentary, allowing the film to be streamed globally on Prime Video starting May 23.
“This fascinating and layered documentary is wholly representative of the kind of work ethic, teamwork and perseverance that goes into being a Blue Angel,” Amazon’s Head of Documentary Features Brianna Oh said to IMDb. “We are incredibly honored to join this talented filmmaking team in bringing their story to audiences around the world.”
According to Variety, Abrams and his company—Bad Robot—have another project in the works, “Flowervale Street,” from writer and director David Robert Mitchell.
“The mystery-thriller stars Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, and is set for a May 2025 release under Bad Robot’s deal at Warner Bros,” Variety reported.
Palisadian and Palisades Charter High School alum Abrams previously directed movies like “Star Trek” and “Mission: Impossible.” He later went on to direct, produce and co-write the seventh movie in the “Star Wars” franchise, “The Force Awakens,” which has reportedly become one of the highest grossing films of all time.
St. Matthew’s Music Guild will conclude its 39th season of concerts on Friday, May 31, with a concert beginning at 8 p.m., featuring the Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s.
“The concert features the orchestra’s concertmaster, YuEun Gemma Kim, in [Felix] Mendelssohn’s ‘Violin Concerto in E minor’ along with [Aaron] Copland’s ‘Music for Movies’ and [Wolfgang] Mozart’s ‘Solemn Vespers,’ with the Choir and Soloists of St. Matthew’s Parish,” read a statement from Music Guild.
Mendelssohn composed “Violin Concerto” in 1822, though it was not published until after his death.
“In 1951 a member of the Mendelssohn family presented the manuscript to violinist Yehudi Menuhin who presented the work at Carnegie Hall in 1952 and many times thereafter,” continued the Music Guild statement. “It is a tour-de-force for the violinist, and full of the youthful vivacity and charm of other works from the composer’s youth, such as the ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ overture.”
Copland’s piece is gathered from music from three of his film scores (“The City,” “Our Town” and “Of Mice and Men”). It is a five-movement suite, designed for small orchestra and dedicated to French composer Darius Milhaud.
“Mozart composed the ‘Solemn Vespers’ in 1780 for use in the Salzburg Cathedral,” according to the Music Guild statement. “Far from a solemn work, the ‘Vespers’ features some of Mozart’s most beautiful and engaging choral music. The texts are all from the Book of Psalms with some movements bold and exuberant, others lyrical and quiet, and others in a strict contrapuntal style.”
Kim attended the University of Southern California beginning in 2013, where she studied with “famed violinist and teacher” Midori Goto. She has played internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, in a “wide variety of repertoire on modern and Baroque instruments.”
Other ensembles Kim performs with around the U.S., Asia and Europe include Delirium Musicum, American Bach Soloists, Boulder Bach Festival, Voices of Music, Noree Chamber Soloists and Kuhmo Chamber Music Society. She has been the concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s since 2022.
The concert will take place at St. Matthew’s Church, located at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue. Tickets are $45.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit musicguildonline.org or call 310-573-7422.
The National Charity League – Class of 2024 Senior Recognition Ceremony took place at Brentwood Country Club—honoring 10 graduating seniors (including from Palisades Charter High School) for their “leadership development, cultural activities and philanthropy services they completed in the six-year mother-daughter program with NCL.” Palisadian Arden Doyle was presented with the Senior Service Award.
“The graduating Ticktockers were honored for their leadership in the community with over 1,250 philanthropy hours they achieved during their time with NCL,” read a statement about the event. “Their favorite philanthropy partners were The Giving Spirit, Hollygrove and Operation Gratitude.”
Photos by Hal Horowitz Photography
The Corpus Christi School Academic Decathlon team participated in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Regional Decathlon on March 2. Team members are Violet Curtis, Finn Fox (captain), James Jelline, Mary McNown, Conner Nocas, Luca Odell, Calista Rucci, Vivienne Turk, Lauren Whitely, Charlotte Whittington and Dustin Zhou.
Photo courtesy of Kathy Slattery
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties’ The Charitable Foundation—with agents Betty-Jo Tilley as chair emeritus and Jasmin Reichle as secretary—gave a donated CPR kit from American Heart Association to Palisades Charter High School. Pictured, from left: Tilley, Office Manager and BHHS California Vice President John Closson, Reichle and Pali High Lead School Registered Nurse Nicole Montanez
Photo courtesy of Jasmin Reichle
Palisadians Kathy Duglin (founder/lead stylist of Style Vous Plait) and Meaghan Kessman (Meaghan Kessman Home Organization) hosted a morning of “donations, drinks and nibbles,” collecting items for St. Matthew’s Thrift Shop at a residence in the Palisades on April 22.
