Who doesn’t need more shoes?

Who doesn’t want to help out the Haitians?

Decadestwo located at 8214 Melrose Ave is holding one of their bi-annual gently-worn and/or new shoe sales of the year on Saturday January 30th, from 9 am to 6pm. Decadestwo and actress Garcelle Beauvais along with Artists for Peace and Justice teamed together to afford this sale to benefit charity. Garcelle along with her celebrity friends are raiding their closets for shoes and clothing to be offered during the Saturday Sale with 100% of their proceeds going to Artists for Peace and Justice. A portion of the proceeds from the general shoe sale will also be put towards the charity.     


On a personal note, get their early. The gently-worn shoes go fast and the prices of the other shoes are equal to those of department store sales. Still, they offer Louboutin, Lanvin, Alaia, Gucci, among many other designers at discounted prices and who can say no to that?

I do not.

 

And this was made painfully obvious after I failed Home Economics. I'm not sure if my failing grade had to do with a pair of shorts without leg holes or the small fire.

 

Still, if you have golden fingers or a sewing machine or a tailor, you need to stop by Bella Fabrics.

 

Bella Fabrics

8350 Beverly Boulevard 

Los Angeles, CA 90048

(323) 655-8686

 

Several months ago, I was walking to my car from a brunch at King's Café on Beverly. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me as I spotted a McQueen skull in the window and I was neither on Melrose or Orlando. They carry different designer fabrics from Pucci to McQueen and sometimes even Chanel. A quick warning, it isn't cheap. I paid $50 a yard for the McQueen skull but when comparing the price tag of a McQueen t-shirt, it’s a steal.

 

Is this illegal? Maybe, but let’s live dangerously.

 

A 1920’s pistachio colored house nestled in a private corner on Genesee and Fountain Avenue looks like any ordinary house… until one enters the door. Upon taking your first steps inside you will find that this U-shaped house harbors art, fashion, furniture, and events in every room and the exterior. Family run, the Artigas from Mexico City have truly turned “a house that is not a home” into a gathering place for the former. Alejandro Artigas, the eldest and the architect of the family remodeled the house and landscaping for a warm, welcoming and peaceful disposition. His furniture can be found sprinkled through out the house with strong lines in sturdy woods. Teresita Artigas heads the daily operation while Gabriela Artigas’s jewelry line and scarves are showcased throughout the house. www.gabrielaartigas.com

In addition to the Artigas’s talents on display, they also showcase several designers and artists:

 

Carla Fernandez

www.flora2.com

Inspired by the Mexican Revolution of 1910 with production done by Mexican artisans and craftsmen, her look book is a visage of designs that are bold, geometric in nature, and unique.

 

Zan Zan eyewear

www.zanzan.co.uk 

Limited edition eyewear with flairs of vintage, handmade in the Jura Valley in France by third generation artisans – a face cannot go wrong.

 

Trista

http://www.aliciamelodiosa.com/

Inspired by the photographer, Evgen Bachcar – their current collection was awarded “Best Female Collection” in Mexico’s fashion week.

 

CLAE

www.clae.com

Breathing life into classic styles of footwear with athletic and dress undertones for men.

 

And many more…

 

 Paella was served a couple Saturdays ago, while yoga classes occur every Saturday in the garden at 10 a.m. Their sense of community and act of combining art with fashion is refreshing in times where people get caught up in the obsession of the mainstream. A “house that is not a home” but still one feels a sense of community, quite the opposite of stuffy showrooms where you feel as if you touch anything you would be reprimanded like a child.

  (Photos from Melissa Keller and www.houseongenesee.com)

 

The Artigas invite you in, ask you to stay and serve you lunch on certain days or by appointment. The feeling is always welcome and the fashion and art is always original. Open Tuesday thru Sunday, 11-7 (Monday by appointment) you must check out this Angeleno gem. 1300 N. Genesee Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046 (323) 845-9821 www.houseongenesee.com

 

 

As my one girlfriend has said myraid times I am only Asian when it benefits me. I was Asian when I applied to college. I am Asian when a hot man has an Asian fetish. And I am certainly Asian on my wedding day because I just found out Asians get massive amounts of cash when they get married. Sweeping generalization? Maybe but you can send the checks to...

Before living in Los Angeles, I had never paid older Asian women wearing lingerie to scrub my naked body. It was always done for free.

My introduction to Korean spas was life changing. Although I don’t go as often as I’d like and when I do there will always be a comment from one of the scrubbers re: me not understanding Korean - a scrub can make my skin feel like a newborn. Our usual routine: Soak in hot tubs and cold baths with some steam room or dry heat about thirty minutes before your scrub. The scrub lasts about thirty to forty-five minutes, longer with the massage but I tend to skip the massage as they are a little too rough for my taste. After your scrub you get the urge to rub up against anything and anyone that can feel your silky smoothness… which can be dangerous.

We rotate between two spas but prefer Natura. Natura closes around 10 or 11 in the evening depending on the day. Their scrub is $30 with a $20 admission for a total of $50. Their scrub with massage is $80 and the admission is waived.

Grand spa is open 24 hours. Their scrubs are also $30 with an admission fee of $15 or $20 depending on the time of the day. Their scrub with a massage is $70 and the admission is waived.


There are other Korean spas but through experience and word of mouth, these seem to be the cleanest. Voda Spa is West Hollywood’s Russian version of a Korean Spa. I have been to Voda twice but their prices are double, sometimes triple that of the Koreans’. Their scrubs tend to be a little softer, which to me, defeats the point. The positive thing about Voda is that they have co-ed days and nights, swimsuit required - so you and your lover can soak, steam and get scrubbed together. How lovely.

As I re-read my last post, I think it's quite clear I am a miserable failure. Don't get in any more bar fights. New Year's Day at about 1 a.m. proved this resolution to be too difficult for me to accomplish but in my defense it was the ghetto bitch's fault and I hope her and her family perish in a fire.

And for the rest, well I have been naughty but there is always next year!

I started out my new year with some more traveling. Unfortunately due to a delinquent setting his penis on fire, there seems to be more restrictions. These restrictions have been deemed "unpredictable", similar to the miniature toys you get in the hollow chocolate Kinder eggs - You never know what you are going to get.

But my amazing girlfriend saved the day and gifted me Lisa Hoffman Travel Spa Bath, Facial and Shower packettes. These cute kits come with airtight ampoules containing cleansing gel, body scrubs, body creams, and facial products. It's perfect for traveling or the gym and it doesn't look like an explosive or a bomb!


As always, you can order online at her site, here.

Her products also can be found at: