OC Lifestyle

Tips for a Greener Good

By Sharael Kolberg | October 31, 2012 9:45 AM

Illustration by Rob Donnelly

Most people know that if they want to be “greener,” they can switch to energy-efficient light bulbs, install solar panels, turn off the tap water while brushing our teeth or wash a full load of laundry. But to dig even deeper, we’ve asked local green experts to provide tips that go beyond the basics and offer alternative ways to help save the planet and put more green in your wallet.

MAX ISLES
Founding member of Transition Laguna Beach and Ecology Center board member, recommends the following ways to take it easy on the earth:
1.Catch the Rain: Collecting rainwater reduces your water use, prevents dirty urban runoff spilling into the ocean and limits the chance of flooding.
2. Unplug: Disconnect your technology and reconnect with friends and family. Save money and rekindle relationships. Even a few minutes a day is a good start.

JACK YARBROUGH
Regional manager at Green Star Home Services, recommends looking to your appliances and home systems, such as:
3. Convert to a Tankless Water Heater: Installing a tankless or “on demand” heater can be up to 34 percent more efficient than a traditional tanked heater. A tankless water heater produces water when it is needed, rather than constantly keeping 40 - 100 gallons of water hot.
4. Install Central Water Filtration: Eliminating bottled water from your daily routine while simultaneously addressing the corrosive elements of chlorine and heavy sediment is one of the best “green” investments you can make for your home’s plumbing system, the planet and yourself. Whole house water filtration will protect your bathroom appliances and fixtures effectively reducing maintenance costs and eliminating expensive bottled water.
5. Maintain Your Appliances: Preventative routine maintenance on your home can save you thousands on costly replacement, but making sure they are running efficiently also lowers energy costs.

SEAN MCCRACKEN
Head of Transition Laguna Beach’s food group, suggests not only growing your own food to negate the impact on the planet, but also the following useful tips:
6. Oh Behave: The first thing is behavior—turn off lights, compost, don’t leave the fridge open and use reusable bags.
7. Seal It: Even the thin holes around light switches and outlets can leak cold air into your home. Seal the holes with insulating pads to save energy.
8. Plant a Tree: Not only will you be increasing oxygen, but if you plant it in front of a sunny window outside your home, it will provide shade and reduce air conditioning expenses. Make it a fruit tree and you’ll have an added bonus!

DEREK OSTENSEN
President of Laguna Canyon Foundation, shares his ideas to create a planet-friendly home:
9. Floor It: Utilize rapidly renewable resources like bamboo for flooring and other built surfaces. Bamboo matures in just five or six years, compared to 50 years for many hardwoods.
10. Slay Electricity Vampires: Unplug appliances you don’t frequently use. Some appliances suck up electricity when they are turned off and still plugged in.
11. Go Native: Incorporate native plants into your landscaping to reduce your water usage and attract local wildlife to support the native ecosystem.

CHRIS PRELITZ
Green builder and author of “Green Made Easy,” shares ideas on transitioning to a green lifestyle:
12. Sleep Soundly: Researches believe exposure to raised electromagnetic frequencies can affect good, restful sleep. Reduce exposure by using a battery-powered clock on your nightstand, retiring electric blankets and unplugging the TV and stereo at night. Also, consider non-toxic bedding like organic cotton or bamboo sheets and down pillows.
13. Reuse Water: Place a bin in your kitchen sink to catch water while washing produce, and then use that water to irrigate your garden. Even better, utilize “greywater” from your kitchen sink for your garden. Make sure to use safe biocompatible dish soaps like Doc Bronner’s or Oasis.

MICHELLE CLARK
Community relations manager for Waste Management of Orange County, offers the following advice for reducing negative impact on the planet:
14. Enlist the Kids: Double your green efforts and get the kids involved. Teach your children simple ways they can help keep our natural resources, natural.
15. Buy Recycled: Commit to buying more post-consumer recycled products. Your consumer purchases help foster recycling markets when you buy items made from recycled materials.

Small steps can make a big difference; don’t be afraid to start on the path to a greener home and planet.

Architects at Home

By OCinSite At-Large | October 29, 2012 5:15 PM

Architect Horst Noppenberger’s home

By Somer Flaherty, photos by Robert Hansen

Laguna Beach didn’t become what it is today by accident. The homes and businesses were developed over the years by creative types who were dedicated to preserving the character of the town and worked to enhance its natural beauty. Many of the individuals at the core of what Laguna is and has become are the architects who have literally designed its cityscape. Architects like Leslie LeBon, Horst Noppenberger, Robert McGraw, Lyle Hutson, Mark Singer and others create projects that enhance the city and perpetuate its unique character—and the aesthetics of their own dwellings are no different.

Horst Noppenberger

Architect Horst Noppenberger’s home began as a remodel of a small, 1940s south Laguna Beach cottage, and has since become a work-live compound of structures and courtyards. With Horst Architects, Inc. (Horst is the architect and his wife Arianna is the interior designer), the home was transformed into a 2,500-square-foot residence complete with four bedrooms, 4.5 baths and an outdoor room with an expansive view of the ocean. In the adjacent garden, enclosed by metal louvers that filter sunlight and provide privacy, the couple and their children Paolo and Chiara enjoy spending time together, entertaining and doing yoga.

The original structure of the home is connected to the new structure by a bridge. The process of designing their own home left Horst and Arianna with an experience that shaped the aesthetic of future projects. Although the home was radically reinvented from its cottage beginnings, the new architecture was encouraged by its surroundings. The two began to explore the idea of contextualism with this project. Horst notes that the exterior material of exposed concrete block, corrugated metal and wood siding relate to the rustic character of their SOLAG neighborhood, and the folded form of the roof is abstracted from the sloped roofs of the adjacent cottages and was also inspired by a nearby grove of trees at the bottom of the site. The design aesthetic creates a meaningful dialogue between the structure and site, Horst explains.

The project, and entire design through build process, became a workshop for Horst and Arianna, where they developed many of the principles which continue to inform their work today.

Leslie Lebon

In the lower Nyes/upper Victoria Beach neighborhood, architect Leslie LeBon and her husband Peter Navarro purchased a 1928 home they share with their son Alex and cats Bob, Jack, Luna, Nike, Pumpkin and Shadow. Sitting on three lots, the home was originally broken into distinct dwelling areas for tenants. The home was neglected over the years and with the need for only one family to inhabit the space, Leslie planned a complete remodel. Her goal was to return the space to its 1920s splendor, while employing modern conveniences developed in the past eight decades. Leslie, founder of LeBon Architects, soon decided that the integrity of the home could be left intact with a few new windows, doors and paint, while the majority of the work would need to be done inside.

With Leslie as the architect and Laguna Beach general contractor Tom Simpson on board, the remodel began in the summer of 2010, and the yearlong process included all new plumbing and electrical throughout, completely gutting the lower level and lowering the middle of the building 18 inches to match the floor level of the bedrooms. Additionally, the entire interior staircase was redesigned and relocated. “The new stair was a major challenge,” Leslie says. “Since I lowered the floor on the bottom level, I had to rebuild the stair. I relocated it to a more sensible location and had a very tight area to work with while having to meet building codes.”

The renovated 3,745-square-foot home still includes three separate buildings—a main house with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, a pool house and a guest room attached to the garage—but Leslie says each room on the property serves a function that her family enjoys. Although she doesn’t have a specific design aesthetic, Leslie says she creates homes that mirror what the client needs, and believes that buildings are individualistic per the owner, the building’s use and its location—her own home is reflective of that philosophy. She worked with what she was given, the home’s site, its history and the comfort her family wanted.

