Iconic LA hotel

Guest blog post by Leslie Nestor Miranda. Cici and I met Leslie and his lovely dog Lilly last year when we went on a press trip to San Luis Obispbo. Leslie is an outstanding photographer of the traveling kind. And he has worked for Wall Street Journal Online, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor Magazine and many others.  (Note: all of the photos below by Leslie Nestor Miranda). 

“I’ve been designed to capture time and moments with a camera.  I foresee the outcome to better understand and appreciate the present.”

Many moons ago, I (CS), lived right on Normandie (around Normandie and 3rd). The neighborhood has changed a lot but I still remember the sign of this historic hotel. I wanted to live near my job for the City of Los Angeles (downtown) and the apartment I lived in there fit the bill. It was spacious, relatively inexpensive and located within minutes of downtown.

An Icon in Los Angeles

The historic beacon of the Wilshire Center/Koreatown neighborhood, the pet friendly Hotel Normandie, has been in continuous operation since 1926. It now has entered a multi-million dollar restoration period that will bring the 20^th century landmark well into the 21^st century.

General Manager Luke Knowles loves to discuss the history of the hotel.  This brick building has established itself as an icon in Los Angeles. It is located on Normandie and 6^th Street and designed and built by famed architects Walker and Eisen, who also designed such architectural treasures as the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills and the Fine Arts Building in downtown Los Angeles.

The boutique hotel has seen over eight decades of personalities such as English author Malcolm Lowry, one of the hotels most famous residents, who worked on his masterpiece novel “Under the Volcano” while living there in the late 1930’s.

New owner Jingbo Lou, a Pasadena architect and preservationist, and his partner Niall Kelly are restoring the 100-room Renaissance Revival exterior and its Spanish Revival interior, to its rightful glory.

They uncovered a grand fireplace that was covered for years but now  xxx  as you enter the lobby.  The terrazzo floor in the lobby and the hardwood floors in the guest rooms have also been restored.

While L.A. has the nation’s largest Korean population and Koreans make up the largest nationality in the neighborhood (22%,according to demographic analysis) most of the residents of Koreatown are Latino: 58%. But you can also find Bangladeshi, Brazilian, Vietnamese, Pakistani and South American residents, businesses and eateries in the area.  Koreatown is west of downtown and south of Hollywood and is considered part of the Mid-Wilshire district.

The neighborhood is mostly residential after Wilshire and 6th Street. There are lots of Korean BBQ restaurants, coffee shops on Wilshire, Asian markets on 6th Street and local Korean bars and karaoke.

This pet friendly hotel offers amenities for pets such as doggie beds, treats, and bowls.

Pets are not allowed in the breakfast or lounge area with the exception of certified service animals, there is a $50 non-refundable pet charge per stay (unless you change rooms).   All pets must be kept on a leash at all times when in common or public areas.

In July, the historic Cassell’s Hamburgers featuring Prime Beef burgers will be reopening in the building’s 6^th Street corner.

Visit the website at http://www.hotelnormandiela.com  for special discounts and an option to purchase an Advanced Purchase sale.

Pet friendly dining in the area now includes:

Beer Belly: you can relax in front of the craft beer bar with your dog, leash in one hand, nice craft brew in the other. And while your pup probably won’t be too interested in your pint, best keep an eye on those duck fat fries. 532 S. Western Ave., L.A.; (213) 387-2337.

Toe Bang

Chapman Plaza

3465 W 6th St, Ste 110 Los Angeles, CA 90020 Koreatown, Wilshire Center  (213) 387-4905

Wiches On Wilshire

3800 Wilshire Boulevard #110b, Los Angeles, CA 90010.  (213) 389-3656

Seoul Sausage

Winners of The Great Food Truck Race season 3, 

11313 Mississippi Ave. , Los Angeles, CA 90025

http://www.seoulsausage.com/

Haus is a popular Korean Cafe located on 6th and Serrano.  Pros: Free wifi, big food menu, great service, dog friendly.  3826 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020, (213) 388-5311

Dog parks, there are none in Koreatown

but Beverly Hills does not have one either (they are in the process of having one though)

the city’s very first dog romping zone on a city-owned lot at the southeast corner of Foothill Road and Alden Drive

Some places that have parks and/or dog parks that you probably want to visit anyway include:

Silver Lake Dog Park

323.644.3946 

The recreation center is located on Silver Lake Dr, while the dog park is located on Silver Lake Blvd. near the center and southern tip of the resevoir.

GRIFFITH PARK DOG PARK

Located at north end of the John Ferraro Soccer Field on North Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027   Off-leash dog park.

