Atwater Village is for Lovers

Election season

Last night was first candidates' information meeting for the upcoming Atwater Village Neighborhood Council elections. I've decided to put my money where my mouth is and declare my candidacy for a seat, representing North Atwater. It was a really interesting and informative meeting, led by Stephen Box, and attended by many of the candidates, some current representatives, and the independent election board.

My father is in city politics back home in North Dakota, and I'm really looking forward to picking his enormous brain. I've wanted to get involved in government for as long as I can remember, but never really had the opportunity. Plus, I never felt so strongly about a neighborhood, in all the places I've lived, than I do for Atwater. I see an incredible foundation here, upon which we can build more opportunity.

I'm excited! Even if I don't win, I know this will be a great experience.

In other news, I finally went into Woof! Dog Boutique yesterday with Little Miss Molly Malone. The owner, Diane, is a terrific gal who really took a shining to wee Mols. Mols was very busy checking out Diane's wares, and came away from the store with some salve to aid her overwhelming itchies and a new squeeky toy. It's a beautiful store - great for gifts for friends with pets!

Branching out into Echo Park, I have to very highly recommend The K9 Loft, which is a brand spanking new doggie day care, grooming, and boarding facility right here in NELA (NorthEast LA - shall we start introducing this into the lexicon? I mean, when I first moved to NYC, there was no such thing as NoLita. We just said it enough until people bought it.).

K9 Loft did a gorgeous job grooming my little Scottie pup, and their facilities are second-to-none. They have a vet on staff, a large indoor pen for playing, a smaller pen for smaller dogs, individual large crates for puppies and older pups and sleeping time, and a big backyard for romping. Their prices are pretty competitive, too. The staff was friendly and accomodating. Lovely!

OMG OMG OMG

Things are really looking up for Old Atwater Village, I'd say.

I just got home from nearly three weeks in Edinburgh, Scotland, doing a couple shows at the Fringe. Wonderful experience, but I was surely glad to arrive back *home* in Atwater Village.

It took four years, the purchase of my condo, and a marriage proposal from Himself (squeeee!!) for me to even consider calling LA home.

Now, on to the awesome Atwater Village news:

Firstly, an adorable new boutique has opened up on Glendale Blvd, called Amelia Fitzwater. They call themselves a "retro gift boutique," and from what I saw peeking in the window early yesterday morning after getting a delish cuppa from Kaldi Coffee, this will be my go-to giftery. You can read more about them at the Friends of Atwater Village blog.

My ass-draggingly exhausting jet lag woke me up this morning at five a.m. Despite my best efforts to get back on a regular schedule, I fell asleep last night around nine p.m., my belly full of yummerly goodness from The Red Lion in Silver Lake. So, strolling through the 'net this very early morning, trying not to disturb Himself, I thought I'd check in with my favorite little yarn store in the world, The Little Knittery, on Franklin Ave, in our neighboring Los Feliz.

Well, wouldn't you know it, since things are really looking up for Old Atwater Village, The Little Knittery is moving right here! To Old Atwater Village! For the four or five of you who read this, one of you must be crafty. That one of you must check out the Little Knittery. The gals who work there are supe dupes sweet and helpful, they have an incredible selection of seriously gorgeous yarns, including many alternative fiber, organic, sustainable, and earth-friendly brands, they have beginner classes and advanced classes, and they are going to be an amazing addition to our little community!

Let's hear it for independent merchants! Huzzah! Small business! Huzzah!

Incidentally, if you have the urge to read my rarely updated and kind of boring blog about cooking and knitting and crochet, as I attempt to get wicked good at all three, check out Butter and Whiskey. I promise from this point on to be more consistent about posting patterns and recipes, and wil also start including pics of my projects. Otherwise it's just booooorrrring.

Yay Atwater!

aahhh...dtox....

After a long drive up to San Francisco, and then a long drive down from San Francisco, I found myself with three spasms in my back. Right neck, left shoulder blade, right hip. Like an elderly person, but worse. So, I decided to treat myself to a massage at Dtox, our incredible day spa here in beautiful Atwater Village.

I've been to some pretty amazing day spas in my day, being a New Yorker and all. Bliss, Origins, that weird one off of Fifth and, like, 17th St, blah blah blah. But hands down, Dtox is the best spa I've ever been to.

Best Massage Ever

Best Facial Ever

Also, the Dtox brand face wash and zit zapper are absolutely the very best I've ever used.

I don't know why I'm personally so proud that this spa is in my little neighborhood, or that I can walk there, but I am. So there.

For love of Indochine

Ah, Indochine. How I love thee. So deeply. Even though I only get one thing every time I go there, or order take out from there, it's kind of my favorite dinner or lunch in the world. I always order the Pho Tai, a "fragrant beef broth with rice noodles and slivers of rare steak." It's so much food for so little money, and I keep sipping and noodling at it for days.

Molly Malone, the Scottish terrier who runs this little house in Atwater Village, told me that she loves Indochine because I always share some of the slivers of rare steak with her.

My fiancé always orders the "special," which is a bun dish - tons of noodles and veggies and rare steak. I don't know why it's the special, since it's available every day, and I'm not going to quibble. Turns out Molly Malone is quite fond of Vermicelli noodles as well. She said.

We had dinner at Asia on Los Feliz last night. I just can't get enough of that place. It's too expensive to make eating there a regular habit, but since my fiancé left for New York this morning and I leave for Edinburgh in five days, so we won't see each other for almost a month, we thought we'd splurge. So worth it. The service is so friendly, and I always think about the food for at least a week after I eat there.