Years later, the property is still a work in progress, but the family is reminded of the home’s early days via a trove of treasures that were unearthed during the remodel. Among them, a painting buried in one of the walls, and an intact window and outdoor patio stone wall that were found in the interior walls. “The previous owners apparently loved antiques, statues and planters. They left 40 years worth of the statues and planters and a few broken antiques,” Leslie says. “I kept most of these with the statues still flanking the pool. They also left a Victorian era fireplace mantle, several eclectic light fixtures including two large crystal chandeliers that I reused, and many stained glass windows that remain intact.”

Robert McGraw

Architect Robert McGraw chose his home in the Alta Vista neighborhood, keeping in mind the real estate philosophy: Purchase the worst house on the best street. The awesome ocean view didn’t hurt either.

The remodel of the original 1,200-square-foot home was corralled by what he says were few but restrictive existing conditions—the small lot, carport location and the original 1959 design and layout done by Fred Briggs, a Dana Point architect who more than two decades ago was selected as one of Architectural Digest’s 100 foremost architects.

Like any construction project, the process had obstacles—he asked for the removal of existing crawl space vents so new ones could be installed, and instead ended up with 40 feet of new fencing gone (“fence” and “vent” sounded similar). Robert admits that if he were to do it all over again, there are things he would change. But even with the challenges, the McGraws were rewarded for perseverance. The resulting 2,400-square-foot, three-bedroom house gives them an extraordinary space in which to live, entertain and raise their daughter, Annika. Robert, who served on the Laguna Beach Design Review Board and the Laguna Beach Heritage Committee, and functioned as the architecture advisory consultant for Three Arch Bay, calls the new design “mid-century contemporary with a dab of rustic thrown in.”

From the perspective of repurposing a structure while maintaining the basic intent of the original designer, the space represents his aesthetic. “To have made [it] mine completely would have meant a lot more demolition, time and expense,” he explains. “That’s the other part that represents me: how frugal my approach is to building.”

Lyle Hutson

Architect Lyle Hutson’s compact house, tucked away in one of the area’s best family neighborhoods near Laguna Beach High School, was in need of a facelift when his family—including his wife Marci, their children Beau, Cole and Charlie, two Labrador retrievers (Junior and Gigi), a rabbit named Desi and a couple of green tree frogs (Jose Cuervo and Patron)—took up residence.

When the family bought the house in 2001, the 1950s home received new flooring, ceilings, interior wall changes, new doors, windows, an exterior façade update and a fresh coat of paint. “The inspiration came from the mid-century era with the mixture of wood, glass and the open plan,” Lyle, founding principal of Hutson and Partners, explains.

The result is a space perfect for a family. “The interior is a meld of styles that we love, the furniture we have collected and the bones that brought it to life in the 1950s,” Lyle says of the space his wife Marci, a graduate of Otis Parsons in interior architecture, designed. The living room, which opens to the back patio and kitchen, is center stage and the hub of family activity. “Winter is the best when we can build a big fire in the fireplace, get the family together and watch a movie here. And during the school year we have an hour of music time on Sunday evenings where one person picks a Pandora music station, and we all listen for an hour,” Lyle says.

As an architect, Lyle says the home fits his residential aesthetic. “I do a lot of commercial facilities in my business but when I get the chance to do residential projects I really look to the clients for inspiration, not a particular style,” he explains. “In this case we were the clients.”

In the future, Lyle hopes to do a small addition to the master bedroom to make it larger and create a larger bathroom and closet area. “My wife deserves it,” he says. “Now you have to go through the downstairs bathroom to get to the master bedroom. A bit odd, but in Laguna you learn to celebrate the quirkiness.”

Mark Singer

Mark Singer could be called the view master. His creations a testament to modern architecture, he is known for designing some of the most eye-catching homes in Laguna Beach. His own dwelling is no different.

Mark, the founder of Mark Singer Architects, purchased the three-acre site near Arch Beach Heights in 1987 and built the property’s first home there, which was completed in 1990. A little more than a decade later, he used the remainder of the property to build the 4,500-square-foot home he designed and currently shares with his wife Myriam and their Chihuahua Dexter. The result is typical of the architecture he is known for—a glass and stone design with almost floor-to-ceiling windows interspersed throughout the structure.

The compound includes a one-bedroom main home and a guesthouse that are connected by courtyards, with landscaping that creates a calming space. The two areas are ideal for family gatherings, and unlike other properties in Laguna that are hemmed in by neighboring homes, the Singer property sits solo on a hill. The nearest neighbor is hundreds of feet away, and the house has views of the Pacific Ocean, Palos Verdes and Saddleback.

“I wanted a timeless design that was sensitive to the natural surroundings,” Mark says. From the outside, the house is a modern structure, but appears warm and approachable with well-placed landscaping lining the walkways, various seating areas to welcome conversation and an expansive, cheerful lawn. Once inside, visitors find themselves in a sublimely transparent home, looking through glass walls into the courtyard or mingling in the kitchen, which is the center of activity. On warm nights, the couple can retreat outside on lounge chairs to enjoy the fireplace and scenic views. Mark says theirs is a home that truly celebrates outdoor living and the mild Laguna climate.

Designed to Wow

By OCinSite At-Large | October 19, 2012 4:28 PM

By Debbie Lavdas

They say one’s home is one’s castle, or in this case, one’s Bat Cave or Rock House. From a secret car elevator/art-installation to a rock star kitchen to a stately library, the rooms in these five phenomenal Laguna Beach homes wow with function and clever style. Learn what’s design-possible and get insight from some of the town’s top designers and architects about their ideas behind building these rare rooms.

It’s amazing what some can dream up, and you may find yourself inspired to take some arresting architectural cues and artistic solutions to create your own spectacular space—in your own home, your next home or your when-I-win-the-lottery home.

Photo by Robert Hansen

Lofty Library

Photo by Trina Roberts/grinphotography.com

Secret-Agent Entrance

Why saunter through the front door with a mediocre “Honey, I’m home,” when you could make a dashing entrance that says, “Darling, I’ve arrived,” through a James Bond-style car elevator that parks your stealth ride on display in your own entry gallery? This secret subterranean hydraulic-lift/art installation belongs to the Laguna Beach home known around town as “The Bat Cave,” “The Spy House,” or “The Secret Tunnel House.” Magnificent machines from Ferraris to Jaguars to Fisker Karmas have graced the impressive gallery entry area that connects to an underground tunnel leading to the main house.

With parking at a premium in Laguna Beach, this $10 million home on Point Place accommodates one more spot in a unique and stylish way. “It’s really like something from a spy movie,” says architect Paul McClean of McClean Design. “Driving in, coming down the elevator, it’s a Bond-like entrance. There is a two-car parking garage entrance on top, and an elevator takes the car to the lower level.”

Few guests can figure out how the car got there, as the only thing you see from the quiet, tucked-away street is a wooden garage door; the home is completely hidden.

The entire cliff-side dwelling is a stunner. Everything is sleek and streamlined with lots of steel, glass and wood. “The house itself took five years to build, and an additional five years to build the underground tunnel,” Paul says. Another fabulous room is the meditation room, with disappearing walls of glass, ocean views and natural light. It’s a floating harmony of surf and shore—hence some of the other names you may know the house by: “The Glass House” and “The Floating House.” Learn more about the house, currently on the market (and calling all James Bond types), at 32013pointplace.com.

Photo by Trina Roberts/grinphotography.com

Lap of Luxury

It’s indeed a luxury to have room for a pool in Laguna Beach, so designing a 74-foot lap pool for your backyard paired with a wealth of entertaining space around it is quite impressive. Entertaining is elevated to an art form in the backyard of this Mystic Hills home that shows off its multi-level, modern ways and 270-degree views of the Laguna Beach coastline and Catalina Island. At night the space is particularly party-worthy with the city lights and loads of privacy. The Pacific Avenue home is on a 20,000-square-foot lot with nothing but natural hillside views and ocean vistas as far as the eye can see. The elegant lap pool has a walkway bridge above it and the outdoor room is paired with a large spa and a second built-in barbecue.

