Laguna Beach Magazine: December 2018
The late Anne England | Photo courtesy of Festival of Arts
Up Front: Around Town
Artistic Influence
Anne England, a Florida native who has been intertwined in the Laguna Beach arts scene since the early 1960s, died in October while surrounded by family at her Laguna Niguel home. England was a renowned printmaker who exhibited at both Festival of Arts and Sawdust Art & Craft Festival (for which she was one of the first participating artists). She also co-founded LOCA Arts Education, a nonprofit that partners with local schools and organizations, including the Laguna Beach library and the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, to facilitate public art workshops.
“Without the artists who have lived, worked and exhibited in our community for more than 100 years, we would have no heritage. The art that has been inspired here in Laguna Beach will live on long after we are gone,” Anne England wrote in a letter to the Coastline Pilot in 2002. It is through this passion for art that England will live on in the Laguna Beach community while continuing to inspire future generations and fellow artists, even after her passing.
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Joe Hanauer
National Recognition
The 33rd annual National Philanthropy Day awards luncheon, held Nov. 15 at the City National Grove of Anaheim, honored various philanthropists, businesses and leaders in the Orange County community. One such honoree was Joe Hanauer of Laguna Beach, who was recognized in the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser category for his leadership, fundraising and strategic planning in regard to several local nonprofits. The list of his working relationships is extensive and includes Laguna Playhouse, for which he serves as chair of the governance and nominating committee, while he also serves on the boards for Laguna Beach Live (and also works with the organization’s president on strategic planning) and Mission Hospital to act as a liaison for its Laguna Beach location. Hanauer also works with Maryland-based urban development nonprofit IHC Global, as well as Roosevelt University and the Reaume Foundation, both in Chicago. (npdoc.org)
A rendering of the planned Laguna Playhouse space | Image by Mark Abel
Upgrades & Honors
Nearly 100 years after the organization’s founding and 50 years after the historic Moulton Theatre was built, the Laguna Playhouse has broken ground on an exterior renovation. This revamp will include upgrades to the sidewalk and patio area as well as the removal of walls for greater visibility to passersby. The groundbreaking ceremony was held Nov. 5 and the project is expected to take about six months to complete, during which time the venue will remain open. Some shows that will be on during construction include “Beauty and The Beast: A Christmas Rose,” “Driving Miss Daisy” and “Heisenberg.”
Also, in honor of the Veterans Day, the playhouse has introduced a year-round outreach program called TheatreHope. This offers complimentary tickets to active service members, veterans and their families; these tickets sometimes include a backstage tour as well as the chance to meet with actors and staff during stage talks after particular performances. (949-497-2787; lagunaplayhouse.com)
John Hovanesian with a patient
Eagle Eye
More than 35 years after receiving his Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of America, Laguna Beach resident John Hovanesian has been honored with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the organization’s Orange County Council. The prestigious award is presented to Eagle Scouts who have made significant strides within their professional fields, with past recipients including astronaut Neil Armstrong, former President Gerald Ford and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.
Hovanesian was presented with the award Nov. 9 at the council’s annual Leadership Breakfast, held at Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, to honor his work in the eye care industry. Among his accomplishments are owning and serving as a surgeon at Orange County-based Harvard Eye Associates, volunteering his time for international surgical trips, teaching the newest techniques at University of California, Los Angeles, and through the Armenian EyeCare Project (a nonprofit based in Newport Beach), as well as his leadership positions at the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. (ocbsa.org)
A bamboo key from The Ranch at Laguna Beach | Courtesy of The Ranch at Laguna Beach
Stewards of Sustainability
In an effort to eliminate single-use plastics on property, The Ranch at Laguna Beach has made a switch from plastic room key cards to bamboo alternatives sourced from certified sustainably managed plants. These bamboo cards are reusable, which will prevent about 25,000 plastic versions from ending up in landfills annually. And with more than 9 billion tons of new plastic having been produced since the 1950s, as well as approximately 8 million tons entering the ocean each year, every little bit helps. Even if a bamboo card accidentally gets thrown away, they are biodegradable and will eventually return to the earth.
