The Once and Future Store

With apologies to T.H. White, I think the title is quite apropos for what we'll be talking about this week. There's a definite parallel between the Camelot of legend and the community of Altadena and Webster's.

Once vibrant, Webster's exemplified the model of the ideal community store. Offering a variety of unique merchandise, Webster's fulfilled the area's wants and needs and became the ad hoc town center. We involved ourselves in the community and the community repaid us handsomely by patronizing the store - truly a win/win situation for everyone!

Reading through some old town newspapers today, it's evident that Altadena had a thriving business district on North Lake Avenue. Those were prosperous times. Times when you kept your business dollars local. The neighborhood store, the local market, the bakery down the street - all contributed to your well being, as you contributed to theirs. Looking at it as a circle, everyone was contributing together to keep their community economically viable.

As time is wont to do, it passes and leaves great change in its wake. Economics, demographics, shopping habits and tastes have changed drastically since these photos were taken. We've seen the rise of corporate businesses and their bid to take over the world. We've seen its effects on our community. We watch as independently owned businesses struggle for viability and we've watched as some succumb, withering away into memory.

Fortunately, time is a circle. We're now seeing the resurgence of people all across the country wanting to preserve their neighborhoods' individuality. Witness what's happening here in Altadena - the birth of our own Altadena/Pasadena food co-op, the success of the Coffee Gallery Backstage, the Gallery At The End Of The World, Altadena Junction, Amy's Patio Cafe and Bulgarini Gelato. We've seen the enormous popularity of Altadenablog, proving yet again that Altadena wants to be a community connected.

We all have our place in this town and our town is poised on the brink of a phenomenon. As resistant to change as Altadena is, we've taken steps toward a paradigm change - can we swing the pendulum back to prosperity? Scott and I think we can.

Working together, people can move mountains. That's what we're counting on, because we've got great plans ahead. All we need is your support - your desire to direct a positive impact on your community. You can start by directing your dollars locally. It doesn't matter which independently-owned business, just make sure your money stays in the community, where it can do the most good.

We know times are tough right now. What we all need to do, though, is rethink our definition of value. Value is not always the lowest price. Value is what you get for your dollar, like excellent service, quality products and the satisfaction of knowing that what goes out of your pocket and into your community can really help move mountains.

Stay with us as we delve further into our plans for the future, support us as we grow toward it....and have a fabulous week!

Love Is All You Need

Today while we celebrate those whom we love, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on just how blessed Scott and I are. With lives as busy as ours have become since taking ownership of WFS, the notion of enjoying a romantic evening has gone out the window. So here I am at my keyboard, waiting for our delivery Valentine's meal and I'm about to tell you what I admire most about my husband.

Scott's the kind of guy that's so easy-going and mellow, it's difficult to be in a bad mood around him. I appreciate that quality in him so much since it balances out my more assertive tendencies. His gentle, winning way with people is something that fascinates me. He's comfortable talking to just about anyone and always is able to find common ground that makes reciprocal conversation easy.

I like watching his eyes sparkle when he's engaged in conversation with someone. It seems there's nothing he likes better than to find out about whomever he's talking to without boring them with repetitious details about himself. He is definitely a people person!

Then there's his voice. Long known as the "voice of Webster's", his low, resonate timber is distinctly his own. I remember when I first applied for a job at Webster's back in 1995 and he called me to set up an appointment. His voice was so interesting and I knew then that he was going to be someone special in my life.

Scott has so many more strengths, but I think his most important quality is his sense of personal integrity. No matter what obstacles are thrown in his way, I've seen Scott come shining through every time. His innate goodness seems to radiate off him and that sometimes makes him a target for those that take advantage of people like him. A word of warning to those advantage takers, though....the man is willing to forgive but he'll never forget.

So this is my Valentine's Day ode to my wonderful husband, whom I love dearly. Wish I could buy him a vacation, a day off, a new car or even fix that darn water main, but I can't. What I can do is tell the world why he's so special to me and to many other folks as well, because I think he deserves to know.

Meet The WFS Crew! Introducing Devon Pettengill

Much like any other thing in life, the whole is only as good as the sum of its parts, and that's particularly true for a retail store. Having friendly, knowledgable employees is important. In fact, these days, it's of enormous importance and that's why we're bringing you a special mid-week blogpost to introduce you to one of our new crew members, Devon Pettengill.

Devon, our lovely redheaded sprite, hails from Mill Valley, California but she's now a resident of Altadena. She's wonderfully upbeat with a gentle smile, sparkling eyes and an engaging personality. When asked what she likes about working at WFS, she states, "I love helping people find things they need....or what they didn't know they need. It's great to get a genuine smile from customers."

A self-professed stationery geek, she recalls hanging out at the local paper and pen shops as one of her fondest pastimes. "Other kids would get jazzed by going to toy stores. I was different - pretty papers, note cards, pens and letterpress gave me goosebumps!". Good thing she's in the right work environment now, and all to your benefit.

