Has Brady Bunch house fatigue set in yet?

Just to catch you up, the house used for the exteriors of The Brady Bunch tv show just sold in Studio City.  This has been all over the news and social media.  The house was listed at $1.8 million, and sold $3.5 million.  To HGtv.  Is it worth it?  Nope, nowhere near.  The house is right around the corner from me, and the resale homes around here usually sell for less than half that. And this is a two bedroom home, so it would normally sell for an even lower price.  There's just no accounting for taste and tv production companies that have unlimited budgets.

Favorite homes from today's Studio City caravan - warmth makes a comeback!

If you've been seeing homes for sale in Studio City and L.A. lately, you've surely seen many brand-new Cape Cod-style homes with lots of neutral finishes, white-on-white decorating, and a general starkness that seems to be the hallmark of the local r.e. market.

Are you ready for something different? I thought so. Both houses on today's fave list are in the traditional style that used to be so popular -- and I hope will be again.

The first, above, is 4167 Klump Ave. in the Woodbridge Park area of Studio City.  This great neighborhood features lots of mature foliage and one-of-a kind homes.  It is completely walkable to stores, restaurants and Tujunga Village.  The house itself has lots of warm traditional touches in its delightful public living spaces, but also has an open floor plan. It also has a green yard and guest house with full bath (total 4 beds, 4 baths, about 3k sf including the bonus sf).  It's listed at $1,249,000 and I bet it will be sold this weekend.

The next is 11212 Canton Drive, just east of Laurel Canyon Blvd.  Listed for $1,799,000, this house has 4 beds, 4 baths, about 3300 sf on a gorgeous, private, terraced lot.  The country-French interior charmed my pants off along with big sunny rooms and all the outside greenery.  It's on a quiet cul-de-sac and is really close to lots of hiking trails.  It's so refreshing to see lush, comfy decorating again.

Studio City on the cheap

Everybody thinks Studio City is really expensive.  Some of the homes are. Some of the stores and restaurants are.  But some aren’t, as well, and I’m here to tell you how to save your hard-earned pennies in our neighborhood.

1.     You can eat relatively cheaply at Jinya Ramen, Cactus Tacqueria, Henry’s Tacos, Lemonade, Spitz, and more. The food at these places is delicious and cheap.  Okay, the first four don’t serve alcohol, but there’s…

2.       $2 beers at Jinky’s ALL DAY! $3 for craft brews! Really, now you have died and gone to heaven, right? And the food at Jinky’s is good and not expensive either.

3.       Get a massage for as low as $25/hour. You know all of those massage places along Ventura Blvd? With the neon signs in the window? Most of them are legit! Some have you leave your clothes on, but the massage is just as good.  I am not going to name my favorite place but it says “foot massage” in the window, and is cute, clean and peaceful.  

4.       Shop for clothes. There are lots of really cute clothing shops here, both in Tujunga Village and on Ventura.  For deals, though, check out Crossroads Trading Co. As they say, “Whether you call it recycled, resale, vintage or thrift, we call it Fashion.”  Want something a little more upscale? Great Labels on Ventura is exactly that at a discount.

5.       Lots of free recreational opportunities. Studio City is close to some of the best hiking/walking trails in L.A.  The famous Runyon Canyon, of course, plus Fryman Canyon, the L.A. Reservoir (3.5 miles around), and my personal fave, the L.A. River walks.  

6.       Acres of free parking.  If you’re willing to walk a bit to your destination, the lots behind the Laurel Canyon and Ventura intersections are huge and free. Not all day, of course, but you can easily park for two hours there.

Okay, this should get you started with enjoying the Studio City community without spending a lot.  Have I left out anything? Please let me know, if so.

Best breakfast in Studio City -- by item

Who needs Yelp, eh? Let's all hop on the restaurant ratings bandwagon! Lately, I've been sampling various specific breakfast food items in my new hometown of Studio City.  I've come up with a not-so-definitive "best of" list by item for those of you that share my tastes. 