The Ranch at Laguna Beach administers other sustainable practices, as well, including the use of reclaimed water to irrigate the grounds, recycling glass bottles by utilizing a special machine to turn them into sand that is used on the golf course, and operating Harvest, an ocean-friendly restaurant that is officially recognized by the San Clemente-based Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit committed to ocean protection. (949-499-2271; theranchlb.com)
Photo by Charles Besso
Looking Good, Saving Wildlife
Laguna Beach-based artisanal goods and fair trade retailer The Peace Exchange held an annual event Sept. 29, during which the company introduced a new line of jewelry made from snare wire. This material is mainly used by poachers in order to trap and subsequently kill animals. Park rangers in Kenya are continuously removing these wires to protect wildlife, which local craftspeople have started repurposing to make beautiful bracelets. The collection came to fruition through a recent partnership with Raabia Hawa, founder of Walk With Rangers (an East African nonprofit working to aid park rangers in the fight against poachers and other environmental concerns), who spoke at the unveiling event. Proceeds from sales will serve as income for the Kenyan jewelry makers who contributed to the project and will also help to save the wildlife that live among them. All products are available for purchase on The Peace Exchange website. (thepeaceexchange.com)
Photo courtesy of Dronekut.com
Taste of the Town: Dine Sides
Authentic Italian
After Ivory Restaurant & Lounge recently closed its doors, a new eatery made its way to Laguna Canyon to take over the vacant space in The Hive shopping center. That restaurant is Oliver’s Osteria, which opened in late October and is now serving lunch and dinner to those who are craving a taste of traditional Italian cuisine. Small bites on both menus include a mixed green salad with beets, carrots and pomegranate seeds, caprese salad with fresh burrata and a smoked gazpacho, as well as a baked eggplant Parmesan. Naturally, pasta is a star at this eatery, with offerings such as a rigatoni cacio e pepe or a spinach and mushroom ravioli for lunch, followed by the likes of squid ink tortelloni and house-made agnolotti stuffed with braised veal on the dinner menu. Gluten-free and vegan options are available, such as the gluten-free gnocchi dishes, so be sure to inquire if those dietary needs suit you. (949-715-0261; oliversosteria.com)
This piece was framed with an engraved plaque and displayed on the wall of this restaurant.
Jamon Harper, former pastry chef at AVEO Table + Bar, where he created an award-winning dessert menu | Photo by Luis Esparza
Culinary Honors
The annual Golden Foodie Awards, held Sept. 30 at Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, honored exceptional culinary talents from around Orange County. Food celebrities and enthusiasts started off the event by walking the red carpet, followed by a catered reception in the rose garden with additional charcuterie and desserts awaiting guests in the ballroom where the ceremony was held.
During the awards presentation, two local entities were honored with Golden Foodie statues. Selanne Steak Tavern won for Best Wine Program in Orange County, in acknowledgement of its extensive wine list that includes all types of varietals—from numerous international winemakers to Purple Corduroy, which is produced by Laguna residents. And, Jamon Harper, former executive pastry chef at Monarch Beach Resort in nearby Dana Point, was named Pastry Chef of the Year after unveiling an exquisite dessert menu at the resort this past summer. Harper has since taken on the position of executive pastry chef at Mandarin Oriental, Miami in Florida. (goldenfoodieawards.com)
An item on the fall menu at Studio | Photo courtesy of Studio at Montage Laguna Beach
Falling for Studio
After eight years of working for the culinary team at Montage Laguna Beach, Benjamin Martinek was named chef de cuisine at the resort’s French restaurant, Studio. “Being chef de cuisine here is a dream come true,” Martinek says. “My creativity in the kitchen is inspired by the ingredients sourced from Studio’s 1,000-square-foot, raised-bed garden, as well as from local farmers and producers whom I have worked with over the years.”
That creativity shines in his fall menus, which offer la carte options in addition to two different six-course tasting menus. Appetizers like chilled oysters and braised Mediterranean octopus carpaccio, second-course plates of Dungeness crab-and-basil soup and roasted pork belly, and entrees such as Pacific swordfish, duck breast and lamb loin will all be available on the a la carte menu at least through December. The preselected tasting menu includes foie gras, 40-day dry-aged beef striploin and two berry-based desserts, with the vegetarian version featuring beet tartare, celerini alfredo, pistachio Pavlova and more, though selections are expected to change later this winter. (949-715-6030; montagehotels.com)