If that isn’t enough room to entertain guests, the white-hot great room inside offers even more. White furnishings, white flooring and white walls with a 30-foot ceiling and 25 feet of curved floor-to-ceiling windows give the space enormous presence. The house—of marble, granite, steel, slate and glass—has 9,500 square feet of living space. Everything about the rooms and house was designed so that the view would not be obstructed; nothing was to detract from the owner’s line of view. All windows in the house had to be higher than the line of sight, and the curve of the house was also designed so as to take advantage of the panoramic view. The owner wanted to be able to see the entire coastline, not just the view in front. It’s spectacular inside and out. And, yes it could all be yours for a cool $7,795,000. More at 1255pacificave.greatluxuryestate.com. By the way, don’t forget your Laguna Beach Magazine friends when you throw your first pool party or great-room bash.

Photo by Robert Hansen

industrial Man Cave

An amazing modern-day, open-air man cave was recently completed at a Montage Laguna Beach private residence. The room, like almost everything inside the $27.5 million oceanfront home, is contrary to what you might expect from a breezy coastal abode at Montage, well known for its iconic craftsman style. The man cave/gentleman’s quarters/cigar bar has industrial touches that almost feel like Oakley’s design bunker headquarters. (There are no ejector chairs, but maybe there could be.) The futuristic slant takes the credit for making the space so cool, in a sophisticated manner. Exposed concrete walls with circular stamping and a futuristic fireplace dress the room with a dichotomy of warm and cool touches.

As you enter the eccentric yet striking home, the first room you see is one that subliminally summons you to toss your keys and throw back a stiff drink after a hard day. International designer Shelley Starr decorated the space.

“I decided to pay homage to the ‘good old men’s smoking room,’ ” Shelley says. “I incorporated the industrial vibe with a shelving unit of floating glass shelves and stainless steel structure, while bringing in the subtle texture and materials of a more vintage room. I chose beautiful unique leathers for the strapping under the glass shelves and custom metallic Italian leather for the swivel chairs that I designed specifically for the room. Even shopping for the style of buckle that I would incorporate onto the chair was very important to me—it came from a small dress shop in Manhattan.”

The textures, proportions and materials break from traditional comfort zones of design. Of course, the most important aspect is the contents of the bar—stocked with scotch (Lagavulin 16, Bunnahabhain 21) and specialties like Hine Antique XO cognac. The home, overall, is a unique 7,500-square-foot residence that’s never been lived in; the property is listed with The Stanaland Group.

Photo by Chris Letourneau

Culinary Star Kitchen

The kitchen in Laguna Beach’s “Rock House” is rock star worthy. The truly “green” home is built within a massive natural rock that’s surrounded by the beach and opens wide below to spectacular beach and ocean views. The kitchen was designed to complement the uniquely eco-conscious home. The owner of this home is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef who desired a kitchen that allowed family and guests to interact easily. “I wanted to create a kitchen as unique as the house, where everything is ideally and efficiently located,” architect Brion Jeannette says. “And the space needed to be as dramatic and enticing as my client’s culinary treats.”

A skylight was strategically placed above the hanging pan rack over the cooking area to flood the kitchen with daylight. The unique, earthy kitchen floor is a combination of terrazzo and seashells with stainless steel bands separating the different colors and materials. The floor is paired together to form a nautilus shell pattern. For added wow factor, the dining area is situated in front of the fully receding patio doors that open to give the kitchen breathtaking beach views and cool breezes. Creative kitchen kudos go out to the entire team of Brion Jeannette Architecture, Butch Witek Construction and Jamie Manners for interior design.

Sound Stage

By Bruce Porter | May 15, 2012 3:07 PM

There’s no blueprint for a musician. They come from all walks of life. Put two in the same room, and there’s every chance they’ll disagree on any given subject. There is, however, one common thread that runs through all of them.

Musicians—the dedicated, driven ones—have to play music. Sure, it would be nice to headline at the Hollywood Bowl, hobnob with celebrities and have a summer villa in Majorca. But there is no formula for the complicated set of factors that go into stardom, which, as it turns out, is good news for local fans.

Many of these gifted and underappreciated musicians live in and around Newport. Some are on their way up, and some just didn’t catch that lucky break. Some never cared one way or the other—the size of the stage was never part of the equation.

“It’s something we do because we love it,” says Steve Carson, the singer and guitarist for local favorite, Echo Echo (featured above, photo by Gary Carson). “It’s definitely not a hobby. This isn’t a bowling league or poker night for us. As far as the art form, the performances, we take it very seriously.”

In October 2005, Echo Echo, then known as the Steve Carson Band, opened for the Beach Boys at Newport’s Centennial Celebration. Nominated for best live act last year and best rock band this year at the Orange County Music Awards, Echo Echo plays original material that sounds like a distillation of the last 50 years of American music into a potent yet thoughtful vision.

“Everybody wants to make a living; it was always the hope,” Steve reflects. “But as you get older, you start to realize it should be more about the integrity of the music, how it makes you feel. I can’t imagine not doing it—never even considered stopping. I think it’s the same way for everybody in the band. Everybody does it because that’s what we do. We love performing.”

Steve grew up in the area. He got a drum kit at age 8 and a few years later started playing the guitar. “I wanted an electric guitar, but my parents said the only way they were going to do that was if I took lessons,” he says, grinning from an armchair in the band’s Santa Ana studio. “I started playing in a band in eighth grade. From that point on, I’ve always been in bands. There’s never been a time I haven’t been playing or recording.”

Over the course of his career, Steve has toured the country several times, mostly from the back of a cramped van. The majority of his gigs, though, as part of various band lineups, have been at local venues. “When we started out, there was the Gypsy Lounge—that was our OC home,” he says. “We enjoy playing locally because the majority of our fan base is here.”

Although the Lake Forest lounge has since closed its doors, others have opened in its place. Steve rattles off a handful that Echo Echo play regularly, including House of Blues in Anaheim and La Cave restaurant in Costa Mesa. “Just in the last couple of years, we’ve met a lot of great people,” he says. “There’s a bigger sense of community going on in the OC music scene.”

NBM
Foster the People at Detroit Bar, photo by Leslie Kalohi

Music for Every Taste
One of the most exciting developments in recent memory has been the evolution of Club Mesa, which once featured suspect punk and heavy metal bands, into the eclectic Detroit Bar. “We just celebrated 10 years,” general manager, Jason “Huey” Husted, says. “We’ve added and replaced quite a few things with our sound system. It’s the best it’s been, and we’re still not done.”

It’s no longer necessary to trek up to LA to catch “the next big thing.” What was once a nightmare local dive bar is now a hip club featuring some of the most hotly tipped indie acts from around the world. Deerhunter, Autolux, the Antlers—bands who normally command far bigger stages in far larger cities—have all played here. “Last January our resident band was Foster the People,” Huey recalls. “It was the same time their song (the viral phenomenon, “Pumped Up Kicks”) blew up. The first few Mondays were normal, with about 100 to 150 people. The last night we had a line of 400-plus by 9 o’clock.”

Other Detroit Bar residency bands, who play on Mondays over a four-week stretch, have included the likes of Cold War Kids and Young the Giant before they became top-selling sensations. “The talent buyer changed about four years ago, and we got more aggressive about getting bigger and better acts,” Huey explains.

