Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 27, 2016

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 27, 2016 


Walking Sierra Madre…The Social Side 

by Deanne Davis

“There’s no place like home...” 

Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz

She had a point, friends and 
neighbors. We all love to travel 
to someplace different, like 
Texas, for us, to see Jessie and 
Emily, but then when we get off 
the plane and roll the suitcases 
back into the house, we’re so 
glad to be home! 

It’s getting easier and easier 
to just stay home in Sierra 
Madre for an fine night out. 
For instance, John and I, 
daughter Leah and son-in-law, 
Chuck attended the matinee 
performance of Deathtrap at 
the Sierra Madre Playhouse 
last Saturday and if you didn’t 
get yourself tickets to see it, you really missed 
something neat. The set was fantastic, the cast 
was stellar and we are delighted that our new 
Artistic Director, Christian Lebano, is able to 
tap into resources for truly professional working 
actors with solid credits. Not only was the cast 
perfect for each role, but they engaged in some 
really rugged looking fights. Now that the play 
has ended its run, I don’t need to worry about 
spoiler alerts! The Fight Choreographer, Ken 
Merckx, has choreographed fights and taught 
actors theatrical combat for film, television, 
theatre and universities across the country. He 
got those guys looking like they really were 
going to kill each other! Deathtrap is a great play 
and if you missed it at the Playhouse, you can 
probably pick up the movie on Netflix. Have to 
say, though, won’t be as good as being there!

Coming up next at the Playhouse is Charlotte’s 
Web, which is already selling out all over the San 
Gabriel Valley with schools booking field trips 
to take kids to school-day matinees to see live 
theater. Christian has 3,600 kids already booked 
to see what might very well be their first theater 
production. Saturday and Sunday matinees will 
be available for general audiences. After that, 
The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, 
which I have never seen, and can’t wait to see!

After the show, we walked across the street to 
Zugo’s Café, which has new management, new 
menu, new attitude and is simply super. Owner 
Ricky Budiono (pictured here holding a nice 
glass of something, with bartender, Tommy 
Brockmeyer) has created a friendly, comfortable 
dining atmosphere and great food. We had, 
among us, the meat lasagna, the salmon pesto 
penne, the butternut squash ravioli and we 
were all delighted. Also had a very nice merlot 
and a piece of cheesecake to share. Our server, 
Giuliana, could not have been more attentive and 
we’ll be back soon. I was terribly torn between 
the grilled chicken and the salmon, but salmon 
will always get my final vote, I’m afraid. The flat 
iron steak served with a green peppercorn sauce, 
mixed greens with vinaigrette and French fries 
looked awfully good, too. There is tiramisu and 
a chocolate mousse for dessert that looked really 
tempting.

 Zugo’s is well worth a trip downtown for lunch 
or dinner. See what I mean? Entertainment at our 
Playhouse, dinner across the street, and when it 
gets a little warmer, sitting outside at Zugo’s with 
their spicy shrimp appetizer and a glass of that 
aforementioned merlot will be delightful. The 
large open windows make the whole of Zugo’s 
feel like al fresco dining. There are burgers, too, 
and a risotto that will make you ditch your diet. 
Speaking of al fresco dining, I wandered by there 
Monday afternoon about 2:30 and there was a 
cute young couple sitting outside, gazing into 
each other’s eyes, and all sorts of folks inside 
enjoying a late lunch! 

Zugo’s is open daily, serving lunch from 11:30 to 
5:00 then continuing on with their dinner menu. 
Plans are in the works for breakfast and a Happy 
Hour is coming soon, too. 

Zugo’s is at 74 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. You can 
see their complete menu at www.zugoscafe.com. 
Phone is 626-836-5700. 

We’re well into the Lenten season, with Easter 
being March 27. Most people think of Lent as 
the time to give up something: coffee, chocolate, 
daytime TV, texting 24/7...whatever. I ran across 
a little thing that suggested that instead of using 
Lent as a “don’t” that we use it as a “do” as in do 
something for someone else. Say something kind 
when it might take an extra effort...just saying.

Have you seen all the flowering cherry trees...I 
think they’re cherry trees...anyway, they’re 
certainly flowering all over town. There’s an 
especially beautiful one in front of Lizzie’s Trail 
Inn. Spring is on the way, even the deciduous 
trees are putting out little tiny green fuzzy buds. 
But more rain would be a welcome gift. Have a 
great week. Rest in peace, beloved friend, Fay 
Angus.

Check out my book page on Amazon.com: 
DeanneDavis@Amazon.com

You might like my blog, too: www.
authordeanne.com 


Owner Ricky Budiono with bartender, Tommy Brockmeyer

TRIPLE CROWN CHAMP VICTOR ESPINOZA WINS 2016 SANTA 
ANITA GEORGE WOOLF MEMORIAL JOCKEY AWARD

Sierra Madre resident and Mexico City native selected by Jockeys 
Nationwide


ARCADIA, Calif. As America’s first Triple Crown 
Champion jockey in 37 years, Victor Espinoza 
helped Thoroughbred racing project a positive 
image far beyond the confines of the Thoroughbred 
industry throughout 2015, thus elevating the sport’s 
exposure and acceptance to a level perhaps not seen 
since the 1970s. Accordingly, Espinoza, a 43-year-
old native of Mexico City, has been selected by 
a vote of jockeys nationwide as the winner of 
Santa Anita’s highly coveted 2016 George Woolf 
Memorial Jockey Award.

 “It’s quite an honor for any rider to be selected by 
his peers as the winner of such a prestigious award,” 
said Terry Meyocks, National Manager of the 
Jockeys’ Guild. “And I would like to congratulate 
Victor on this great achievement.”;

In addition to numerous national television 
appearances through the 2015 Triple Crown and 
last fall’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships, 
Espinoza also remained tireless in his efforts on 
behalf of cancer-stricken youth, donating 10 
percent of his winnings to support pediatric cancer 
research at City of Hope, in nearby Duarte. 

With the Bob Baffert-trained American Pharoah 
providing the horsepower, Espinoza gleefully 
proclaimed himself “The luckiest Mexican on 
earth,” on national television following their win in 
the Belmont Stakes June 6. 

 In addition to winning the Kentucky Derby, 
Preakness and Belmont, Espinoza and Santa Anita-
based American Pharoah won last year’s Grade 
II Rebel Stakes, Grade I Arkansas Derby, Grade 
I Haskell Invitational and, in a performance for 
the ages, the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by 
6 . lengths on Oct. 31—all the while elevating 
the profile of jockeys nationwide and generating 
tremendous ratings on a consistent basis. 

 Born on a dairy farm near Mexico City, Espinoza 
is the 11th of 12 children. A three-time ESPY Award 
winner, Espinoza has three career Kentucky Derby 
wins, three Preakness victories, three Breeders’ Cup 
wins and he’s taken 11 Southern California riding 
titles. 

 First presented by Santa Anita in 1950, Espinoza 
is the 67th winner of the Woolf Award, which 
seeks to honor riders whose careers and personal 
character earn esteem for the individual and 
Thoroughbred racing. The remaining four finalists 
for this year’s award, which can only be won once 
during a rider’s career, were Joe Bravo, Javier 
Castellano, Gerard Melancon and Joe Steiner.

 Espinoza will be presented with the 2016 Woolf 
Award trophy in a Winner’s Circle ceremony on 
Sunday, March 13. 

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Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com