The Unimaginable Barn

My granddaughter and I are celebrating our birthdays. We were born on the same day. July 8th. Her name is Aerial. Her mother didn't name her after a mermaid. Aerial is named in honor of the father she never knew, an American Olympic Gold Medal Freestyle Skier, Christian Eklund. The son of a cancer research scientist of Swedish descent from Montana. My daughter met this Swede freshman year. Science lab together and a whole lot of chemistry going on. His parents said Chris was pretty clumsy for an athletic kid. They loved to tease him that his natural gate, and one he was better at, was flying down snow covered mountains. By the age of 19, the clumsy kid was a world champion and about to pursue his dream of Olympic Gold. His freestyle specialty was the aerial event. Chris was best upside down and high in the sky.

My daughter announced, "I'm in love. I'm moving in with Chris on the beach." His residence was historic. A fraternity inhabited mansion that originally was Rudolph Valentino's grandiose beach shack in Playa Del Rey. College parties had demolished most of its infamous structure. The residence was sold as a tear down to a well known ski trainer, Phil Galliard. Phil transformed the dilapidated estate into a ski palace frequented by movie stars and world class skiers. The Los Angeles Ski Academy, affectionately and appropriately called the Barn, was a training facility. The best skiers in the world came to play in the off season. The playground was also for the private lessons of the rich and famous and Children's Birthday parties.

Lessons cost a small fortune since Phil's bunny hills and expert runs were a copyrighted, ingenious invention of his imagination, the only continuous manmade ski run in existence. In other words, you didn't ski down a surface and have to go back to the top to do another run. You maintained an endless ski run made possible by decks that rotated underneath your skis. It was so simple in design and purpose. If I compared it to another great invention of the late 20th century, I would say: "The Barn was to the sport of skiing, as monumental and innovative, as Post Its was to the world of Business. When asked, "Why take lessons here?" Phil gave the best answer ever, "We don't grow trees in the Barn." He would leave the wiseguy dumbfounded for a brief moment . Then ask them a question. "Given the opportunity, who wouldn't want to safely learn how to ski in the California sun instead of falling down in cold wet snow to master a can-be-dangerous sport?"

The Barn was an attraction, and not just the paint job. The wooden plank sides were painted bright fire engine red with high gloss paint. You could see this monstrous box with a metal flip lid all the way from the freeway. The metal retractable roof was opened in good weather so ski students could learn in their bikinis and get a tan! Phil had photos on the walls to prove it, many of them signed by actresses and starlets.

Steve McQueen had a photo in his boxers signed," Phil, you are the greatest man I have ever known. I hope I am in the shadow of your spotlight forever and always your friend. Love, Steveo." Phil said that Steveo rode over from Malibu on his Harley Hog with Allie McGraw in a sidecar. I said, "No doubt." He said wickedly, "I know Gwen." The Barn was no myth, this Barn was Legend in a town famous for making them. I had the best time there.

Phil didn't want anyone to miss his Big Red Pride and Joy, so he bought billboard advertisement right before the freeway exit with a picture of happy people skiing in the Barn. I must say, I'm surprised they weren't wearing bikinis. When I gibed him about that, he said, "It was tempting but we need to maintain our G rating. We are respectful of our affiliations and grateful for our partners. I don't think McDonald's or the Olympic Committee would appreciate an R review."

I was quick to reply, "Probably not." We laughed.

I wanted to know more about the conception of the Barn. I pulled a pamphlet offered at the lesson check in.

"Originally the building was a car barn that housed Valentino's collection of antique cars and luxury vehicles. We added the second story, the sky roof and an additional 15,000 sq. feet. The main purpose was to house the ski decks which is why it's the tallest barn in the United States at 62 feet, roughly four stories. The roof deck covers the Birthday Zone so it could be used year round and is 16 ft. in height so we can project Cinemax Ski Films. The deck is also the space dedicated for our Ski Loft Lounge Upstairs, opening in the winter, just in time to watch our Olympians on five big screens. We widened the downstairs to make room for the Birthday Zone on beachside. We added the spa and jacuzzi for the adults to have fun in a luxurious custom built facility. The Barn will indulge your exclusive taste and Birthday wishes."

