Ying Jow Pai means the Eagle Claw style of Kung Fu, which is a martial arts form developed in China over 3000 years ago.   Master Benson Lee has studied this form for over 30 years and recently opened this school at 2425 Honolulu Ave, Montrose.  I saw the Opening Soon sign and, “pow”, signed right up.

It has been about one month and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Classes are pretty challenging, but a lot of fun.  The teaching is clear and all movements are broken down into small, simple steps.   The studio is large, clean and completely lacking in that stale sweat smell common in other studios I have visited.  I also appreciate the complete lack of “competitive” pressure (read, no chest bumping testosterone filled ickiness).  I think anyone who has had even a tickle of an interest in Kung Fu should check out this new school.  You could not find a less intimidating place to learn martial arts!

Today Si-hing, Tov (Si-Hing means teacher) and Si-fu (Si-fu means Master) Lee staged a demonstration and I thought you would like to see a little bit. It is truly a treat.

Si-Hing, Tov

Master Lee

My magic elves (known to my clients as Stan and Liza) and I are hard at work getting 720 Pleasant View ready for launch this weekend.  The stagers are staging, I am writing my flowery ad copy and Stan is prepping for the photo shoot.  Liza?  She is doing everything else.  You know how Liza is- pure gold.

This is a priced to fly home with 3 beds, gourmet kitchen, updated baths, huge bright family room, perfectly appointed yard and prestigious location just outside the Ard Eevin Highlands.  Listed at only $765,000 for 2100 nearly perfect square feet.  I will hold it open this Sunday, Sept 5 from 2-5 PM

As soon as this smokin' hot deal gets it's close up I'll rip off the curtain and go public.  Until then, this sneak peak will have to do…

Posted via email from Glendale, La Crescenta, La Canada and Above

‎1535 Cleveland is an outstanding opportunity! &799 for a huge house on a 15k lot. Needs work, natch, but what a location!

Posted via email from Glendale, La Crescenta, La Canada and Above

Sounds like a fun evening with Indian Dancing  (will it be Bollywood?  I adore Bollywood!), gourmet food trucks, music and henna artists.  Sounds like fun!

Because I am that much of a nerd, I bring you Bollywood, “So You Think You Can Dance” style

This “don’t blink or you’ll miss it” hole in the wall combines a whole bunch of favorite things in one delicious place.  A few items, cooked really well.  A clean and unpretentious space.  Friendly service (even if the English is a bit broken).  Reasonable prices.  Tasty.  What more do I need to say?

Now, if you are not familiar with Korean food, a few tips.  If it is really red, it is probably as hot as it looks.  But, it is a sweet sort of hotness and it really grows on you.  There are pictures on the wall of all the items they serve.  The English descriptions on the menu are helpful, but the pictures really tell it all.

It is customary to serve several small plates at the start of every meal.  These are included in the price of the meal and are pre-selected by the chef.  In my opinion, these small plates are the point of the meal!  There is a near endless variety and the flavors are generally pretty intense and very interesting- in a good way.

My carniverous family loves the Korean BBQ short ribs (Kalbi) which we eat with lots of kimchee and rice.  There is also bee bim bop – sort of like a rice salad ( I think I love to eat it because I love to say it) and son tofu soup- a rich beefy broth redolent with red hot chiles and fresh, soft tofu.  They serve it so hot the bowl snaps and bubbles like Dante’s Inferno.

It is way past time to “do the numbers”.

Northwest Glendale is doing mighty fine this year, Chilluns!  Last year, this time, we had closed 102 transactions for single family homes.  This year it is 112,  for a 9% increase in volume.

Distressed sales continue to make the headlines, and we certainly have our share.   15% of the sales this year were short sales and 16% were foreclosed (REO) sales.  This means total of 31% of the sales in Northwest Glendale are distressed and this, my darlings, is a sobering number.  Interestingly, the distressed sales were NOT confined to the lower end of the price spectrum.  About 70% were under $550,000 and the rest were above- including a foreclosure at $1,500,000 and a short sale at $1,100,000.

Overall we tend to sell our Northwest Glendale homes close to the list price.  Year to date, our homes sold for 97% of the list price.  The smaller homes, interestingly, sold for LESS, only 96% of the list price, while the larger homes sold for 99% of the list price.  This supports my observation that today’s buyers are really focused on value (read: BIG).  A “done to the nines” little cottage is less attractive to the buyers than a humongous wreck that is bank owned.

Right now we have a big surge in number of homes on the market while, at the same time, the number of closed sales (per month) has dropped dramatically.  This means that anyone who is considering selling in the forth quarter of this year needs to be extremely smart.  The buyers are value conscious and scared to death.  The good news, however, is they want to buy!!  If your sales strategy is geared to take advantage of this- you will be in your new home for the holidays!

Oh, joy.  Oh, bliss.  Oh, gratitude to the teachers, we love you!

Indeed, Welcome Back.  (Is anyone else humming the theme song to “Welcome Back Kotter?”)

Let’s start with appetizers.  We started with excellent Italian Salami and cracked green olives from Mario’s, a hunk of savory Parmigiana Reggiano and Brie from Trader Joe’s and Quince Paste from Rincon’s.

We grilled steaks and chicken from Von’s, and made Cesar Potato Salad with Snap Peas, Watermelon, Mint and Red Onion Salad and a Baby Greens Salad with Baby Tomatoes with produce from Super King and Trader Joe’s.  Oh, and I made a Plum Tart with plums and butter from Super King.

Was it good?  Well, take a look- they all look pretty happy…

This is Rene. She’s the owner and the creative inspiration. Isn’t she cute?

Pattye’s Closet is jammed full of interesting trinkets, odd and interesting curios and lots and lots of vintage garments and accessories.  I had only the briefest of moments to browse (the teenage natives were very restless) but it seemed to weigh heavily on the glamor days of the 40’s and 50’s.  Think Madmen with a Silverlake vibe. (Hello, Mr. Draper….)

The prices struck me as very reasonable.  I walked away with a very fetching hat- it appears new, wide brimmed with silk organza trim, just $17.  This will be my next “calling on my peeps” chapeau!

There is a stunning gown in the window- cut down to here, and up to there.   It makes me think of Marilyn Monroe in “How to Catch a Millionaire”.  If only I had a soiree to attend!!!

In today’s interesting economic times, Pattye’s Closet is a real treasure.  You are shopping local (always a good thing) and saving a bundle on unique style.  I think you need to go shopping!

Located on Broadway just off Glendale Ave., Mario’s is practically a Glendale institution.  It has been in the same location and looked exactly the same, inside and out, for my entire life.

In my day the Meatball Sub was the must have sandwich, but everyone has their favorites.  Here are some quotes from Mario’s fans:

My favorite is the cold roast beef. extra onions and sauce please.

Egg Salad or the Coppa Secca.

I really like the combo cold sub

The sandwiches are amazing, my personal favorite is a custom: capicolla, spicy sopressata, imported mortadella (you gotta have the pistachios!), provologne with all the veggies, mustard, no mayo and no center bread. Side that samich with a few olives, or marinated shrooms, or pepper shooters (marinated cherry peppers stuffed with a chunk of provologne wrapped in prosciutto) and you are good to go!

Ordered the S.O.B. and I must say it is aptly named.  Double Decker sub loaded with Boar’s Head salami, thinly sliced oven-roasted chicken, and a crap load of veggies, it was heavenly for someone who was starved after missing breakfast.

Are you hungry, yet? The grocery store is also amazing.