Young up-and-comers such as the New Limb, winner of best indie band at the 2010 OC Music Awards, have also enjoyed the boost of the resident slot at Detroit Bar. “That was one of our first really big breaks,” guitarist and vocalist Dan Perez says. The band, now based in Los Angeles, congregated in Costa Mesa from various parts of Southern California to refine their chops and hone their sound. “We were kind of orphans in the OC music scene,” he adds. “We didn’t grow up here, so we didn’t have a lot of friends from high school who would come to shows. Then we started playing Detroit Bar and other places, and it was really exciting.”

The Blue Beet, near the Newport pier, hosts a variety of genre-specific bands. R&B cover band L.A. Sound Project play here every few weeks. Members of the band all pursue impressive work outside of the band. The bassist, Ben Eisen, will soon embark upon a U.K. tour with his wife in an electronic band called Lovers and Poets. The guitarist, Eric Desiderio, contributed to the music score for the film “Immortals” and currently works on the Showtime production “The Borgias.”

“We love Orange County. The people are nicer,” L.A Sound Project singer Yaze says, with a big smile, probably only half joking. “LA’s a tough crowd—they are not nurturing people!” The remark is surely self-depreciating because the band puts on an immensely entertaining show, opening with a nifty version on “Knock on Wood,” a song that’s been covered by everybody from Otis Redding to David Bowie, and following with Motown classics like Smokey Robinson’s “Get Ready” and “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me.” The dinner crowd is reserved at first, but by the time the band reaches the middle of their set, the Blue Beet is a packed house of dancing bodies.

NBM
Anita and the Yanks at Muldoon’s, photo by Scott Sporleder

Music—Anytime, Anyplace
Sunday afternoons are a terrific time to scout out local talent. Muldoon’s Pub at Fashion Island offers an array of suitably Irish-accented bands. “Muldoon’s is a special place for us,” says Anita Mansfield of Anita and the Yanks. “It has so many good memories, and there’s a lot of support for us there.”

Anita, who was born in Waterford, Ireland, originally emigrated to Boston, but for the past 10 years she’s lived in Southern California. Although she has been writing songs since her early teens, it took some time to work up the courage to perform her own songs in front of an audience. “I had a lot of fear surrounding it,” she confesses in a charming brogue. “But it became more and more painful not to do it. Finally, I said, I’m going to give it five shows.”

Nowadays, Anita and the Yanks are typically booked for a dozen shows a month. They’re cutting two records, one of traditional Irish music and one of Celtic rock ‘n’ roll, which, if their live show is anything to go by, will combine the swagger of Fleetwood Mac with the quiet intensity of Cat Power. Delicate mandolins and expressive fiddles are a keen reminder of the band’s Irish heart, though it’s the cleverly crafted rhythm section and Anita’s impassioned vocal range that will inspire listeners to sing along. “We work hard and play a lot,” Anita says of the band’s burgeoning success. “It’s a labor of love.”

Muldoon’s isn’t the only place to find engaging live music in Newport on a Sunday afternoon. A growing number of locals jump from venue to venue. “People seem to like to change it up,” says 3-Thirty-3 manager Paul Ankenman, who currently rotates two bands in this time slot. “People will go from restaurant to restaurant. They’ll go to one place for an hour, then come here for a couple of hours. There’s a whole group of people in Newport Beach who like to travel around on Sunday afternoons.”

“It’s a lot of fun,” says Diana Grace of Hollywood Blonde, who plays at 3-Thirty-3 every other week. At three o’clock in the afternoon, it’s near standing room only. They blast through an energetic set of ’70s, ’80s and ’90s pop songs, from Van Morrison to No Doubt. The crowd steadily becomes more responsive, and by the end of the show, half the audience is dancing and shouting out requests. “We try to mix it up, so we can please everyone,” Diana adds.

Local and Live
Just minutes outside of Newport’s city limits is a venue that has been hosting some of the top talent to come through Orange County for more than 30 years. San Juan Capistrano’s The Coach House (thecoachhouse.com), owned by Gary Folgner, gives patrons the chance to see iconic musicians like B.B. King, Violent Femmes, Debbie Reynolds and Willie Nelson without the inconvenience of an amphitheater-sized crowd.

“We offer a unique experience as a music venue because we have tables surrounding the stage providing guests with an intimate concert experience that you just can’t get anywhere else,” says The Coach House spokesperson Sara Ostrovitz. “It’s very hard to find venues in California, let alone Orange County, where you can be up at the stage next to performers.”

An eclectic mix of artists such as Ben Kweller, Donovan Frankenreiter, Ted Nugent and the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies are set to take the stage this spring and summer as the venue shows no signs of slowing down.
“It’s important for us to book great music that people want to see,” Sara says. “You can go to a concert anywhere, but it’s the experience you have seeing live music that makes you want to come back for more.”

Listen to the Music

3-Thirty-3 Waterfront, Sunday (Top 40), 949-673-8464; 3thirty3nb.com Back Bay Bistro, Fridays (acoustic), Saturdays, 949-729-1144; backbaybistronewportbeach.com Bayside Restaurant, Nightly (piano/vocalist), 949-721-1222; baysiderestaurant.com The Blue Beet, Nightly (jazz, various), 949-675-2338; thebluebeet.com Brasserie Pascal, Thursdays, Fridays (acoustic), 949-640-2700; pascalnpb.com Commonwealth Lounge & Grill, Mondays, Tuesdays (jazz), Wednesdays (summer), select Sundays, 949-675-4444; commonwealthlounge.com Detroit Bar, Sundays (karaoke), Mondays (residency), Tuesdays (local), Wednesdays – Saturdays (touring), 949-624-0600; detroitbar.com Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Fridays (karaoke, blues), Saturdays (karaoke), 714-957-1951; durtynellysoc.com The Harp Inn, Thursdays (country), Fridays – Saturdays (’80s, Top 40), Sundays (Irish, classic), 949-646-8855; harpinn.com La Cave Restaurant, Most nights (various), 949-646-7944; lacaverestaurant.com Landmark Steakhouse Sundays (singer-songwriter), 949-675-5556; landmarknewport.com Mastro’s Ocean Club Nightly (piano bar, acoustic), 949-376-6990; mastrorestaurants.com Muldoon’s Irish Pub, Most nights (Celtic rock, reggae), 949-640-4110; muldoonspub.com Palm Terrace Restaurant, Fridays, Saturdays (Top 40), 866-554-4619; theislandhotel.com The Quiet Woman, Tuesdays (country rock), Wednesdays (classic), Thursdays – Saturdays (Top 40), 949-640-7440; thequietwoman.com Siena Italian Restaurant & Bar, Select Sundays (summer), 949-675-6400; balboainn.com Shamrock Bar & Grill, Fridays, Saturdays (Top 40), 949-631-5633 Skosh Monahan’s, Thursdays, Sundays (acoustic), 949-548-0099; skoshmonahans.com Sol Grill, Sundays (acoustic), 949-723-4105; solgrill.com Woody’s Wharf, Tuesdays (karaoke), 949-675-0474; woodyswharf.com

Why Not in Newport?

By OCInSite Site Admin | April 17, 2012 3:04 PM

By Suzanne Baldwin

Bike-sharing. Sounds European, doesn’t it? The concept is simple: Someone needs to cover more ground than he (or she) comfortably can by walking, but it’s not quite enough of a distance to warrant summoning a taxi or driving. Said pedestrian heads over to a bike-sharing station, selects a bike and peddles his way to the desired destination. Once he’s there, he drops the bike off at a similar station, to be used by whoever needs it next.

It cuts down on traffic, helps people get from one place to the other, and best of all, it’s free! American cities, which prize the car over all other things, have taken notice: San Antonio, Texas, initiated such a program with great success.

We got to wondering ... why doesn’t Newport Beach have something like this?

The People on the Street
We prowled around the pier to find out what citizens of Newport had to say about this potential development.

Resident Jessica King liked the idea. “I think it’s better than needing to move your car around just to get somewhere that’s a little too far to walk, or needing to rent something all day for just one trip.”

