“Summer movies under the stars”

MALIBU COUNTRY MART PRESENTS FREE OUTDOOR FILMS AT THE FIRST ANNUAL SUMMER MOVIE SERIES

Malibu Country Mart welcomes summer with its first annual Summer Movie Series Families, shoppers, Malibu locals and movie fans are encouraged to enjoy FREE outdoor films under the stars at California’s premier luxury retail center.

One Sunday each month in June, July and August, the Mart will entertain audiences of all ages by screening family-friendly movies including:

• “The Endless Summer Revisited” - June 9
• “Madagascar” - July 14
• “The Goonies” - August 11

Movies will start at approximately 8:15 p.m., or about 15 minutes after sundown.

The Malibu Country Mart is a great place to spend a warm summer evening dining at Mr. Chow’s or on the patio at Tra Di Noi, browsing at Diesel Books or hanging in the courtyard with the kids. There are also some terrific shops like Room at the Beach, John Varvatos, Ralph Lauren, MAC make up and Coffee Bean for a pick me up. So “treat” yourself and the family to a free movie and enjoy your evening at the Malibu Country Mart. The complete list of shops and eateries may be found here.

For more information on events in the Malibu Country make sure to connect with them on Facebook & Twitter.

Watch K-9 Heroes at Work

By: Gracee Arthur

Animals have always been very important in my life. My blog has featured Malibu Pet Companions and Spunky’s Rescue Ranch, as well as other great organizations who save pets from shelters and find them “forever” homes. I had a wonderful German Short Hair Pointer named Lady Alice who was my best friend and running partner in many Purina Charity runs. Lady was a great retriever and tireless ball chaser who would bring me the Sunday LA Times . My current pets Minnie and Harry cat are more into being served than doing service but their entertaining tactics are worth the “price of admission”. However some animals work for a living to serve and protect us grateful humans.

The dogs of the Los Angeles County Police Canine Association are my heroes. On Saturday, May 18th There will be a Police K-9 demonstration at the Santa Monica College Stadium, as well as an educational Public Safety Fair. These highly trained and skilled dogs are heroes who not only save lives, but sometimes sacrifice their own to protect their human handlers in dangerous situations. Just the sight of these crime fighters makes some criminals cower into submission!

We have recently seen the role of dogs in the Boston Marathon bombing but dogs have also been instrumental partners in situations from 911 to earthquakes rescues , as well as hurricanes, fires and locating missing people. These wonderful, intelligent animals require money for training and care which allows them to work alongside police enforcement agencies to help fight crime and save lives. The event on Sunday promises to be an exciting one and for only a $45 donation you and your family may purchase a ticked to the event. The Canine Association also appreciates larger donations and sponsors to help keep their programs vital.

Call 310-390-2472 For tickets and/or advertising sponsorships. www.lacpca.com Santa Monica College Stadium is located at 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica.

“Night out in Malibu”

By: Gracee Arthur

I have lived in Malibu since 1983 when there were only a handful of good restaurants and little entertainment options, save a small movie theatre. These days we have many more options and one of them is our local theatre Malibu Stage Company. I began attending the theatre 3 seasons ago and have enjoyed musicals like “Cabaret” and dramas like the “Oldest Living Graduate”. There are hits and misses but it is always an adventure in entertainment. The small theatre with the great sound system (donated by patron and Malibu local Dick Van Dyke) , is an up close and personal experience for the audience. It also offers an opportunity to meet your friends and neighbors over a glass of wine ($5.00 donation) and refreshments. The current production is “Blood Knot” by playright Athol Fugard.

The story: “Two brothers, one black and one who passes for white live together saving for a farm that will allow them to move out of the ramshackle village in which they reside. Zachariah, the black one, works; Morris, the light skinned one saves. They are quite different, they even remember their mother differently. Life takes a dangeous turn when they begin a pen-pal relationship with a woman from Oudtshoorn. Now, for the first time, Zachariah realizes that his brother can “pass”. Two brothers, one black and one who passes for white live together saving for a farm that will allow them to move out of the ramshackle village in which they reside. Zachariah, the black one, works; Morris, the light skinned one saves. A. Martinez and Oscar Best are both up to the task of bringing these characters to life.”

