626 Night Market

Are you ready Pasadena?  The first Asian Night Market in LA is happening.  And it's happening right here in Pasadena.  This Saturday the 14th of April.

Is your mouth watering yet?  It should be.

Night Market:

A late night market, mouth watering foods, products from local businesses, a festive environment—this is the 626 Night Market in Pasadena.

Our mission is to bring an icon of Asian culture, food, and commerce to Southern California: the Asian Night Market. There will be something for everyone.

One of our primary goals is to support local businesses and entrepreneurs. In these harsh economic times with inaccessible credit, starting or maintaining any business is tough. The 626 Night Market will be a venue where local entrepreneurs can showcase their products and increase exposure to their businesses.

Please feel free to look around and interact with us as we go through the steps to establish the first Asian Night Market in Los Angeles. Embrace the 626.

The first 626 Night Market will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2012 in Pasadena*.

• Hours: 5PM –11:30PM
• Admission: Free
• Location: 1. N. Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101, between Colorado Boulevard and E. Union Street
• Parking map below.
• No rain in the forecast for Saturday night!

Parking MapVisitors are encouraged to go green and take public transit, including the Metro Gold Line to nearby Memorial Station.
Use Google’s public transit directions tool.
The 626 Night Market is not affiliated with the public and private parking lots shown. Please read all posted parking signs when you park.

Beef noodle soup
Beef pancake rolls
Boba Milk Tea
Chinese donut sticks
Chinese sausage combo
Coconut drink
Crystal rolls
Curry chicken rice
Curry fish balls
Curry squid balls
Dragon Whiskers Candy
Filipino inspired tacos/burritos/fries
Fried turnip cake Chiu Chow style
HK style egg waffles
Indonesian BBQ satay skewers
Indonesian fried noodles
Japanese dangos
Japanese red bean pancakes
Lamb and squid skewers
Marinated eggs and beancurd
Mixed cold plate (pig’ ears, seaweed & tofu)
Oyster & intestine mien xian
Peanut sauce cold noodles
R2 Signature yogurt fruit drinks
Satay beef noodles
Shao mai
Sticky rice
Stinky tofu
Taiwanese crepes
Taiwanese fried chicken filets
Taiwanese sausages
Taiwanese spaghetti
Takoyaki
Zhong zi
And more…

I'm so there.

1157 Armada - Ready for Showings after the Holiday Hiatus

1157 Armada Drive in Pasadena's Arroyo neighborhood adjacent to Prospect Park is available for viewings starting Thursday, January 19th.

Will alert of the upcoming open house date when it's set.

Don't miss this home in a gorgeous setting!

3/2
$675,000
1157armada.com

1886 Bar's 1 Year Anniversary Celebration

My favorite meeting place is having its 1 Year Anniversary.  Beautiful space, outdoor dining and drinking on several patio areas, mixologists that can mix it up with the best of them, tasty dinner or bar snacks, and only two blocks from my house.  Really what could be better?

I like it so much I've been known to refer to it as my second living room.

Find info on the event here - The Raymond Restaurant - 1250 South Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena.  626-441-4770.

See you there?

PS - Brunch there is amazingly tasty.

Santa Days at the Huntington Library, Art & Gardens

I know that Gainsborough isn't a picture of Santa, but it is one of the most well known images at the Huntington Library and Gardens.  Speaking of the amazing Huntington, there is always an overwhelming choice of events, classes, exhibits to see and attend, as well as just the most relaxing stroll through the gardens of your choice, but December 3 & 4 they have Santa Days for Members.  Bring your camera and take your own photo with Santa in the botanical center.  Hear holiday readings of Clement C. Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Mrs. Claus (in the flesh) at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm.  Perfect for kids and those of you who are kids at heart.  If you need a snapshot for your Xmas card - perfect opportunity folks!

The event is for members only so isn't now the time to join and support this amazing institution as a member?

I'll leave you with another image of the Huntington from my favorite garden.  The desert garden.

