65 degree magazine - spring issue

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one mile south of Ocean Ave, Exit Hwy 1 at Carmel Valley Rd,Right on Carmel Valley Blvd, Right on Carmel Rancho Lane

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MONTEREY

Monterey County Business Council Economic Vitality Awards

Photography by D.M. Troutman

1. Mike Armstrong, Laurie Armstrong, Mary Godley, Ray

Corpuz 2. Anne Burnett, Mick Vernon 3. Mary Claypool,

Al Jardine, Brandi Briscoe, Wynette Jones 4. John Pisto,

Alan Richmond, Johnny Rivers, Tom O’Neal 5. Geordie

McCombe, Roddy Mackay

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PERSONA

Journey of a Lifetime By ELIzABETH HERMENS

Friends of the Earth: Turning Pollution into a Solution By JuLIE ENGELHARdT

A Perfect Day on the Peninsula By ANdREA STuART

Cultivating a Community Through Soil By CHARLEEN EARLEY

San Francisco’s Bleeding Heart By ANdREA STuART

The Mayor of Belden Place By VANESSA CARR

FEATuRE

The First Lady of HumilityFrom educator to designer and respected art collector, Karen LeVett may be one of the Peninsula’s principal creative and entrepreneurial forces.

By KRISTIN A. SMITH

CONTENTS 16

EVENT

Pebble Goes Bam-Bam

By MICHAEL CERVIN

STAY

Clift: Hotel on a Precipice By MICHAEL CERVIN

SCENE

Pebble Beach AT&T National Pro Am

Monterey Monterey County Business Council Economic Vitality Awards

COMMuNITY

A Little Drama Goes a Long Way

ARIEL Theatrical, Inc. is promoting children’s literacy through involvement in the dramatic arts.

By JENNIE TEzAK

ABOdE

Cabinet Style & Function and How to Get It

Precision Cabinets & Trim merges personal style with a home’s unique characteristics.

COLuMNS

Publisher’s Note

Contributors

Editor’s Note

In-Box

COVERShot on location in Pebble Beach

at the home of Karen Levett

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRIS

DEPARTMENTS 18

Richard Medel [email protected]

Linda [email protected]

Andrea [email protected]

Vanessa CarrMichael Cervin Charleen EarleyJulie EngelhardtElizabeth HermensKristin A. Smith Jennie Tezak

Clarissa Perez-Pacheco

Richard [email protected]

Leonel CalaraClarissa Perez-Pacheco

Greg HarrisChristopher KernChristine MuroD.M. Troutman

Judy [email protected]

65° Magazine P.O. Box 6325Carmel, CA 93921-6325831-917-1673 [email protected]

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65° Magazine is published quarterly, P.O. Box 6325, Carmel, CA 93921-6325. Subscription rate: $40, payable in advance. Single copies $4.99. Back issues if available, $15 (includes shipping and handling).

POSTMASTER send address changes to 65° Magazine, P.O. Box 6325, Carmel, CA 93921-6325.

Entire contents © 2009 by 65° Magazine™ unless otherwise noted on specific articles.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited without Publisher permission.

It does take a village to raise a child sometimes. Although somewhat of a cliché these days, this expression still resonates with me.

Recently, I found myself reflecting on the day that my brother, David, was born. On that day, my father arrived home from the hospital and gathered the six of us together in the kitchen to inform us that our new sibling had Down syndrome. We were told that the doctor gave my mother a choice of either bringing David home or sending him to an institution. Without hesitation, the family agreed that David would live in his rightful place—at home with those that love him.

Today, at the age of 37, David still lives in his rightful place at home with our parents. David exudes energy that continues to affect the family clan in many positive ways. His enthusiasm and charisma spills over into school, exercise, and the various community programs he is involved in. I truly believe that, had David been institutionalized, his life would be a far cry from the life of normalcy that he experiences at home. He certainly would not have met the former 49er, Jerry Rice, and others along the way. And I can guarantee that I would not be the person I am today if I had not had the opportunity to be David’s older brother.

I was reminded of my brother when we decided to feature, in this issue, the story of Christopher Oros, a charming young boy with Down syndrome who, despite various medical complications, is also living a fulfilling life with his family. Too often we hear soul-crushing stories of despair on the news and in newspapers. I wanted to show the other side of life by sharing those stories that demonstrate the positivity that actually encircles the world we live in.

In this issue you will read the life-affirming stories of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom; Monterey Peninsula agribusiness brothers, Roger and Basil Mills; as well as the humble tale of our cover subject, Karen LeVett, among others. Each of these stories is rooted in the positive difference that people can make for their families, for themselves, and in the community.

you will notice that we have added a new section to our magazine called Monterey Peninsula to The City. I hope you will enjoy this new addition. Since the Monterey Peninsula and San Francisco share unique vantage points of the Pacific Ocean and are equally compelling sites for visitors and locals alike, we are honored to feature some of the people and places that you, our readers, will find relevant and compelling. We also offer special distribution to The City.

Please visit our newly updated website, which now offers readers the ability to flip through the pages of our magazine and to access archived issues. I encourage and welcome your feedback.°

PUBLISHER’S NOTE 22By Richard Medel

CONTRIBUTORS 2401 KRISTIN A. SMITH, WRITER“Writing the Karen LeVett piece reminded me that sometimes the story of a person’s life is often best told by those who love them most.” kristinaurorasmith.com

02 CHARLEEN EARLEY, WRITER“Roger Mills was a joy and delight to interview. I could’ve listened to his stories all day long!” CharleenEarley.com

03 MICHAEL CERVIN, WRITER“Being at Clift is like being a kid at Disneyland. There’s a palpable wow factor that you rarely get from hotels anymore.” MichaelCervin.com

04 GREG HARRIS, PHOTOGRAPHER“I could go on and on about the humble, hospitable, and down-to-Earth LeVett ladies, but I’m limited to 20 words.” harris-images.com

05 ELIzABETH HERMENS, WRITER“I’ve never known a family like the Oros who have been through such trials and come out so positive and loving towards each other.” [email protected]

06 CHRISTINE MuRO, PHOTOGRAPHER“I love meeting people in our community that are finding ways to make our world and our lives better. Thank you!” [email protected]

07 d.M. TROuTMAN, PHOTOGRAPHER“Photographing the AT&T Pro Am was, at times, hilarious. George Lopez shared a beer with fans and, at one point, complained loudly, ‘It’s too quiet. I need some noise when I hit!’” dmtimaging.com

08 JuLIE ENGELHARdT, WRITER“I was impressed with the efforts of the individuals responsible for improving the environment by reducing pollution through manufacturing green cement.” [email protected]

09 JENNIE TEzAK, WRITER“I so admired Gail’s story. She took an idea and turned it into a place where children can acquire confidence and skills for life.” [email protected]

10 CHRISTOPHER KERN, PHOTOGRAPHER“A brief session with Mayor Newsom to execute three shots: one of the most challenging assignments of my career. Thanks for the opportunity and experience 65°.” christopherkern.com

11 VANESSA CARR, WRITER“A detail that I love: the city of San Antonio used Belden Place as a model for beautifying their downtown.” vancarr.com

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BEHIND THE LENS

65° Magazine would like to thank photographer, Bob Kolbrener, for contributing the photograph of renowned sculptor, Richard MacDonald, for the cover of our Winter 2009 issue.