I select Jinky's on Colfax and Ventura for the best all-around egg-type breakfast.  Not only do they have many, many kinds of omelets and such, they also have quick service with a smile, celebrity spotting, a dog-friendly patio, and mimosas.  Coffee is a bit pricey but you get a whole pot.

Now on to the really carbohydrate-y stuff that we won't admit we eat:

French toast even better than Mom used to make can be found at Tujunga Village's Aroma.  This is dipped in the real egg batter stuff and is so rich that I dare you to finish an order.  It's even better than nearby foodie-fave Girasol's brunch French toast.  This is how I want to start my birthday day for the rest of my life.

Good old standby Du-Pars has the best regular pancakes (pictured above).  Light, fluffy, and scrumptious, the order is so large that you'll want to share these (or maybe not).  The parking lot there at Laurel and Ventura is a bit tricky, so go early.

What is it about banana pancakes? I don't know, but I crave these when the bananas are cooked in the batter, not just laid on top.  Vivian's on Ventura, close to Vineland does a wonderful job on these noms (pictured above), and their patio is delightful as well.  The other breakfast items are good, too, although they are a bit chintzy on the toast.

Yes, my weight is up 5 lbs from last year when I moved.  Please feel free to comment, or add other faves.

11485 Moorpark #17, Studio City, is now on the market

Do you want an affordable townhouse in the Tujunga Village neighborhood of Studio City? Wanna live within 3 blocks of Aroma Cafe (below), Vitellos or Girasol? (Yay! Never circle for parking again!) Here's your chance.  This 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse has just listed for $399,000.  It features a front exposure, two balconies, washer/dryer hookups, security building, new paint, new carpet, laminate downstairs, fireplace, lots of closet space, pool and gym.  The HOA is incredibly low -- $225/month -- and includes earthquake insurance.  And of course the complex allows pets. Come visit me and the stalwart Steve Fisher there at this Sunday's (9/21) open house from 2 to 5 pm.

Studio City's Tujunga Village Aroma Cafe Haiku

Oh Aroma Cafe

Your baked goods

Torment me

Something that you would not expect to find growing in Studio City: blueberries!

Who knew? Along with citrus fruit, pot pomegranates and figs, blueberries can grow in Studio City.  The beauties on this tart were grown by my Tujunga Village/Woodbridge Park.  He harvested four gallons from one bush this year.  If you would like to plant a blueberry bush, my neighbor tells me that you will need to put a net over the bush or birds will do the harvesting for you.

Gourmet in Studio City's Tujunga Village/Woodbridge Park area: Girasol

I met a friend here at Girasol, in my new neighborhood, for a glass of wine last night (they only have wine).  We met when the restaurant opened at 6:00.  By 6:15, it was full.  Did we eat? No, but with that kind of crowd, it has to be good.  It's really the only restaurant in the Tujunga Village area besides Vitello's that offers a high-end restaurant experience.  I'll report back once I actually eat there -- if we can even get a reservation.

News of the week: Tacos, government regulation, 737 N. Catalina, and mortgage lending

Say it ain't so: the much-beloved Henry's Tacos in Studio City/Tujunga Village may have to close! Nooooo! Apparently, the landlord wants to do something else with the property.  There will be a taco eat-in on Sunday to protest and we'll be there.

Seen 737 N. Catalina in Burbank yet? The adorable, unspoiled 2+1 for $425,000? It's not my listing, but I'm taking bets on how many offers it will receive.  I showed it last night, and there were so many other showings around the same time that it was like an open house.

Government regulation or lack thereof: the Department of Real Estate in California is going away next year.  Instead, regulatory matters and law enforcement will be handled by a new branch of the California Consumer Affairs division.  I don't know how this will work, but the DRE was understaffed, so perhaps this will be an improvement.

Learned today: Forget getting credits through escrow for repairs on the house you're buying.  If the house needs repairs, and you're getting a loan, your lender may require the repairs to be made before close of escrow by the seller.  Yup, they're tightening up on that, too.

