Small Town Life In Big L.A.

Montrose 2020 Vision Bus Tour

Yesterday we were invited by the City of Glendale to meet early in the morning and board a specially chartered tour bus. The plan being to meet with neighboring city officials, tour their shopping districts, and learn what they are doing that we could apply to Montrose.

The tour was led by Jennifer McLain, Principal Economic Development Officer (right) along with Jackie Bartlow, Economic Development Coordinator (left). We were joined by Montrose Shopping Park officials, key Montrose business owners (I'll introduce you to them in these pics), and the Executive Director of the Montrose Chamber.

The tour was well organized and we kept to our full agenda. Serving on the City of Glendale Branding Committee, it always makes me smile when I see the happy swirl logo used on City correspondence.

First stop upon arriving in Claremont: COFFEE!!! Meet Jeannie (left), owner of popular Spanish inspired restaurant CASA CORDOBA...Maureen (middle), owner of the oldest children's bookstore in the nation ONCE UPON A TIME...and Ken, owner of long time music store GRAYSON'S TUNE TOWN.

And thus the walking began. I have always wanted to go to Claremont but somehow, until today, never made it.

What a beautiful and quaint shopping and dining district in the heart of Cali. It's known, among many other things, for it's prominent colleges. Six of them I believe. We all loved this mural and would like to see some of this done in Montrose.

Now onto our first official meeting of the day.

We met with Brian Desatnik (right), Director of Community Development for the City of Claremont and had a very productive and interesting discussion. To my right is hubby Dale who serves as Business Administrator and Events Coordinator for the MSPA (Montrose Shopping Park Assn). Next to him, Steve Pierce our Communication Admin., Harvest Marketplace Manager, and Filming Liaison.

More walking, led by Brian, ensued. What beautiful weather we had!

The walking abruptly stopped the minute we saw PIES!!!

My friend Gigi (right) and I had the same idea! Gigi owns IT TAKES A VILLAGE KIDS and serves as V.P. of the MSPA Board. Note: I LIKE PIE we need you in Montrose!

We all admired the lush plantings throughout the Claremont shopping district.

Thank you Brian for sharing your valuable time with us. I enjoyed your manner and we all learned so much!

This shot was taken from the bus window on the way to Covina and epitomizes the Southern California Inland Empire. Palm trees, bougainvillea, blue skies, mountains, and the American flag.

Being a "foodie" I LOVE trying new places! Lunch was at gastropub BREAD AND YEAST in the heart of the Covina shopping district.

Among other things we enjoyed these Portobello Fries with bacon and shaved Parmesan. YUM!

We dined with Covina Asst. City Manager Angel Carrillo. Once again most informative.

In our after lunch tour we came across this sign. LOL!

Uh oh! As if the pies in Claremont weren't enough! Just had to buy pastries at PAN DULCE! Do you see that empty spot where the jelly rolls are? I've got it in the bag!

Now we are in Monrovia. Call out to KNOT TOO SHABBY: Come to Montrose!!! What a cute store! They sell chalk paint and teach you how to use it!

Glad we are walking off our lunch!

At least until we ran into this giant poster of Thor!

Hahahahahahahahaha! We do have fun!

Beautiful fountain vignette in Monrovia,

We like this colorful photo op too. Wondering if we might want one of Meatball the bear in Montroseland?

We ended the day at 38 DEGREES ALEHOUSE where Monrovia business owner and volunteer extraordinaire Pam Fitzpatrick graciously shared her work on behalf of the Monrovia shopping district. This woman deserves a medal!

Alas the "party bus" awaits to whisk us back to never never land. THANK YOU City of Glendale for a wonderful day on behalf of #montrose2020vision We learned much and enjoyed ourselves doing it. GREAT job Jennifer & Jackie!

Boysenberry Festival at Knott's Berry Farm

 It only happens once a year. The BOYSENBERRY FESTIVAL at Knott's Berry Farm, a popular theme park about an hour and a half south of us. Abundant bougainvillea and blue skies are part of the welcoming path this day.