BobKolbrenerPhotography.com

VISITOR’S DELIGHTTo all the people of 65°,

As a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, I look forward to each issue of the magazine. My wife and I like to spend time on the Monterey Peninsula. The articles provide an insight to the people and represent the flavor of the area. I especially enjoy the articles that provide to me a different or new view point. The article, Write On: Joy Colangelo, by Kristin A. Smith is such an article. Please keep up the good work!

A devoted reader,

Stephen Cozzi

READ THIS!Dear 65° Team:

I have been a reader and fan of 65° since its first issue. The magazine has made tremendous strides since then and it continually impresses me. The quality of the magazine is so amazing that a part

of me hesitates to touch each new issue because they look like they belong in picture frames, not on my coffee table. you have undoubtedly heard that your magazine is very eye-catching. With its unique layout and vivid photography this makes sense. But I really must point out how much this sets 65° apart from the rest. The pictures really come to life, thanks in part to the landscape format, making the magazine enjoyable to read. This says a lot for people like me who have a tendency to look at the pretty pictures rather than reading the text. So, let me set the record straight: I read 65° Magazine, whereas I don’t read most of the content in other publications.

Sincerely, Kyle Robertson

GREAT WORK!At Ferguson, we’re always eager for exciting new ways to reach the residents of the Monterey Bay area. Once I saw 65° Magazine, I knew this was a great publication and one that the Ferguson Showroom needed to be a part of.

What impresses me most (and I’m not afraid to admit it) is that the magazine really demands that you pick it up. I rarely find this in other publications. Rich Medel accuses me of just looking at the photos and the local events section, but I know

there are great articles hidden in those colorful pages.

Seems like wherever I go I see 65° Magazine. Just recently I was having dinner in Carmel and saw some tourists with a copy of 65° Magazine. I have to admit that my date was wondering why I was paying so much attention to these travelers. What could I say? I was looking at the magazine they were carrying.

Thanks 65° Magazine and keep up the great work!

david Turner Manager

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

We love to hear from our readers. Send letters to [email protected]

PEBBLE BEACH

AT&T National Pro Am

Photography by D.M. Troutman

1. Bill Murray 2. George Lopez 3. Chris O’Donnell

4. Sign holders during the 3M Celebrity Challenge

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Pebble Beach Food & Wine is the premier, grand-scale, epicurean lifestyle event on the WestCoast, bringing more than 4000 national and international attendees to Del Monte Forest, one ofthe most picturesque strips of coastline in the world. Hosted at Pebble Beach Resorts, this four-dayevent combines 250 acclaimed wineries with 60 celebrity chefs. The event offers countless winetastings, cooking demonstrations, and some of the most remarkable dining opportunities availablein the world, transforming Pebble Beach into a playground for food and wine enthusiasts. Guestscan choose from numerous multi-flight vertical and horizontal wine tastings from the world’spremier cult producers and multiple multi-course lunches and dinners, prepared by some of today’smost acclaimed chefs. Saturday and Sunday of the event, guests flock to the 60,000 square footLexus Grand Tasting to enjoy wines from 200 pinnacle wineries and tastings from 25 of theweekend’s top chefs. Get your tickets early - this is one event you surely do not want to miss.

Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Resorts®, Pebble BeachSM Food and Wine, The Lone Cypress™, and their respective underlying distinctive images are trademarks, service marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. All rights reserved.

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Pebble Goes Bam-Bam BY MICHAEL CERvIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY D.M. TROUTMAN

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Argentina is a lovely place, no one would deny that. But when the Masters of Food and Wine event, originally located in Carmel at the Highlands Inn, abruptly ended in 2007, there was talk of moving the 21-year West Coast culinary showcase to the South American country. That idea didn’t sit well with David Bernahl and Rob Weakley. They were able to transform the Masters into its new incarnation without missing a beat, and growing it exponentially.

Pebble Beach Food and Wine launched heroically in 2008 and as the April 16th opening approaches there is a renewed effort to ensure that the sophomore offering will be bigger, better, and badder than the inaugural effort. Whereas 2008 displayed 53 celebrity chefs, this year 63 celebrity chefs will be on hand. Access to that many top talented chefs is hard to beat. Maybe harder

We’re actually pouring more Cristal at this dinner than the entire west coast allocation of the wine.

to beat are the 250 wineries from across the globe, with the owners, or winemakers present to pour their wines.

“Typically, many of these wineries are tight allocations and limited production,” says co-founder David Bernahl. Last year’s event boasted Château Margeaux pouring wine from their 1959, ‘61, ‘66, ‘70, ‘82, ‘83 and 1990 vintages. And this year? “We’re doing some unreal tastings. Château Palmer’s winemaker will start with the 1959, and pour some wines straight from the château that have never been tasted before,” Bernahl said. Oh, and then there’s the Champagne. “We’re doing a Cristal tasting and dinner with Eric Ripert (star chef of Le Bernardin in New york), with six vintages. We’re actually pouring more Cristal at this dinner than the entire west coast allocation of the wine. It’s the first and last time we’re doing this because there’s simply not enough wine,” Bernahl says triumphantly.

It appears that Pebble Beach will become the de facto stop for food and wine to rival, and surpass, Aspen. “When we looked at the national landscape and when we saw that Aspen and South Beach were the two most recognized food and wine events in the country, it made no sense that California wasn’t represented,” he commented.

Certainly with Napa and Sonoma to the north, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara to the south, and everything sandwiched between the culinary capitals of the state, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Pebble Beach is ideally poised to strike gold. yet there is still a focus on the local region.

“Monterey County agriculture as a whole has stepped up to the plate and become a sponsor,” Bernahl said. “On each and every plate you have the chance to see Monterey County agriculture represented,” he stressed. “After all, it’s important to remember how much we feed the nation.”

Feeding the nation is one thing, but feeding the local communities through charitable giving is quite another, and just as important. During their first year at bat, the event raised over $100,000; money which found its way to Casa of Monterey, Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey, and other charities. This year the event should bring in an even larger cache for charities. This adds up to the proverbial win-win for Pebble Beach, Monterey, and wine and food lovers everywhere. The grand tasting is still an affordable $165 which allows access to star chefs and over 500 individual wineries, and weekend packages start as low as $1,000, sans lodging. “We’re trying to provide value,” Bernahl says, something that, in spite of the economic downturn, will undoubtedly lure novice and serious wine and food aficionados to the beauty of the California coast. °

Second AnnualPebble Beach Food & WineApril 16-19, 2009Presented by American Express Publishingwww.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com

Cabinet Style & Function and How to Get It

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Personal style should dominate in your kitchen, office, and entertainment areas. Even if your personal style clashes with some trend, you know that your design and aesthetics can make or break the entire room’s overall appearance and your personal satisfaction. Precision Cabinets & Trim has been designing and manufacturing custom cabinets for more than 12 years. They specialize in working closely with contractors, designers, and homeowners by offering a unique and diverse blend of selections and services.

