Central Park

Yup - Pasadena that is.

We once again made the grueling uphill bike trek into Old Town Pasadena this past weekend and hit up Central Park Restaurant.  It's right across from, well, Central Park, hence the name.  And it does have sort of an East Coast vibe.  I had the breakfast Panini.  It looked sort of sad on the plate with no garnish and just a meager fruit bowl to accompany it, but I gotta say, that was one good breakfast panini.  Highly recommend it.  Scott enjoyed his Eggs Benedict as well.  Now we'll have to try it for dinner sometime.

Platform Bed Roundup

So my a friend of mine in Chicago just bought a new house has asked my advice on furnishing.  She is coveting this bed from DWR but is thinking her hubby won't be too keen on the $2500 price tag. 

So I helped her come up with a few alternatives.

$318 from Chiasso 

$600 total from West Elm

$1200 from Room & Board

$1500 from Room & Board

$899 from CB2

Fiddle Dee Dee

 

I'm thinking a Fiddle Leaf Fig (perhaps with a uplight behind it) would look quite dramatic in this corner of our living room.  Question though - where do you find one that isn't ridiculously expensive.  Rolling Greens had one for 200 bucks -  that seems a little much for a house plant, no?  Any ideas would be much appreciated

Oh those summer ni-ights....

So Friday of next week (the 13th - yes....it's Friday the 13th) is my Birthday.  I believe there is a whole weekend of festivites being planned including a downtown date night.  But for those of you unlucky enough not to be invited on said downtown date night (that would be everyone except me and my husband), there is Chinatown Summer Nights every Saturday night in August. 

I think I might hit it up on the 21st.  It's part street food fest, part block party, part art installation, part concert.  There are activities for all from 5pm to midnight.  And best of all, you can ride the Gold Line metro to get there!

Style...

Christina Brian of Full House posted this wonderful photo of Iris Apfel by Bruce Weber. 

One day I hope to be half as stylish as her at her age.  Boy do I have a long way to go to get there!

Well Hello, Mr. Bear.

On Monday we received Mr. Bear from Mona Cordell (Scott's Aunt).  He is wonderful and makes me happy.  We are still trying to find him a suitable home.  For now he is hanging in the study.  Thanks Mona!

Battle of the Benches

I've been coveting Jonathan Alder's X Bench for a while. Two of them would look pretty nice at the foot of our bed.  However at a starting price of $495 a pop - it'll be a while before we can afford them. 

This Ballard Designs option is much more reasonable at $179 plus fabric (this Duralee version would look nice)

Pop Pop Fizz Fizz

Those of you who know me know that I do NOT have a sweet tooth.  In fact, quite the opposite.  So I wasn't the most excited person to find out that Rocket Fizz, the renowned Soda and Candy shop had opened an outpost on Green Street in Pasadena.  However, I have to say, I was impressed.  It's not your typical candy shop.  In fact, I would say it is more soda-centric than candy.  And there is quite the collection of vintage rock band posters as well.  What impressed me the most though was the celery flavored Dr. Brown's soda pop I had. 
Named CEL-RAY  it wasn't too sweet and had a unique flavor that reminded me of something from my childhood in Asia.  $10 to anyone who can pinpoint what it reminds me of. 

Battle of the Garden Stores

Recently Scott and I stopped by Potted in Atwater Village on the way to Costco. 

Even more recently we stopped by the new Rolling Greens on Beverly near the Grove.  Potted is a little smaller and funkier.  Rolling Greens has an amazing space (a former auto body shop that I knew all along would make a great retail space).
Potted has a large selection of fountains where Rolling Greens seems to have the largest supply of fake succulents I have ever seen.

Potted is a bit more colorful retro whereas Rolling Greens is a bit more whitewashed shabby chic.  In any case, I think Potted is more my vibe, but both are great sources of fun plants and garden accessories.  Who would you vote for?

Oh the joys of homeownership

Tree trimming and spraying to cure diseased live oaks ... kaching

Terminix to get rid of newly hatched baby spiders infesting our bathroom .... kaching

Sofa reupholstery (let's just say the sofa got a little scabby) .... kaching

Shades for living room because light is starting to fade new rug etc .... kaching

Ah yes, homeownership is a joy.  I'm really hoping I have a bountiful crop of cucumbers and squash to offset all these costs.  In the meantime, I bought the below Etagere for $50 on craigslist and it has now taken the place of the bar in the living room. Quite fetching don'tcha think.  I was thinking about painting it a color but I'm liking the contrast of the dark wood so I might keep it as it is for now.  Recommendations are always welcome.  Future plan includes orange lacquered table and some sort of white upholstered chairs.  Now that would be fun, but alas must come after all the other more glamorous joys of homeownership like the above.