When she's not at work, creative Devon loves reading books and magazines. She's on an American history binge right now, she says. She also loves crafting and decorating her home, but writing is her number one passion. She does it so well that I've asked Devon to start contributing on our Facebook fan page. Look for her report on the usefulness of place cards on Friday, Feb. 12th. There's a link to our Facebook page on the left sidebar or simply click the title of this blogpost.

Devon's plans for the future are to find a career where she can use her skills to satisfy some one's communication needs either as a writer or a graphic designer. Our plans for Devon's future include asking her to use those same skills for the store, keeping them honed and ready.

Come in soon and say hello to Devon and let her assist you in finding exactly what you need at WFS!

"Love a Local Business" Hits a Rock Wall And Other Stories

Last post, I told you about Intuit's "Love a Local Business" competition. I asked if you'd vote for us and tell Intuit why you loved us and your response was fantastic! I want to sincerely thank all of you that voted. We got over 65 votes, and for just three weeks of running, is pretty impressive. We didn't win, though....the winning business was a rock wall climbing place in another state with over 1,200 votes. That's a whole lotta rock climbing going on and a whole lotta votes for a small business! Kudos to them, and WFS will try again next year.

I'd like to share some of the wonderful endorsements we received from the contest, but first let me tell you about some exciting news and some ideas we've got running through our heads.

Since I joined the Board of Directors of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce, they've asked me to write a monthly newsletter for them. I'm honored that they'd ask me to write it, I hope I can do a good job for them!

You've probably already heard about the Pasadena Playhouse being shut down. We are wondering about different avenues we could take to aid fundraising efforts for them. There is a Facebook group for just that purpose, which can be found by clicking on the title of this blogpost, but what could WFS do? We're thinking about putting something together with some of the Playhouse's luminaries and donating a portion of net sales, but I'm open to suggestions.

There are great new products in the store and more arriving almost daily! Valentine's Day is almost here, and we're here to help you get ready if you're not already. Fabulous cards (most made right here in the U.S.!), gourmet chocolate fudge truffles made locally, darling Valentine themed boxes and gifts, gorgeous fair-trade jewelry, scarves and bags, even fabulous office accessories....what's not to love about Valentine's Day at WFS? We hope to see you soon and we'll leave you with a few of those lovely comments about us posted on the "Love a Local Business" site!

----Lori

"This is a fun store with a great selection of supplies for the serious and not-so-serious writer. I bought a superb Monteverde pen that I know will be in daily use for many more years. The owners and staff are very friendly and helpful! Great store!
doug (01.31.10)"

"I've been coming to Webster's since I was very young, and I love all of the positive changes!"
Kim (01.25.10)

"Great store and I love how their staff is aware of "good" customer service."
Ben (01.25.10)

"Long time family business. Unique collection of stationary products. Friendly staff. Special orders of small lots for specific customer requests."
Mike Holland (01.25.10)

"From the friendly, personal service to the really cool handmade items, Webster's is my favorite shop in Altadena. In a very tough economy, competing with the big box stores, Webster's does it right!"
JillM

Have A Heart!

The heart is the most common symbol of romantic love. Ancient cultures believed the human soul lived in the heart. Others thought it to be the source of emotions and intelligence. Some believed the heart embodied a man's truth, strength and nobility. The heart may be associated with love because the ancient Greeks believed it was the target of Eros, known as cupid to the Romans. Anyone shot in the heart by one of Cupid's arrows would fall hopelessly in love. Because the heart is so closely linked to love, it's red color is thought to be the most romantic.

We're seeing lots of red these days....and pink and purple, too, for this Valentine's Day. Happily it falls on a Sunday this year, when lovers the world over can celebrate this ancient holiday all weekend long!

The custom of giving valentine gifts on February 14th is rooted deep in history, but it wasn't until the eighteenth century that crafting paper valentines became popular. Back then, people would contract writers to pen verses to their loved ones and there were books to help those with writer's block. Over time, the custom of Valentine giving grew and stationery manufacturers began printing them for everyone.

These days, you can find valentine greetings almost anywhere. To really make an impression, though, you want to give something that speaks of your individuality. Something that is a cut above the best, and we have them for you here at WFS! Retro designs from Laughing Elephant, heartfelt (and made from pcw material) messages and images from Amber Lotus, letterpress cuties from Hello Lucky!, delightfully wicked wit from Uncooked, refined and classic offerings from the venerable Crane & Co. and fabulously beautiful greetings from Punch Studio....we're stocked and ready for you!

Of course, we have all the accoutrements that follow along with Valentine's Day. Decadent chocolate fudge truffles from local favorite, John Kelly Chocolates, are perfect for giving. We've just gotten a shipment in of fair trade jewelry made by Tibetan refugees and the sale of these gorgeous pieces benefit orphan children in Tibet. We also have lovely jewelry pieces by local jewelry makers Julie Lynn Pircher, Ruthie Castro and Jewels of the Earth by Diana - any one of them would make a memorable Valentine's Day gift.