 (323) 913-4688

Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits:

5801 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(213) 763-3499

there is a park but not specifically a dog park

a nice place to hang out with your dog on a Saturday morning to have a picnic or maybe just a good romp in the grass, The La Brea Tar Pits are adjacent to the LACMA in Mid-Wilshire and its a big park. You can walk your dog through the park, play fetch or people watch.

Hancock Park

 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036

 (323) 934-7243

 

Six Tips for Moving Fido

6 Tips for Moving Fido Across Town or Across the Country

 Guest blog post…David Shapiro (see bio below) 

If you are making a move – whether across town or across the country – there’s a lot to think about, and it can be even more stressful when you consider how your dog will handle it. As you pack and prepare for the move, most dogs will sense something is changing but they won’t understand what is going on until moving day arrives. Dogs are highly sensitive to their surroundings and what you consider “home” means even more to them – because it’s their territory. But even though moving may be stressful for dogs, there are still steps you can take to make the move as smooth as possible for your pets.

 

Across Town

If you’re moving to another neighborhood within the same city, follow these tips to help your dog(s) adjust to their new surroundings:

 

1.       Take him for walks in the new neighborhood before the move. Dogs can

become more anxious when they are in a new location, wanting to sniff and inspect everything. Some are intimidated by new surroundings, so walking on a leash with you there will make them feel more secure. Make frequent trips to your new neighborhood if possible so your dog will feel safe and comfortable with his or her new home.

2.       Transport your dog separately. On moving day, ask a friend or family member to watch Fido for you so you can turn your full attention to the moving process. Once the movers leave your new home and the commotion has ceased, bring your dog over to inspect his new territory. Walk him on the leash so he feels secure during his grand tour of the new house and yard; then let him off to explore.

3.       Establish a routine ASAP. Because pets tend to feel safest with a routine, get into one as soon as you can. This may be difficult with boxes to unpack and other arrangements to make, but be sure your dog is still getting fed at the same time every day and that he’s being exercised daily. If too much energy builds up, your pup will likely have more time and energy to be anxious.

 

Across the Country

Moving to another state is a different matter altogether. First, you must decide whether you want to transport your dog via plane or car. Because airlines typically allow only small dogs – ones whose carriers can fit under your seat – on a plane and requires others to be placed in a potential unsafe cargo hold, driving is likely your best option. For driving your dog across the country, follow these tips:

 

1.       Exercise your dog more frequently before the move. In the week leading up to the trip, take your dog for walks more often or take him to the dog park for more exercise. You want Fido tired out for the car ride so he can get the zoomies out and not be nervous or anxious. If you’re too busy with moving details to exercise him yourself, hire a neighborhood kid, a dog walker or ask a friend to help out.

2.       Prepare supplies for the drive. Even if your dog is potty-trained, line the car with extra rags and towels just in case. Also, create a green pet first aid kit and include bandages, cotton balls, tweezers, and a digital thermometer, to assist Fido in being calm, sleeping and feeling good during the drive.

3.       Use a kennel or carrier if possible. This keeps dogs most secure on the drive, but it also helps them feel more comfortable and gives them a place to retreat. It’s the safest way for them to travel – for all involved – because it keeps them from wandering underfoot while you’re driving.

 

Whether you’re moving to another house in the same city or to another state altogether, consider how your move will affect your dog. Based on your knowledge of Fido, brainstorm ways to make him feel safe and make preparations accordingly. By thinking ahead, you’ll avoid the heartache and stress often involved with moving pets to a new home.

***

Author Bio: David Shapiro works with moving companies and other small businesses as a marketing relocation specialist. He lives in Arizona and enjoys hiking, golfing, horseback riding and biking.

Note: some people use moving as an excuse to dump their pets at a shelter, please do NOT do that. If you do, chances are that your pet will die at the shelter. If you absolutely MUST, find your pet a safe loving new home that they deserve BEFORE your move. Where there is a will there is a way. I just read a story about a woman who lost her home in my neighborhood, became homeless and was camping out in a tent with her dog. She went to a local animal rescue group for assistance to find her dog a new home. Instead, the group suggested that she let the dog be fostered while she moved from California to Hawaii (where her son lives) and the group raised money for the dog to be taken care of including his flight to Hawaii. Now the two of them are living happily in the Aloha state. Be a responsible pet owner.  Thank you.

Soon, I will be writing a Hawaii pet friendly blog post. It is an onerous procedure (and costly) to bring your pet to Hawaii. Meanwhile, if you want to move your dog to Hawaii, there is now a five day or less quarantine option.  Check it out here…

http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/files/2013/01/aqs-checklist-5DOL.pdf

http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/animal-quarantine-information-page/

PS: All this dog below needs is a black ear and spot on her forehead and a few spots on her belly and this would look like a certain polka dot princess that I know and LOVE.

cats and dogs and kids, oh my

9 Things Parents Should Know About Cats and Kids

The funny thing is that I was just talking on Facebook to a friend I have never met about cats and dogs and the different energies, benefits of both types of animals as pets. We love them all and she has a few cats and a dog and is going to be getting another dog, who is being trained to help her daughter with her peanut allergy. Cats are wonderful beings and can be trained, despite conventional thinking. If Cici did not have cat issues, I would have brought a cat into our home for us. On Must Love Cats on Animal Planet last week I saw a show where people were teaching cats to do agility and cats were competing at shows.  Cats are much smarter than people give them credit for. And you can walk them on a leash, too.

