Table of contents for Wellness & Innovation 2021 in Sunset

I write this in my backyard in Los Angeles after a hard rain, my eucalyptus tree’s damp leaves perfuming the air, nearby nasturtiums overflowing from a galvanized tub that used to hold ice and Champagne bottles back when we did things like throw parties. Now it’s the hummingbirds living it up while the occasional caterpillar crashes the festivities—that is, until I play backyard bouncer and pluck them before they decimate the potential pesto or salad garnish in waiting. We’re in that bridge season where winter’s not quite behind us but spring hasn’t arrived in full force. It’s a waiting game, but it pays dividends to relish the now. Even though I moved to the West 20 years ago, I still marvel at the fact that we can grow edible flowers…

A backyard spa may sound like a luxury, but it doesn’t need to be elaborate or expensive. Herbalist and ayurvedic practitioner Kari Jansen of the self-care brand Poppy and Someday has created an enviable outdoor oasis at her Laurel Canyon home she calls the fairy garden. Here, until the pandemic, she offered clients sound baths, Reiki, and other treatments incorporating oils, tinctures, and scrubs from her organic herbal apothecary. With its dappled canyon light, vintage clawfoot bathtub, wind chimes, and herb garden, her space is the stuff of serene Instagram dreams—and something not far out of reach for the rest of us. Here Jansen shares five tips on how to create and make the most of a restorative retreat in your own backyard. INFUSE AN OIL Jansen’s oils use ingredients…

All Regions PREP Test the viability of vegetable seeds left over from last year by putting a few on a damp paper towel. Fold the towel over the seeds and place in a resealable plastic bag, marking the bag with the name of the vegetable. Store at room temperature and check in a week to see if the seeds have germinated. If not, it’s time to order replacement seed. If you’re redesigning your garden, indicate where new trees, shrubs, or garden beds will go by marking their locations on the ground with aerosol garden chalk, which comes in many colors. It’s like spray paint, but temporary, and available at any garden center. MAINTAIN Turn on drip irrigation systems and repair any leaks. Flush sediment from filters and check screens for…

CHOOSE AND PLACE YOUR PLANTS WISELY. Sprawling leaves (we’re looking at you, cabbage!) can block light from other plants. Vertical growers, such as tomatoes and Swiss chard, can reach your light source quickly. Gourds are gobblers, and not in the Thanksgiving sense. They produce sprawling vines and leaf systems that require lots of sun and water. At peak season, they’ll fill up a patio and drain your reservoir. FERTILIZER MATTERS. Hydroponic systems lack the natural minerals found in dirt and compost. Use provided fertilizers or save money by matching your crop and season to a fertilizer chart including nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur. Keeping a log will help you from forgetting a cycle. AVOID SITES FOR SORE EYES—AND EARS. Hydroponic solutions run periodic irrigation schedules, which can provide either a calming,…

YOUR HELPER: Google Assistant YOUR SPEAKER: Google Nest Audio Solid sound in a slim silhouette, this helper has top-notch intuition and smart privacy features. A physical switch—the only one on the device—disconnects the mic, and the device learns your most common asks and processes them locally, reducing your reliance on sending audio to the cloud. Separation means safety. $100, store.google.com YOUR HELPER: Siri YOUR SPEAKER: Apple HomePod Mini Apple’s also strong in the privacy game, as they’re the only player here that doesn’t mine your data for dough. But we love this setup most for its integration into the Apple ecosystem—particularly the ability to dictate and hear text messages from our network. Lost your iPhone somewhere in the house? Fess up and Siri will trigger a tone to guide you. Bonus: Pair two units…

A gentle breeze sends bougainvillea petals scattering across the patio. We're at the serene home compound of Radhi Devlukia-Shetty, the Ayurvedic cooking and wellness expert, high up in the Hollywood Hills, the iconic sign looking down on us, Lake Hollywood gleaming in the distance below. The aroma of toasting coriander and fennel wafts outside as Radhi prepares kitchari. Made of stewed lentils and warming spices, it's a classic dish in Ayurvedic medicine that's meant to balance, cleanse, and nourish, three principles of the 5,000-year-old practice that Radhi celebrates and shares with her million-plus followers across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and her blog. Today she's preparing a menu of dishes that are vibrantly colored, boldly seasoned, deeply satisfying, some might say indulgent—and that just happen to be vegan, and very, very good…

Better Pepper LILLIE’S BRISKET PEPPER While most preground pepper pales in comparison to fresh ground, Lillie’s No. 28 Brisket Pepper has tons of the spicy sweet heat and crunch we crave. Perfect for when you need peppery heat at scale (think roasts and whole birds) and don’t want to be grinding for minutes on end. LILLIESQ.COM Spice Solution SPICEWALLA Spicewalla’s tins are loaded with super-fresh spices and blends and are so pretty you’ll want to leave them out on the counter. The tins stack tidily and also can lie flat in drawer if that’s your preferred storage method. What’s more, you can order lowwaste pouches to refill the tins as needed. SPICEWALLABRAND.COM Rice Ready TRADER JOE’S FURIKAKE This additive and sugar-free furikake is a straight-up blend of white and black…

