Ten years ago hardly anyone had heard of a short sale. Now, since the real estate bubble burst, “short sale” is almost a household word here in the Los Angeles area.

 

Most Los Angeles locals are familiar with Barnsdall Art Park in Hollywood. The park is home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock house, weekly Farmer’s Markets and a variety of activities throughout the year. I was at Barnsdall Park myself last Saturday enjoying Taste of the Eastside, with great food and libations from a variety of local restaurants and vendors for the benefit of the Rose Scharlin School. If you missed the fun, watch for it in early May next year.

Also located on the park grounds is the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. The art gallery’s mission is to “promote, interpret, and present the art of emerging, mid career and established artists from culturally diverse South California”. What that means? The 10,000 gallery is a great place to see a variety of art from area artists ranging from sculpture, photography, painting etc. as well as performance art and installation works.

Amazing as it may seem, admission to the gallery is actually free. The gallery is open Thursday–Sunday from noon to 5 pm and on first Fridays from noon to 9 pm. Of course, behind any such endeavor you’ll find a group of volunteers working to provide funding and keep the operation open.

The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery Associates

The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery Associates (LAMAGA) is a private non-profit corporation that was founded in 1951, with the goal of promoting the museum and serving as advocates. LAMAGA helps support the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery with grant writing, special exhibits, public relations, and of course, fundraising.

Saturday, May 12 at 7:00PM, LAGMA and the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation invite you to their biannual benefit in Barnsdall Art Park: Eat.Drink.Art. This event is a celebration of art where guests can dance, drink and mingle with artists, gallery supporters, curators, civic and cultural leaders and of course, friends! Admission is $25 and includes a 4 drink flight. There will be DJ’d music, food trucks, wine and beer tasting and performances, installations and demonstrations by multi-talented artists. Come out for a great evening and support the Los Angele Municipal Art Gallery at the same time. Tickets to Eat.Drink Art are available online. Please note that this is and adults-only affair, so no one under the age of 21 will be admitted. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Barnsdall Park - 4800 Hollywood Boulevard (323)-644-6269

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 I hope to see you there!

Jenny Durling
Broker Associate
LA Property Solutions
213-215-4758

Atwater Avenue Elementary School was the first elementary school in Atwater Village, founded in September 1922. Today the school is one of 554 LAUSD elementary schools with a student body of around 320 Atwater Village children from kindergarten through sixth grade. Parental involvement is extremely important, as is making sure the school has sufficient funds.

Friends of Atwater Elementary is a non-profit group run by parents and neighbors in Atwater Village who are committed to helping the school, and its students through targeted fundraising.Coming up on Saturday, March 24, 2012, the Friends of Atwater Elementary present “Electric Blue”, a celebrity auction and charity fundraising event to raise funds for Atwater Avenue Elementary School’s new technology program. The school’s new computer lab gets kids up to speed with technology and is currently being used successfully with language arts and mathematics programs.

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The schools big, upcoming fundraiser, Electric Blue takes place next Saturday from 5-10pm with host celebrity chef, Curtis Stone. There will be food, drink, entertainment, silent and live auctions and general fun for the whole family.

The Tam O’Shanter is Los Angeles’ oldest restaurant operated by the same family in the same location. ‘The Tam’ as it’s known by locals, is celebrating its 90^th birthday! Lawrence Frank and Walter Van De Kamp, founders of the Lawry’s Prime Rib chain, opened the Tam O’Shanter on a dusty dirt road between Hollywood and Glendale in 1922.

This historic restaurant and tavern in Atwater Village has become a bit of a Los Angeles Icon.  Near the early movie studios of the area, the restaurant was frequented by many stars including Fatty Arbuckle, Mary Pickford and John Wayne. Walt Disney and his staff were such regulars there that the Tam was coined “The Disney Studio Commissary”! The Disney connection is obvious by a look around the restaurant interior where you’ll find sketches of Mickey Mouse and framed drawings autographed by Walt himself. The lobby is a bit of a Los Angeles history museum!

The Tam O’Shanter looks like a Scottish country inn.  The inside is dark and inviting, warmed by a fireplace in the front lobby. Throughout the restaurant you’ll find framed pieces of tartan plaids labeled by clan and the wait staff dresses in Scottish-inspired attire.

