In many ways, Malibu reminds me of the Hamptons in Long Island, New York where I spent many of my summers. Each weekend, we would schlep from Manhattan, in traffic for sometimes three hours. Why is the slowest traffic called rush hour?
Once we were there, the drive became history. The first thing we would do is grab the local papers and see if we appeared in them. The thrill we experienced when either reading about ourselves or seeing our faces in a picture from the prior week would always be the fix and boost we needed to make that drive all the way home at the end of our weekend.
But it was the quiet, laid-back winters that were more enticing, not only because there wasn’t any traffic and the drive would take half the time, but because the people who were still around were the ones who appreciated the town all year round. It was local. It was more of a community. It was like Malibu.
With this in mind, hold your breath, as I may be writing about you, if not this time … next time.
Movers and shakers
Dot Spikings and her husband, Academy Award-winner Barry (“The Deer Hunter”) are staying in Malibu, but were forced to move from their ocean-front house due to a gas-leak fire. They will now experience a view from the canyons. Dot is thrilled to have a garden, just like in England where they are from.
Newcomers to Malibu are clothing manufacturers Kandy Horowitz and her long time beaux, Bob Loox, and their two dogs, Texy and Bubba. Already they have frequented Malibu Wine and Cheese, accessorized their home from Tops and enjoyed Malibu’s casual dining. However, the sounds of the waves are taking them some time getting used to.
Theresa DeHaas, chair of the board for Make A Wish Foundation, and her husband Duke, a bigwig lawyer, and their two daughters just returned from a three-week vacation in Europe. It was quite the experience for Duke being with three very outspoken women. He said he loved it.
And that’s not all. Mirella and Joseph Ventress (Real Estate tycoon and international attorney) are back from their overseas trip where they spent time in Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. Now they can spend more time showing off their Millennium house. The likes of Puff Daddy and Charlize Theron … just to name a few have looked at this unique Malibu design.
Sizing up a role
Following in their footsteps are another generation of the Ventress’, Melissa and Jason Ventress, with Action Now Realty. The proud parents took baby Buckley on his first big outing where he ran into his first celebrity, Keri Russell (“Felicity”).
High tides
Fashion boutique Atlantis, recently remodeled, has a new fresh, chic look. Love your clothes Lily Harfouche. Oh, by the way, her boyfriend is Strider, a professional big wave surfer.
The view
Sighted at Granita during one of his theme evenings, Caribbean Night, was Wolfgang Puck himself, working the room, as well as Don Rickles, who never ages. Cher had her meal delivered. Why should she leave that house of hers? Speaking of Cher, birthday greetings go out to her and to all Geminis, who have a sense of duality, and who are not only versatile, but also restless, curious, lively, intelligent and eloquent.
Around town
So now that summer is here we need to know which day is good at what place and when in Malibu. Tuesdays are fun nights. Start out at Duke’s Malibu for Taco Tuesday. Then head over to the Malibu Inn to listen to the sounds of the longtime local band, Backbone. The members of this group all come from famous dads, two from the Allman Brothers. The lead singer, Chris Williams, is the son of Jerry Williams, the songwriter who has written for Eric Clapton, and Alex’s dad is Roy Orbison.
Roundup
Don’t forget about your dad. Prepare for Father’s Day, which is June 17. And … did you know that there are more collect calls on this day than any other day of the year?