Boysenberries and Knotts go way back to 1932 when Walter Knott began propagating the new plant, a curious cross between the red raspberry, blackberry and loganberry.

 The festival was decorated with berries and purple was the color of the day!

 Of course I had to comply wearing every boysenberry thing I had!

 Today was all about the berries and this "foodie" gal was in heaven. How about these Boysenberry meatballs! A skewer for each of us!

 This perfect Boysenberry ice cream cone was so refreshing!

 Be still my heart! Boysenberry candles that look like pies and cupcakes!!!

 Check out these tempting displays!

 Knott's has an old Western cowboy theme, one of the highlights being the show in the Calico Saloon.

 This is founder Cordelia Knott's original fireplace.

 The Calico Mine ride is about our speed these days.

 Fried chicken is a MUST when you visit Knott's. They serve theirs with homemade biscuits and boysenberry jam. We washed it all down with boysenberry punch.

 Oh how pretty! I wanted one but practiced self control...

At least until I saw this! We shared it and had boysenberry coffee.

 

 What a beautiful So Cal sunset. Even the sky got in on the boysenberry act.

We capped off the evening with a visit to Camp Snoopy. The end of a fun filled boysenberry day.

Sunday Brunch at the Beverly Hilton

After church we took the "back roads" to Beverly Hills to enjoy a special brunch Dale reserved.

The pines give way to palms, a sign we are almost there.

Our destination: the famous Beverly Hilton Hotel, home of the Golden Globes and many other star studded events.

Fresh roses greet you in the lobby.

Our table next to the famous Aqua Star pool, the largest in Beverly Hills and setting for numerous movies, TV shows, and films.

The brunch includes everything on the buffet plus the entree of your choice!

I loved looking at all the food and practiced some form of self control. Smoked Scottish Salmon with capers, red onion, and lemon, wafer thin Manchego cheese with candied pecans and honey, applewood smoked bacon, Chinese chicken salad, and fresh pastries were all delicious, especially with french press coffee and rich cream.

 

My entree has arrived! A perfectly prepared hanger steak which I got to go. One can only eat so much and I had to save room for dessert.

These pops looked great! I took a pic but never tried them.

Instead I opted for the house made chocolates.

And of course I had to try some French macaroons! They seem to be turning up everywhere out here.

After such a satisfying meal on such a perfect day it's time to look up.

We took the canyon roads home with the windows down. It is always incredibly beautiful after it rains and the smell of eucalyptus, pine, and orange blossoms fragrance the air.

Safely home after a pleasant drive and ready for a Sunday nap.

Inside Harry Potter Los Angeles

 Yesterday we were in for a big surprise. Being the day after the Oscars and a Monday all was on the quieter side at Universal Studios Hollywood. They are busy getting ready for the grand opening of Harry Potter on April 7. SURPRISE!!! They were testing things out and we were able to see and experience the whole thing first class!!!

Ahh! Snow and Hogwarts only thirty minutes from home!

Many of the great shops were open too.

Honeyduke's Sweets Shop was a fun experience with novel treats like Pumpkin Juice.

We received a grand welcome to the star attraction, Hogwarts, featuring Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

I don't believe we will ever see a sight like this again. These winding walkways are made for long lines and big crowds. We were able to walk all the way in. Amazing!!!

And there they are! Harry, Ronald, and Hermione! The ride was awesome!

Then it was onto the roller coaster at Hagrid's Hut.

We were thoroughly entertained by this frog chorus as they sang, danced, and then posed with us. What a treat!

Being the "foodie" that I am it was nice to meet Executive Chef Anthony at the brand new Three Broomsticks Tavern.

The comfort food menu is very appealing and reasonably priced.

We chose the Lemon Roasted Herb Chicken with corn on the cob and roasted potatoes. Yummy!

Checkout the view from our table!

What an exciting day! One of my favorite things about Universal is the music. The beautiful instrumental musical score from the Harry Potter movies is perfectly played throughout the attraction making you feel as if you are really there. This is going to be a huge draw. How thankful we are that we got to see it all up close and personal before the throngs arrive. WOW! WOW! WOW!