As part of the Lawry’s chain of restaurants, The Tam is famous for its Prime Rib but you’ll still find hearty Scottish-inspired items on the menu like, braised beef short ribs and Toad in the Hole. Make sure to leave room for dessert – their chocolate soufflé with fresh whipped cream needs to be ordered with dinner so it’s ready when you are!

If you are a scotch drinker, you won’t be disappointed as their list of available scotches is impressive. Occasionally there will be scotch-tasting events in the restaurant’s bar.  As much as I love to sit down to a prime rib dinner, I’m actually quite fond of the Tam’s Ale & Sandwich Bar where a chef whips up hand-carved prime rib, roasted turkey, corned beef, and brisket sandwiches with your choice of sides. I highly recommend the cole slaw with peanuts! Sandwiches are available starting at 4pm and I’ve been known to pick up a few sandwich plates for outings at the Hollywood Bowl. Enjoy live music in the Tam’s Ale & Sandwich Bar Friday & Saturday Night starting at 8:00 PM, or stop by for Trivia on Tuesday nights at 7pm.

Though the Tam O’Shanter is a Scottish-themed restaurant, you’d think it was Irish based on their annual St Patrick’s Day affairs!  This year’s festivities take place on March 17 from 11am to midnight.  There will be traditional Irish dishes, music, dancing, Guinness pints, Jameson shots and green beer abounding. The restaurant erects a party tent and provides live music all day with no cover charge.  This year’s lineup includes: Slugger O’Toole, 29 Mules, Ploughboys  and the ever popular Bagpipers.

For those visiting Los Angeles, it should be on the map as a place to see when you are in town. If you are planning on dinner, reservations are highly recommended.

The Tam o’Shanter is located at 2980 Los Feliz Blvd, Atwater Village.

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For more information on things to do in Los Angeles and information on buying or selling property in , Atwater Village,  Silver Lake, Los Feliz, and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling
Broker Associate
L.A. Property Solutions
213-215-4758
Jenny@LApropertySolutions.com
LApropertySolutions.com

Copyright © 2012 By Jenny Durling * The Tam O’Shanter- One of Los Angeles’ Oldest Restaurants*

Kitten Rescue was founded in the spring of 1997. This is a private, non-profit rescue group in Los Angeles run totally by volunteers. Kitten Rescue is devoted to finding loving new homes for unwanted and abandoned cats and kittens.  They are also dedicated to providing information to the public on responsible pet ownership, how to care for their pets and the importance of spaying and neutering to manage overpopulation problems.

Since 2006, Kitten Rescue has operated the Casitas Hotel for Cats, a private, no-kill shelter and boarding facility in Atwater Village. Kitten Rescue purchased the facility in March 2006 and it houses approximately 150 cats at any given time.  Many are adoptable and waiting for good homes. Others may have chronic illnesses, or are elderly and less likely to be adopted. All of the animals at the shelter are safe, loved and taken care of by both staff and volunteers. Though the shelter enables Kitten Rescue to help many cats in need, the organization relies heavily on their network of volunteer foster homes. I adopted one of my kitties who had been living in a foster home for more than a year!  She was well cared for, spayed, had her shots and was even microchipped!  Kitten Rescue volunteers place nearly 1,000 cats and kittens into new homes annually. More than 10,000 cats have been rescued and placed in loving homes since the inception of Kitten Rescue.

Are you a cat-lover like me? How about adopting a cat or two? Or if you have the time and space at home, you can volunteer to be a foster parent and bring some cats or kittens into your home temporarily while they wait for permanent homes . If that’s not an option, you can volunteer to help out at the shelter – there’s always something to do. Socializing kittens is NOT a bad way to spend some time. Good for the cat and relaxing for you too.

You don’t have to sponsor or cat – you can simply go online and make a donation via Paypal in any amount you’d like. Donations to Kitten Rescue are tax-deductible and receipts are available upon request.  Even simpler than that, you can donate to Kitten rescue just by registering your store loyalty cards and credit cards! Participating merchants contribute each time you make a purchase using your free grocery loyalty or debit/credit cards that are registered with eScrip. Just enter your card numbers and you can help the shelter without doing anything other than your regular shopping!

March 11- Kitten Rescue welcomes its volunteers, adopters and supporters to the Kitten Rescue Sanctuary for their “St. Catrick’s” open house. There will be food, fun, green beer and lots of cats! The festivities run from noon until 6pm. The Kitten Rescue Sanctuary is located in Atwater Village. They don’t publicize their address to prevent people from simply dumping cats on their doorstep but if you would like to attend this event, rsvp to openhouse@kittenrescue.org I attended the event last year and expect I’ll stop by again this time.

