Toluca Lake closed out its centennial year in style this past holiday season with a series of treasured traditions made bigger and better than ever — from a record-setting Turkey Trot to an extra-festive Holiday Open House, the 20th anniversary of Kling Street Kids and the triumphant return of the Magical Holiday Parade. The L.A. City Council even honored our community with a special resolution at City Hall. We had a wonderful time greeting our neighbors and friends at these events, and you can find recaps of all the celebrations in this issue’s Out & About section.
As we settle into a fresh year and get ready for spring’s rush of growth and renewal, it’s a perfect time to showcase the spirit of creativity and inspiration that characterizes our community and so many of its residents. In our cover story, we welcome a relative newcomer to the neighborhood, inventive fashion designer Dalia MacPhee, who’s been delighted to experience Toluca Lake’s small-town charm in the past year. Find out how her creations are not only shaping fashion’s future on the runway and the red carpet, but also shooting for the moon — both figuratively and literally — by incorporating cutting-edge tech to do everything from interfacing with smartphones to keeping dogs warm and dry on walks to protecting horses during wildfires.
Also in this issue, we profile another future-minded problem solver in a very different field: our district’s current representative in the State Assembly, Laura Friedman, who discusses the work she’s been doing to improve the lives of her constituents right now and in the generations to come. And continuing the theme of innovation and resourcefulness, we bring you the history of the “little studio that could,” Republic Pictures. With low budgets, efficient processes and pioneering ideas, this ambitious Studio City company produced nearly 1,000 Westerns, B-movies, serials and other films during its 24 years of moviemaking and attracted an array of stars to live and work in the area, helping to build its reputation as a creative center.
As always, thank you for your continued support of Toluca Lake Magazine and our local advertisers. The centennial festivities may be over, but thanks to this community’s boundless energy and originality, I have no doubt that Toluca Lake’s 101st year has plenty of fun, camaraderie and success in store. Have a wonderful spring.
