Sadie Shops the Hood

Welcome to urban living - I guess that's what you would call it - it's definitely not the 'Burbs. But after nine years I've grown to love this section of town. It's definitely alive and diverse. You are visiting an area known as Antique Row - got your walking shoes on?

Zac's Attic - a little on the pricey side but nice things

Folk Arts Rare Records - does anyone still have a stereo?



Hood Antiques

I've always loved the Chinese dragons above their doors. Very mysterious! No doubt nefarious goings on in the alley! NOT - a very nice older couple own the place.

This used to a cute antique shop but now is Tibet Gift House.



Hepburn's Closet, the new kid on the block!

Hungry? Maybe Jayne can help!

Jayne's Gastropub - sorry the G got cutoff!

A neighborhood favorite, Antique Row Cafe serves things up retro style. You will be hard pressed to find a table over the weekends but it's worth the wait! It's even rated in Zagat's.

Senior Mango's for fresh fruit smoothies

John Michael's Salon and Souza's Hair Color & Design both style and color hair and both right next to each other!

Dragonfly Salon about two blocks from the guys above

Skin Deep for facials

AcuCare Health Center offers holistic type medicine, massages and accupuncture. A couple of the neighbors have been there and recommend it.

Tattoo You at Avalon Tattoo II

El Rayo Guitar shop is right next door to Avalon

Classic Bows Violin offers all matters relating to violins

Interested in a new bike, used bike, bike repair?

Hope you had fun shopping the Hood! Be sure to click on the links for more info. By the way, the lovely Sadie says hello - she's not feeling so hot today :(

Bye for now!

Goodnight Sweet Prince - A Night at the Theatre!

Bonsoir my lovelies!

I enjoyed a fabulous virtual evening tonight at the premiere of my dear friend Anita's latest play Goodnight Sweet Prince at Le Petit Théâtre de Chimères. No need to Mapquest the address as it is located at Castles Crowns & Cottages. The play is about a famous Parisian couturier and his unusual assistant Monsieur Balzak.

Scruffy little shop assistant, M. Balzak - be sure to thank him on the way out or you may be missing a shoe!

The lovely Anita is a very talented playwright and Act I of her lively and lighthearted play made its debut tonight amidst champagne toasts and a chorus of Bravo!

Anita accepting last season's accolades of La Diva!

I decided to dress to the nines in Chanel. Here is the vintage Coco Chanel I wore as seen on the lovely Audrey Hepburn. I also wore several layers of pearls which were de rigueur with Mme. Chanel

The lovely Audrey Hepburn

I wore these beautiful Chanel shoes but confess to wearing them around the house first to practice as they are rather high!

And would any day or evening be complete without a splash of No. 5!

As with La Diva, Goodnight Sweet Prince is an interactive play which means you get to complete the last act of the play. Just follow along for the next few Saturdays as each act is unveiled and you can enter the contest to complete the story! Sound like fun? Visit with Anita at Le Petit Théâtre de Chimères and in the meantime....

Cheers to Anita and a fabulous opening night!

À votre santé!

The Ballad of Reggie, Roxie and Kitty

As with most cats, my kitty, Kitty, has a habit of bringing things home. I've (almost) gotten used to geckos, mice, assorted insects, even a baby possum. I tell myself it's because he loves me. So imagine my surprise when he started bringing home other cats not once but twice!

My guy, Kitty

A little bit about Kitty...he adopted me when I moved into the neighborhood. It's not like he didn't already have a home, he lived across the street. I had the back door open one day and he just sauntered in like he owned the place. Basically, he walked into my life and never left and it's been about eight years.

Guide to living the good life -

Yeah baby, make mine a mojito!

I think it's obvious that I was a person of interest and Kitty had been stalking me. It was also my birthday so I thought it might be some kind of good omen or something. Over the years Kitty has placed many a dead bird at my feet to convince me of his love and affection.

But imagine my surprise when he started bringing home other cats! I guess he thought he was living the good life and maybe others would like living with us as well. First there was Reggie.

Halt! Who goes there - Reggie on the left Kitty on the right.