Check out the Kitten Rescue website for information on cat rescue, care, and adoption for animal lovers all over the world.

Jenny Durling
Broker Associate
L.A. Property Solutions
213-215-4758
info@LApropertySolutions.com
LApropertySolutions.com

6216 Primrose Ave
Hollywood Hills, CA

There is a new listing in Beachwood Canyon and on the surface, it’s a steal! In January of 2007, the house at 6216 Primrose Ave. sold for a cool $1,165,000. It was quite a lovely home in a nice location with 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. What you might expect for that price of a home in the Hollywood Hills. Apparently the most recent owners had their own idea of what the place should look like and attempted a completed overhaul. Most likely they ran out of money in the process as it is currently bank owned and back on the market. The original hardwood flooring has been replaced with dark, engineered wood floors throughout. The kitchen has taken on an odd shape and the downstairs is quite frankly a little creepy! There are open walls and unfinished rooms but the house has potential. I counted 2 bedrooms, 2 baths – a possible 3^rd bedroom downstairs and a half-completed powder room on the main floor. I don’t know what happened to the 4^th bedroom!

So how much should a house in Beachwood Canyon around 2000 sf go for? Read the rest of the story

When you think about the features and benefits of your new home, which single feature cannot be changed once you've made your purchase?

The location...

You can remodel a kitchen or bathroom. You can probably add a room. You can repaint and re-carpet or possibly even knock out a wall. But once you've chosen the location, there you are, for better or for worse. So consider location first. Los Angeles is a huge place and there are a variety of neighborhoods. You're certain to find one that fits your lifestyle but there are a few things to keep in mind.

The commute time...

First consider distance and ease of getting to work, school, shopping, and fun. If you or someone in your family has medical issues, consider the distance to doctors and hospitals. If you're a church-goer, consider the distance to the nearest church of your denomination. Los Angeles traffic poses particular issues. If you have a flexible schedule, you can get away with living farther from work as long as you are driving at off times.

Remember that sometimes shorter distances come with longer commute times– it all depends upon the streets and the traffic. So when you share your desired location with me, tell me why. I'll show you homes with the quickest commute times to where you want to go. If you work downtown L.A. there are alot of great places to live within an easy commute including Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz and South Pasadena, just to name a few.

Simply tell me where you need to go most often and I'll guide you to the most convenient Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Schools...

Do you have children or are you planning to have them soon?  Private schools can be very costly. If you plan to send your children to public school, you'll want to know the best schools in the areas you are interested in.  You may love Silver Lake, but if you want your children enrolled in Ivanhoe Elementary School, you need to first make sure you buy in the right part of Silver Lake. The same holds true for Los Feliz and it's coveted Franklin Avenue Elementary School. There are a number of charter schools and magnet schools in Los Angeles too. Just keep this in mind when buying your Los Angeles home as it might be worth it to pay more for a house in a great school district.

 The people...

Next is the neighborhood makeup. You want to feel comfortable in your surroundings. But remember, as a licensed real estate agent there are questions about the neighborhood that I'm not allowed to answer. This would include the age or marital status of the residents, along with their race and/or religion.If those demographics matter to you, you'll need to do a little research of your own. Take a drive through likely neighborhoods. Look at how the homes are kept, notice the people you see. You can even stop and talk with people, and ask them about life in their neighborhood. Stop into restuarant or local grocery store to get a better idea of who lives in the area.

You have a life to live. I'll help you enjoy that life by helping you choose a home where you'll be comfortable – and where you won't have to spend more time in your car than in your home. For information on Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling
Broker Associate
L.A. Property Solutions
213-215-4758
info@LApropertySolutions.com
LApropertySolutions.com

Copyright © 2012 By Jenny Durling * Finding Your New Home - First Choose Your Los Angeles Neighborhood*

See Area Homes for Sale

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2760 Pelham Place,
Hollywood Hills

Every so often a Hollywood Hills Post and Beam hits the market. Some of them mid-century homes need alot of work and others are ready to move right into. This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom gem definitely fits into the latter category! Located up a long drive at the end of a cul-de-sac on a knoll providing panoramic views from downtown to Catalina Island.