Mac Daddy MODERN TABLE VEGAN MAC Made with red lentil flour, rice flour, and pea protein, and a vegan cheese substitute, this mac has all the comforting creaminess of the classic, but without dairy or gluten. Spicy Southwest is our favorite flavor. MODERNTABLE.COM Keep It Keto LIVIVA EDAMAME SPAGHETTI With more people incorporating keto into their diets, it’s handy to have an appropriate pasta on hand. This mildly flavored spaghetti cooks up al dente and pairs well with a spicy tomato ragù. LIVIVAFOODS.COM Cool Kernels RIGHT RICE This rice alternative made from lentils, chickpeas, and pea fiber has all the textural delights of the real thing but without the glycemic load and with twice the protein. The vibrantly seasoned Spanish flavor is our favorite. RIGHTRICE.COM…

FIRVALE, BRITISH COLUMBIA FIRVALE WILDERNESS CAMP Few destinations pair adventure with rustic luxury like this retreat nestled deep in British Columbia’s Bella Coola Valley. Enjoy hiking trails, world-class fishing, and jaw-dropping views of the Monarch Icefield from a seaplane. Evening relaxation awaits in the property’s heated glamping domes and A-frame cabins. The ultimate in social distancing. firvalewildernesscamp.com PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA CASA CODY Opened in the 1920s by Buffalo Bill Cody’s cousin Harriet, Casa Cody is the longest-running hotel in Palm Springs and has undergone a top-to-bottom remodel that adds outdoor soaking tubs, stylish new furnishings, upgraded kitchenettes, re-landscaped grounds, and Parachute linens. casacody.com MORRISTOWN, ARIZONA CASTLE HOT SPRINGS Set on 1,100 palm-and-saguaro-studded acres of Sonoran desert, this historic getaway is ideal for our times: Updated cabins and bungalows dot the…

Cottage Envy When we first saw Oakland based design firm Emerging Objects’ 3D printed concept cabin we had a serious case of cottagecore envy. Designed to help alleviate the Bay Area’s housing shortage in a sustainable and elegant fashion, the structure features a living wall of succulents and undulating tiles printed from waterproof clay. Fortunately for us they’ve just launched Loopy Ceramics, a new line of 3D printed mugs, vases, and other cool objects so we can easily bring their next wave hygge home. 3D PRINTED TAGINE; LOOPYCERAMICS.COM…

WHEN BRIAN AND MARY HEFFERNAN MET 12 YEARS AGO, SHE COULDN’T GRASP WHY HE ALWAYS SUGGESTED THEY MEET UP FOR DATES. “I thought he was so rude for never offering to pick me up,” laughs Mary, who owned a Bay Area tutoring company at the time. Over the course of a few long dinners, Mary revealed her love of horseback riding, of tumbledown country homes, of antique hunts, and, well, of trucks. That’s when Brian, a real estate attorney with deep agricultural roots, uncloaked his old Ford pickup. It was a well-loved ride with dog-fur-coated seats and muddy paw prints. “We were the only two people who drove trucks in Menlo Park,” says Mary. “We knew it was meant to be.” Nine years later, when the couple announced they were…

When Sheldon Simeon was a kid growing up in Hilo, he’d help put together massive spreads of pupus for guests his dad had invited over at the last minute. Improvisation was key and delicious was a given. Simeon, if you don’t know, is a two-time Top Chef veteran (and fan favorite), the chef behind Maui's Tin Roof restaurant, and the author of the new Cook Real Hawai’i, a book that expands the popular definition of Hawaiian food beyond the clichés like kalua pig (if you’re looking for amazing pork dishes, rest assured the book includes a killer recipe for Pork Belly Dinakdakdan, a tangy and rich chile-spiked dish that expresses Simeon’s Filipino-Hawaiian heritage). As Simeon puts it: “Tom Colicchio said to me: ‘If you combine delicious and delicious, you’re going…

1. SLEEP SMART Get to bed by 10 p.m. so the body can use the evening to do what it is meant to be doing… resting and detoxing. 2. FIND THE FIRST LIGHT Wake up before 6 a.m., which will prevent you from feeling sluggish throughout the day. 3. DRINK WISELY Drink your fluids between meals, not with your meals. Drinking water with meals dilutes the acid that is breaking down your food, so it takes longer to digest. 4. RITUALIZE YOUR MEALS Sit and eat your meals in a calm environment and focus on the meal. Try not to eat while working or with distractions around you. 5. TREAT YOURSELF Try to make time for self-care rituals that enhance the detoxing process, such as self-massage (abhyanga) and taking baths.…