“Consumers have become more educated about everything related to their homes, and their cabinetry is no different. They frequently come into our showroom with a specific list of at least five things they want

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beyond simple design,” says Paul Taylor, owner of Precision. What they discover is an unlimited number of options that include different woods, decorative features, functional features, cabinet constructions, and finish options, enough to make any innocent homeowner’s head spin.

So, how can you find the best way to incorporate your personality into your kitchen design? When deciding on which style cabinetry to use, take clues from the rest of the home so that the kitchen is a natural, logical extension of the rest of the home. Let proportion and trim details used in other rooms be your guide. Find a cabinet style that best describes you and your taste. Take pictures of cabinetry, observe friend’s homes, cut-out images from magazines, search the web, and collect anything that helps you communicate what you’d like in your own cabinetry. If you like to know what materials, door styles, finishes, features, etcetera. make up a particular style; Precision has experienced designers and design style guides to help you with your design and selections.

Additionally, architects, contractors, designers, and sub-contractors all play an important role in guiding homeowners. Careful consideration and thought must go into understanding each homeowner’s personal style, budget, schedule, and tolerance to the construction process. Whatever your style, fill your kitchen, your den, your office, and even your closet with a healthy mix of functional and decorative features, colors, and accessories that make you feel great.

Precision Cabinets & Trim

925-634-5552

www.4PCT.com

PACIFIC GROVE TENANTS IN COMMON UNITSNow being offered for sale! Fabulous 2 bedroom units overlooking the ocean in Pacific Grove. Just one block from the water these TIC (Tenants in Common) start at $495,000. All units have walnut floors, contemporary lighting and plumbing fixtures and hardware, stainless steel appliances, glass tile kitchens and baths, and three cantilevered terraces. Priced to sell, call today!

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Journey of a LifetimeBY ELIzABETH HERMENS PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRIS

Observing the Oros family today, the only hint that they’ve had a difficult journey is the noticeable love and appreciation they have for one another. A situation that might have torn many families apart has, instead, brought them together.

Susan and Carl met while Susan was in graduate school and Carl was conducting experiments in the physics lab. Their first child was a blessing to both of them—although the birth promised to be bittersweet since Carl was due to deploy with his Marine Expeditionary Unit. Luckily, Carl was there when his wife prematurely gave birth to their son, Christopher, at 33.5 weeks. Carl was allowed to stay with his family for one month before joining his squadron in Singapore.

Although Christopher had passed an alpha-fetoprotein test while in utero, his physical features suggested a possible chromosomal disorder. A genetic test found that he had three

copies of chromosome twenty-one, confirming a diagnosis of Down syndrome. Forty to fifty-five percent of kids with Downs also have incomplete hearts, and Christopher was no exception. Prudently, his doctors did an echocardiogram to confirm the defect. The results were a double blow for Carl and Susan: Christopher had a hole in his heart which required urgent, delicate, and complicated surgery.

Heart surgery was scheduled approximately four months later. However, Christopher developed a staph-pneumonia infection that required him to be stabilized before heart repair could commence. Thankfully Carl had returned home a month early.

The adventure continued when Christopher’s first heart patch failed. Other complications then arose; a tracheotomy was performed, and then another surgery. Altogether, Christopher spent sixty-five days in the ICU and endured the tracheotomy for a year and a half.

Because those affected by Downs have low muscle tone, causing physical developmental delays, physical therapy is often a necessity during the early lives of many children with Downs. Each milestone was all the more dear to Christopher’s parents, however, and set an attitude they still have today—celebrating each accomplishment.

Carl and Susan were never certain what abilities Christopher would develop. He’s an affectionate person with an affinity for the arts and sports.

Having the maturity of a three- to five-year-old, Christopher has begun to read and write his name at the age of 12, plays basketball with the non-profit organization Special Kids Crusade, and has an appreciation for Christian rock. Christopher has body-writhing rhythm and has developed a close bond with music, which seems to be his number one inspiration and motivation. He and his guitar are seemingly inseparable, although he has yet to learn the fingering. Christopher’s parents speculate that he may one day take guitar lessons in an attempt to grow his passion. He may also one day play on a soccer team like his younger brother.

The future has a lot in store for the Oros family. Christopher’s younger sister, Samantha, is autistic. Although Samantha can’t speak yet, Carl cheerfully mentions that over the last two years, they have noted a distinct transition from being a “lone wolf” to “one of the pack.”

The youngest in the family, Nathan, is neurotypical (NT), or normal. Described as a well-rounded child, Nathan has taken on the role of “big brother” without ever having been asked.

In 2008, Carl created the video, The Journey Christopher, for a Special Kids Crusade fundraiser where Carl told Christopher’s story. “It’s the challenges that you are given and how you face those challenges that make you special,” Carl concluded. °

Christopher has body-writhing rhythm and has developed a close bond with music.

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LEGACY MECHANICAL & ENERGY SERVICES Commercial heating, air conditioning,

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“We are pleased to have Legacy as the HVAC service contractor at our new Monterey office

building. Their personnel are knowledgeable and professional and they do an excellent job of

preventive maintenance and emergency service response”.

Mark House – PresidentHouse Properties426 Calle PrincipalMonterey, California

ARIEL Theatrical, Inc. was born one morning when Artistic Director Gail Higginbotham was trying to decide what to serve her five children for breakfast.

“The thought came to me that there are mothers who put their kids away hungry,” Higginbotham said. “We need to use our resources to do good and the thing I knew was theater.”

ARIEL, which is now a successful working theater showing four plays a day, was built from the ground up by Higginbotham, who began her vision by reading a book about how to form a non-profit organization in California. In the beginning, Higginbotham ran the theater from her kitchen.

“The early years were very arduous,” she said. “Very intense.”

Higginbotham and her cohorts were “vagabonds” for a long time, holding shows at churches and schools. In 2001, they finally made their home at their current location at The Wilson Children’s Theater on Main Street in Salinas. The theater has 6,000 square feet and includes a green room, two bathrooms, a laundry room and a sewing room. Performances are also shown at Sherwood Hall in Salinas one day a week. Higginbotham’s goal has always been to get children off of the couch and onto the stage.

“They are here engaged in thought and discipline, as opposed to chillin’, texting, and playing video games,” she said. “They are actively engaged in something that will stretch them.”

The children that perform with ARIEL range from beginners to more advanced performers. “Some have never been in a play, some have come for twelve years,” Higginbotham said.