Light spills into the living room, dining room and back bedrooms through walls of glass opening onto a flat yard and lovely views. The floorplan is open with the post and beam ceiling and corner fireplace serving to divide the living room from the dining room. Beyond the dining room is the updated kitchen, separated by a breakfast bar, making this Hollywood Hills post and beam home a perfect place for entertaining.

The kitchen has been updated with slate floors and stainless steel appliances and includes a built-in eating corner eating area with under-seat storage. Plenty of windows provide natural lighting in addition to the recessed lights.

The house itself is 1,757 square feet of living space. However, the property includes a second, flat lot totalling up to 14,510 square feet. That's plenty of room to expand the house, add a pool or simply just enjoy as it is. The outdoor entertaining area also brings in the city view and provides a feeling of privacy and seclusion.

That same spot provides this breathtaking view of the L.A. skyline and city lights below. I would certainly have no trouble living here myself! The home is currently listed with Deasy Penner & Partners for $1,249,000. Call me at 213-215-4758 if you'd like to see this love Hollywood Hills post and beam.

For information on buying or selling property in  Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling
Broker Associate
L.A. Property Solutions
213-215-4758
info@LApropertySolutions.com
LApropertySolutions.com

Copyright © 2012 By Jenny Durling * 1950's Hollywood Hills Post and Beam*

1372-1374.5 Edgecliffe Drive, Silver Lake, CA

Looking for a modern home near Sunset Junction? Green City Building Co has put the small lot subdivision ordinance to good use with 4 new homes on Edgecliffe Drive in Silver Lake. Green City built these 4 Silver Lake homes as a “Modern interpretation of mid-century modern Aesthetic”. Basically we are talking about cool new homes with corner glass windows, bi-fold exterior doors and steel exterior accents. The homes are eco-friendly with, passive solar orientation & thermal chimneys, solar electric systems, tankless water heaters, and low & no-voc finishes. VOC stands for ‘volatile organic compounds’ which continue to release toxic emissions into the air for years after application. Obviously, the lower the VOC, the better for the environment. These homes also include energy star appliances and pre-wiring for electric car charging – how’s that for green building?!

Read More About Small Lot Subdivisions in  Silver Lake, Los Feliz and around Los Angeles

 

 

 

 

 

Jenny Durling
Broker Associate
L.A. Property Solutions
213-215-4758
http://www.LApropertySolutions.com

Copyright © 2012 By Jenny Durling * Silver Lake Small Lot Subdivision – 4 New Modern Homes Near Sunset Junction*

3007 Angus Street, Silver Lake, CA

This Silver Lakecontemporary home closed as a trust sale in May 2011 for $705,000. If you had seen it before and you see it now, you would never know it was the same property! Talk about positive changes! What was once a tired traditional is now an ultra-modern 2-story home in prime Silver Lake. You’ll fine 3 Bedrooms and 4 baths in 2,400 Square feet of living space is just a hop skip and a jump from Silver Lake’s coveted Ivanhoe Elementary School.

Walls of glass let in the natural light and bring the outdoors. The lovely living room with its updated fireplace is wide open to the dining area and kitchen. And what a sleek, modern kitchen it is with its stainless appliances, recycled counter tops and custom bamboo cabinetry. The white oak floors throughout add to the brightness of this Silver Lake home.

You’ll love the giant master suite with its walk in closet, sitting area and cool architectural bath. It also opens onto one of two view decks. What’s not to love about that?

To top it off, the this Silver Lake home is equipped with "Smart House" technology, allowing the owner to control light, sound, video and even the alarm system from their smart phone.

The front entry courtyard includes fire pit while the two decks along the back of the house provide for great views and indoor outdoor flow, perfect for entertaining. Don’t miss the bonus studio with its own separate entrance.

3007 Angus Street, Silver Lake, CA

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This Silver Lake contemporary home sits on a 7,666 square foot lot and is currently listed with Sotheby’s for $ $1,289,000. If you’d like to see the lovely re-do in person, give me a call and let me know what day and time works for you: (213) 215-4758. 

For more information on buying or selling property in For information on buying or selling property in  Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, and surrounding areas, contact me directly at 213-215-4758 or check out LApropertySolutions.com

Jenny Durling
Broker Associate
L.A. Property Solutions
213-215-4758
info@LApropertySolutions.com
LApropertySolutions.com

Copyright © 2012 By Jenny Durling * Silver Lake Contemporary Home Near Ivanhoe Elementary School*