As Thanksgiving approaches and we look forward to the holidays, I’m filled with gratitude for this remarkable community. The response to Toluca Lake Magazine has been overwhelmingly positive, and I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to all of you who have reached out to discuss how you can contribute, stopped by to say hello, and let us know how much you enjoyed our premiere issue. Special thanks to Brett and Shane Vollstedt from Volwood Corporation, the owners of our building, who graciously allowed us to hang a banner announcing our presence to the neighborhood.
My favorite thing about the process of publishing this magazine is that each day brings new opportunities to meet more of our neighbors. We were thrilled to attend the marquee-lighting ceremony at the Garry Marshall Theatre just down the street, and our cover story presents a behind-the-scenes look at how the theater’s new identity celebrates Garry’s legacy while bringing exciting artistic innovations to the community. I was also honored to meet Pearl Harbor survivor and longtime resident Jack Rogo, who dines at Prosecco Trattoria on Riverside nearly every night. His continued zest for life is an inspiration for us all in how to grow older in body, but not in spirit. (Word to the wise: Don’t try to buy Jack’s dinner. He won’t allow it.) We also thank the Toluca Lake Tennis and Fitness Club for opening the doors of their facility to us and providing an exclusive look of what’s to come. (Spoiler alert: The private club’s Santuari Restaurant is currently under construction and will be open to the public.)
We’ve dedicated much of this issue to celebrating the holiday spirit, Toluca Lake style. Local experts share their tips on winter fashion, seasonal home decorating and festive imbibing, and our neighborhood shopping guide features a handpicked sampling of gift ideas from an array of nearby businesses. You’ll also find a bit of historical Christmas-music trivia and a calendar of upcoming events for the season — plus the story of the Kling Street Kids, whose long-running neighborhood celebration has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help children in need, truly exemplifying the meaning of the season.
In closing, I want to emphasize that this is your community magazine — we can’t do this without you, and we want to hear from you. I’m committed to keeping an open mind as we continue to learn more about what our readers want and how we can best serve this community. Please keep the feedback and story ideas coming! You can reach me at publisher@tolucalake.com, or feel free to pay a visit to our office.
From all of us at Toluca Lake Magazine, best wishes for a wonderful holiday season, and a very healthy and happy new year.