The plays that are shown at ARIEL are all based on books, because the theater’s mission is to get children interested in reading. The children that grow up at ARIEL often return as they become adults. One of Higginbotham’s former performers, who started at ARIEL at ten years old, now brings his son back for summer camp. Higginbotham also said that she had another young man who came to the theater “very lost and drifting.”

“He found something here that spoke to him,” she said.

Higginbotham said the philosophy of ARIEL is “friendly, firm and fair.” She said that the children who perform there come from different walks of life, but they all share one thing.

“Everyone loves being on stage, hearing applause,” she said.

Former ARIEL performer Bri Slama, who performed with the theater between the ages of three and 15 and had a lead role in High School Musical 2, said her experience at Ariel made her who she is now.

“My years with ARIEL taught me more than how to project on stage, make quick costume changes, and work together as an ensemble,” Slama said. “I learned what it takes to be a person of strength and integrity; to not only find my light on the stage, but also within myself.” °

ARIEL will perform Miss Nelson is Missing and The Ugly Duckling in May. Visit www.arieltheatrical.org for dates.

A Little Drama Goes a Long WayBY JENNIE TEzAk PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE MURO

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Friends of the Earth: Turning Pollution into a Solution

BY JULIE ENGELHARDT PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE MURO

Nader Agha and son at the Moss Landing Business Park

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During the past few decades and even more so with the dawn of this new millennium, people across the globe have a profound concern regarding what they can do to maintain the health of our planet. Individuals and organizations alike are putting their efforts into maintaining healthy air, rainforests, and the oceans. In fact, there is an effort taking place in our own backyard that people may not be aware of; and it all has to do with cement. Actually, it has more to do with the production of cement.

Many of us probably don’t give much thought as to how cement is made, but one man, Stanford University Professor Brent Constantz, does care about the production of this material. He has come up with a way to make “green” cement.

Constantz is a Ph.D. geochemist whose initial focus was in the field of medical cement. At the age of 27 he created high-tech cement that changed the way hospitals were able to repair

bone fractures. He currently holds 75 patents for the development of different types of cement. The complex processes by which people like Constantz are minimizing our carbon footprint are daunting enough to make even a swimmer’s head swim.

The production of “ordinary cement,” known as Portland cement, is a contributing factor to the pollution of our planet. For every ton of cement that is created, roughly one ton of carbon dioxide is released during the production process. Worldwide, 2.5 billion tons of cement are manufactured each year, which in turn creates about five percent of the Earth’s CO2 emissions. But Constantz has developed a technology that sequesters carbon dioxide into cement with only clean water and air as by-products.

Constantz’s company, the Calera Corporation based in Los Gatos, uses carbon dioxide emissions mixed with local seawater to create this “green” cement. According to Constantz, this technology is carbon neutral and helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air.

This process is taking place at the Moss Landing Business Park located just off of Highway 1 across from the Pacific Ocean and next door to Dynegy, one of the biggest and cleanest power plants in North America. The green Business Park is owned by local businessman, Nader Agha.

“We took an existing 200-acre industrial park that was very heavily contaminated and polluted, cleaned it completely, and converted it from a pollutant to green industry operations,” Agha

explained. “It took us five years to get to this point. We’ve eliminated all the asbestos, the lead, and the contaminated piles of dirt that had toxic chromium in it, and hauled thousands of tons away. We demolished old factories that manufactured military hardware in World War II. The whole concept is about green industries.”

Others also have an interest in using the Moss Landing Business Park to support environmentally-friendly industries. Professors at the Moss Landing Marine Institute want to use the large holding tanks at the park to grow kelp to feed aquaculture abalone and reduce nitrogen in the watershed. And, the Business Park has also been tapped as a perfect place for a desalination1 plant.

“We have negotiations with Poseidon Resources to develop a desalination plant because this was declared the most suitable [area] in the state for one,” says Agha. “So, we will have seawater first flow through the kelp tanks. The seaweed helps extract the nitrate from the sea water. The water then goes to the green cement operation, and what is left over goes to desalination,” Agha said.

“We see this as a world-class demonstration facility where you can integrate a lot of different technologies,” says Constantz. “People can come here from all over the world and replicate this model.” ° 1Desalination - removes virtually any mineral and most biological or organic chemical compounds to produce water suitable for drinking.

We took an existing 200-acre industrial park that was very heavily contaminated and polluted, cleaned it completely, and converted it from a pollutant to green industry operations.

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PEBBLE BEACH

Heavenly GreensPhotography by D.M. Troutman

Terry Cook, Sharene Hamrock, President of Heavenly Greens dan Theis, and Brandi Theis enjoy a sunny afternoon on one of their putting greens overlooking the 5th hole of Spyglass during the AT&T Pro-Am.

866.572.7993 l HEAVENLYGREENS.COM/MONTEREY

A Perfect Day On The PeninsulaBY ANDREA STUART PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRIS & CHRISTINE MURO

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Manic Monday

Alexandria Olpin Chief Concierge, Bernardus

Plan a road trip down Highway 1 for the ultimate Peninsula experience. Start the day with delectable cheese blintzes and a casual breakfast at Little Swiss Café. After breakfast, mill around Carmel and check out the smaller shops. The Pilgrims Way Bookstore - The Secret Garden is emblematic of Carmel’s charm, while The Cottage of Sweets will supply you with a few pieces of rose-flavored Turkish delight. On your way out of town, stop in at the Carmel Coffee House for a refreshing iced coffee. Follow Scenic Road back out to Highway 1 and head south into Big Sur.

Driving south on Highway 1 is always beautiful. Grab a driving partner so you can trade off for viewing’s sake. Stop at Hurricane Point for a photo op of the coast line with the Bixby Bridge. Continue to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park for a quick hike into the gorge. In the gorge you can soak in the sun, sit on the rocks, or swim. Continue further south on Highway 1 for some lunch on the patio at Nepenthe for a burger and fries, where you’ll overlook the stunning coastline. Then hop back in the car, turn right out of the driveway and go a mile further. Pull right into the driveway of the Hawthorne Gallery where your eyes will feast on the unique architecture and exhibits. On your way back out, pop by the

River Inn for a drink. This place is unique in that you can sit in large wooden chairs in the river. Though the river only runs about ankle deep, it is still relaxing and fun. Later, head to Carmel Valley and dine at Cachagua Store for their unique Monday night dinner.

Educational Binge

Betsie Lays Chief Concierge, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

Begin your day with a brisk hike through Point Lobos at Point of the Sea Wolves. Entrance is free for pedestrians. With amazing ocean views it’s the perfect prelude to a tour of Lula’s Chocolates where you can immerse yourself in chocolate Heaven. Tours are free and available by appointment.