Amit Gandhi, who lives on the peninsula, was also all for it: “I think it would be great for the residents because it is so affordable and people could use it all over the place, especially [here] on the peninsula.” Amit recalls a friend returning from Europe raving about the bike-sharing program and believes it would cut down on traffic, leading to a cleaner, more open Newport.

The catch? “It could hurt some local bike businesses,” Amit admits, since several bike stores offer rental services. Bringing in a bike-sharing program could hit those stores during prime rental season, leading to a downturn in profit.

NBM
Photo by Cindy Muchnick

The Man with a Plan
Enter Alan Brandenburger of the Brandenburger Foundation, who is trying to get a Newport bike- sharing program started. He came up with the idea when his children’s bikes were being swiped from his carport in Newport Beach; he would inevitably buy a new one, only to come across the stolen bikes on the pier or left in some other public location. “The bike thieves were already doing their own type of sharing program,” Alan jokes. “But I got to thinking about the European program, and what a program like that would take to implement
here. It can help with community pride, activities, traffic, parking issues ... it opens up other parts of cities that aren’t as accessible. Maybe drive some commerce to other areas?”

He was quick to assuage the fears of the bike store owners. “If somebody wanted to take their family and rent bikes, the best way to do that would be to go to a bike shop and rent the bikes for the day and do your day program from there. Bike sharing is a stopgap, alternative transportation.”

Alan tried to implement this program in 2009, but nothing came to pass after a well-publicized demonstration. What it came down to was uncertainty over whether the funding would stretch the program to cover all of Newport from the start. “If you don’t implement one with a city-wide focus, they tend to fail ... because they’re expensive to initiate, and then they have to be sustainable.”

Still, there’s no reason to believe this program won’t succeed in the future. Alan is still hard at work on it and believes the next few months will be most interesting—though he won’t yet share why. San Antonio’s program has done very well for itself, and continues to expand. So tell us, Newport Beach—why not here? NBM

Playing It Forward

By Ashley Breeding | April 14, 2012 7:00 AM

Photos by Scott Sporleder

Anyone who’s frequented Laguna’s bar and lounge scene as of late will likely recognize the voice of Andrew Corradini—the 32-year-old acoustic rocker spends most nights entertaining crowds of cocktailers with his muddled Montana guitar and their all-time favorite, feel-good classic cover tunes at places such as K’ya Bistro, Rock’N Fish and Tommy Bahama.

“I aim to give the people what they want to hear, but try to sneak in an element of myself here and there too,” he explains, as he breaks from his daily writing and recording session to sip tea and chat with me at his north Laguna home, which he shares with wife, Brita, and two darling daughters, Alabama, 21 months, and Ruby, 4 months.

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“I’d like to focus on my [original] music more, but right now my biggest priority is supporting my family,” he continues, as Alabama beckons for dad’s attention after her “Dora the Explorer” episode starts rolling credits.

He smiles through his thick brown beard: “This is life right now—babies, diapers, feedings … and as often as I can, music … doing my own ‘thing’ with the songs I play at work is a way of staying true to myself. And people seem to like it.”

A year and a half ago, Andrew was juggling musical acts—both as a solo artist following an array of avenues and as the front-man for the popular OC rock band, Handsome G., which had just released three EPs and was well into recording its next—paving the way for what he’d hoped would lead to a road tour and ultimately a career in recording music for television and movies.

“That’s still my dream,” he says. “This is just a year of doing what needs to be done, not doing what I want,” he says with a loving nod across the table toward his wife and baby. “But the dreams are still there … shelved … but ignited just enough to remember they’re there.”

Andrew’s plans were put on pause last year when Brita, six months pregnant with Ruby and still breast-feeding Alabama, was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer.

Having just landed her own “dream job” as a pastry chef at Laguna’s Nirvana Grille, Brita’s aspirations, too, came to an abrupt and devastating halt. With the loss of income from what was an already tight budget, a mountain of medical bills rising and an outrageous insurance deductable, it would be an understatement to say that the Corradinis were and are facing trying times. Remarkably, they’ve chosen to squeeze from a bitter situation sweet life lessons.

A Musician in the Making
Andrew’s affinity for music was apparent at an early age, when the toddler turned away from his Sesame Street idols and started tuning into Billy Idol.

“My older sister got me into MTV’s ‘Top 20 Countdown’ back then—ya know, when MTV still played music,” he says. “It was funny; I don’t know how many kids my age were into [Idol] and Depeche Mode.”

In addition to what was undeniably an innate pull towards performing and playing music, the soulful indie folk rocker also attributes the interest to his late father.

“My dad took me to my first show when I was 3—I think it was Lynyrd Skynyrd—I don’t really remember it, but still, I’m pretty sure it was that show that started it all.”

When he was 13, his dad bought him his first Yamaha acoustic, the moment Andrew says he first “fell in love.”

An avid classic rock and folk fan, his dad also introduced him to Bob Dylan around that time, among other legends like Simon and Garfunkel, Johnny Cash and Pink Floyd, whose songs Andrew continues to cover at his shows.

LBM

Listening to those old records was an educational experience that really fostered his intense passion for music, Andrew says.

“Artistically, Dylan is my absolute hero,” he adds. “His writing style and ability to deeply and thoroughly discuss a topic while keeping his music simple is something I really admire. The way he isn’t so concerned with rhyme scheme, but having his own individual voice, even if it’s messy, is something I really respect and love about [Dylan’s] music.”

A talent Andrew shares with his hero—and arguably surpasses him—is on the blues harp (beauty is in the ear of the beholder when it comes to Dylan’s admittedly sloppy technique). He often incorporates the harmonica in his blues and folk covers and also plays at recording sessions for friends and fellow musicians Micah Brown (named “Best Folk Artist” this year at the Orange County Music Awards) and Parker Macy.

“It’s humbling to cover legends and have people enjoy it,” Andrew says. “It’s not about ‘look at me’ but ‘let’s all pay homage to these great musicians.’ ”

Classic and folk rock are at the core of most of Andrew’s songs, but his taste in music continues to evolve and change direction.

“I listen to and enjoy many different kinds of music,” he says. “I want to touch on it all.”

A Skip on the Record
“These are challenging times,” Andrew concedes, “but I still try to stay as creative as I can and carve out a different way to do it.” Spending time in his home recording studio as often as he can, between baby duty, time with Brita and local gigs, he’s working on a solo album, “Songs from the Parlor,” a mix of revisited originals and acoustic covers that he plans to sell to fans at his shows.

His wife’s illness and the subsequent setback have also served as a heavy influence on his lyrics, which reflect much more personal and deeper feelings about what he’s gone through, from the time of his dad’s passing at the end of 2010 through his family’s present struggle.

“It’s been a good thing. With the band, I often feel like I’m standing in someone else’s shoes. Now at least one of my shoes is on,” he laughs.

It’s clear by watching Andrew and Brita that the couple’s positive individual attitudes rub off on each other. Nothing short of amazed by Brita—proudly showing off her bald head and a beautifully contagious smile, she’s more reminiscent of an actress playing a role than a cancer patient—I wonder how any woman can remain so gracious and spirited through the kind of sickness and fatigue that accompanies chemotherapy, while also raising a quick and curious toddler, caring for an infant and trying to be a good wife.

“Oh I’ve had my moments!” she admits. “But I believe that your attitude, in general, dictates how things are going to play out for you. And I don’t believe in coincidence—I know there’s a lesson in this for me, and something positive will come from it. It’s led me to write and share my story. Being open and talking with each other is what gives us [all] strength.”

What began as a personal journal has turned into a blog on OCinSite, where people can follow and be inspired by Brita’s journey.