“One hundred percent of St. Matthew’s Thrift Shop proceeds go to the following charities: Las Familias del Pueblo, St. Joseph Center, St. Margaret’s Center, SPY: Safe Place for Youth, The People Concern and Westside Food Bank,” read information about the event.
Palisades-Raised Peter Lamden Opens a Salon in Santa Monica Canyon
By PARKER KESTON| Intern
How many haircuts have you had in your lifetime? In most cases, too many to count, right?
Now, how many haircuts have you had looking out onto the blue Pacific Ocean while being taken through a carefully curated and crafted experience?
Peter Lamden Salon, opened in 2022 in Santa Monica Canyon by hairdresser and Palisades-raised Peter Lamden, emulates that exact haircut, ocean-view and all.
Raised in El Medio Bluffs, Lamden attended Marquez Charter Elementary, Paul Revere Charter Middle and Palisades Charter High school before departing to attend college and build his career in hairdressing.
“I started doing hair when I was 26 years old,” Lamden explained to the Palisadian-Post. “I was living in Santa Monica when I started my career at a salon in Beverly Hills, which was, in my mind and at that time, the best place you could work at in this business. So where I wanted to be wasn’t even a concept in my mind, yet I was where I felt like I was supposed to be, and where I felt like I needed to be to build the career and the clientele I wanted.”
The salon in Beverly Hills—run by renowned hair stylist Chris Mcmillan—was Lamden’s homebase for approximately 10 years. There he learned not only the craft of cutting hair, but also the skill of working with high-end clients.
Finally in 2021, Lamden felt it was time to make the shift to opening his own service in the Palisades. He said he knew that the area where he spent his formative years would be the best choice of location when taking the risk of opening his own salon.
“[The Palisades] has always been this idyllic little town to me,” Lamden said. “I was born and raised there, but I was still always very aware that it was very unique and special. It was like the one corner of Los Angeles that always felt like it could just be any little town in America… and my time away from the Palisades made it even more special in my nostalgic memory.”
Lamden began the planning process for opening the salon during the peak of COVID-19, initially looking to set up shop in a shutdown bathing suit shop in Santa Monica Canyon. Planning to partner with a colorist friend of his, he was going to rent the space and build it into a small, hidden Palisades salon. However, Lamden ultimately let that opportunity go due to the inconsistencies of COVID lockdowns.
Approximately one year later, Lamden had a newborn daughter and the added responsibility made him cease looking for additional major commitments. However, out of the blue, a mutual friend contacted Lamden with an opportunity to view a potential salon space in a nondescript exterior building Lamden had simply been driving by his entire life.
But a tour of the space showed off a rooftop deck, fireplace and ocean views, and next thing he knew, Lamden saw the future.
“The minute I walked in, I just saw the view outside and the potential that was inside,” Lamden said. “I was equally excited and also immediately terrified, because I was like … I have to do this. This space is so unique. If I don’t take this off, I’ll never find something like it. It came at a time where I wasn’t looking or even really hoping for it. But it was one of those opportunities that feels so right, you can’t say no.”
Still, Lamden said he was nervous. He knew the biggest risk of opening his own salon was not the cost but completely moving areas, losing customers and potentially having to rebuild his clientele. But when he began feeling out his long-term clients, he said he was happily surprised by their encouragement, positive reactions and willingness to move with him.
“These people are clients, but I also wasn’t giving enough credit for the fact that … I had been cutting their hair for 10-plus years, and I care about them and they care about me,” Lamden said. “The first reaction I got more often than not was people saying, ‘I’m so proud of you, going off on your own was a pivotal part of my career. You are 100% making the right move, and you can 100% count on me to be there.’ That was really surprising.”
With this newfound confidence, Lamden reimagined the process of curating his clients’ individual experiences at his new salon. Previously, he was only able to control what happened in his chair, but when designing, crafting and opening his own salon, the amount of control one has over the overall experience is completely changed.
“I was really excited about being able to curate their entire experience from the minute they park and walk in,” Lamden described. “What do they see? What do they smell? What do they hear? How do they feel when they’re sitting there waiting for their appointment? Start to finish, the experience gets to be exactly what I would want it to be for myself and providing that to clients has been the most rewarding part [of running my own salon].”
Peter Lamden Salon, located at 100 W Channel Road, is open for business and looking for new clientele to try Lamden’s haircuts.
