One of the things we love most about Toluca Lake is its natural beauty, and from what we’ve heard, many of you agree. What were once peach and walnut orchards have become shady avenues lined with stately trees and expertly cultivated gardens. But what hasn’t changed is the way local residents value these lovely landscapes and understand the importance of preserving them for future generations. That’s why, for going on seven years now, Toluca Lake’s Earth Day celebration has been one of the neighborhood’s signature annual events.
The Earth Day festival and Taste of Toluca have a special place in our hearts, partly because last spring’s event was the first we ever covered for Toluca Lake Magazine. While it came too early for our premiere issue, the story (available on our website) served as a preview of the kind of only-in-Toluca tales we planned to tell and our introduction to the community’s close-knit spirit. Now we’re proud to be among the sponsors of this year’s event, which will be held Sunday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Forman Avenue and Riverside Drive. We hope you’ll join us, other area businesses, community organizations and your neighbors for this free one-of-a-kind showcase of environmental resources, delicious food, live music and family-friendly activities. We also hope you’ll stop by our table to meet the people behind the magazine and tell us your ideas for future stories.
The goal of this issue is to inspire you — not only to attend the upcoming event, but also to reflect on how we can all practice the principles Earth Day stands for. And who better to help us than actor and eco-activist extraordinaire Ed Begley Jr., who shared his wisdom on environmental stewardship as the featured speaker and honoree at the 2017 festival? He and his wife, Rachelle, recently built what’s been called “the greenest home in America” just a few miles away in Studio City, and in our Green Issue cover story they generously open their amazing house to us for a photo tour and interview. We’re incredibly grateful for their expertise, enthusiasm and good humor in demonstrating what it truly means to live a green lifestyle within the unique context of our Valley community. Also, kudos to our managing editor, Jenna Anderson, for her superlative coverage of their story.
Throughout the magazine you’ll find easy and stylish ways to save energy at home, enjoy fresh and seasonal foods and shop sustainably in Toluca Lake and its surrounding areas. From pioneering organic market Full O’ Life to the Magnolia Park green district to Toluca Lake’s own Discovery Shop, you might be surprised by the abundance of eco-conscious options available — all, as Begley would encourage us to think of it, just a short bike ride away.
Lastly, we are saddened by the passing of Cinema Secrets founder Maurice Stein on February 28. We were honored to profile his legendary career in our premiere issue, and we know his legacy will live on in our community and throughout the industry.
As always, I welcome your feedback, questions and suggestions at publisher@tolucalake.com, and I look forward to seeing you at the Earth Day celebration in April!