Sir Reggie taking his leave from the Kit Kat Klub

This little cutout door was known as the milk door. Back in the Stone Age there used to be a creature we all knew as the Milk Man. He would show up at the crack of dawn and leave your order on your door steps. In this case he would store the goods in a comparment built in on either side of the milk door.

The first time Reggie came over he showed no signs of leaving so I called the number on his collar. Surprise, the owner lived across the alleyway from me and she had just gotten Reggie from the animal shelter. She was sure he would go back home at dinner time and he did.

A few days later Kitty brought Roxie over. I thought she would go home at the end of the day as well but she didn't. She was still with us late in the evening in the patio so I let her come in and she snuggled in bed for the night.

The Lady Roxie

The next day I called the number on Roxie's collar which turned out to be the same person I called about Reggie. She said she had just gotten Roxie as a companion for Reggie. When she showed up to collect Roxie she said Reggie was heartbroken and was moping about the house.

Kitty and Roxie

For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

Since then my neighbor has had both Reggie and Roxie in lockdown! I have seen them off and on standing in their doorway behind the screen door. I'm sure they would love to come out but for now they are indoor cats.

I would prefer Kitty were an indoor cat as well but it's impossible. He has gotten into numerous fights and we've had many expensive trips to the vet. The vet suggested that I let him stay outdoors during the day and keep him indoors at night as this is when most kitty turf wars happen. So far so good!

A most charismatic cat!

You may be interested to know that Kitty does have a nemesis. He lives in the condo across the street. I don't know the cat's real name but we call him Lex Luthor. More on Lex another time!

Adios!

Run don't walk to this book signing!

If any of you are in the Glendale, California area, RUN don't walk to the Glendale Public Library where author Laurie Viera Rigler will be doing a reading and a book signing of Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict.

Here are the specs:

Date: Thursday, August 20th
Time: 7 PM
Place: Glendale Public Library Auditorium
Address: 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale 91205
Phone: (818) 548-2042
Parking: Click here.
Map: Click here.

Ever wonder if a gentleman's daughter from 1813 England could survive in the wired and crazy world of 21st-century Los Angeles?

A note from Laurie:

Come join me for a glass of iced tea at Glendale Public Library, and I'll tell you all about it. I'll be reading passages and signing copies of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, the time-bending parallel story to the 2007 bestseller Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.

Until then, may the summer sun bring you much happiness, Laurie


Be sure to click on the book titles to read my review of Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict and Laurie's parallel book Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.

I believe you'll find both books fun and intriguing reads! And to all you lucky folk who live in and around the Glendale Public Library make sure you make it to the book signing and reading.

Happy reading!

Flora, Fauna, Bonnie & Sadie

Hello, here are more adventures in the Hood this time featuring a bit of color...

A very sweet lil ol' lady lives here and tends her garden.

A little flora mixed with fauna

I swear the Addams family does not live here despite the fact that there are gargoyles on all four corners of the roof!

That cactus looks a little ominous in such a tranquil setting doesn't it?

Same house, more cactus on the sidewalk.

Such a pretty color!

Look what I found!

Looks yummy!

Yes, you are in California right now not Arizona!

Every garden could use this beautiful color in it.

Again, we are in California not the English countryside. I've always admired ivy covered houses but always wonder about bugs.

Hope you enjoyed your tour of Gardens of the Hood!

Next outing will include shops in the Hood!

Sadie in the Hood

The lovely Sadie and I took an early morning stroll the other day and decided to record our little walk around the neighborhood.

Here's the lovely Sadie

I think Hansel and Gretel live here!

The sprinkler looks so refreshing and it's such a hot day.

What's great about the 'hood is that there are all manner of architecture about.

Always found this house interesting.

A hammock! Something I've always wanted but perhaps not in the front yard!

The neighbors - they've worked on their front yard a bit.

Always loved the front entryway to this home.

The cactus look like aliens ready to engulf the house


I love bougainvillea - my dad collected all different colors

Darling Sadie is a bit wiped out, we'll call it a walk and make our way home for some peach ice tea.

Stay tuned for more adventures from the Hood!