“I want to invite anybody in to participate in an experience that I don’t think exists elsewhere in my industry,” Lamden said. “From the uniqueness of the location and experience, to the view and the design of the studio, nothing makes me and my clients happier than a perfect haircut, style or color while sitting here looking at the ocean every day.”
For more information or to book an appointment, visit peterlamden.com.
1033 Swarthmore Avenue Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 424-363-7166 hankspalisades.com
By MERV HECHT | Restaurant Critic
You have to hand it to the Caruso team: Palisades Village just gets better and better.
Shortly after I wrote a non-favorable review of the pseudo-pizza restaurant that opened up, it closed, and a very acceptable pizza establishment, Jemma Pizzeria, took over the space. That was one important improvement because pizza has become a way of life in our cultural cuisine.
And after I wrote several negative articles about Hank’s, Hank’s was remodeled, turned over to the gentleman who owns Angelini’s (perhaps the best restaurant in Pacific Palisades to my taste) and a new menu appeared, which includes BBQ Baby Back Ribs as I suggested.
But it’s not just the Baby Back Ribs (BBQ glazed baby back ribs, served with tangy cabbage slaw), the whole menu has improved and the quality of the food enhanced to where we plan to eat there at least once per month.
The Grilled Artichokes come with a delicious remoulade dipping sauce, the Baby Back Ribs are well marinated and the Herb Roasted Jidori Chicken (Japanese for “free range”), served with sweet corn, roasted mushrooms and chimichurri, is delicious.
Even the service has improved (although some more training could help), and the delicious Onion Rings were served quickly while still hot.
Other entrees on the menu include Hank’s Smashburger (single chuck patty, American cheese, onions, iceberg and “awesome sauce”), Crispy Chicken Sandwich (house made pickle, iceberg lettuce, beefsteak tomato and aioli) and Vegan Burger (mushroom, brown rice patty, niçoise olive tapenade and romesco on a vegan bun).
Among the Salads + Soups is French Onion Soup (caramelized onions in beef jus, country bread and Emmenthal cheese) and Palisades Chopped Salad (with mixed greens, walnuts, green apple, egg, tart cherries and a house vinaigrette).
OK, the prices are not for the weak of heart, especially the wine prices, but I’ll write a few more reviews with more specific criticisms of the wine list, and we have every reason to believe that improvement will follow.
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, 3d 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.
The Palisades Charter High School Tideline journalism class is coordinating the submission of a series of pieces the Palisadian-Post is publishing from the school’s periodical. A version of this piece originally appeared in Tideline.
New pods were offered at the start of the 2023-24 school year at Palisades Charter High School, replacing previous options, and aligning with the interests of both students and staff.
Pods, a program unique to Pali, are intended to mimic the way dolphins travel in cooperative pods by dividing Pali freshman into groups based on their interests. Each pod is assigned a year-long elective and an English teacher.
In previous years, pods consisted of one semester of an elective, one semester of sociology and a two-semester English class. However, this year the pod elective was transformed into a year-long class, replacing the previously required one semester of sociology.
The pod options now consist of art, computer technology, create and construct, culinary arts, digital media, entrepreneurship, environmental science, film, law and social justice, music, and performance.
All of the pods either get a full year of Visual and Performing Arts credit, computer and/or tech credit or science credit. Additionally, eight out of the 11 pods are a part of Career and Technical Education pathways that students may complete.
The decision to rework the pods was made by CTE Coordinator Tyler Farrell, Assistant Principal Chris Lee, department chairs, select teachers and the Board of Trustees.
“There was a lot of discussion with feedback from students,” Lee said.
Some of the new pods are old pods that were renamed with slight changes. For example, the law and social justice pod incorporates both the old social justice pod and the old sociology class. Additionally, the make and fabricate pod was rebranded as the create and construct pod.
Sophomore Justin Reinman was in the recently dropped media pod last year.
“The media pod was a lot of fun,” he said. “I used the skills I learned in the media pod—like how to record video interviews—when I tried out for a job.”
However, Reinman admitted that he would have selected the culinary pod if he had been given the option to do so.
“I like the culinary arts pod option a lot because I cook a lot,” he said. “I wish there had been more options last year.”
He added that the school should focus on creating “more opportunities.”
Freshman Mabel Lowe is in the create and construct pod.
“The description was a lot of making physical things and learning about history,” she said. “It’s a fun class for designing, and even coding and designing things that are useful for people.”