Pasadena Playhouse Diversity Event - Blues For An Alabama Sky

Last night we attended the Pasadena Playhouse Theatrical Diversity Project's opening night celebration which featured opening night of Robin Given's starring in Blues for An Alabama Sky and honoring David DiCristofaro of Wells Fargo Bank for his leadership and support of theatrical diversity at the Pasadena Playhouse.


The food beforehand at Elements was delicious as always.  One of my favorite meeting places in Pasadena btw.  


The show was great and the intermission for the patrons and committee members was held in the beautiful library upstairs.  Such a gorgeous room and theater.  


The Diversity Committee managed to raise very close to their goal and the house was sold out.


It's your turn to get out, see the show and support California's State Theater!  You can purchase tickets on their site here.  Better yet - suscribe while you're at it.  The Arts don't carry on without your support.


PS - Sunday's LA Times Arts and Books Section had an article on the Playhouse and it's Artistic Director, Sheldon Epps.  

B-I-N-G-O

20th Annual Bingo Night

• Friday, November 4th, 2011 •

The Pasadena Foothills Association of REALTORS® Charitable Foundation proudly presents our 20th Annual Bingo Night on Friday, November 4th, 2011, 6:30 to 9:30 PM at Gray Hall, Oneonta Church - 1515 Garfield, South Pasadena. Food & Refreshments will be available for purchase with all proceeds benefitting local charities! 

And a fabulous time was had once again!  Yes folks, BINGO.  With the fabulous and only slightly tipsy Michaela P calling games 9 & 10, our inimitable Bacon holding 5 game cards, scads of raffle tickets and everyone at the table geared up to win, a packed house, pizza, Diane salad from Green Street, wine and cookies, how could we not?  And, drum roll please, we had a winner at our table.  The lucky gal was our very own Carol L.  Taking home her new Razor Scooter.  Yes folks you can see her driving around the reservoir in Silver Lake on her shiny new, 10 mile an hour, Razor.  Hot stuff indeed!

The $ raised goes to the PFAR Charities and you can read about it here.

If you'd like to be one of the lucky few - I have a table of 10 every fall....it's stupid fun.  For real.

BINGO!

Yves St Laurent in Pasadena!

Obviously he's not here in Pasadena as the genius designer is sadly no longer here at all, but the new documentary, L'Amour Fou, is here in Pasadena at the Laemmle Playhouse 7 on Colorado.  It's not here for long and it's not playing many places, so get yourself on over and check it out.  I'll be there Saturday night with my favorite documentary/fashion/design junky friend.  Say howdy to us.


LA Times review here.

50 North Arroyo Blvd - Open today 10-2 and Sunday 2-5 pm

 The door will be open to this sophisticated modern townhome on the edge of the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena!

Datebook LA - Cool things to do this week

So many fabulous things to do this week - you'll have to call in "well"!  Check out these great events and tours courtesy of the LA Times.  See the mention of the Pasadena Heritage Wallace Neff House Tour on Sunday the 27th.  Sponsored by deasy/penner & partners with none other than myself there.  Come visit us at our table for special surprises...

March 24: Kenneth J. Hammond, professor of history at New Mexico State University, lectures on “The Peonies of Luoyang: Images of the Literati Garden.” 7:30 p.m. Free. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. No reservations required. (626) 405-2100.

March 24: Descanso Gardens’ native plant horticulturist Rachel Young discusses research, including new information on plant nutrition, pests and beneficial fungi. Part of the Lili Singer lecture series. 9:30 a.m. to noon. $20. Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. (626) 821-4623.

March 25: An opening reception featuring the work of resident artists includes hundreds of handmade mugs and bowls, most $15 to $50. Reception is from 6 to 9 p.m., and the display will run to April 30. Clayhouse Studio & Gallery, 2909 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. (310) 828-7071.

March 25-27: The flagship Tomatomania sale showcases more than 300 varieties of heirlooms and hybrid tomato seedlings. New this year: a dark purple cherry called Haley's Purple Comet and new green tomatoes such as Chile Verde, Green Doctors and Tasty Evergreen. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days. Tapia Brothers Farm Stand, 5251 Hayvenhurst Ave., Encino.