In Search of Ramen

Oh the joys of living in Los Angeles and being able to mix business with pleasure. Earlier this month we headed downtown to meet with a vendor. Here we are crossing the L.A. River via the famous 4th STREET BRIDGE. Known for it's Gothic revival architecture, this bridge is home to many movie and TV shoots. 

This is a typical February day in downtown LA with views all around. Several of these former industrial buildings are being converted to condos. It's like an epidemic here with tons of people moving to the city.

Since we were in the neighborhood we decided to check out one of Little Tokyo's most popular ramen places, in the top 10 per L.A. Weekly. It's what I would refer to as a "hole in the wall" = old and grungy. Not my cup of tea...

There was a wait to get in. Most were hipsters and millennials, cell phones in hand. Upon being seated we were given this complimentary salad. Meh? 

And this my friends is what everyone comes for. THE RAMEN.... with ultra rich murky broth, thick noodles, pork belly, and a marinated whole egg. I have to admit it was good. Loved the noodles & broth, couldn't quite get into the belly & egg thing.

The tempura was just "OK".

After checking GOOGLE MAPS (don't leave home without it!) we were told to take a different route home. It was nice to drive by ECHO PARK, an historical neighborhood close to downtown with steep, steep hills.

Down in the "flat lands" you'll find this peaceful lake with ducks, palm trees, water fountains, and a nice walking path. It brought back fond memories of our dear friend Rose who owned a spectacular former movie stars home on top of the hill. We would meet there for church and bible study and had some amazing 12 course Italian dinners there with our whole church family. One of her ceilings was painted with a mural by Thomas Kinkade before he became famous.

I hope you have enjoyed this little adventure as much as I have sharing it. Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Sylvia's Valentine Lunch

It's not everyday one turns 80. My dear friend Sylvia (standing next to me) celebrated this milestone earlier this month and the rejoicing continues. She has been such a godly example and inspiration to us and I wanted to do something special that she would enjoy. She is full of the joy of the Lord. She looks amazing doesn't she!

All of us are "foodies" and love the Lord so this venue was right up our alley.

Here's a closer look at our table. The beautiful heart pics were crafted by none other than Mary S and beautifully adorned my raspberry muffins.

We started off with Valentine Kahlua coffee, piled high with whipped cream.

Mary's love banner parades above tuna cups.

We all enjoyed this freshly baked focaccia from a famous Chatsworth Italian deli.

This healthy hummus is made with garbanzo beans, tahini paste, and lemons, and topped with Spanish paprika and black sesame seeds.

Sylvia loves to bake and brought this colorful platter of sugar cookies and meringues.

Colleen's roasted squash with avocado, fresh basil, and smoked mozzarella was off the charts good.

Paying homage to Sylvia's Italian heritage we enjoyed heart shaped Caprese salad with lots of fresh, cracked pepper.

Here we have roasted fingerling potatoes with lemon zest and oregano.

A foodie afternoon like this would not be complete without two episodes of The Pioneer Woman!

My friend from Turkey gave me this silver vase and I wanted her to see how lovely it looks on my mantle. It brings joy to my heart every time I look at it.

What a blessed Valentine birthday celebration this was! Let's do it again! Happy Valentine's Day! Thank you Lord for the special women you have put in my life!

Montrose Merchants Dinner at Casa Cordoba

Last night the MSPA (Montrose Shopping Park Association) treated the business owners to a delicious dinner at the one and only CASA CORDOBA. We are blessed to have this very successful and authentic cuisine of Spain just steps from our store Revelation TOPS.

Always faithful and the first to arrive were Steve & Dale posing with owner Jeannie.

We were serenaded throughout the evening by live Spanish guitar.

Love the festive look of blue flowerpots = happy!

We started with delicious appetizers as they do in Spain...

and proceeded onto a variety of Casa's famous paellas.

It was so nice to mingle and be able to sit and talk with our fellow merchants and friends.

Happy times on the patio!

We all enjoyed Andre's enthusiasm as he shared a few words.

We love Montrose!...it's shops...cafes...small town atmosphere...and most of all people. What a blessing it is to be able to do what you love in "Mayberry".