According to create and construct pod instructor Matt Golad, there were a multitude of changes made this year.
“Last year was a semester long and this year is two semesters long, so we’ve got new projects,” he said. “They’re going to use different tools like woodworking, routers, saws, the drill press and the lathe to make the ball … The idea is that I’ll reach out to some preschools and Montessori schools, and we can donate it there.”
Lowe added that students have a lot of freedom in the create and construct pod.
“You can be really creative, and you can just make whatever you’re feeling that day,” she said.
Overall, she is glad for the change and the expansion of pod options.
“If there are more choices, people are more likely to be happy about what pod they get because they can customize it more to what they like to do,” she said. “Class sizes will also be smaller so it will be easier to learn things individually.”
Lowe said she believes that Pali should continue revising the pod options in the future.
“The world is changing and people are changing, and new things are coming up and making comebacks,” she said. “People are having new interests, and those should definitely be brought in.”
David Grinsfelder Photos courtesy of David Grinsfelder
Contributing Writer David Grinsfelder Reports on a Day in the Life of a Model on Set in New York
By DAVID GRINSFELDER | Contributing Writer
I can only manage a brief “hello” to the producer on set before I’m whisked away to get ready for the photoshoot, scheduled for a 10 a.m. start time. Right now, it’s just after 8:30 a.m. and, despite being half-awake, I know today is not going to be just another day in the office.
I’m on set for a major New York-based lifestyle and footwear brand today, photographing for its Winter 2023 Holiday Campaign. We’re shooting in Silver Studios at the Chelsea Piers, an iconic New York space most famous as the stage of many “Law & Order” episodes.
It’s not my first time on a studio set—I’ve done plenty of eCommerce work for brands like lululemon and American Eagle. But something about today feels different.
When a model shoots eComm (industry slang for “electronic commerce,” whereby models help promote and sell clothing via company websites), it is as close as they come to working a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. gig. Call time on set is typically 8:30 a.m. and you wrap around 5 p.m., with an hour for lunch at 12 p.m.
There isn’t much room for creativity, since models are changing in to and out of 40 to 50 different outfits per day. These “looks” are often repetitive, and photos are intended only to accompany individual outfits on the website, instead of being used for big, flashy billboards in Times Square.
Most models will tell you that while eComm isn’t glamorous, it is the main way they pay the bills. On the other hand, studio shoots like the one I’m doing today are high-stakes, high-energy and vary from client to client.
When I shoot a campaign, it is a much smaller, more select group of eight to 10 outfits that feature the season’s highlights. Fewer outfits means less rapid wardrobe changes, more time to settle in to each look, and freedom to be creative with poses and props.
With over $2 billion per year in footwear revenue, today’s client is all about shoes. Although the shoes are the focus of today’s shoot, we have an incredible styling team that has designed outfits intended to highlight the footwear.
Two members of the team greet me with beautiful smiles as I do my final fitting, tailoring the shirts and hemming the pants one final time before they’re ready for their 15 seconds of fame.
After that, it’s over to hair and makeup, where I catch them chatting over steaming cups of coffee. They’re industry veterans represented by Streeters, which is one of the preeminent global creative talent agencies for artists in the beauty and fashion industries (yes, hair and makeup artists are represented by agents as well).
No sooner have I said hello than I am plopped down in front of a vanity mirror by one of the artists where she masterfully applies several types of product to my skin. Out of curiosity, I have to ask what she’s doing to my face.
“I start with a gentle cleanser to prep your skin,” she said. Sounds simple enough.
“Then,” she told me, “I’ll apply some glycolic acid toner for an extra deep clean to remove dirt and leftover oils.” Got it.
“After that, I’ll give you a serum with hyaluronic acid to promote skin flexibility, a touch of niacinamide eye cream, bronzer to add depth and complexion to your cheekbones, concealer to hide periorbital hyperpigmentation (aka the circles under one’s eyes), and finally I’ll spray a facial mist for the finishing touch.”
(Women reading this: I will never again take for granted the time it takes for you to get ready.)
Once I’m “out of the chair” (industry talk for hair and makeup), it’s time for the main event. The photographer walked me through the storyboard, a visual layout of the different outfits we’ll be shooting and the narrative we’re trying to create.
Today’s goal is all about creating an effortless style that is aspirational for the average buyer, but simultaneously elevated for a more discerning clientele. I’m not totally sure what that means, but I nod my head in agreement. As my modeling mentor Bruce Hulse said when I first started in the business: “When someone asks if you can do something, say yes. Then learn how to do it later.”