March 26: The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers & Native Plants’ annual spring sale includes hundreds of species and cultivars, priced 15% for members and 10% off for nonmembers. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley. (818) 768-1802.

March 26: The NoHo Rockin’ Food Truck Fest & Flea Market includes 15 food trucks, live music and comedy, art and craft vendors, raffle prizes and dogs adoptions. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $5. Main lot next to 11458 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood.

March 26: The West Adams Heritage Assn. presents its annual Art in Historic Places Tour, a self-guided look at artists who live in the area’s mix of century-old homes, Craftsman bungalows and Spanish villas. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $25 in advance; $30 day of tour. (323) 732-4223;tours@westadamsheritage.org.

March 26-27: The California Bonsai Society presents its 54th annual show, featuring more than 100 specimens created by bonsai masters. Traditional trees such as Japanese black pine and California juniper are displayed alongside examples of nontraditional bonsai. 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. Free. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (626) 405-2100.

March 27: Pasadena Heritage presents the Legacy of Wallace Neff, a tour of eight properties ranging from modest bungalows to grand mansions. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. $34 to $37 in advance, $40 day of tour. (626) 441-6333.

March 27: The Ocean View Farms community garden holds its 7th annual TomatoBration. Hundreds of tomato varieties for sale, lecture and Q&A with Windrose Farm expert Barbara Spencer. Sale begins at 8 a.m., and plants are expected to sell out around noon. 3300 Centinela Ave. E-maileducationchair@oceanviewfarms.net.

March 27: The American Institute of Architects’ Los Angeles chapter organizes a self-guided tour of a Hollywood Hills canyon home designed by Assembledge, a Brentwood home by Cory Buckner Architects, a Bel-Air contemporary by Rick Leslie and a modernist home by Studio Pali Fekete Architects. $65 to $75. (213) 639-0777; e-mail info@aialosangeles.org.

ONGOING

Ackerman, Aguiñiga: “A Marriage of Craft and Design: The Work of Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman” includes examples of ceramics, tile mosaics, wood carvings, textiles and other crafts from the Culver City couple. “Crossing the Line: A Space by Tanya Aguiñiga,” is a site-specific structure made by the artist best known for felted furniture. Ends May 8. $5 to $7. Craft and Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 937-4230.

Brown Bag Tuesdays: The Gamble House, the Arts and Crafts landmark designed by Charles and Henry Greene, allows visitors to picnic on the rear lawn or terrace of the 1908 estate between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Twenty-minute docent-led tours will be given at 12:15 and 12:45 p.m. $5. 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena; (626) 793-3334. Reservations: (626) 449-4178.

Technology and design: Architecture and Design Museum of Los Angeles exhibition “Soupergreen” explores the way that technology can promote architecture and the environment. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Ends April 14. $2 to $5. 6032 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 932-9393.

Wexler show: “Steel and Shade: The Architecture of Donald Wexler” is a survey of drawings, photographs and models by the noted architect. They are augmented by professional photographs and new models fabricated by Cal Poly students, including a full-scale sectional steel model illustrating the prefabrication system that Wexler used in his steel houses. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, noon to 8 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Ends May 29. $5 to $12.50. Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs.(760) 322-4800.

Be there but please don't be square.

800 S Euclid - Rented to a great couple - enjoy Madison Heights!

Pasadena Heritage Wallace Neff House Tour - Buy your tickets now!

Come on out to support Pasadena Heritage and take the fabulous tour of Wallace Neff designed homes.  The tour is sponsored by deasy/penner & partners so make sure to stop by our table and say helloooo to yours truly.