Here are a few of Nikhi’s fur babies, are these the cutest fur babies ever???

Alfie and Oliver, the cat…

Well, after my Facebook chat, I received this gift guest blog post and decided to post it here. Enjoy !

If you’re considering adding a pet to the family, cats can seem like the ideal choice. They don’t have to be taken for walks, housebreaking is a breeze and their largely independent attitude means that they don’t need the same level of attention and companionship as a puppy or even a full-grown dog. Households that count small children among their number, however, should take a few things under consideration before adding a feline friend to the family.

1. Growing Up Together isn’t Always the Best Route – Common advice for parents considering a new pet dictates the addition of a kitten when children are still young. This recommendation is given with the assumption that the two of them will “grow up together.” In fact, adult cats are usually much better choices for young children than kittens. The fragility and delicate nature of a kitten’s physiology does little to protect them from accidental rough treatment, which may be difficult for very young children to understand.
2. Proper Handling is Imperative – Before you adopt a cat, you should make sure that your child is well informed about safe and proper handling. In addition to running the risk of hurting the cat or causing it to become withdrawn, wary and antisocial in reaction to being handled roughly too often, you’re also increasing the chances of a hiss, swat or bite that turns your child off from cats altogether.
3. Supervision is Required – Because cats are typically very independent, it can be easy to forget that they still need to be supervised all the time when they’re in the same room as a young child. If you’re present when a child pets too roughly or picks Fifi up by her neck, you can put a stop to the behavior before someone is injured or gets upset.
4. Declawing isn’t the Kindest Answer – In preparation for bringing a cat into the house, some new owners opt to have their feline friends declawed. What most of them don’t realize, however, is just how cruel and painful the process is for cats. Rather than having a part of the cat’s body removed because you’re nervous about scratched furniture or children, you may just want to reconsider the idea of adding a cat to the family in the first place. The human equivalent of declawing would be the removal of each of your fingers at the last knuckle.
5. Cats Can Help Kids Learn Responsibility – When your child helps to feed and water his new cat, clean the  litter box and look after her, he’s learning very valuable lessons in responsibility and compassion. There are plenty of reasons why adding a cat to the family may be the perfect choice for your family, but this is potentially the best.
6. Sharing is Caring, But Not When it Comes to Chocolate – You may be aware of the fact that chocolate is toxic for dogs, but it’s just as dangerous for cats to ingest. Make sure that your child knows that even though she wants to share her chocolate candy, doing so can make her new cat very, very sick.
7. Cat Scratch Fever isn’t Just a Classic Rock Song – If the only thing that comes to mind when you hear the term “cat scratch fever” is an old Ted Nugent record, you’ll probably want to brush up on the subject before you bring a cat into a house with children. Cat scratch disease is caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae, and is spread through bites and scratches from an infected cat. While it’s generally not serious, cat scratch disease can cause fatigue, fever, headache, swelling of the lymph nodes and overall discomfort. If your child is showing any of these symptoms, it’s best to inform his doctor that you do have a cat in the family.
8. The Great Outdoors isn’t All That Great – Your child needs to spend plenty of time outdoors engaged in physically active play. Your cat, however, has a statistically higher chance of living a long life and dying of natural causes if it spends its life indoors. Outdoor cats are much more likely to be injured or even killed by other animals and moving vehicles than their indoor brethren.
9. Patience is a Virtue – When you first bring your new cat home, it’s normal for your child to be so excited that she wants to spend every moment with her new friend. As a parent, it’s important for you to understand that your cat will need time to adjust to new surroundings, and may be a bit standoffish until he’s more comfortable in your home.

Cats are beautiful and gracious creatures with their own individual personalities and quirks. For some families, they’re irreplaceable members of the household that are dearly treasured. Others may find them too aloof and disinterested, depending upon the temperaments involved. Before making the decision to bring a cat home, you should make sure that the lifestyle of your household is conducive to caring for a cat.  (Editors note:  Please adopt a cat or dog or pet from your local animal rescue or shelter, ie, save a life and spay and neuter your pets, thank you).

http://www.summernanny.com/blog/9-things-parents-should-know-about-cats-and-kids/

Blog Hop time…thanks to Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume…  grab the blog hop  link