LBM

Having just completed her sixth round of chemo—two while she was still pregnant and four after Ruby was born—Brita has decided to end traditional treatment and commit to a naturopathic regimen.

“My body just wasn’t feeling right—I was depressed, I couldn’t sleep—so I did my research and opted for alternative therapy,” she says. “I do believe that food is medicine and that we can make our bodies inhospitable to cancer; a healthy diet and supplements, yoga and meditation have been great for me.

“I’m not saying that’s the [route] for everyone, but I know it’s right for me,” she continues. “And I think it’s important to write about my experience and let other women out there know that there’s another option.”
Brita’s cancer has also woken Andrew up to the importance of caring for his health.

“It’s been a daily reminder to connect with my body and to make it long-lasting,” he says. “I lost my dad to a health condition. I don’t want my kids, too, to lose a parent. I want to see my grandkids one day.”

The Beat Goes On
Upon delivery of Brita’s devastating diagnosis, family, friends and the community quickly banded together to lend a hand—from organized fundraisers to random knocks on the door, offering everything from donations to dinners, they’ve rung in more than $20,000 to help with the seemingly insurmountable debt.

“In Laguna, you always know your friends have got your back, and we’re so grateful,” Andrew says. “More people than we ever would have imagined have come forward—we’re blown away by the amount of support we’ve gotten from complete strangers.”

A group of girlfriends and fellow young mothers even offered their breast milk for Ruby.

“We’ve still had to supplement her feedings with formula because she eats so much!” Brita laughs. “But these women have been incredibly kind, and it means so much to us.”

The couple says that despite the severity of their situation, they still felt uncomfortable with receiving so much help, but then a dear friend gave them some good advice: “My friend Billy said to me, ‘Accept it. And then one day pay it forward in some way,’ ” Andrew says. “So that’s what we’re doing. We’re accepting it, happy knowing that one day we’ll be able to help someone else in a similar way.”

In the meantime, whether they realize it or not, they’re already paying it forward: Brita, with her inspiring words and uplifting advice for other patients facing the same fears, and Andrew, with his compelling music that reaches souls across Laguna every week.

You can catch Andrew live from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays at K’ya Bistro; from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays at Rock’N Fish; from 1 to 5 p.m. at Tommy Bahama Laguna Beach Bar & Grill; and with neo-folk band, A Tale of Kings, at the Summer Sawdust Art Festival. LBM

How Your Garden Grows

By OCinSite At-Large | April 06, 2012 9:09 AM

Text and photos By Chad Nelsen

Outside of Laguna’s core urban area downtown and along Coast Highway, the large majority of the developed part of the city is residential homes and apartments. Each of these dwellings has landscaping that likely contributes to our urban runoff problems in some small way. When added up, they are a key contributor to the water quality challenges we face. Other contributors are urbanized areas, parking lots and roads. The big difference being that each of us has at least some control over what happens on the little piece of earth that we live on.

While most eco-friendly garden programs are focused on water conservation, the Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Gardens program takes that a step further. The program is focused on three components: Conservation, Permeability and Retention (CPR).

Conservation

Conservation means saving water by planting climate-adapted or native plants. Not only do these plants save water, which also results in less runoff spilling out of your yard, they also reduce certain pest populations, meaning you can significantly reduce your application of herbicides and pesticides. A drier landscape also allows the soil to retain more moisture when it rains, further reducing runoff.

You can take your conservation efforts even further by installing a rain barrel to collect rain water running off your roof and store it for later use. Smart timers that turn your sprinklers on only when they’re needed can also help conserve water.

As Christopher Regan, assistant general manager at the Laguna Beach County Water District explains, not only will these efforts help conserve water, they can also save you money. “Over 60 percent of water used by households in Laguna Beach is used for landscaping,” he says. “And we are constantly concerned about runoff because any water running off your property is wasted water and wasted money.”

The Laguna Beach County Water District offers a number of programs to help save water and money, including an annual rain barrel contest and demonstration rain barrels installed at their downtown offices, right across the street from the fire department on Third Street. Christopher also notes that a number of the climate-adapted plants in their demo garden are also fire-resistant. The water district offers rebates for installing smart controllers or getting rid of turf.

Grass be Gone

There is no question that lawns are great places to play, but lawns are notoriously bad for the ocean. Not only do they require a lot of water, but the runoff they produce is loaded with fertilizers and herbicides. Amazingly enough, a mature lawn can be 80 percent impervious to water, meaning that when it rains a lawn is not that different than pavement when it comes to runoff. Instead of a lawn, there are many attractive alternatives that naturally belong in your climate region.

Permeability

The second step in creating an ocean-friendly garden is increasing permeability in your yard so that irrigation and rainwater can soak into the ground. The primary way to increase permeability is to reduce the amount of impervious surfaces, which are surfaces like pavement or concrete that don’t absorb water.

Garden

Increasing the amount of permeable surfaces in your yard stops water from flowing off your property and instead allows water to soak into the soil in your yard.
Some techniques used to increase permeability are redesigning driveways, rethinking the paths that lead around your house and getting creative with patios. Some alternatives to concrete in heavily used areas include brick, decking, pavers, porous asphalt and stone. For medium-use areas, consider crushed aggregate, decomposed granite or turf block. Low-use areas can employ hearty groundcover and mulch.

Retention

The final step is designing your landscaping to retain water on site. Retention gives the water an opportunity to infiltrate the ground beneath your yard, and this infiltration can directly contribute to a community’s water supply by recharging groundwater, while simultaneously reducing polluted runoff. Water can be retained on your property by creating topographic features that channel and collect water known as retention basins and swales. There are also more advanced techniques that can be employed, such as small dry wells that store water in underground while it soaks in.

For landscapes that can’t afford to load up the land with water due to shallow clay soils or concerns about geologic stability, the goal becomes “screening” the exiting water. Screening slows the water to allow partial percolation and makes use of soil or vegetation to absorb or filter out pollutants.

What You Can Do

Even without the workshops and classes, each and every one of us can help make our landscapes more ocean-friendly by thinking about adding conservation, permeability and retention to our gardens. The Laguna Beach County Water District’s demonstration garden is a good place to stop and see just how attractive and ocean-friendly a garden can be.

Sustainable Design Solutions

By OCInSite Site Admin | May 20, 2013 8:47 AM

Rendering of the Gaddam residence

By Somer Flaherty

Looking back on one of his most recent works—a project that took two years to build—architect Horst Noppenberger of Laguna’s Horst Architects beams with pride and passion. Known as the Gaddam residence, the project took 15 months of design work and is set to become one of the most sustainable homes in Laguna Beach.

“I find it more interesting when a project is meaningful,” Horst says. “My clients came to me with a vision to build a home that was very sustainable, and it was really a dream of the wife’s to have a home that would be extremely energy efficient.”

Horst has always been an ardent proponent of sustainable design, but this was the first time his firm was working toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for a home—in particular, he was aiming to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest level of certification, LEED Platinum. Here, we catch up with the architect to find out more about how to make homes greener.

Laguna Beach Magazine: In Orange County there are only a handful of homes that have achieved or are designed to achieve LEED Platinum status. What makes each home different?
Horst Noppenberger: Every choice has an environmental story—whether it’s the Forest Stewardship Council-certified flooring, low-VOC paints, dual-pane insulated glass windows and doors [or] drought-tolerant landscaping.

LBM: What role does energy efficiency play in the design of the Gaddam residence?

HN: The home incorporates solar panels, hydronic radiant floor heating and a high-efficiency water heater.

LBM: What are some sustainable elements that can be incorporated in a home with enough planning during the design phase?

HN: Cross-ventilation, which can be helped by having a courtyard in a home and eliminates much of the need for air conditioning. Choosing the right materials can also help to heat the home. With the Gaddam residence, we used concrete walls that contain 30 percent coal ash to utilize thermal mass to help store the sun’s heat throughout the day and release it at night.