Pasadena Heritage presents its annual Spring Home Tour, The Legacy of Wallace Neff sponsored by deasy/penner&partners, on Sunday, March 27, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This tour of six privately owned homes plus two additional Neff-designed buildings, showcases the breadth of work by renowned Southern California architect Wallace Neff.  Known for his spectacular Mediterranean Revival residences built for elite clients, Neff created what he called “California houses” that were based on European traditions adapted to the unique climate and landscape of Southern California. Tickets on sale! Purchase Now Scroll down for additional tour details.
In the 1920’s Pasadena boasted the highest per capita income of any city its size in the country. This period of great prosperity was a boon for architecture, resulting in a series of designs by many of the most well-known architects of the period, including Myron Hunt, Gordon Kaufman, Roland Coate, George Washington Smith, and of course Wallace Neff.  Wallace Neff’s “flair for originality” and attention to detail puts his work in a category all its own. Featured on the Pasadena Heritage Spring Home Tour will be the Paul Richter House, a 1929 Classical French Chateau style home. Its elegant feeling is enhanced by a gracious center courtyard fountain and exquisitely intricate wrought iron details. The interior of the home has many classic Neff features including marble floors, cathedral ceiling, circular room and spiral staircase. It also has a Gothic music room and medieval fireplace with a stone mantle. This home represents Neff’s work for elite clients as the home is over 14,000 square feet and has over 30 rooms. The Richter House is located in neighboring San Marino, designed by its founders to be a uniquely residential community with wide streets, expansive properties, and beautiful gardens.
The Collins House (pictured above, left) dates from 1927. Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Collins hired Neff to design their home, and they lived there for almost fifty years. Their home was, as their daughter Mary put it, “a labor of love.” It was featured in Architectural Digest soon after it was built. This beautiful Italianate home has wing walls on either side of the façade which extend the mass visually across the entire property.
The Morse and Gates (Ethel Guthrie) House, designed in 1925 is a beautifully simple Spanish Colonial Revival home typical of Neff’s designs.
The Thaddeus L. Up de Graff (Shirley C. Ward) House (pictured, left) is a beautifully landscaped 1927 Italian Renaissance Revival Neff-designed home. T.L. Up de Graff was Neff’s brother-in-law and worked with Neff on several speculative houses in Pasadena. Three of those houses are located together in the historic Lombardy Road District. Even during the prosperous middle twenties when Neff was deluged with high-paying clients, he did not turn down commissions for speculative houses. In affluent communities such as Pasadena the fact that a house was a Wallace Neff design helped sales, so developers were eager clients and 10 speculative houses were built in 1924 by the Lincoln Mortgage Company along a single block. These modest houses were interesting and unique, designed with the same care as Neff exerted for a wealthy client. This is the only known tract designed by Neff. Neff’s designs were embraced by other speculative builders, resulting in numerous copyists designing Spanish style tract houses all over Southern California, prompting one historian to note that “tract house architecture from the 20s in Los Angeles looks the way it does because of Neff.” Two houses along this picturesque block will be open for tours.
Other stops on the tour include the Barlow House and St. Elizabeth’s Church.
Except for St. Elizabeth Church, all tour locations will be open from 9:00 a.m.  to 4:00 p.m.  Visitors drive themselves to the homes where trained docents will describe the history and architectural features as guests tour through each location. Allow at least four hours for the entire tour.
Order your advance tickets to The Legacy of Wallace Neff
Tickets on sale March 1.
Join Pasadena Heritage and take advantage of member discounts!
Advance Ticket Prices: Pasadena Heritage Member Price: $34 Non Member Price: $37 Day of the Event: $40

Is this Heavan or is it the Eagle Rock Rec Center?

Not only is Eagle Rock Park and Rec Center right near my house, and my dogs love it, it is also home to the 1953 Neutra Recreation Center building.  So I thought it was pretty rockin' and we'd go there when we're taking a break from our first love, the San Rafael park on Colorado Blvd. 

Yesterday, however, we discovered that not only does this park house an architectural work of art, and is a great place for kids and adult kids alike, but it also has the coolest outdoor gym.  Really.  I hadn't seen this company's work before, but it is truly amazing stuff.  It's called Greenfields Outdoor Fitness and the equipment is rugged, smart, effortless, well-crafted and super fun to use.  We were on all the machines and playing like kids, much to my dogs annoyance.... 

