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Thai This
For a real Thai street-food experience without the jet lag, visit Wat Thai Temple, a Theravada Buddhist temple located at Coldwater Canyon Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard in North Hollywood. It's the site of an open-air food fair, with some of the most interesting Thai food in Southern California, on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prices are cheap, and the atmosphere is festive. (For reviews of Thai restaurants, see Bon Appétit.)
— Jean T. Barrett
Grave Review
Hanging out at a cemetery for Halloween may not be at the top of your list of family-friendly activities. Perhaps reconsider. In the fall, Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries holds free pumpkin decorating contests at its locations in Cathedral City (October 26), Cypress (October 27), Long Beach (October 30), and Covina Hills (October 31).
While you're there, check out the museums that currently feature exhibits celebrating Forest Lawn's centennial. Also, pick up a map from the information booth and take a driving tour of the grounds. Pull over for close-up views of original artworks and reproductions. At the Glendale location, look for a reproduction of Michelangelo's David and a stained glass re-creation of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper. (800) 204-3131, ext. 4782, or visit www.forestlawn.com.
— Kendra Strey
Southern California Pieways
September through November is high season for Southern California's apple crop. And nothing is as enticing on a crisp autumn day as the sweet aroma of that all-American dessert: apple pie.
— April Bailey
Apple Annie's Restaurant & Bakery
38480 Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen; (909) 797-7371
A Slice of History
Bob Bise, an animal trainer for the Walt Disney Company, opened an animal park in this farming community in 1950. To attract more visitors, in 1958, he and his wife, Marcie, added retail shops and Apple Annie's Restaurant & Bakery. Bise ran the enterprise for almost 40 years
before selling the park and 14-acre Oak Tree Village. The village is now owned and operated by the Wilson and Fox families.
A Bushel and a Peck
During apple season, head baker Adan Vasquez uses Oak Glen apples exclusively, with up to three varieties in each pie. In the off-season, the bakery uses apples grown throughout California.
The Spice of Life
The five-pound "mile-high apple," made with 15 apples, is their signature pie. They also offer French and lattice-crust pies, as well as apple turnovers, fritters, dumplings, crisps, cookies, muffins, pancakes, and bread.
By the Numbers*
36,000 pies sold September–November
100,000 pies sold each year
Julian Pie Company
2225 Main Street, Julian;
(760) 765-2449
21976 Highway 79, Santa Ysabel;
(760) 765-2400
A Slice of History
Twenty years ago, Liz and Keith Smothers started the company in a 900-square-foot cottage in Julian. In their first weekend, they sold out of
the 120 pies they had baked. By 1992, they'd expanded to nearby Santa Ysabel, where they established their production bakery and an additional retail store.
A Bushel and a Peck
In the fall, head baker Yolanda Gonzalez uses as many apples (primarily Jonathans, McIntosh, and Empire) as the bakery can purchase from local growers. Off-season, the pies are made from Granny Smith apples.
The Spice of Life
The Dutch apple is their most popular pie. Also on the menu: double-crust apple, natural apple, peach-apple, boysenberry-apple, and apple-mountain berry pies, plus apple-cider doughnuts, apple turnovers, and Apple Memories (shaped pie-crust cookies).
By the Numbers*
90,000 pies sold October–December
200,000 pies sold each year
Marie Callender's Restaurant & Bakery
Throughout California and the Western U.S.; (800) 776-PIES [7437]
Slice of History
Marie Callender started baking her famous pies back in 1948. She and her husband, Cal, sold them out of the back of their car. They later sold their car for $700 in order to buy a Quonset hut to house their Long Beach bakery. In 1964, Callender and her son Don opened their first restaurant and bakery in Orange. He sold the chain to Ramada in 1986 for a reported $100 million. The company is now owned and operated by Castle Harlan Partners.
A Bushel and a Peck
Their apple pies are made with pippin apples from Washington State.
The Spice of Life
The regular menu includes three apple-pie varieties: double-crust apple (most popular), French apple, and sour cream apple. During September, caramel apple cream cheese is featured as the restaurant and bakery's premium pie.
By the Numbers*
336,000 apple pies sold last October–December
736,000 apple pies sold last year
*Approximate figures
Photographs are by, from top: Sean Hiller (first one), JupiterImages (last three).
On the Money
The Truth About Life Insurance
Life insurance can provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones, yet many people avoid thinking about it — or think they don't need it. Here's the skinny on some common misconceptions.
I don't need it because I'm young and single. Currently, your need may not be great, but it's wise to lock in a good rate while you're young. Your responsibilities — including retirement planning — will increase in the coming years.
I'll never see the benefit. Some insurance companies offer a "return of premium" rider that guarantees you'll receive your money back at the end of the term period if certain conditions are met.
I'm too old. It's true that life insurance is based on age, health, and ability to pay. But packages exist for older age groups. Other options include annuities, which offer a fixed return for a specified period of time.
I can always buy it tomorrow. Your ability to qualify is based on your health and age. Every day that passes could mean a higher premium.
I already have coverage through my employer. Keep in mind, coverage typically only lasts while you're working. For example, if you change jobs, your benefits may be severely reduced or eliminated altogether. Because life insurance premiums are based on age and health, you may find that your future health or budget might limit your ability to secure needed coverage.
The premium will be too high. Insurance plans aren't one-size-fits-all. You can ask your life insurance specialist to customize a package to suit your individual needs and budget.
A licensed life insurance professional — in conjunction with a financial advisor, tax consultant, or attorney — can help you determine if life insurance is right for you and help you understand the types of life insurance products that are available.
You are reading the September/October 2006 issue of Westways. Some information contained in this publication is time-sensitive, and the terms of some offers (cruise or vacation packages, for example) or services (provisions for roadside assistance, for example) might have been superseded by subsequent information and might no longer apply.