 

From Where I Sit...GIFT SHOW Adventures

It's that wonderful time of year again! Shopping & Gift Shows! Thankful to fly out of Burbank airport this time. So close to home!

Here is the view as you approach Las Vegas from the West Coast.

Love the chandeliers at the Paris Hotel. They are huge and sparkly and even more amazing when you are standing under one.

We scored a fabulous patio table for two at Mon Ami Gabi. This French steakhouse is one of our faves! Imagine having Profiteroles for dessert as you watch...

the famous Bellagio fountains! Heavenly!

Back at the room we could enjoy them from afar.

Days were spent shopping at the world class Las Vegas Market. Three high-rise buildings full of state of the art showrooms!

Of course we found LOTS of stuff for our store MOUNTAIN ROSE GIFTS I also watch for trends. The GRAY trend continues across all channels in home decor and apparel.

After a long day shopping we stopped by the courtyard to roast some marshmallows. It was in the low 40's so the fire pits and heat-lamps were most welcome.

Going to Las Vegas is a working vacation for us. Many go to gamble. Not us. We enjoy the restaurants. I think we were given the best table in the house at Jasmine. Located in the Bellagio, it's elegant and has a close up view of the fountains.

Just beautiful!

A fitting end to a delicious Chinese meal.

Walking back to our hotel we realized something was going on. Where were the throngs of people and all the buses and cars??? Turns out Matt Damon was there and they were shooting the new Bourne Identity movie!

We have never seen the strip totally shut down! Amazing!

Shopping the show means you are standing and walking all day. It helps to take a break to get your feet up.

Most of the time we grab a bite in the showrooms on the run but this day we stopped for lunch at a trendy restaurant on the premises.

This is how you feel at the end of a shop 'til you drop day.

Las Vegas has a HUGE new airport that receives people from all over the world.

Bye Vegas! What a great time! What a great show! Thank you Lord for answering our prayers and letting us be able to do this.

 

 

Christmas Dinner In Beverly Hills

It's a hectic time of year when you are retailers but we have learned over the years to make time for what is important. Last night I got to spend a wonderful evening with my two favorite people in the world. We headed to Beverly Hills and on the way I asked the Lord to lead us somewhere special. He did!

We started off on world famous Rodeo Drive and it was C-O-L-D! Our Revelation TOPS scarves, leg warmers, and gloves served us well! Behind us is the Beverly Wilshire Hotel where Dale stayed when Princess Marcella Borghese flew him out shortly after we were married. It's also where the Julia Roberts/Richard Gere movie "Pretty Woman" was filmed.

The lobby was exquisite, just as we would expect.

It was a Sunday evening and the stores were closed. A perfect time to window shop. It was like we had the town all to ourselves. I loved the Saks windows with gowns, makeup, and elegant, frosty party displays.

 

Rodeo Drive was decked out in red and white lights and many of the stores looked like they were gift wrapped.

Now here was our special surprise, the answer to my prayer. In a very unique way the Lord led us to Crustacean. Totally unplanned and what a treat, especially for a foodie like me. I love new food adventures! The path to the dining room is an aquarium!!! We kept thinking we were going to fall in but loved it!

We walked in to this famous Beverly Hills restaurant that was fully booked, with no reservation, the Sunday before Christmas, and guess what? They happened to have one table left and it was prime.

This is their signature dish and now I know why. Succulent Maine Lobster with Vietnamese Garlic Noodles. YUM!!!!!

Here are some of the "regulars". See anyone you know?

What a lovely and memorable time we had! Truly a special Christmas memory.

Such FUN at the L.A. COUNTY FAIR!

Riding the sky tram and seeing sights like these bring a thrill to my heart! There's nothing like the L.A. County Fair!

The Mardi Gras themed garden pavilion begged to be photographed. Good computer screen saver material here!

Just like the olden days!

Funny this stand had some of the healthiest food around. The grilled chicken kabobs were delicious!

Now I know how to root and propagate herbs!

How does he do it???

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to shop the pavilions! Can't wait to go back!