The female stars of this particular show are still in the chair. Since it will be a little while until they’re ready, the photographer introduces me to his photo crew.
Top photographers typically have a production entourage with whom they work consistently. Today’s crew is cracking jokes like only old friends can, which means it is going to go well. Photo sets like this one survive and thrive by the capability (and camaraderie) of their photo crew.
I wish I remembered every detail of our day on set, but when the camera starts flashing rapid-fire and we’re being hustling on and off set for outfit changes, I lose myself in the pandemonium of it all. It is a barrage of lights, instructions and a million thoughts in my own head about different poses and facial expression I can “hit” in order to give the photographer something new to capture.
After a quick lunch, another three hours. As the sun starts to set out the big bay windows, the studio is illuminated with an incredible golden hour light that makes for some of the best images of the day.
Finally, around 4:30 p.m., the photographer gives a nod to our producer, who knows it’s his way of saying we’re finished.
“That’s a wrap on David!” she yelled.
As tradition demands, there is a moment of appreciation as we all applaud each other. A few hugs between new friends, and exchange or two of Instagrams, and then we’re sent back out into the world while the photo crew, who arrived early, stays late to break down the set.
Days like this are what make the volatility and uncertainty of the modeling profession worth it. An incredible team, a beautiful studio space and the chance to create images that are (hopefully) timeless make some of the most grueling days on set fly by.
Growing up in Pacific Palisades, the idea of modeling wasn’t remotely on my radar. But after taking a leap of faith, moving across the country and leaving a corporate job at one of the big TV streamers, I have to admit—it’s a unique and undeniably fun profession for a 26-year old in New York.
David Grinsfelder is a graduate of Palisades Charter High School (2015) and UC Berkeley (2019). He currently lives in New York and is writing a series of travel stories for the Palisadian-Post. The Grinsfelders have been Highlands residents since 1989.
Patrol leaders from Troop 223 report on recent Good Turn and Career trips.
Alexander Vari | Seminoles Patrol Leader
The Seminoles Patrol went to Westside Food Bank to volunteer and sort food on Sunday, March 17, for a Good Turn Trip. It was a very enjoyable experience for everyone, and we were all very proud of our hard work.
After arriving, we were put to work making boxes and then filling them with various food items around the warehouse.
Photos courtesy of Alexander Vari
We quickly realized that our first strategy of having everyone fill individual boxes was not working efficiently. I got everyone together to make a pack line instead, where everyone was responsible for putting 2 or 3 items into a box, and then passing it to the next person.
This made the process a sort of assembly line, with every scout adding a bit to the final result. This proved to be a much faster method, and we were able to get all the boxes filled in a very short amount of time.
The items we sorted included Cheerios, a variety of canned items, pasta, and milk. We filled up a pallet with about 50 boxes.
After we were done making boxes, we cleaned the warehouse to leave it better than we found it.
We rode home, proud of our contribution to the community.
Bruins Patrol Career Trip Photos courtesy of Henry Mauch
Henry Mauch | Bruins Patrol Leader
Members of the Bruins Patrol from Boy Scout Troop 223 had an informative experience exploring aspects of public health recently during a Career Trip, thanks to a special session led by local Palisadian UCLA surgeons, Dr. Jane Yanagawa and Dr. Peyman Benharash.
Dr. Yanagawa and Dr. Benharash, both highly regarded in the medical field, generously shared their expertise and shared tips how to live healthy lives, so we are not at the other end of the scalpel anytime soon.
Dr. Yanagawa was raised in Pacific Palisades and attended the local public schools (Marquez Elementary, Paul Revere Middle School and Palisades High School) and went on to become a thoracic surgeon.
Dr. Benharash, a cardiac surgeon, is also local to the Palisades and together, they led us through a Public Health Day at UCLA’s surgery simulation lab. For our patrol, it was an opportunity to not only expand our knowledge but also to witness firsthand the impact of healthcare on our community.
As a patrol we learned how public health affects not only the jobs of the surgeons but also the community. Getting to experience the surgical robots hands-on showed us just how much technology is shaping this field.
This trip gave us a better understanding about public health and community service. The Bruins Patrol is so grateful for the dedication and kindness that these local surgeons showed us, leaving a lasting impact. I want to thank our local heroes.
If there are any fifth- or sixth-graders who are interested in participating in Scouts,
contact Greg Frost (boys) at frostfamily@frostinvestigations.com and Larry Kirven (girls) at troop223girls@gmail.com.
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