Henry's Tacos in Tujunga Village

Have you ever wondered about Henry's Tacos, that little taco stand on the corner of Tujunga and Moorpark? It's been there forever and is almost always crowded.  Gotta be good, right? Who here in the L.A. area doesn't love a good taco? I've been spending a lot of time in Tujunga Village lately, so the husband and I checked Henry's out a couple of weekends ago.  We both ordered soft tacos; there's only one kind of meat filling available: ground beef. Hmm.

Pluses: clean, cheap.  The cheap part alone is fabulous.

Minuses: Really ordinary.  The food tasted like what you get at Taco Bell.  The soft taco came wrapped in a flour (not corn) tortilla, with iceburg lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, and really ordinary ground beef. Ordinary hot sauce, too.

So, Henry's fans, please tell me what I should order next time and why this is such a popular place.

But wait! There's more! on the Studio City open house: it has just been reduced by $50k!

I've previously posted about this lovely traditional at 4209 Fair in Studio City.  I'll be holding it open on Sunday, May 8, from 2 to 5.  It's a 3+2 with pre-war charm and 21st century updates, and is in pristine condition. Not to gush, but...features include hardwood floors, crown moldings, sunny exposure, a/c, an entertainers' deck off both the kitchen and the master bedroom, updated kitchen and baths, built-ins, copper plumbing, detached garage, lots of storage and lots of greenery, plus a great location near Tujunga Village.  And best of all, it has just been reduced by $50k to $699,000.  This makes it one of the best deals in Studio City.  Can you tell that I'd like to live there?

We leave the 'hood for meals

 Yesterday, after my open house at 4552 Morse in Studio City, my husband and I ate at one of my favorite places -- Laurel Tavern in Studio City.  And then, after burgers and brews, we got some gelato in Tujunga Village.  (Yes, we can really pack it away.) And today, after running another real estate-related errand, we had a great brunch in Silverlake at Dusty's Bistro.  It would be really great to have these kind of places where we live in Burbank, although Tony's Darts Away is a good start on the gastropub trend.

Okay, this is less about real estate and more about restaurants and the crowds they draw.  Crowd in Studio City: Young to middle aged, but it was early.  Everybody seemed friendly, and deeply engaged in  conversation.  Extremely casual, but in a moneyed way.  And boob jobs. 

Later, on the street in front of the Tujunga Village gelato place, we saw a guy masturbating a girl with a red wallet/clutch.  Outside of her clothes.  They were trying to be discreet, but.  No, I am NOT kidding.  I do not know if they'd just eaten gelato. 

Crowd for brunch in Silverlake:  Really young to not-quite middle-aged -- hipster babies and their tatted-up moms and dads.  And a lot of people who looked like they just rolled out of bed (it was late morning, after all).  Messy hair and porkpie hats, but again in a moneyed way.  Needless to say, we were NOT the coolest people in the room.  Anyway, the food was great there and I can't wait to go back.

Emerging neighborhoods by Los Angeles Magazine

Los Angeles Magazine interviewed me today for an upcoming real estate story about emerging neighborhoods in the area. Unfortunately, much of what I said won't be for attribution. However, here are some of the wheres and whys that we discussed:

• Magnolia Park in Burbank for good price points and excellent schools;


• Porter Ranch for brand new homes and decent prices;


• Shadow Hills for proximity to mountain trails and equestrian property;


• Studio City/Tujunga Village for great housing stock, Carpenter School and easy commutes;


• Arleta for decent housing stock at low prices;


• Adams Hill in Glendale for views; and


• South Pasadena and Linda Vista for all-around lovely neighborhoods.
  

The World Is Your Litter Box at Trinkets & Treasures

Trinkets & Treasures, a very cool jewelry/accessory/gift shop in Studio City's Tujunga Village, hosted a signing for my husband's book on Saturday. The book is called The World Is Your Litter Box and it's a hysterically funny how-to manual for cats, by Steve's cat Quasi. We sold quite a few books and got to hang out in this great area for awhile. Thanks to Linda, Suzanne and staff of T&T for making this such a success. The book is available at book stores everywhere and also on Amazon.