Following your tasty journey of the artisan chocolatier’s playground, burn off some calories with a walk down Scenic Road from Carmel River Beach parking lot to Carmel Beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The short jaunt will rev you up for either a bay cruise by Monterey Bay Sailing or perhaps a private guided tour of the Monterey area with Gael Gallagher—naturalist and historian. Or, discover local galleries, restaurants, and points of interest down Highway 1 with Central Coast Day Tripper. If you’re trying to keep costs down, take a free guided or self-guided tour of Monterey’s Path of History (www.mtycounty.com/pgs-path/

apath.html) where you’ll learn about the area’s rich Spanish history. Finally, finish the day off at the Dennis the Menace Playground at Lake El Estero Park where you can view steam engine Old No. 1285, have your picture taken with a sculpture of Dennis the Menace, scale the climbing wall, cross a suspension bridge, and more.

Epicurean Excursion

Kathleen Fitzgerald Chief Concierge, Highlands Inn

There is nothing like an early morning stroll along Carmel Beach and Carmel Point where locals walk their dogs. you can even watch the scuba divers at Monastery Beach next to Point Lobos Reserve. Afterwards, take a drive down the Big Sur coast for a hearty breakfast at Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn. It’s a charming local favorite nestled in the Redwoods. Another local favorite is the Big Sur Bakery, famous for incredible hamburgers and homemade breads baked daily.

Following a good meal, learn how the Salinas Valley earned the name “salad bowl of the world.” At Earthbound Organic Farms in Carmel Valley, go on a “Chef’s Walk,” where a local chef will guide you into the fields to pick fresh produce for a cooking demonstration followed by lunch. Extend the agricultural experience with a unique wine tour. Parsonage Village Vineyard, located just beyond Carmel Valley Village, arranges blending seminars for visitors to create their own meritage from assorted barrels of vintage wines. The blend is bottled with a personalized label.

If you are limited on time, spend one hour on an aerial tour of the entire Peninsula at sunset. This is a spectacular way to get an overview of the area’s incredible beauty. °

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2It’s no secret that the Monterey Peninsula is an historic playground for visitors and residents alike. In fact, it can be daunting to narrow down the choices. Should you see an exhibit or should you visit a beach? Where can you find the area’s hidden treasures? We spoke with three local concierges to find out what the perfect day on the Monterey Peninsula looks like.

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The First Lady of HumilityBY kRISTIN A. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRIS

For a woman often referred to as a socialite, Karen LeVett is painfully modest. When asked about herself, she is often evasive, usually quick to change the subject, and always humble. But when asked about those she loves, the words come pouring out. Speaking through interpreters—two of her daughters—a clear picture of Karen LeVett begins to emerge: a self-made woman, who through her own tenacity, rose up to become one of Carmel’s most noted interior designers and art collectors.

Growing up in Bakersfield, LeVett, nee Karen Schaffer, showed an early affinity for design. As a child, she attended auctions with her parents and was keen at picking out the most interesting items. “I suppose I had an eye for it,” she says, reluctantly after much prodding. “My mother certainly loved design.” Again, praise for others comes more easily.

Despite her own interest in design, LeVett initially chose a career in teaching. A job offer at a Fort Ord elementary school brought her to Monterey, and the Peninsula has been her home ever since.

When asked what she likes best about the area, she quips, “how many words do you want?”

During the school year, LeVett taught 2nd grade at Fort Ord and 1st Grade in Carmel where she was known as a caring teacher who went above and beyond the call of duty. “My mom was so committed to her students,” says Kate, Karen’s youngest daughter and perhaps her biggest fan. “She went to all of their homes to meet the mothers and talk about their kids. Because of my mom, each of the students got a personalized education.”

One summer, LeVett led an arts and crafts class; she relished in sharing her love of art with students. Perhaps this was just an extension of her teaching or perhaps it foreshadowed her next move: the giant leap from education to design.

“My mom was making—if you can believe this—just $5,000 a year as a teacher,” says Amanda, Karen’s 3rd child. She went to the teacher’s credit union to get a $5,000 loan, and with that small nest egg, LeVett bought her first home in Carmel. She spent two years fixing it up by hand. “My mom never hired anyone to help; she did it all herself,” says Amanda, proudly. After its remodel, LeVett sold her house, bought another and repeated the process over and over until she was fully immersed in the world of real estate. “I just took it one step at a time,” she says.

This new world of housing introduced her to three influential business partners: Michael Bolton, with whom she started an interior design business; Chris Tesher, her long-time business partner; and Denny LeVett, a real-estate mogul,

whom she later married.

Together, LeVett and Bolton started Bolton and Rowe, an interior design company in Carmel. It was here that she cut her teeth in design. But it was with Tesher, a successful contractor, that LeVett really honed her craft. She designed the inside of the homes, and he the outside. “It was a real partnership,” says LeVett.

LeVett’s homes are scattered through illustrious neighborhoods of Carmel and Pebble Beach. “We lived in 22 houses and I’m only 22 years old,” jokes Kate. “Every place we lived was more beautiful than the last.”

LeVett has no formal design education, but Kate says that her mom “just knows about it intuitively.” As a child, Kate would lay on the floor, pouring over blueprints and catalogs with her mother. “She was more than an interior designer; she understood all aspects of the house.”

Karen has also worked on Denny LeVett’s luxury Bed and Breakfasts by furnishing them and adding art to the establishments. Amanda says her mom “never took a backseat to Denny. She just rode along side him, building her own career.”

Recently, Amanda has taken on some of her mother’s role in the B&B’s. “I’d say I’m more of an operations manager though. I can’t hold a candle to Karen (when talking business, she refers to her parents by their first names). I still ask her opinion about all the art.”

While interior design is Karen’s profession, art is her obsession. Amanda says that besides Karen’s

LeVett has always made great sacrifices for art. In her early 20s, Amanda says her mother traded a pair of Levis “right off of her body” for a piece of art.

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Scott Salyer with his King

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Cultivating a Community Through Soil

BY CHARLEEN EARLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRIS

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It’s amazing how even the smallest thing that happens to you as a child can affect you for the rest of your life. Roger Mills was only seven years old when he bought groceries for his mom and brother while his dad was in the service and discovered he was three pennies shy at the counter.

“I took something away, but the clerk said I had to go see the manager. That’s when a lady behind me gave me three pennies,” said Roger, 73. “It was the kindest thing for someone to do for me. That happened over 60 years ago, and I still remember it.”

He’s done more than remember that lady’s small act of kindness. Roger and his older brother, Basil (79), co-owners of the Mills Family Farms in Monterey County, “pay it forward” in their community as much as possible.

“My brother, Basil—father of four children and grandfather to eight grandchildren—and I grew up poor and less fortunate. As we became

successful through farming, we’ve seen the community from both sides of the fence,” said Roger, who has one daughter and seven grandkids. His one son died at four months old. “you need to give back to your community; it’s a biblical thing to give 10 percent of your income to the church. We give to our fellow human beings.”

Roger and Basil have two older sisters Nancy and Shubel, and one younger sister, Melissa. Their father, an eternal optimist who switched jobs frequently, always believed his two sons would become businessmen. Ultimately, their father went into the newspaper business, but Roger never followed in his footsteps. He followed his brother’s instead.

“Basil volunteered to be drafted in 1951 during the Korean War and was discharged in 1953. He got a job in Phoenix, Arizona with a produce broker, headquartered in Salinas,” said Roger.