Fiery Flavor CHE FICO CALABRIAN CHILI BOMBA This spicy-tangy California-Italian condiment from San Francisco restaurant Che Fico combines Calabrian and Fresno chiles to powerful effect. CHEFICOALIMENTARI.COM Top Teriyaki BACHAN’S JAPANESE BARBECUE SAUCE Made in Sebastopol, California, this just-right saltysweet soy-based sauce from Justin Gill is based on his Bachan’s (a.k.a. grandmother’s) recipe. It’s coldfilled, preservative-free, and loaded with umami. BACHANS.COM Plum Good GIRL MEETS DIRT SHIRO PLUM MINT JAM This tangy, mintinfused jam made from shiro plums grown in Washington’s San Juan Islands is a utility player that’s equally at home on toast and on a cheeseboard. GIRLMEETSDIRT.COM Oil Boom SEKA HILLS OLIVE OIL Milled and bottled by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation in California’s Capay Valley, this line of fresh and peppery olive oils is delicious enough to serve…

Crunch Time MAD CRISP Our new favorite gluten-free happyhour snack is made from puffed quinoa, California almonds, and chives, and comes in wine-friendly flavors like za’atar and porcini-herb. MADCRISP.COM Bar None KATE’S REAL FOOD Made in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, these bars are full of energy-packed clean ingredients like gluten-free oats, hemp, and flax and sweetened with organic honey. A natural functional food that’s ideal for the trail or slopes. KATESREALFOOD.COM Sustainable Staples SUN & SWELL Sun & Swell’s carbon-neutral mail-order service is a sustainable way to keep your pantry stocked: Buy organic bulk foods like pistachios, dried fruit, hemp, and more, and mail back the compostable bags when you’re done. SUNANDSWELLFOODS.COM Sweet Everythings CLUSTERBUCKS ADAPTOGENIC BUCKWHEAT CRACKERS Who knew sprouted buckwheat groats mixed with coconut, maple syrup, ginger, and turmeric…

With houses as in life, sometimes we need to go back to go forward. When Karlyn Neel was vacationing in Palm Springs one February weekend, a real estate email showed up in her inbox advertising a perfectly restored mid-century modern house in Indian Wells: all low-slung glazing, with a reflecting pond in the entry and views of the Santa Rosa mountains—it was the sort of blast from the past that makes you dream of your future. Designed by legendary architect William Cody, the Indian Wells house had it all: design pedigree, an old Hollywood past (Beverly Garland, the mother in My Three Sons, had lived there), and a backyard pool with view of the mountains in which Neel planned to spend nearly every moment of leisure. Neel, who was living…

Most gardeners cede the colder seasons to the whims of winter. Coaxing hearty crops out of the cold earth can prove complicated, and low-yield. Fortunately, there are a more companies than ever making products that can keep you in homegrown fresh vegetables yearround. This year I decided to try my hand at small-scale gardening on my balcony with a Farmstand system from Lettuce Grow, which launched in late 2019 and counts Zooey Deschanel among its founders. The company offers a compelling promise: They ship you the starters, and within weeks you’ll have a veritable bounty of herbs and veggies to enjoy. I’ll have to admit I was skeptical when the undulating plastic base and skull-like extensions showed up. Each level includes six circular holes, into which you’ll place your seedlings.…

In the years since we launched this franchise, so-called “smart” technology has evolved from science fiction experiments riddled with configuration glitches and rapid obsolescence to life-improving essentials that make almost everything that much easier. Check out our favorite new devices, systems, and solutions for improving your life with every click, swipe, and command. ROYAL FLUSH Duravit SensoWash i Behold the status toilet 2.0! The new Duravit SensoWash i has us coveting the sleek Philippe Starck–designed commode. We love the minimalist space-saving design, heated seat, air drying, bidet functionality, odor extraction, nightlight, no-touch app controls. The bathroom is our new favorite room in the house. $8,755, duravit.us IN CHARGE Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe A tangle of chargers and cables snaking from a power strip can instantly undermine the elegance…

Shirley Temple might've been a star, but she sure doesn't make a very good faux cocktail. “Until recently, alcohol-free cocktails have been treated as afterthoughts,” says Julia Bainbridge, author of the new book Good Drinks: Alcohol-Free Recipes for When You’re Not Drinking for Whatever Reason. “A higher level of effort and care anoints them as proper drinks.” Bainbridge spent the better part of a year driving across the country, cataloging and chronicling a welcome trend that’s emerged in recent years: talented bartenders applying their exacting methods to the creation of alcohol-free drinks that stand on their own as delicious and inspiring cocktails that aren’t just “virgin” versions of classic drinks. “People don't drink for all kinds of reasons,” says Bainbridge. “Religion, health issues, substance-use disorders, pregnancy, mindful living. Maybe alcohol…

We were somewhere outside of Temecula when the nerves took hold. “Range anxiety,” they call it—which somehow fails to encapsulate the particular sense of dread that comes from running on empty in an electric vehicle. Outside, it was 90-plus degrees in late November. Warning chimes reminded me I was on the razor’s edge. And if the cocoon of this particular car weren’t so cozy—a sleek Audi sportback that purrs to 100 miles per hour and practically drives itself—my hands might have been sweating. Concessions were in order. I sighed and turned off the seat-back air conditioning, eased off of “sport turbo stupid extreme” mode. “Show me nearby chargers,” I told the digital assistant, that patient, occasionally befuddled British genie whose 4G umbilical cord was my only hope for a much…