LBM: What other sustainable elements can we incorporate in a remodel or new build?

HN: A planted green roof can help reduce rainwater runoff and also provide a really effective means of insulation. With preplanning you can easily incorporate it in a roof’s design; with a remodeled home it is more expensive to incorporate, but can usually be done.

LBM: Not many architects have created a LEED Platinum designed home—what was the biggest challenge?

HN: There is a lot of documentation you have to go through during the entire build, including both the design and construction phase. We worked closely with a Green Rater, [LEED-certified person] who provides the verification services. The Green Rater is involved throughout the design phase and throughout the construction process.

Additonal info:

It’s Easy Being Green
The availability of earth-friendly products is catching up to the demand.

By Somer Flaherty

Sprout Chair made of bamboo and Forest Stewardship Council and Rainforest Alliance Certified materials, available at Von Hemert Interiors, Laguna Beach (949-494-6551; vonhemertinteriors.com).

Sustainable wood coffee table by Manulution, available at Green Cube, Laguna Beach (949-494-1550; greencubestore.com).

Organic cotton mattress by Royal Pedic, available at Jack Thomas at Home, Laguna Beach (949-715-0026; jackthomasathome.com).

Sustainable ebony wood flooring, available at Eco Surfaces, Laguna Beach (949-715-2444; ecosurface.net).

100% Recycled plastic planter, available at Room and Board, Santa Ana (714-549-5995; roomandboard.com).

Deeply Rooted

By OCinSite Staff | May 13, 2013 8:51 AM

By Cheryl Pruett

Whether you’ve lived in Laguna Beach for years or are visiting for the first time, it’s easy to see that this city is hard to leave. And that’s especially true of Laguna’s most well-known multigenerational families—those who have made this city their home for decades and, in some cases, more than a century. For these families, staying in Laguna goes beyond the allure of a beautiful seaside village; it’s the origin of their histories. And while over the decades buildings have changed and demographics have shifted, these families have stayed grounded.

“[Laguna has] an amazing root system,” says Erica Brauer Jones, 39, whose great-grandfather Anton Duke Kluewer owned Laguna’s first liquor store on Glenneyre Street. “The town means a lot to me. You have to have some kind of roots.” Erica has the distinction of being born in Laguna Beach—at a home in Bluebird Canyon. Growing up in Laguna, she has a family history that includes nearly everyone from her father to brother going to Thurston Middle School. She lives here with her husband and two sons, Cameron, 13, and Carter, 11.

The list of multigenerational families in Laguna Beach is long and filled with names many locals would recognize. The Abels, the Jahrauses, the Williamses and the Kluewers. And that’s only the short list. Almost all of the multigenerational families of Laguna Beach know one another and are linked in many ways—attending the same schools throughout the generations, working for one another’s businesses or simply watching out for one another.

“There’s a sense of history and belonging that I like,” says fourth-generation Lagunan William Jahraus, 27, son of Joe Jahraus, 64, and nephew of Jeff Jahraus, 61, all Laguna residents. “Laguna actually has a downtown. There’s a sense of camaraderie in Laguna Beach High School students and locals who are around for ages.”

The Jahraus’ history began in 1902 when Jeff and Joe’s great-grandfather Elmer Jahraus came to Laguna Beach and opened a cigar factory. Later, Elmer’s son, Joseph (Jeff and Joe’s grandfather), founded Laguna Beach Lumber Co. in 1912. Joseph’s son Richard then took over the family business until his sons Jeff and Joe bought the company in the 1980s. In 2001, it was sold to Ganahl Lumber Co. According to city records, an estimated 90 percent of the older buildings in Laguna were built from wood from the family’s company.

Hotel Laguna circa the 1880s, where Elmer Jahraus opened a cigar shop in 1902

When Elmer first arrived in 1902, there were about only 11 permanent families living in town. Elmer, who made cigars in the original Hotel Laguna, was also the first realtor in the town, selling lots along Cliff Drive. In 1929, Elmer was instrumental in saving what was to become Heisler Park. When developer Howard Heisler decided to go back on his promise to dedicate the land as a park, Elmer stepped in with a lawsuit and won. Ultimately, the land became Heisler Park.

Jeff and Joe’s father, Richard, now 88, was born in 1925 in Laguna Beach and still lives on Cliff Drive in a home he built in 1977 on the site of the original 1912 family home. The Jahrauses have owned land in Laguna Beach for more than 100 years, including the residential land on Cliff Drive—the site of the original Jahraus’ family home in 1912—and the land downtown on Forest Avenue, where the old Laguna Beach Lumber Co. used to be.

Richard remembers when he was in his 50s—more than 30 years ago—the good times he had swimming in the ocean, diving for abalone, spearing halibut and rowing his dory up and down the coast. Jeff Jahraus also remembers when the family moved into the original Cliff Drive house in 1952 (before it was rebuilt in 1977). “My grandfather still had a house up on Top of the World,” Jeff says. “My father thought about moving there, but it [had] no piped water. It was like going out in the country.” That’s when Old Top of the World was totally open, he recalls.

Jeff Jahraus says, “Family roots and lots of friends keep us in Laguna.”

The Jahraus family in 1999

A Village Feel
Charles “Charlie” K. Williams, an architect, is part of double multigenerational families in Laguna Beach. Born at South Coast Hospital (now Mission Hospital), the 38-year-old Charlie met his wife Sarah Golden in junior high school in Laguna. Sarah’s mother, Jane Golden, who lives in town, and Charlie’s father, Charlie D. Williams, 62, of Williams Construction, play big roles in family life in this multi-multigenerational family.

“For me, I always opt to live in a true small town,” says the younger Charlie. “It takes a village to raise a child; I’ve always taken that to heart. I’m a product of that. I have had the opportunity to be raised by a village. It played an instrumental role in my life. My kids still benefit from the village atmosphere—there’s a certain amount of safety. It’s more than just you watching out for your kids.”

Charlie also believes that another thing that sums up Laguna is its diversity—people, buildings and economic status. He believes his father, Charlie D. Williams, epitomizes a Laguna spirit through the homes he built, the help he provided during the Bluebird landslide and even his work at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, where he did a lot of the most recent renovation work, including the new pools.

Next are the Abels, whose family roots date back to 1937. Carl “Pop” Abel, a wood carver and antique dealer, left a legacy that has grown more than 76 years. Generations of more Abels have enhanced the legacy, including Chris and Mogens Abel; Gregg Abel, son of Chris; and Lea Abel-Stone and Tristan Abel, Gregg’s daughter and son, who are all Laguna residents.

Since 1935, several generations of Abels have left their mark on Laguna through signage, architecture and art forms from glass to furniture to jewelry. “Our family heritage, of course, keeps us here,” says Lea, 32, who received her bachelor’s degree from Laguna College of Art & Design, a building designed by her grandfather Chris Abel with Fred Briggs. “And, of course, art. We are all artists.”

Carl “Pop” Abel was a local wood carver.

Examples of the Abels’ art can still be seen around town, including signs by Mogens Abel. One such sign can be found at the Chamber of Commerce. “If you see a carved sign with gold leaf, you’ll know it’s Pop’s work or Mogens’, and now my brother Tristan,” Lea says.

Gregg Abel’s father, Chris Abel, designed the Lumberyard building, a Laguna Beach landmark, into the Ivy House. Gregg, now 65, then did the remodel of the Ivy House into the Lumberyard Restaurant as well as designed the stunning craftsman-style Victoria Street home, Villa Bella Mare, which is only an example of his renowned work in Laguna Beach.