I recommend going without the dogs because you'll want to stay on the machines as long as your muscles can stand it.  The side to side one that works your waistline?  A must.







So go enjoy and explore all the Eagle Rock Recreation Center has to offer, admire the Neutra in our midst and get a good work out.  Just don't forget to toss the ball for your dog too.

P.S.  It's also Cultural Historical monument #536.  FYI

Old Pasadena Happy Hour....Week!

Old Town Pasadena is offering extended Happy Hour Hours for the week of March 1- March 8.  If you haven't been to Old Town Pas lately - or ever - check it out!  More info at www.oldpasadena.org/happyhourweek.

Old Pasadena Happy Hour Week 2011

Old Pasadena’s finest restaurants, bars and lounges offer extended food and drink
specials all week long! From $5 cocktails to $3 gourmet sushi rolls, Old Pasadena
Happy Hour Week offers something for everyone.
Please contact the establishment directly for any additional information.

	Restaurant / Bar / Lounge	Address	Phone
	1810 Argentinean Restaurant	121 W. Colorado Blvd.	626.795.5658
	Bar Celona	46 E. Colorado Blvd.	626.405.1000
	Café Bizou	91 N. Raymond Ave.	626.792.9923
	Café Santorini	64 W. Union Street	626.564.4200
	Crème de la Crêpe	36 W. Colorado Blvd. - Mills Place	626.844.0007
	Equator	22 Mills Place	626.564.8656
	Gold Class Cinema	42 Miller Alley - One Colorado Courtyard	626.639.2260
	IX Tapa Cantina	119 E. Colorado Blvd.	626.304.1000
	La Grande Orange Café - The Otis Bar	260 S. Raymond Ave.	626.356.4444
	Lucky Baldwin's Pub	17 S. Raymond Ave.	626.795.0652
	The Luggage Room Pizzeria at LGO Café	260 S. Raymond Ave.	626.356.4440
	The Melting Pot	88 W. Colorado Blvd.	626.792.1941
	NEOMEZE	20 E. Colorado Blvd.	626.793.3010
	Point08 Bar	95 E. Green Street	626.792.4441
	POP Champagne & Dessert Bar	33 E. Union Street	626.795.1295
	Scarlet Tea Room & Fine Dining	18 W. Green Street	626.577.0051
	Sushi Roku	33 Miller Alley	626.683.3000
	Vertical Wine Bistro	70 N. Raymond Ave.	626.795.3999
	Villa SORRISO	168 W. Colorado Blvd.	626.793.2233

Modern Chicks

Chickens that is.  I have this notion of keeping chickens so I can have fresh eggs in the morning.  Of course I'm pretty sure the coyotes around here would more likely have fresh chickens for dinner, but how cool are these modern chicken coops?!  I could so see one of these in my yard.

You want to ditch your car.... Pasadena is Sunset Magazine's runner up!

Pasadena and San Francisco are the runners-up to Sunset Magazine's best places in the West to....

In this case it is to ditch your car.  So if you're looking for a bike-friendly, walk-friendly place to live, Pasadena is your place.

I could have told you that!








Sunset.com

Andy Warhol at the Huntington Library & Gardens - New Works of Art that is!

The Huntington's new works by Andy Warhol go on view tomorrow, January 12th.

Now's your chance not only to see the gorgeous grounds of the Huntington Library and Gardens, but to see Warhol's, "Small crushed Campbell's soup can (Beef Soup)" and the 1964 "Brillo Box".

While you're there don't forget to see the newer Chinese garden and, my personal favorite, the Desert garden.

Pop Art Comes to The Huntington Warhol works are received from the estate of Robert Shapazian A gift of important works by Andy Warhol, the artist synonymous with the Pop Art movement, has come to The Huntington from the estate of Robert Shapazian, who was the director of Lapis Press, founded by the artist Sam Francis, and was founding director of the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills. One of the pieces is Small Crushed Campbell’s Soup Can (Beef Noodle), a painting made in 1962 as a unique, early variant of the famous series. Another is Brillo Box, constructed in 1964 at the time of the artist’s first sculpture exhibition. Rounding out the gift is a group of nine unlicensed copies of Brillo Box commissioned in 1990 by art collector and international museum director Pontus Hultén.