The production is directed by Lou Gossett , who played the role of Zachariah in New York. Mr. Gossett held an interesting question and answer at the end of the play. The production continues through May 19th 2013. Friday and Saturday 8 PM, Sunday 5 PM.

Reservations are recommended: 310-589-1998 or www.malibustagecompany.org located at 29243 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu.

Kristy’s Wood Oven and Wine Bar at the Malibu Country Inn is my favorite place to eat before the theatre. Directly across the street from the venue, Kristy’s has great food , friendly professional staff and a charming ocean view setting which also features outdoor dining. The menu is eclectic and always evolving with a fabulous selection of seafood, salads and custom pizzas from the wood oven. There is a full bar and a great wine list. We had a fabulous Pinot Noir, all shared a large Mediterranean salad and ordered the special wild salmon with crispy skin. The food was fantastic and because we were so close to the theatre we could enjoy a leisurely meal. Kristy’s also has a great lunch menu and a Thursday night Burger special. This is one of my favorite Malibu restaurants.

Reservations are recommended 310-457-2602 or kristysmalibu.com

“Celebrate Earth Day in Malibu”

By: Gracee Arthur

What better place to celebrate our beautiful planet Earth than in Malibu where the mountains meet the sea. The Malibu Country Mart event (now a tradition) features environmentally friendly solutions and products for home garden and business uses.

This year the Malibu Country Mart will celebrate Earth Day on Sunday April 21st from 11:30am-2:30pm! This will be a local Malibu event, in conjunction with the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, promoting eco practices and services in Malibu. The Country Mart will be highlighting its latest Green Initiative—working towards LEED certification!

We will host around 15 tables that will educate the public on sustainability practices. Some participants include:

• City of Malibu
• Chamber of Commerce
• Malibu Patch
• MCM table highlighting their practices
• Solar West International
• World Team Now
• Eco Biz Check
• Partner Energy

In addition, Malibu Chamber of Commerce and Malibu Country Mart will host two kids activities:

1. Eco Face Painting
2. Plant potting- Each kid can plant a succulent in a little take home pot

There will also be live music and light appetizers to entertain shoppers and guests!

Sunday, April 28

By: Madeleine Miller

Another special occasion for those of you who are gardening enthusiasts or, like me, just appreciate the beauty, artistry and hard work involved in creating and maintaining the different styles of garden on show.

Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Tour will feature 6 Private Gardens in the Pasadena area at a charge of $5 per Garden on April 28th.

They include:

• Brandstater Victorian Garden in Sierra Madre
• Wenzlau Garden Near the Huntingdon Library
• Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden inPasadena
• Iffalldano Garden Near the Huntingdon Gardens
• The Hogan Gardens
• Merrill and Donivee Nash Garden

Maps and Tickets will be available 9:30-3:00 at Arlington Gdns., 285 Arlington Dr., Pasadena, 91105

The History of the Radio

By: Irma Haldane

With the introduction of CD players, AUX adapters and mp3 players in cars, the car radio seems like something of the past. Interesting enough though, the company who created the original car radio, is still very much relevant today.

In 1929, William Lear and Elmer Wavering sat in a car at a look out point with their girlfriends. One of the girls pointed out that it would be nice to enjoy music in the car. Thinking it was an interesting idea, Lear and Wavering pursued the concept. Having had both worked with radios previously, the two men finally made a model after tinkering with the electrical wiring in a car. They took the invention to a radio convention in Chicago where they met Paul Galvin, owner of Galvin Manufacturing Corporation. Thinking that the car radio was going to a big hit, Galvin invested in the product.

After Lear and Wavering perfected their first model, Galvin went to the bank to apply for a loan. Hoping that it would seal the deal, Galvin had Lear and Wavering install a radio in the banker’s car. Unfortunately, the banker’s car caught on fire shortly thereafter, and no, they did not receive the loan. Broke but with an unwavering spirit, Galvin headed down to Atlantic city for a Radio Manufacturers convention. Without enough money to purchase a booth, Galvin parked his car outside of the convention and blared the radio for goers to hear. His display worked and the radios were put into production.

