LANTERMAN HOUSE: A PIECE OF LA CANADA HISTORY

Completed in 1915, “El Retiro”, as it was known, was built by the second generation of La Canada’s founding family, the Lantermans, and today is one of a very few surviving pre-1920 residences in the city of La Canada Flintridge.

Dr. Roy Lanterman commissioned architect A. L. Haley to design a fireproof craftsman bungalow of reinforced concrete for his family. The house sits on 1.4 acres of restored lawns, gardens and oak groves, comprising 11,250 square feet. There are many arts and crafts elements to the Lanterman House, which was constructed with a U-shaped floor plan, including 32 pairs of French doors. The entire second floor is devoted to the ballroom, and the interior of the house retains its original furnishings and is elaborately decorated with plant and flower motifs that are characteristic patterns seen in the arts and crafts style of the early 20th century. Beautiful hand painted ornamentation, wallpapers and light fixtures are still remaining within the home.

Following the deaths of Roy and his wife Emily in 1948 and 1949, the house remained virtually unchanged, even though occupied by sons Frank and Lloyd until their deaths in 1981 and 1987. The house was left by Lloyd Lanterman to the City of La Canada Flintridge and has become one of La Canada’s few remaining historic landmarks, a veritable time capsule of early 20th-century Southern California life. It has been lovingly restored to its 1915 appearance by a grant from the California State Legislature and by efforts of community volunteers who have formed the Lanterman Historical Museum Foundation.

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Hours: Tours are provided Tuesday, Thursday, and the first and third Sundays of the month 1:00 pomp - 4:00 p.m. The museum is closed the month of August and holidays.

Admission: Adults $3.00. Students (12 - 18 years old) $1.00. Children under 12 are free with adult admission (children must be accompanied by an adult at all times - no strollers are permitted in the house).

Group Tour Schedule: Groups of ten or more, Tuesday and Thursday mornings (and one Wednesday morning each month) by appointment.

Lanterman House. 4420 Encinas Drive, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011. (818)790-1421

LA CANADA TOWN CENTER

The Thursday, August 21st 2008, opening of Sport Chalet’s 45,000 square foot “Building A” of the La Canada Town Center is the first of several grand openings expected to occur in coming months at the $60 million complex. The new development encompasses 11 acres of prime real estate in the center of the La Cañada community, which allows for the self proclamation as La Cañada Town Center.

The development is the accomplishment of a dream that Norbert Olbertz, Sport Chalet’s founder, has tried to carry out for over half a century. Norbert’s vision stems back to 1959 when he and his wife owned and operated the Sport Chalet ski shop that was located on the Northeast corner of Foothill Boulevard and Angeles Crest, which remained in business up until it was demolished to make way for the new Town Center. Olberz has come a long way since the first opening of the humble ski shop, as he now stands behind the companies chain of 52 Sport Chalet stores. In addition to the La Canada Sport Chalet, 15 restaurants and shops will be located at the complex, gradually opening to the public as they each are nearing completion.

Some have argued against the commercial development being brought into the secluded upper-middle to upper class family community of La Cañada, which is a town that caters to its residents by providing a safe environment and top public schools. One should hope though, that the majority of La Cañada’s residents appreciate the refreshing change brought in; A lifelong vision of a La Canada Flintridge resident who seems to have maintained the ideals of a family town with his 11 acre complex located in the towns new center.

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A DESCANSO GARDENS WEDDING

More couples are choosing outdoor locations for their weddings and has become one of the top choices for Pasadena wedding locations and La Canada wedding locations in sunny Southern California. With the sun softly filtered by mighty California oaks and the richness of the camellia forest, or amidst the breathtaking beauty of the International rosarium in full bloom, Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge provides an extraordinary setting for special occasions and treasured memories. Purchased and developed by Manchester Boddy in 1937, Descanso Gardens comprises 150 acres of land, and can usually accommodate up to three weddings at a time. Seven different sites within the grounds are available to hold a wedding ceremony and/or reception, which include:

The Boddy House is a 22 room Regency style mansion designed by James Dolena. Sited above lush oak woodland, the house was built for Descanso Garden’s developer and publishing tycoon Manchester Boddy and his family.
Weddings held at the Boddy House Lawn or Terrace may have their reception in one of the locations below:

Boddy House Lawn/Terrace, capacity 90
Solarium and Foyer, capacity 50
Living Room, capacity 50
Dining Room, capacity 40

Van de Kamp Hall is a Craftsman-styled building used for lectures,large meetings and corporate functions, wedding receptions, memorial services and other larger gatherings. Fully enclosed, climate controlled and equipped with speakers and a microphone, Van de Kamp can accommodate up to 200 people for table seating or 250 for lecture/ theater style seating. The Hall is part of a complex of buildings located by the Visitors’ Center that includes an outdoor courtyard ideal for after-hours receptions.
Weddings held on the East Garden have their receptions in Van de Kamp Hall.

Magnolia Lawn An East Garden Location, can accommodate up to 200 guests.
Weddings held on the Magnolia Lawn have their receptions in Van de Kamp Hall.
The Japanese Garden: It lends itself to stylish outdoor events in a serene setting of Asian elegance. A feast for the senses, the Japanese Garden is graced by a blue-tiled Tea House and lovely raked rock garden, and the murmur of a koi-filled stream infuses the setting with the sound of nature. The Japanese Garden can accommodate up to 25.

The Japanese Garden is part of the East Garden Locations. Weddings held in the Japanese Garden have their reception in Van de Kamp Hall.

The Main Lawn and The Under the Oaks Theatre are East Garden Locations. The Main Lawn can accommodate up to 400 guests. The Under the Oaks Theatre, is an open-aired location with natural redwood benches that can seat up to 250 guests.
Weddings held on the Main Lawn or Under the Oaks Theater have their reception in Van de Kamp Hall.

Feather Falls is an East Garden Location. An intimate outdoor location that can accommodate up to 75 guests.
Weddings held at Feather Falls have their reception in Van de Kamp Hall.

The Oak Forest is an outdoor location located on the West side of the Gardens. This location can accommodate up to 300 guests
Ceremonies on the West Side of the Gardens have their receptions in the Rose Pavilion.

The Rose Garden is an outdoor location located on the West side of the Gardens. Within the Rose Garden, there are several areas to choose from: the Rose Garden Gazebo (capacity 200); Rose Pavilion; other Rose Garden Nooks (capacity 160 under roof).
Ceremonies on the West Side of the Gardens have their receptions in the Rose Pavilion.

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Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada, Ca 91011

818-949-4200 http://www.descansogardens.org/

Short Sales Defined - The Rise of Silver Lake Foreclosures

The rise of Silverlake foreclosures have saturated the local market. It seems that almost every neighborhood has at least one home that is in the process of foreclosure. If you don’t know what the term “SHORT SALE” means, it it defined as the following:A sale of a house in which the proceeds fall short of what the owner still owes on the mortgage. Many lenders will agree to accept the proceeds of a short sale and forgive the rest of what is owed on the mortgage when the owner cannot make the mortgage payments. By accepting a short sale, the lender can avoid a lengthy and costly foreclosure, and the owner is able to pay off the loan for less than what he owes.

From the California Association of Realtors, “Homeowners faced with stalled appreciation, little or no equity, and subprime adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) that are resetting to higher rates are combining into something of a perfect storm. * Many subprime borrowers are barely treading water and others have precipitated a wave of foreclosures that is unlikely to ebb anytime soon. * The statistics are daunting. In April, DataQuick reported that the number of default notices (NoDs) sent to California homeowners last quarter increased to its highest level in almost 10 years. Between January and March, NoDs were up by 23.
For Buyers:
This is a great time to buy Silverlake foreclosure homes. The banks have finally awakened and are ready to negotiate with qualified buyers. Most banks minimum requirements for accepting offers has been 10% down, strong fico scores, and being able to provide proof of income. If you meet these basic requirements, then you can buy many great Silverlake Foreclosure opportunities.

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Reasons why condos are a great second home!

If you make a Hollywood Hills Condo or Hollywood Hills Townhome your second home chances are you will be very happy with your choice.

More than seven in 10 condo and townhome owners say they are satisfied with their purchase, according to a recent survey conducted by Zogby International for the Foundation for Community Association Research. The foundation conducts surveys periodically to keep track of the perceptions of owners who live in condos and townhomes and also to identify trends in the condo market.