Roger graduated from high school in 1953 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in order to garner a G.I. Bill to get into college. He completed basic training in Fort Ord, served his time, and proceeded to college. In 1958, Basil started his own produce company and hired his first employee.

“I was his first employee!” said Roger, who claims he and Basil never fought. “We have a very close relationship that most brothers probably don’t have. Most people comment on the fact that we’ve gone through 50 years of business together and have never had an argument! We’ve had disagreements though.”

Fifty years later, the two continue to grow iceberg lettuce, head lettuce, romaine lettuce, green and

red leaf, red and green cabbage, green onions, leeks, parsley, kale, and cilantro. They farm in Mexico, San Luis Valley (south of yuma), Arizona, and in the Trinidad Valley, 150 miles south of the border. Farming to Roger is as noble a job as it gets.

“It’s a very rewarding business in that it’s something healthy you’re providing for the general public,” said Roger. “Unlike the tobacco industry where it’s strictly for money, farming vegetables provides a product that benefits mankind! It’s a fun business.”

Roger said the farming industry does not receive government price supports or benefits either. “There’s no government aid whatsoever. It’s a totally free market based on supply and demand.”

He said a farmer is the ultimate poster child for eco-friendly living. “We are the extreme environmentalists, because we make a living off the land,” said Roger. “Not only that, we take care of the land by using good crop management.”

The agribusiness brothers have also cultivated care for children and Hispanics in their community through donations.

“We support the Boys and Girls Clubs in Salinas, Salvation Army, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Community Foundation of Monterey County, United Way, and Center for Community Advocacy,” said Roger.

“A lot of people helped us along the way,” said Roger. “We want to give back, so we do it through charity. We want to give back what God has given us.” °

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4The agribusiness brothers have also cultivated care for children and Hispanics in their community through donations.

MONTEREY PENINSuLA TO THE CITY

San Francisco’s Bleeding HeartBY ANDREA STUART PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER kERN

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Hair & Make-up Artist: Erin Gallagher / koko-represents.com

Location: Plumpjack Fillmore Wine Store

3201 Fillmore Street, San Francisco

plumpjack.com

San Francisco City Hall serves as Mayor Gavin Newsom’s current political rest-stop; its grandeur is only surpassed by a history that drips with saga. As the wedding site of Hollywood icons, Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, and as the assassination grounds for Harvey Milk and George Moscone, San Francisco’s civic palace carries an emotive energy. Newsom has eternally etched himself into this ever-growing symbolic edifice, having been branded the most

sympathetic and perhaps, most controversial mayor the City has seen yet.

“I think politicians need to be more risk-oriented; it’s imperiling to do nothing,” Newsom said as he leaned back in his chair and placed his hands behind his well-manicured head. “Innovation doesn’t come from anything but trial and error. Key word being, Error! Politics is not known for innovation. This is due to lack of willingness to try new things.”

Despite popular assumption, politics were not implemented on social governments with the intention of attracting the sharp tongue or unscrupulous deeds of egocentric whistle-stoppers. Politics are an art form; a science of theory, a practical aid that builds understanding of—as well as effectively and fairly governing — various policies. Newsom embodies this philosophy.

Newsom’s candid demeanor supports his position on life. Stacks of neatly arranged books and papers on and behind his desk suggest a meticulous personality complemented by a voracious thirst for reading. His casually rolled up sleeves and unbuttoned collar reflect a practical character rooted in humility.

A fifth-generation San Franciscan, Newsom stems from middle-class roots. Although Newsom was not lathered in monetary spoils during his early years, his life was enriched by the humanitarian bug.

Newsom and his sister, Hilary, were raised by their mother and role model, Menzies. They lived first in San Francisco followed by Corte Madera where

they moved in order to get away from the City’s questionable schools. Tessa divorced from their father, William Newsom, when the children were very young. She worked three jobs—as a waitress, secretary, and bookkeeper—just to survive, and dedicated much of her life to sharing her home with foster children, one with whom Newsom still keeps in contact.

The self-professed gender-biased mayor said, “Women have such a capacity. I’ve always admired that about them, they can handle so much.” He considers this a universal perspective because, he says, “women have many aspects that far exceed, with all due respect, some of their male counterparts.”

However, he credits all parties in his life for molding him into who is he today. Newsom’s father—a former California Courts of Appeal Judge and longtime friend to Gordon Getty—afforded Newsom experiences from another side of life that included backpacking and river trips around the world, which taught Newsom about environmental conservation.

From early childhood, Newsom suffered from speech impediments and severe dyslexia to the point that he attended speech therapy and faked literacy. He later learned to work through dyslexia by developing the “Newsom Methodology” in which he highlights sections of books, types those sections into CliffsNotes, then re-reads them, rendering the information inextirpable from his brain.

To boost his deteriorating self-confidence during high school, Newsom became involved in PE

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Newsom has eternally etched himself into this ever-growing symbolic edifice, having been branded the most sympathetic and perhaps, most controversial mayor the City has seen yet.

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Clift: Hotel on a PrecipiceBY MICHAEL CERvIN COVER PHOTO BY GREG HARRIS

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Today’s current crop of

athletes and celebrities stay

at Clift.

“Everything has a story,” Simon Mais, general manager of Clift tells me as we stand in the jaw-dropping lobby of this San Francisco hotel in the heart of Union Square. Moments prior I was pummeled by the frigid, harsh rain of a hectic San Francisco afternoon. But upon entering Clift, there is a sense of being elevated to another place, another time, and your perception shifts. Simply put, you are edified. There is a funky, museum-like quality to Clift, a sort of discombobulating environment where you’re not certain which way to turn. The lobby itself, a voluminous place with 25-foot ceilings, seems more

aptly lit for a moody Broadway show. you stop, assess your new surroundings, and wonder if you might be lost. you’ve entered a minimalist wonderland.

In 1913, attorney Frederick Clift commissioned the 300-room hotel on a lot that his family had inherited. By the time it was finished it was the first fireproof and earthquake proof hotel in California, which became the envy of the City, and the rich adopted the place as their own. Today the current crop of athletes and celebrities, both authentic ones and the fifteen-minute variety, choose to stay at Clift (it’s always Clift, not the Clift).

Even several employees have worked here for over forty years. People don’t stay here, they abide. For those in the know, they may smirk at those neophytes who arrive for the first time, curious at the strange and bewildering arrangement of furniture. Here’s a tip, look at the underside of the large lobby chair, then have someone tell you the story. The right flank of the lobby is the Living Room, a gathering place for drinks, quiet conversation, or seclusion. you enter the lobby, but you pass into the Living Room, a dark confining room studded with 7 x 7-inch black and white prints of various animals, like a

Clift is unrepentant in its

design: drawing guests in with

unconventional attributes.

moose, a robot monkey, or a panda facing away from you. The squares, all at shoulder height, are individually lit, commanding your attention. Here again, a closer look reveals another truth. Sit and relax, enjoy a sidecar or espresso and immerse yourself.

