San Fernando Valley Realtor Naomi Johnson is a valley girl at heart. As the creator of Live The Valley Life, a 818 lifestyle brand, she combines her two passions: helping her clients navigate today’s real estate market and sharing the 818 community she grew up in. “I’ve been a realtor for two years and I help families buy and sell
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My Valley Pass, the San Fernando Valley’s #1 Visitors’ Guide, shares with us their top five destinations in the San Fernando Valley. The My Valley Pass team, led by Oscar Urrutia, strives to make the San Fernando Valley a destination spot through organizing various events such as Movies On Location, and tours like The San Fernando Film Tour, The San
Read moreCoach Cat, owner and CEO of Cat’s Club Fitness in Sherman Oaks, is no stranger to adversity. Being honorably discharged from the US Army in the late 90s was a devastating blow to what she thought was her destiny. Despite this tragedy, she found a way to survive and carve a new path for herself. “I was homeless, abusing drugs
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Meet the EXA Band, one of the best live music bands in the 818! The band was brought together in March 2014 by Ricky Molina, an 818 local who’s played and toured with multiple bands in the Los Angeles Area. Seven years later, the EXA band is still playing around the San Fernando Valley. “Everything started, thanks to your friend,
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Jojo Aguilar is a Production Designer, Art Director, and Concept Designer who has worked in the entertainment industry for close to 30 years. He started right out of high school at Hana- Barbera at 1988 as a character designer. Feeling he needed more formal education, he left to the Philippines to study Commercial Arts at the University of Santo Tomas.
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Sometimes, you make plans and life has a way of putting you on a different path. The origins of Cookies by Joe is a testament to that. Joana Turcios, owner of Cookies by Joe, didn’t start baking cookies off the bat(ter). She went to culinary school with the hopes of becoming a chef but soon realized she loved baking and
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Meet Patrick Ballesteros, artist, illustrator, teacher, and owner of Patrick Ballesteros Art Shop. Some of his art work is displayed and available for purchase at The Perky Nerd in Burbank where he was the featured artist in a couple of their art shows and even curated the Sweethearts, BFFS, and Bromance Art Show in February of 2017. In this episode
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Today’s Meet The (818) interview features 818 local and CSUN alumni, Jonathan Andrade, owner of Cans With Wicks. During the pandemic, Jonathan decided to try his hand at making candles with recycled beer cans as holders. What an awesome way to promote local breweries at the same time trying out a new skill! We chat about his love for beer,
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KimBobRex, a food truck known for serving up sushi burritos, is a staple at the Granada Hills Grubfest every Friday for more than five years. You can always expect a line wherever they’re around. One of their bestsellers is the Best Friend Roll—spicy tuna, salmon, shrimp tempura, their special sauce, all wrapped up in sushi rice and seaweed. Chef Jin,
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In early February 2020, the last event I attended and covered was the bridal expo at Castaway in Burbank. I remember going around with my handy dandy camera, snapping away happily, talking with small business owners, and thinking that this was going to an amazing year. There were already some rumblings about the pandemic but it lacked any sense of
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Gail Hatch, owner of FitSquadLA, guarantees two things when you try their Zumba classes—one: you will leave smiling; and two: you will leave sweaty! When Gail and her instructors teach a Zumba class, an infectious sense of joy and positive energy permeates throughout the studio. Working out becomes a party with friends you didn’t even know you had! “Rescued from
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When restaurant owners Ray and Ellen Azizian opened the doors of The Pizza Cookery, they wanted their customers to feel welcome and comfortable, as if they were visiting and having a meal with their family. The restaurant was an extension of their hospitality and their strong sense of community. After being in business for 25 years, The Pizza Cookery still
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MEET THE (818) 