There are a number of reasons why satisfaction is such a big trend in regards to communities governed by homeowners associations. Compared to single‑family homes, condos are generally less expensive. Cheaper prices make condos cheaper to operate as a vacation home, because property taxes, homeowners insurance and utility bills cost less. Townhomes and condos are also easy on your back!

Landscaping chores are not managed by you but by the association. Given the average condo has a smaller sq. footage than the average single family home keeping the interior clean and up to date is much easier. If this property is a vacation home then this means much less time and money spent on upkeep.

What's more, the homeowners association, as the community's on‑site governing body, is there to serve the best interests of the community. The association protects your home's value, provides security for the community and uses a professional management company to keep on top of operations.

Furthermore, the association is there to serve the best interests of the community. They protect your homes valuem, provides security and uses professional management companies to keep on track of operations.

All and all, with a single‑family home, not only could you spend more, but you are also pretty much on your own keeping things in working order. And lets face it who wants to being doing that when you could be enjoying your investment and entertaining guests!!

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Using Scent makes sense when selling your home!

Small actions may make big differences in getting your Hollywood Hills home sold!

"When buyers walk into a house before they actually see anything in that house, because they breathe, they are smelling. So they are actually getting an impression, whether it's conscious or subconscious, of your home ‑‑ just by the way it smells," says Rick Ruffolo, senior vice president of brand, marketing, and innovation for Yankee Candle Company.

Choosing to proactively make a statement in the way your home smells is just another step in helping to sell your home faster.Ruffolo says curb appeal gets buyers in the door but then they see and smell your house and begin to decide if this is the property for them.

So, right now take a deep breath, what kind of smells are coming from your house?

"If it's a vacant home it can be musty. But if it's an active home it also could have odors of whatever activities that are going on in that house," says Ruffolo.


Are home buyers going to smell the dirty dog that has been running all over your home after a long walk? Are they going to smell your gym bag filled with dirty and soiled socks that have been buried in the hamper for the last few weeks? Or how about the cat litter box that needs to be cleaned? While we all have different preferences for scents most would agree that none of the above are welcoming aromas.

Creating pleasant aromas in your newly‑listed house can help the buyer to experience an emotional connection with the home. Ruffolo says when it comes to bathrooms, great rooms, or even basements it's a good idea to try different fragrances. "You may want to think of what we refer to as clean or fresh fragrances and those could be based in various fruits, so the citrus family is a really good one," says Ruffolo. He also mentions that any fragrances that are over powering are good to avoid.

Ruffolo encourages home sellers to use fragrance that appeal to many such as vanilla, kitchen spices, citrus or freshly cleaned laundry. There are many things that can help the scent of your home. From candles to oil diffusers they are both decorative and powerful. Ruffolo says with all the tips out there about selling a home, the scent factor is often the most forgotten.

"If you don't have a scent that you want in there, buyers are going to smell whatever is going on in that room. So if it's been closed up or doesn't have a lot of air flow there will be more of a musty, damp, or a less desirable scent," explains Ruffolo.

All and all it just makes sense to have scent as a part of selling your Hollywood Hills home.

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West Hollywood’s Foxtail is open for business!

West Hollywood's Foxtail with its art deco, art nouveau decor has opened! But it’s not just another pretty face; it’s SBE’s Sam Nazarian and Brent Bolthouse’s new gorgeous supper club.

After work sip one of many signature cocktails such as Uva Bellas (green grapes with gin, St.-Germain, lemon juice and orange bitters) at the bar or on one of the long banquettes at geometric marble tables in the lounge.
Reserve a seat in the luxurious dining room which features custom-cast plaster wall friezes, dark wood accents and mirror tiled ceilings and order oysters and caviar or French bistro fare such as: onion soup gratine, seared tuna nicoise, lamb ragout,steak frites with fried egg and black truffle and to die for sweets such as lavender pot de creme.

Soon the upstairs area will open which will feature a swank dance floor as well as a cozy enclosed patio with a fireplace.

You will not want to miss this hot new venue!

Foxtail, 9077 Santa Monica Boulevard, between Doheny Drive and Nemo Street, West Hollywood