“We are very different. We’re about engaging our guests,” Mais suggests. “The hotel was designed to be a whole experience,” he says. “Each piece of furniture was hand chosen for its uniqueness.” Philippe Starck was given free reign to compose color, texture, and period elements, then shake them up like a martini, and

distribute them liberally.

The Redwood Room, for example, transcends history. Part deco, part cubist playroom; the dark redwood paneling is nothing short of gorgeous. The sophisticated environment harkens back to a time when it was required to dress for dinner, when flip flops and baseball caps were reserved for off-time, not dinner time. Clift has long been criticized for being trendy in that regard. “Are people coming here to be seen?” Mais asks rhetorically. Certainly the ambience is compelling. “It does exude that vibe. People aren’t slumming. They get dressed up

to come here, it’s a big night out,” he adds. And that has always been the allure of the Redwood Room ever since its inception, the hip and cool sensibilities mixed with a palpable and distinct sense of place. you want to be seen here because just walking through the doors makes you feel like royalty. Starck’s interior design is either specific intention or improvised by contrasting a mix of wingback leather chairs with low to the ground club chairs, and—aside from the barstools—everything is formed to make the room feel larger than it is, more than the sum of its parts. It shares sliding redwood paneled

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doors with Asia de Cuba, Clift’s signature restaurant, and voyeuristic glances are possible between the two rooms. Asia de Cuba, which Mais calls a “destination restaurant unto itself,” was also designed to keep things low to the ground, but with unobstructed views to the entire restaurant. The waiter’s stations are open, wine glasses hang upside down on open racks, allowing for a visual capaciousness, if not a slightly skewed sense of perception. The mirrored cross-shaped dining table is off-set by four semicircular booths which hug each corner, rounding off the interior footprint. Floor to ceiling

drapes hide the walls while ceiling lights offer whispers of illumination and shadow, and dance down the drapes with a David Lynch/Twin Peaks vibe, a place where you cannot anticipate what might happen next.

At every turn in Clift there seems to be something placed just so, and it demands your attention because you want to fix it, make it more symmetrical. But Clift is unrepentant in its design. Flawed or not, it draws you in, forcing you to become involved with the tactile nature around you. From the restrained lighting or the furniture, which appears to have more in common with Hearst

Castle and its random disconnected imagery—as if Helen Keller designed the place —it is easy to forget this is still a business.

“We put a lot of money into maintaining our hotels,” Mais says. The average renovation cycle for most hotels is ten years, but Clift thrives on a seven-year cycle; therefore, the rough worn edges never show.

This is evident in the guest rooms as well. Though there is a subliminal message in the peculiar grey, orange, and lavender hues that articulate the rooms, it’s not quite

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definable. It is something just out of reach, until it is explained, should you ask. “The room should reflect the area where you are,” Mais states practically. “When you wake up in San Francisco, you should know you’re here, not L.A. or South Beach,” he suggests. In practical terms, this means the orange painted legs of the tables and chairs is meant to invoke the sun hitting the Golden Gate Bridge and fanning out across a damp, cool morning. Whereas the gray carpet implies the ubiquitous fog that envelopes the City, and the candle lantern lamps suggest the wharf district. you might laugh at the idea

that the hues mean anything of the sort. you might believe the colors are better suited to a model home subdivision with an uneducated and hyper designer. Either way, careful thought has gone into the schematics of the rooms, though it’s elusive at first. Then Mais tells me that Starck had seen old photographs of people being wheeled up Nob Hill in wheelbarrows (the why was never explained) and, therefore, wheelbarrow chairs are splayed in the rooms as a testament to the historical, if not the eclectic and joyous, nature of the City. Clift feels haphazard, but it is orderly.

If you fly into San Francisco from say, Singapore or Wales, or even the Midwest, you might not pick up on the subtleties. Clift is definitely not prosaic. But there might be a story running in your head, like a movie, about how San Francisco used to be; an elegant, romantic town that portrays itself as the epicenter of taste, culture, and refinement. And how it is now; an older, wiser metropolis, a hub of vitality that plays by its own rules, sets trends, defies authority, and believes in its own supremacy. Those images, however real or imagined, come to a perfect union in Clift. °

Each piece of furniture at

Clift was hand chosen to

engage guests.

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The Mayor of Belden PlaceBY vANESSA CARR PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG HARRIS

It’s lunchtime and raining in downtown San Francisco, yet the white-clothed outdoor tables of Belden Place are filling quickly. With eight restaurants crowded beneath strings of lights and taut red awnings, this small alley feels more old-town Italy than Financial District hustle.

Like in any small town, there’s one man on Belden Place whom everyone seems to know: Pino Spinoso. He can’t walk two paces without shouting a greeting in English or Italian. And it’s no wonder—Spinoso owns three of the alley’s restaurants: Café Tiramisu, Brindisi Cucina di Mare, and Belden Taverna.

Spinoso is the classic Italian restaurateur: gregarious, dark-suited, broad, raised in kitchens, a wine lover. According to Spinoso, his staff are “friends,” he’s a “leader—not a boss,” and a 16-hour day is “a short one.”

“It’s hard work, but the party comes to you,” he says.

Just shy of 50, Spinoso grew up in Venosa, a land-locked town located on the ankle of Italy’s proverbial boot. With two parents in the restaurant business, he and his siblings grew up “with the culture of food and wine in their blood and DNA.”

But forget any romantic idea of sipping sauce from Grandma’s wooden spoon: Spinoso learned to cook working long hours alongside his parents in the family restaurant.

“They put a chain on me in the kitchen,” he jokes.

At 12, his family immigrated to Düsseldorf, Germany, where he encountered the truly wealthy for the first time in the restaurants where he cooked. Spinoso cultivated his culinary talent through his teenage years, and before long patrons started returning for his creations, specifically. By 18, he had started his own restaurant in partnership with an uncle.

Despite these early successes, Spinoso started to feel like a prisoner in Düsseldorf: “I’m going to die in this kitchen here,” he thought to himself.

His first step toward freedom, paradoxically, was reporting for mandatory military service in Italy as a paratrooper. For his last six months, he was stationed in North Carolina.

“That is where I fell in love with the American way of doing things,” Pino said.

After the military, Spinoso started working on cruise ships—as chef, bell captain, whatever was offered. For the next seven years, he traveled the world by

sea—the Suez Canal, South Africa, New Zealand, the Black Sea—before returning to the U.S.

It was in San Francisco that Spinoso opened his first U.S. restaurant, Caffè Macaroni, a 13-seater “the size of a shoebox.” There he cooked an unconventional menu featuring horse meat and rabbit, rode his scooter daily to the market for fresh produce, and eventually hosted guests like Francis Ford Coppola, George H. W. Bush, and Pat Conroy.

Today Spinoso owns six restaurants; four in San Francisco and one in both Burlingame and Bangkok, Thailand. He lives in San Francisco with his wife of 20 years, Joelle—originally from the Monterey Bay Area—and his 13-year old daughter, Allegra.