Leonard Cohen. Vegas. Suite at the Trump. Dinner at Il Mulino. Luckiest Gals on Earth.

The title says it all.  Best Show Ever.  Four hours plus of his royal amazing rock godness plus his amazing musicians and singers.  A show I will never forget and am honored to have experienced.

 http://www.ilmulino.com/lasvegas.html

We shopped, we ate, we were in awe of Leonard Cohen, we stayed in our suite at the Trump (provided by a kind friend who works for them), all in less than 24 hours.  One might even say we are goddesses, not to mention lucky.

Caesars Forum Shops - another must!

My feet on vacation - a must photo

The tv in the mirror in our gigantic bathroom at Trump

Oh Soho!

Oh the views.  Oh that deck!  The bar, the staircase, the drinks (more on those later), the friendly wait staff, the celeb sightings, the food the delicious food, the olive trees in the dining room, the views, the fireplace, the cozy atmosphere, the lack of cell phones, the views... I could go on and on.  A friend took us to Soho House Friday night for girl's night and it was simply luscious.  We had a drink in the Club Bar ensconced in comfy sofas and chairs with a spectacular of the Sierra Tower where I like to think Rachel Zoe was checking us out from.

My drink, an American Trilogy, was sheer perfection.  Our waiter at dinner was charming and had an accent to make us all swoon - an integral ingredient to girls night.  Following the delicious dinner where the roasted broccoli got rave reviews, we capped off the evening taking photos in the complimentary Photo Booth (black and white of course), and swooning over the ladies room downstairs with it's fabulous wallpaper and views.  Have I mentioned the views?

Oh, and, btw, yours truly got checked out by Kara DioGuardi.  For real.









Thank you Carol!

David Sedaris at Vroman's Pasadena

I've got two words to describe last's nights reading by David Sedaris:  high-larious.  Ok, that's only one word, and it's not even a word, but I don't think Mr. Sedaris would mind.  It fits in with his story of being in Holland and the Dutch linguist talking with him about American's penchant for putting two words together to make one odd one.  Ginormous, fabulocity, skort.  All of which I use.

He read from his latest book, "squirrel seeks chipmunk" and also excerpts of his journal while being on the road recently.  Did I already mention that he's funny.  Laugh out loud funny.  He collects jokes which he asks the audience to tell him while he's signing books.  Which is why I didn't get my book signed.  I can't tell a joke and the line was too long with people telling him jokes.  Oh well, I still love David Sedaris and I love Vroman's Bookstore.  If you haven't read any of his books - do so.  If you haven't been to Vroman's - go.  Both are worth it.

Happy reading.  And laughing.

Vroman's Bookstore
695 E. Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101
Tel: 626-449-5320
Fax: 626-792-7308 
Vroman's

Zushi = Yum

Simply the best, yummiest, happiest sushi place in Pasadena.  Small, welcoming, tasty, cozy - just some of the adjectives that best describe Zushi.  We've been going there since they opened a few years ago and it's just as good as ever, only the place is a bit more crowded.  One thing we order every time: the Albacore Sashimi with the flash fried onions and garlic.  Best. Thing. Ever.  Also the Shitake Mushroom dish, the baked whitefish roll, and the hands-down best sushi roll is the Sin City Roll.  Delish.  Try the jalapeno poppers if you're with a crowd.  They're sure to please.  If it's warm outside the seaweed salad or spicy tuna salad are delightfully refreshing.  And, if you become a regular like us, and are very nice to the waiters, you might get some free green tea ice cream.  It's been known to happen. They put chocolate sauce on it.  Say no more.



Visit them on the web here: Zushi Restaurant

133 W. California Blvd.;  Pasadena, Ca. 91105  Phone (626) 578-9191    SUN. - SAT.: 11 A.M. - 10 P.M.