Louis XIV from Marty Bower on Vimeo.

…about The Critter’s first trip to Lacma – for now check out my contraband photos of the new Contemporary exhibit on my Twitter page…

I remember seeing the opening of this shop in the Beverly Hills Courier. I thought – that woman thinks about chocolate the same way I think about design! I never walk down Canon Drive between Dayton and Wilshire – it’s not on my usual route, but The Critter and I happened to be in that area. I had walked quite a few blocks in the HOT HOT sun that day, I let out an audible “ooohhh – what’s in here?” when I came upon this factory / boutique. I delightedly swung the BOB into the bell festooned door. Fancily decorated with an indulgently large French chandelier smack in the middle of the place, Madame Chocolat is definitely for those who like their chocolate served up with a little glamour. As she served me a caramel bonbon on a tiny silver tray, Chocolatier Hasty Torres’ Mom informed me of the quality and unique character of each candy. After one bite, I chose a few more, and now Madam Chocolat is one of my addictions. I may even have a birthday party there for my addict friends!

Just in – new pic of the Luau. I was only allowed to photograph the changes to the facade, but I did get to look inside, and let’s just say that Ms Rodkin , true to her jewelry design background, is bringing on the shimmer and sheen – it will be a verrry flattering place to dine, even if Mako doesn’t put out good food, but it seems to me that he’s a perfect match for the updated cuisine.

While I was investigating the current state of things, I met Bamboo Ben(be sure to scroll down to see the “after”). I was curious about what material was used for the grassy roof, and he says he uses a nonflammable synthetic thatch that is made of plastic and recycled wood materials. It is okay in the rain and it won’t burn! All natural bamboo surrounds the patio; iron castings around the entry.

More later!

It was very busy in the triangle this afternoon! I spotted Sherry Stringfield at Rite Aid, Jaclyn Smith on Brighton leaving Chanel, and Weston Coppola-Cage with his mom on Canon.

You don’t come to me for the hottest and newest – I know, I’m more about nostalgia and culture personality than TMZ. But this post has a bit of both. I stroll the Critter all over the Beverly Hills triangle about three times a week to do errands. One of the very first posts of this blog mentioned Colours Restaurant, that was open for a brief time on Bedford. It has closed and is due to reopen shortly as the Luau Restaurant in its place. I have taken a couple of photos as it looks when I stroll past it. Apparently the owner is Andy Hewitt, the chef will be Chef Mako and Loree Rodkin is doing the interiors. Adding to the appeal is the inspiration – the original Luau Restaurant which was on Rodeo. Note the difference in the style in the photo I found at critiki. I predict it will be a huge hit – I appears that Rodkin is using a more refined urban nod to the old Tiki style. I’ll try to sneak a few more photos this week!

I take photos all the time and just can’t blog every one of them. So above you have in no particular order photos from the summer. Mouse over the pics for the captions…Enjoy!

…when our toddling critters were tiny babies. This is Kit, hanging in the atelier, watching her little Stella Frances play with my critter. What’s funny, you ask? Look at Louis xiv’s face and the object in front of Kit, of which she is completely unaware.

Oh by the way – Kit works on the Chelsea Handler show, which is super hot these days. Her little love nugget Chuy was a guest at Stella Frances’ first birthday, along with Big Bird.

…I called my fabulous mommy friend from Baby Class Dr Leila the day after I saw the last MDL episode. Turns out her first cousin is Roya, the very lovely and civilized wife in the clients of Josh who purchased the house on Walden.

So I don’t know what makes me more furious – that my camera accidentally went to the beach with the Husband and the Critter, sabotaging my intended post about the new Luau Restaurant on Bedford, (I talked up the contractor and they let me take pics of it while it’s still under construction), OR that my cell phone wouldn’t let me twitter to y’all a picture of the worst hair extensions I’ve ever seen in my life, or Pat Boone in his giant old gold Rolls Royce cruising down Canon Drive in the triangle, or the (finally) fabulous new dress in the Neiman’s window on the corner of Roxbury. So I am surrendering to more MDL guilty pleasure which I can justify ONLY because it has houses that may show some interesting interiors. Seriously, you shouldn’t get me started…

Last we left the children of the corn that are the movers and shakers of high end real estate, Chad had asked his girlfriend to move in, Josh had worked a sale out of dust with a house that was seized by the feds, and Madison had a new assistant and a blind date. I was seriously concerned about the former, but fortunately the girlfriend nipped it in the bud, and later confessed to a friend that she was worried that she couldn’t live up to Chad’s obsessive compulsive need to organize and contain everything into ziploc storage bags. The evidence she displayed was an array of items from her fabulous enormous handbag that he had captured in plastic. Proven beyond a doubt that he had OCD was the clip of his packing for his business trip to Vegas, with three sizes of bags, he manages to zip up everything INDIVIDUALLY in a bag. Hairdryer in one. Hair brush in another. Hasn’t he heard that we’re trying not to consume so much plastic? He must go through a few boxes of each size a week!

Madison, to my mind, is the least neurotic of the three, but honestly, who’s he kidding by telling his ex-girlfriend that he still may hold a torch for her. He isn’t in the closet; he says that he can be with a man or a woman. The ex just looks at him blankly, as if to say “because, Dude, you’re gay”. Less gentle with her advice is his gal pal who visits him while he’s waiting for a house inspection in her neighborhood. She flat out tells him that he’s pretending he’s still straight by still wanting the ex girlfriend and in so many words does two snaps and stalks off to her house, done with that.

And there’s Josh. I really can’t fault him for jumping on listing the house of his grandmother’s friend who died. A seven million dollar house on Walden in the flats of Beverly Hills. I would never have had the gall to make a call to a family who hadn’t yet buried their dearly departed, but Josh did. And got the sale. And made a deal before it was ever shown in the Caravan. To the nicest people ever, who would write a counter offer on a scrap of yellow legal paper below the counter to their counter, etcetera. Josh dutifully stuck to this way of negotiation suggested by, of course, his grandmother. The sellers remained anonymous and sat across the hall. Josh backed out of each room, passed the paper on until an agreement was made. I really think he made this deal just by keeping his mouth shut. I could take a lesson.

So please – watch the show.

I guess I have to add the “Addiction” category to Million Dollar Listing. I would love to know your thoughts – again please add your comment! I really do want to know what you enjoy reading and clicking.