The first car radio was called 5T71. Knowing that it wasn’t a very catchy name, Galvin decided to come up with something else. Then, many companies added “ola” to the ends of their names such as Radiola, Columbiola, and Victrola. Because the radio was intended for a motorized vehicle, Galvin came up with the name, Motorola – the very same name we recognize today.

Since the initial introduction of the car radio in the 1930′s, Motorola has been a leader in technological innovation. In the late 1940′s, they came out with one of the first affordable home televisions; the 1950′s, they released the first pager and in 1973, they were attributed to inventing the world’s first cell phone.

Having rounded on the 40th anniversary of the introduction of the cell phone, it is easy to forget a world without them. It is important to take the time to appreciate the impact a single company has had on our everyday lives. From the car radio, to pagers and now cell phones, I look forward to what Motorola has in store next.

Author of Eat, Pray, Love and More

By: Karen Lee

The recently opened, Malibu Library has been hosting a library speaker series featuring authors of renowned novels such as Eat, Pray, Love and The Art of Racing in the Rain. The series began on March 15th but will extend through July. Each month, the library will bring in a new author to give a presentation and reading of their book.

Here is the full lineup:

• Monday, March 18 at 7pm: Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain [PASSED]
• Wednesday, April 17th at 7pm: Kerry Max Cook, author of Chasing Justice 
• Thursday, May 16 at 7pm: Anne Lamott, author of Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers
• Sunday, June 23: Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love

Make sure to click on each book title for reviews, summaries and purchase options of the novel.

For seating reservations, please contact the Malibu Public Library at (310) 456-6438.

RealTech SF 2013 Hosted by Reesio

What were seemingly two different entities nearly a decade ago, have now merged into one: Real estate and technology. Though some agents still shudder at adopting the latest in tech, from Twitter to iPads, it is nearly impossible to operate without it. In 2012, over 90% of real estate searches began online. Conversations regarding Internet in real estate have turned from “if” to “how, when, and where“.

As realtors scrambled to address the latter question, mobile devices snuck up on the industry. Not only are buyers and sellers using the Internet, they’re going mobile. As smart phones and tablets develop, the ability for mobile users to browse the web has become akin to that of a desktop. Real Estate powerhouses like Zillow, have stated that mobile search on their site has surpassed desktop computer browsing. So what does this all mean?

RealTech SF 2013 hosted by Reesio, sets out to address these questions including the latest technology in real estate and how to best implement it. Reesio understands the importance of mobile in today’s real estate market. Moreover, they recognize the impact technology has had on real estate and aim to help others in the industry.

The RealTech conference will be held on April 30, 2013 in San Francisco at the renowned Fairmont Hotel. Representatives from Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com and other top companies will speak. Topics including real estate crowdfunding, Keynote and Internet leads will all be covered by experts in their respective fields. For a full schedule visit the event site: www.reesio.com/realtech.

With fantastic speakers, engaging topics and a predicted attendance of 400-500 agents, sellers, and tech experts, this is an event not to be missed. Reserve your spot today.

Mark Your Calendars!

By: Mickey Nathans

April is a jam packed month in the city of Calabasas. We have a lot to look forward to so get out your calendars and make note of the following events.

There will be an “Earth Day Festival” on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 2pm-5pm at Las Virgenes Creek on Agoura Road.  Bring the family and learn about all the ways you can help the environment.  The admission is free.  There will be recycling art contests, learning booths and wildlife presentations.

On Sunday, April 21^st, there will be a dog walk and festival “Canine Classic”.  Check-in 9:00 am, Walk start 10:00 am.  The walk will be through the rolling hills of Calabasas to raise funds for some amazing organizations.  Register online.  There is no fee to register.  Canines welcome.

The Festival will be from 10:30-2:30.   After the walk, enjoy the pet friendly festival at de Anza Park.  All dogs must be on leash. During the day, there will be dog adoption, dog agility play area, over 30 pet industry vendors, kids activity zone, food trucks, and much more.

Where:   Juan Bautista de Anza Park, 370l Lost Hills Road, Calabasas – Questions:  818-880-2993 – info@caineclassic,org – www.canineclassic.org