Stuart Waldman had a double dose of California adventure for the holidays. He and his wife, Nicole, went on a whirlwind trip through Santa Barbara County’s wine country, up the coast to Hearst Castle and Carmel, then across the Central Valley to Yosemite.

For Waldman, chief executive of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, it was the first time in 30 years of living in California that he had driven across so much of the state.

“We saw everything California has to offer from the ocean to the mountains to the prairie,” he said.

But the clincher came New Year’s Eve, when the couple went to Disneyland and the California Adventure theme park.

So how did the Disney version compare to the real thing?

“If you didn’t have the time or the means, then I guess going to California Adventure is a good alternative,” Waldman said. “But I wouldn’t trade it for our experience. The real California is a truly incredible place.”

Seven Streams for Stars

Attorney Darrell D. Miller’s magic number is seven. That’s the number of simultaneous revenue streams that the entertainment lawyer wants for his star clients, including actress Angela Bassett and rapper Ludacris.

Miller, who co-chairs the entertainment and sports practice in the Century City office of Fox Rothschild LLP, came up with the idea in the mid-’90s while looking for ways to distinguish his practice and attract more “hyphenate” clients – those who didn’t solely act or direct or sing.

The idea has led to some unconventional ventures. Miller recently helped Ludacris launch his own brand of cognac. Called Conjure, the cognac retails in 40 states. Miller is also working with Ludacris on an educational project to inspire kids to be entrepreneurs.

So why not six revenue streams, or eight?

“When I did the research, it showed that some wealthy people had 30 and some had two, but on average it was seven streams,” said Miller, 47. “It was very unscientific but it was a way of saying to clients, ‘Here is something reported on the characteristics of the wealthy in America, and you can strive to accomplish that.’ You didn’t have to kill your lifestyle if your records didn’t sell or your movies weren’t successful.”

Everybody Loves a Parade

Tracey Hutson has seen the Rose Parade snake through Pasadena each New Year’s Day for about a decade. Then again, getting a good viewing spot is easy for her.

That’s because she’s executive assistant at bond giant Western Asset Management Co., which is headquartered on the Colorado Boulevard parade route. The firm hosts a viewing party for employees and clients.

For the past few years, though,

Hutson has been more than a spectator. She and Chief Executive James Hirschmann have consulted on the design of Western Asset-sponsored parade floats. This year’s theme: major events in the Rose Bowl stadium’s 88-year history.

“It was absolutely beautiful,” Hutson, 44, said of the parade.

And her company’s float?

“Of course, it was my favorite.”

Staff reporters Howard Fine, Alfred Lee and Richard Clough contributed to this column. Page 3 is compiled by Editor Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at [email protected].