“It’s the little things that make you say, I’m related to something special,” she continues. The “little things” include sharing a common connection with her grandfather, Chris, who was class president at Laguna Beach High School in 1943, with Lea following in his footsteps in 1998.

“Being part of a multigenerational family strengthens Laguna’s appeal,” she adds. “We are still friends with people from my class of 1998.”

Photo from 1937, when the Abel family settled in Laguna Beach

Big Changes
For families like Lea’s, who have been rooted in Laguna for more than seven decades, it’s inevitable that they would see changes happening in the city they love.

“I don’t see anything I don’t like,” Gregg Abel says. “Laguna Beach still embraces its roots and history. The town is so generous.” He applauds the addition of the Laguna College of Art & Design, which he helped design and from which Lea graduated.

“We are trying to get the city and all boards to embrace businesses,” says Gregg, a Chamber of Commerce board member and member of the Government Affairs Committee.

Charlie K. Williams remembers when the beloved Acords Market was around before it closed in 1997. “That was a big part of our lives,” he recalls. “We used to shop there daily and had a relationship with the butcher, who would set aside a pork chop he thought we’d like, then bill us later.”

Charlie also notes changes such as Laguna’s nightlife. “It didn’t extend past downtown [when I grew up here]. Now it extends to the HIP District and South Laguna. ... I like what they’ve done to the HIP District. It’s sort of become the locals’ area. Downtown serves more tourists.”

William Jahraus says that more tourists pouring in is a both a curse and a blessing. “If Laguna wasn’t so beautiful, we wouldn’t have the tourists, and business would suffer,” he says.
Charlie K. Williams adds, “It goes back to diversity. No matter what changes, we coexist. Laguna has stayed pretty true to its heart.”

Linda Kluewer Brauer, 63, is the mother of Erica Brauer Jones, and has lived in Laguna for about 55 years. Over the years, she believes that Laguna has gone overboard with change. “It seems like everyone is in it for money,” she says. “The town takes itself too seriously, referring to too many rules and regulations. The town needs to lighten up, go back to the good old days and treat people with kindness.”

Four generations of the Kluewer family in Laguna, present day

Linda is the daughter of Anthony “Whitey” Kluewer, who graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1935 and became involved in city politics in the 1940s when he ran for mayor. Linda follows in her father’s footsteps by remaining active in the community with Soroptimist International of Laguna, a women’s organization.

Charlie K. Williams recalls that the many changes came after the fire of October 1993. He says his immediate family was relatively unaffected, with the exception of his great aunt and uncle who lost their home on Buena Vista. He saw several families leave after the fire, followed by a shift in demographics.

“There was a big influx of money,” he says. “People either were forced to sell or made the choice to sell and leave. Then the money came in—higher-income families, that is. It brought good things but also challenges.”

Erica Brauer Jones adds, “The change can be seen in the mentalities of people who come in to take over and build giant homes. It’s not the way it was. It’s a different mentality that makes it hard for people who have been here for years and have family here. People from here are more real, more genuine. It’s family, it’s friends, it’s the structure of this town.”

Sarah (Golden) Williams, Charlie K. Williams and family / Photo by Candice Dartez

Jeff Jahraus misses the quiet of old Laguna. “During the winter when I was a kid, it was very quiet, and you knew everyone that was walking around the town,” he says. He also owns a home in a small Colorado town of about 1,000, where he spends about 3.5 months out of the year. There, he says he’s able to recapture Laguna’s quieter times. He adds, however, he would never leave permanently or sell his home on Jasmine Street, where he’s lived since 1976.

“It was a wonderful time to live when I was growing up … a wonderful little village,” says Linda, whose ties go back to working at the Hotel Laguna when the police knew the families so well that they’d give you a ride home if you were out too late.

In the end, despite new faces and buildings, the multigenerational families continue to honor their storied pasts by staying true to what they’ve always known and loved about this city—the small-town feeling where people know and take care of one another.

For example, Lea Abel-Stone believes in staying involved with the town through charity work, including volunteering at the Friendship Shelter. The Williamses believe in watching out for friends by keeping an eye open for one another’s kids, and the Abels won’t ever give up family breakfasts on Wednesday mornings, which have been a tradition for more than 40 years.
For families that have lived here for decades—before big-brand stores started cropping up on Forest Avenue—what they fondly remember, and believe still exists today, is the special kinship between those that have grown up in Laguna. As Charlie K. Williams says, “No matter where you go, there’s a hello.”

On the Water

By NB Magazine Staff | May 07, 2013 12:32 PM

By Somer Flaherty

Esther Lofgren grew up in Newport Beach and is the daughter of elite rowers Christine Plapp Lofgren and Karl Lofgren. Her earliest memories include wearing a life vest and eating Cheerios as her parents rowed her around the Long Beach Marina. Fast-forward and now the 6-foot-2-inch Harvard graduate has won gold in the 2012 Olympics in the women’s eight, a 2,000-meter race with eight rowers and one coxswain. She also set a world record as part of the women’s eight team at the 2012 Samsung World Rowing Cup II.

Newport Beach Magazine: What were your workouts like when you were training for the Olympics?

Esther Lofgren: Generally, rowers focus on building bigger lungs and getting the strongest muscles we can for endurance. Our workouts include rowing—on the water as much as possible, and also on rowing machines—as well as weightlifting, running, cycling, core workouts and yoga.

NBM: What are your workouts like now?

EL: I’m back to training for this year’s World [Rowing] Championships. I’ve been doing road cycling (usually we cycle indoors to avoid the risk of crashing) and running, including running a marathon with zero prep in November, and surprising myself by qualifying for Boston next year! I also started doing CrossFit, which is always both challenging and humbling.

NBM: You’re an elite athlete, but what kind of workout can non-Olympians get from rowing?

EL: Rowing literally works out almost every single muscle in your body. Whether you like working out to increase your fitness or to look good, it’s a great sport. And the bonus is that you burn the most calories per minute of any machine in the gym! Rowing works your legs, glutes/hips, core and shoulders.

NBM: How can we fit in an effective workout despite a busy schedule?

EL: Spending even 20 to 30 minutes on the rowing machine can be enough time to get an effective workout in. Because it’s a full-body workout, it’s good to be warmed ... so if you just jump on the machine, spend at least three minutes just rowing.

NBM: What do you have to have when working out?

EL: My friend gave me an awesome Waterfi iPod Shuffle that swimmers use. I love it because as sweaty as a workout might get, I’m not going to kill my little Shuffle! Sunglasses are a must for rowers, both for being able to see things out on the water and to trying to keep the crow’s feet away. Sunscreen is another big yes, for both vanity and safety.

NBM: What type of workout clothes do you like?

EL: For rowing tops and the rest of my sporting activities, I love Lululemon. For cold-weather gear, Patagonia all the way. I’ve loved having Patagonia’s base layers and warm layering tops.

NBM: What’s next for you?

EL: I will row this year for the U.S. and then retire, so I’m currently applying for jobs that will start in the fall of 2013.

What Champions Wear

Get gear fit for an Olympian.

Olympian Esther Lofgren works out almost every day, so key products like sunscreen, sunglasses and just-the-right athletic clothing keep her going. Although we can’t guarantee you’ll turn into an elite athlete, you’ll look good trying.

Run Back on Track tank, available at Lululemon, Fashion Island (949-644-9642; lululemon.com).

Midweight Crew by Patagonia, available at Seed People’s Market, The Camp, Costa Mesa (714-708-2277; seedpeoplesmarket.com).

Sunglasses by Kaenon, available at Lido Optical, Newport Beach (949-645-2020,  lidooptical.com).

Spray sunscreen by Kiss My Face, available at Whole Foods, Newport Beach (949-999-8572; wholefoods.com).

Waterproof iPod Shuffle by Waterfi, available at waterfi.com (619-438-0058).

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