Much of the country still has patches of snow on the ground, but in Southern California spring is here. Nothing says "spring" quite like the first blush of peach blossoms. In my own backyard, an unnamed variety given to me by a friend several years ago is well under way, and with frequent visits from my local bees, a good crop is promised come summer. Before I can enjoy the fruits of nature’s labors there is plenty to be done, as March is the … [Read more...]
Water is a precious commodity – and its conservation is crucial here in Southern California. Most Californians agree that water shortage is a serious problem, especially as we enter our fourth year of drought. Rainfall in our mountain ranges has been consistently below average, leaving our reservoirs at critically low levels. All of this led our governor, Jerry Brown, to call on Californians to reduce their water usage by twenty percent. Recent … [Read more...]
For much of North America, February is a dreary, cold month that occasionally surprises with a mid-month thaw, teasing of warmer days to come . . . only to suddenly turn an icy shoulder and freeze any hopes that spring would be arriving soon. This isn't so if you live in sunny SoCal in February! However, despite appearances, it is still winter and your garden should be treated accordingly. Cold snaps can still occur and most plants are growing … [Read more...]
On Saturday, January 10, Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti met with residents from Mar Vista to kick off the Mayor's Great Streets Initiative, which is designed to begin a process of reclaiming our city one village at a time through what the Mayor terms “urban acupuncture”. Through this process he hopes to inspire the health and betterment of the entire city. Despite the rainy day, more than one hundred … [Read more...]
Mayor Garcetti recently returned from Asia with a trade delegation from Los Angeles that was focused on furthering our city's commerce and relationships with our Pacific Rim neighbors. I was fortunate to be invited to attend an event recapping his trip that was held at the Getty House, the Mayor's residence in Windsor Square. United by an ocean, the neighboring countries share a strong commercial interest with the United States and the Mayor has … [Read more...]
The Los Angeles Times has recently been reporting on the building trend that has been impacting Los Angeles neighborhoods, especially those on LA’s Westside, a place I live and where I am involved in the real estate business. The trend has been labeled “Mansionization”, when an older smaller home is torn down and a super-sized larger home is built in its place. This trend proliferated during the last real estate boom. There were few size … [Read more...]
I was recently invited to attend several events at the Getty House. For those in LA who may not be aware, the Getty House is the official residence of the mayor of Los Angeles. It’s located in Windsor Square, an historic district bordering the east side of Hancock Park district dating back to 1911. The district was later expanded to be between Beverly and Wilshire Boulevards and Arden Boulevard to Van Ness Avenue. The home was designed and … [Read more...]
This exceptional 3 bedroom Playa Vista home may be one of the best values around. Located next to West Bluff Creek, and steps to shopping, restaurants, and other Playa Vista amenities, this light, bright home has plenty to offer. The thoughtfully designed cooks kitchen featuring custom Italian cabinetry, granite counter tops and stainless appliances is the perfect setting for dinner parties and ease of use. [View the full listing] … [Read more...]
This stunning two story architectural gem boasts custom details, a separate 840 square foot two story studio, and a great location. The solid wood entry door pivots inward to reveal a high ceiling foyer which steps up to a spacious, open floor plan. Walnut floors warm the interior light filled space that includes a wood burning fireplace custom built-in furniture and cabinetry. [View the full listing] … [Read more...]
Did you know that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has several metering programs available to homeowners? Having the right metering program can potentially save a lot of money over each billing cycle, and there are several money saving programs to choose from. When my electricity bill spiked last month I phoned the DWP and after waiting online for 55 minutes, that’s right 55 minutes (they did offer me the option of phoning me … [Read more...]