The juice bar was sublime. Leopard Loungers and fluffy king size chairs. A blue glass firepit to chat it up, some just relaxed in its glow after their lesson. Also a great vantage point to the next lesson in progress or watch the Cinemax Ski Films by Bob Burns and live World Class Competition. The barstools were campy, white mohair seats and ski pole legs pressed against the rough edge bartop. Open spaced with hardwood floors kept the flow smooth and the areas easy to keep meticulous. The juicer served organic goodies, healthy sandwiches, thick gourmet soups and salads. At night the grill was put to use for the creation of daily dinner specials like Alaskan Salmon and a Prime Rib that rivaled Lawry's in Beverly Hills. The only difference between Phil's posh hangout and the culinary hotspot was the juicer was self-serve or bartender-escorted food to the tables, casual only, no ties allowed. The twenty some odd tables were packed fast so Phil offered picnic blankets for sunsets on the beach if the client didn't mind eating dinner on the sand. Most preferred it, in the beautiful dog days of the Playa Del Rey Summer months. In California, we have summer all year round.

On the other side of this fun palace was the Birthday Zone. The kids ate gourmet pizza, parmesan French fries, and ice cream castles from the snack bar. Celebrated with Birthday cakes that were hills of creamy frosting with skiers bouncing down on strategically placed moguls bordered by competitive flags. Kids could pass on the fancy food and just get plain shoestring fries and pizza with one cheese instead of four.

I fell in love with The Barn and got a crush on Phil after witnessing the way their business was conducted. Conscientious and Kind and Undiscriminating. No extra charge for gourmet and a reasonable price for parties. Phil made sure the parties were affordable for neighbor kids that didn't have a Bel Air address. The Barn would not ever be elusive to the wealthy, as a matter of fact, He had students of month free parties for every borough of L.A.. If ever there was a parent short, he covered it. A genuine, generous softy when it involved youngsters, "skiers in the making, our future Olympians" as he called them. He said, "I want the Barn to be one of the best childhood memories a kid has. My hope is that some will aspire to greatness and maybe train with us one day." Then he would look you in the eye and say, "That's not a matter of if it ever happens; it is only a matter of when."

My daughter said Phil never turned down a charity that asked for donations of a party at The Barn. Kids' Charities were his favorite philanthropy, especially Make A Wish Foundation. He even organized the Olympic skiers to visit Children's Hospital Los Angeles and UCLA Children's' Hospital. One Christmas he partnered with the Ronald McDonald House to host a snowball fight and sled races at the beach. The Barn had real snow in the backyard that year courtesy of a snow machine in December. Best Party Ever!

I loved being privy to all this positive, inspiring info, my daughter gave up so easily. I loved hearing about this outrageous one of a kind institution and at peace knowing my baby girl was living in a wonderful space with exceptional and loving people. She was welcomed by the Barn's other residents, famous or not, who also worked for room and board. The skiers taught lessons when they weren't training and she made great tips at the juicer after school. As a single mom helping my daughter to pay tuition at a top ten college and pay rent, I was eternally grateful when Phil and Christian gave Allie the opportunity to become one of The Barn's family. She will tell you herself, it was the best year of her life.

Sometimes it crossed my mind that Allie was exaggerating about this magical place with its handsome generous king. When I saw it with my own eyes, I realized it was magical. No wonder my daughter felt like she was living in a fairytale. The only danger apparent was you could smell the joy and hear the laughter, all the elements of a good party and fun times.

My other favorite whimsical retreat was in the planning stages and the design was incredible. Imagine an entrance to the upstairs Lodge with options that were delicious treats. You could show off your athleticism by climbing a gorgeous all knotted wood circular staircase to ascend to the heavenly space above or take the glass enclosed elevator to either the main floor or the rooftop where the Los Angeles skyline could be seen. It was opening just in time to watch the Barn's Olympians win their medals. I couldn't wait.

The Barn was an architectural unicorn. The man behind the curtain was charming, intelligent, and unpretentious, believe it or not. I really liked him but I had no intention of being one of his many dates as my daughter wished for me. He had a daughter too, Allie's age, that helped run the barn, Michelle. She was adorable and as personable as he was. Allie and Michelle were fast becoming best friends. Allie told me at lunch, "Michelle is the sister you never gave me. She is so great, I can forgive you now." "Thank God," I teased back, "I was considering disowning you and I worried you wouldn't be adopted into a nice family. I'm so thrilled you found one that wants you."

She pouted, I winked, "I would never give you away, well to your husband I would."

She winked back, "That's a future possibility, I found my soulmate." Looking back, that smile said it all. My daughter was head over heels in love. And I was so happy and felt so blessed she had got as lucky as I did when I found her father.

I felt lucky to have found a friend in Phil who I like to describe as The Brad Pitt and Einstein Baby who was blessed with all their best qualities. I told Phil he should change his name to Bradley Einstein. " He said, "In L.A. you don't use two names if you're all that and a bag of chips. I have to be Bradstein." Good looks, creative genius, extraordinary intelligence, kind, fairly humble, loved not just kids, loved people. Spent his time making them happy and his home one of love and encouragement. I liked Bradstein a lot.

I loved his Barn.