Watching Spinoso greet champagne-sipping businessmen during lunch, it’s hard to imagine that just twenty years ago the alley was full of garbage and car parts, and was still open to traffic. He dragged the first table into the street on Café Tiramisu’s opening day in 1990 because the alley’s brick walls and quality of light reminded him of Rome. But the likeness between the two cities is greater than brick and light.

“An old Italian man once told me, ‘San Francisco is just like Italy,’” Spinoso recounts. “‘you throw a seed in the floor and it will grow—you don’t have to do anything. The seafood, the vegetables, the meat—no other city in the U.S. has done so well as San Francisco.’” °

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0It was in San Francisco that Spinoso opened his first U.S. restaurant, Caffe Macaroni, a 13-seater “the size of a shoebox.”

modesty, her favorite thing about her mother is her ability to pick out great art. “She has the most incredible taste. The way she puts art together is itself an art form.”

LeVett has always made great sacrifices for art. In her early 20’s, Amanda says that her mother traded a pair of Levis “right off of her body” for a piece of art.

The image of a young LeVett passing a pair of worn denim to an artist is all the more astounding when juxtaposed with the image of her today. LeVett is a thin, pretty woman with perfectly coifed hair and a pristine and pressed wardrobe. It’s hard to imagine her wearing jeans, let alone trading art for them.

While Amanda had heard the infamous stories of Karen’s love of art, she hadn’t seen it first hand until the two of them went to a Carmel art walk. It was there that she saw how important a collector her mother was—every artist knew her and thanked her for supporting them over the years. “The artists all came up to her and praised her. One artist, who was getting older, invited her to come to her garage and take anything she wanted.”

LeVett continues to collect art to fill her homes. She recently purchased an apartment on Central Park South in New york City, and you can bet the walls won’t stay bare for long. “I wish you could see every home my mother has done,” says Kate. “The designs don’t come from any country; they come from the incredible mind of my mother. But it’s hard for her to realize the genius of her work.” Lucky for LeVett, she has her daughters to remind her. °

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The First Lady of HumilityCONTINUED FROM PG 58

San Francisco’s Bleeding HeartCONTINUED FROM PG 72

during high school, Newsom became involved in baseball, obtaining a partial scholarship to Santa Clara University. With an appetite for a career in law, Newsom studied political science; he felt environment and law were a perfect fit. However, when Newsom graduated from SCU his father discouraged him from attending law school, avowing that law wasn’t what it used to be.

“I wouldn’t have passed the bar anyway,” Newsom added facetiously.

In limbo about what to do with a political science degree, and with no aspirations to go into politics, he began selling orthotics and later went into real estate. It was that path that served as Newsom’s Pied Piper, stringing him along a distinct path toward his PlumpJack empire.

In 1992, Newsom opened PlumpJack Wines on Fillmore in San Francisco. His innovative marketing strategies and unique vision eventually metamorphosed into the PlumpJack Group, comprised of over 16 hotels, restaurants, and wineries. His business and personal philosophy are synonymous with respect.

“I had an experience that is indelible to me. When I worked in janitorial, I was pushing a cart and I passed a guy in a suit and tie. I waved and smiled at the gentleman who looked down angrily. He didn’t even acknowledge me. I felt dehumanized and I told myself I would never do that to another human being.” His words wrap around a chord of embarrassment.

Newsom’s knack for fundraising and entrepreneurial success eventually caught the attention of family-friend and former San

Francisco mayor, Willie Brown, who gave Newsom his first political job as San Francisco’s Chair of Parking and Traffic Commission in 1996. One year later Newsom became Supervisor. He affirms that Brown acted on inspiration/desperation; hiring a straight, white, male in an attempt to boost diversity. “I was his affirmative action appointee. Only in San Francisco,” Newsom threw up his hands and chuckled.

Newsom now has an exploratory committee dedicated to his campaign for California Governor. yet, he asserts he still has no trepidation for being in elected office.

“My only motivation for running for governor is … it’s a way of connecting all the parts of the state. But politics is only one vehicle. I will continue to fight for the environment, for public housing, and for equal rights long after my political career has ended,” Newsom said.

A part of Newsom is looking forward to retirement from politics. He’d like to resume his role with PlumpJack and to open a café on the Monterey Peninsula.

“People who live on the Monterey Peninsula have a real connection to the coast, land, and environment. There is a spiritual quality to the area; it brews imagination,” Newsom added.

No matter where Newsom ends up tomorrow, he will always carry one truth with him. That truth is that if your cause in life is purpose as opposed to power, then you will be able to look back at the proverbial rocking chair moment of your life and say, “That’s a life worth living and I made a difference.” °

There’s nothing like leaving behind the routine of your shoulder-hunching, time-crunching daily activities and relaxing into vacation, even if it is January.

My husband and I recently visited Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—more specifically, Spring Church—to watch Super Bowl XLIII with family. I’m not much of a sports fan, but I am a fan of community. And Pittsburgh—as well as surrounding townships and villages—emanates a strong sense of pride. Black and gold draped the vendors’ tables that lined The Strip District as the Steelers’ Fight Song intrusively echoed in the near-glacial air. Walking the streets of Pittsburgh, I couldn’t help but feel at home among the ripened brick buildings, each with a story to tell.

The most fascinating aspect of visiting the City of Bridges—Allegheny County has more than 1,700 bridges, 720 of which are within Pittsburgh city limits—is the camaraderie. Never have I seen city folk

come together so fluidly for no other reason than for good cheer.

Super Bowl XLIII held a special meaning for Pittsburghers this year as the Steelers earned their sixth Super Bowl championship. Headlines were painted in wit reading, “The Joy of Six,” and “Lords of the Rings.”

We spent the final hours of Super Bowl Sunday cozied-up in the Apollo Elks Lodge where I ran into old-timers like Regis, who had become increasingly aware of his mortality and now that he’d seen this “miracle” was making plans to finish his bucket list before time took the reins.

Slurs swirled the room in harmony as local lodge members celebrated the Steelers’ victory. “I’ll buy breakfast for anyone who shows up tomorrow morning,” yelled one member. Then, when the body-writhing tune of Dancing Queen came over the Elks’ speakers I was suddenly reminded that I was in a rural town of Pittsburgh, where time has stopped and residents simply don’t mind. My husband and I flew nearly 3,000 miles for this experience and we surely would not have encountered such esprit de corps at a Raiders riot…er…celebration.

Truthfully, Pittsburghers are not unlike residents here at home; maintaining hope through political and economic uncertainty, clinging to whatever elements each person has in common with another, holding onto the knowledge that humanity will persevere. I believe much of our nation is aware of this verity and should aspire to promote a sense of community, and in the end, we will emerge strong and proud. In the words of M. Scott Peck, author of The Road Less Traveled, “There can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community.” °

EDITOR’S NOTE 82By Andrea Stuart

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