Education

Staying Mindful in a Fast-Paced Environment

Our Fast-Paced World:In our modern world, our days are punctuated by the relentless ping of notifications, pulling our attention in many directions.  Screens glow from morning to midnight, sending messages, news alerts, updates, and notifications.  Multi-tasking has become our default mode.  Adults on phones is the newest ‘second-hand smoke’ creating toxic patterns in relationships and undermining parent interactions and child development.  The pace is intoxicating yet...

Life + Culture

My Town: Kirsty Stone

Article and Photography by Kirsty Stone, the Brentwood-based founder and designer of fine jewelry brand Retrouvaí, developed a love and appreciation for her chosen profession at an early age. The Toronto-born talent grew up with one grandmother who worked for a costume house and the Hudson’s Bay Company department stores, and another who was a collector of semi-precious gemstones. “The name Retrouvaí is drawn from the French word  retrouvailles —a term that captures the joy of rediscovering...

Shopping

Falling into Fashion

Emily Park of Capsule Shop offers her sartorial advice for the upcoming season  Article and Photography by Since opening at Brentwood’s Town & Country shopping center in the summer of 2023, Capsule Shop has quickly become a go-to destination for thoughtfully edited, of-the-moment fashion with everyday ease. “It’s a deliberate curation of the best finds from iconic global designers and emerging talent,” says owner Emily Park, who originally founded the company as an e-commerce platform before...

Real Estate

Sunny Disposition

Real estate agent Shelton Wilder proves that a smile—and a healthy dose of Southern hospitality—makes all the difference  Article by Amanda Eberstein  To know Shelton Wilder is to love her. With her signature Southern charm and wide-eyed smile mixed with an inherent grit, hustle and drive to succeed, the North Carolina-born beauty is a breath of fresh air in the often cutthroat and ego-driven local real estate scene. “Relationships are everything,” says Wilder, who points to her high referral...

Health + Wellness

Helping Hands

With the founding of Alegria Collaborative, Joy Stevens and Dia Parsons have created a more compassionate way to care for mental health and addiction—while decreasing the stigma surrounding it Article by Amanda Eberstein | Photography by Shayan Asgharnia Joy Stevens and Dia Parsons each had established careers of their own when they decided to form Alegria Collaborative—a premium mental health and addiction service devoted to providing top-quality and concierge care—in 2021. Stevens had been a...

Home + Design

Sweeter Dreams

Custom Comfort Mattress’ redesigned West Hollywood showroom celebrates the family-run company’s dedication to luxury, craftsmanship and the SoCal community  Article by Maile Pingel  “A good day starts with a good night,” says Gary Trudell of Custom Comfort Mattress. And since 1986, the family-run firm he heads with his brother Mel Trudell and their business partner Jeremy Solis has been providing one of life’s greatest luxuries: a comfy bed. Headquartered in the city of Orange, California the...

Arts + Culture

On Display

Article and Photography by As the Global Fair Director for The Other Art Fair—a leading international showcase that highlights the best emerging talent from around the world—Nicole Garton oversees 12 events annually across Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, London, Australia and her hometown of LA. “Being part of The Other Art Fair is a dream come true,” says Garton, who resides in Brentwood. “I get to work alongside colleagues I admire to help artists bring joy with their work.” Garton’s ascent to...

Food + Beverage

French Renaissance

Chef Dave Beran has reimagined his beloved dining destination Pasjoli into a more approachable—yet equally delectable—bistro Article by Carole Dixon | Photography by Frank Wonho Lee and John Troxwell James Beard Award-winning chef Dave Beran—formerly the chef de cuisine of the world-renowned Michelin three-star restaurant Alinea in Chicago, went back to his multi-course fine dining roots with Seline on Main Street in Santa Monica earlier this year. The location is not far from his...

Education

College Admissions 101

Getting into the Ivy League takes more than just good grades and top test scores—here, Command Education’s guide to admissions success at every stage Article by the Editors “One of the most common misconceptions about the college application process is that sheer prestige—an elite private school, a competitive summer program, a big-name internship—will make you stand out to top colleges,” says Grace Lee, managing director at Command Education, a boutique college consulting firm that is the...

Education

Making its Mark

Brentwood Presbyterian Church Preschool brings warmth, guidance and character to the early childhood years Article by Amanda Eberstein For more than 75 years, Brentwood Presbyterian Church Preschool has been a cherished part of the Brentwood community. Established in 1948 as a traditional preschool program within Brentwood Presbyterian Church, it has evolved into a non-denominational school that runs independently and is known for its warm atmosphere, wonderful staff and families and...