Remember, any purchase over $20.00 receives a complimentary gift wrap, and we're not talking thin paper and curling ribbon here. A gift from WFS is something that you'd be proud to give....you'll have to drop by and let us show you! Drop by our Facebook page, as well, and become a fan of our store, if you haven't already. Just click the title to this post and it'll take you there. Once registered, you'll be able to take advantage of specials offered exclusively to our fans, take part in discussions and find out the latest at WFS!

Thank you and all of us here at WFS wish you and yours a wonderful Valentine's Day!

----Lori

SNEAK PEEKS AND A CONTEST!

There's much good news around WFS these days, I'm excited to report! A successful shopping trip for new seasonal items was completed last week, there were favorable results from the latest survey from the Institute of Local Self-Reliance and our store has entered into Intuit's latest business contest!

INCOMING!!

We spoke about the Gift Show last week, so this week, I'll just hint at the wonderful things to come. New colors and scents in our Root Candle line and in our Candles & Compliments line. High quality Root Candles are made in the U.S. of beeswax so are completely all natural. The colors chosen represent some of the freshest colors for 2010 as do our battery-operated candles. You'll love these - candles and lanterns that are not only gorgeous but also practical and well priced!
We're also getting in gorgeous, Arts & Crafts style gift wrap. Continuous rolls of high style at modest cost - I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do.

Another wonderful find at the show was the most adorable table accessory ever - the standing napkin, in the most fabulous themes! Birthday, anniversary, wedding or baby shower, these clever napkins will be a conversation starter for sure. Look for them in store shortly.

New Spring designs from Crane & Co. will be arriving in a few weeks. Lovely to look at and lovely for our planet, Crane & Co., America's oldest stationers and suppliers of paper for the U.S. Treasury since 1801, have never harmed a tree in the production of their products. Their cards and paper - even the paper our currency is printed on - is 100% cotton rag. When you speak of value, Crane & Co. tops the list -impeccably made, admired the world over and the knowledge that when you send a Crane & Co. card, you are sending something a cut above the very best!

LOCAL FIRST!

The recent survey I mentioned in the first paragraph showed a definate shift in American's buying habis. More people are shopping locally at independent businesses and bypassing chain stores and big boxes. That's fabulous news! Stacy Mitchell, a senior researcher with the Institute reports that "Amid the worst downturn in more than 60 years, independent businesses are managing to succeed by emphasizing their community roots and local ownership". It's wonderful to hear that, isn't it? Independent business is so important to our communities, and never more so than in this era of "generica". I'm heartened by the results that substantiate the evidence that Buy Local campaigns are yeilding real dividends and shifting local spending. Says Jennifer Rockne, director of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), "That's good news for local economies. Studies show that small businesses keep more dollars circulating locally and generate the majority of new jobs." Indeed they do and we're very honored to be part of the business community of Altadena.

DIVING INTUIT

Part in celebration of AMIBA's encouraging survey and partly out of sheer desperation, WFS has entered into Intuit's "Love a Local Business" contest. Winning the grand price of a grant worth $35,000.00 would be a dream come true for us so I ask that you please vote for us. There is a link to the contest on our website and there is a link to our website on the sidebar to the left of this page.
We're at over 43 votes at last count, so if you've already voted, please accept our sincere thanks. We have a plan for that grant, and that's to bring you the best shopping Altadena's had in a long time. Believe in us, believe in Altadena....together we can make it happen! Cast your vote for us today!

Whirlwind Week

Whew….what a week this just was! Lots of exciting things happening, like the California Gift Show, the Chamber of Commerce Installation dinner approaching (did I tell you I got elected to the Board?) and getting new stuff into the store! Wasn’t it just Monday?

We kicked off the week on a sour note….we lost our newest crew member, Trish, who decided that the commute from where she moved to was too long. WFS wishes her the well in whatever she does next. That means we’ll be looking for someone who is a people person and detail oriented, responsible and available nights and weekends. If you know someone who doesn’t mind hard work and is a team player, please forward him or her our way.

The rest of the week was a fabulous blur of seeing, and sometimes ordering, wonderful new products for the store. It can get overwhelming at market and that’s when those trends that we discussed last week come into play. Going to the gift show might seem like a lot of fun (it is!) but it’s also hard work. We attempt to see into the near future and buy what we think is something that you might be looking for, staying somewhat within the parameters set by the fashion pundits.

That’s why it’s a good idea to not take all the predictions too seriously! I like to distill that trendy stuff down and take a good hard look at what my favorite designers and decorators are doing. Then we add our own flavor into it and we buy accordingly.

My designer of choice has been Mary Carol Garrity (of Nell Hills’ fame) for quite awhile. I love her use of scale and her eye for using natural elements in her decor mirrors my own. Her favorite trends of 2010, in her own words, are:

“Woodland themes: a classic look with hunt club fabrics in red, green and navy and animal-inspired accents, like antler-shaped candle holders.

Reinvented country: now less cutesy and more home-spun. This season’s rustic trims, like burlap ribbon, twine & wool plaids.

Gold: once out of favor, gold, and its cousins bronze & copper, are back in a big way this year. The most exciting look today is combining both gold and silver together.”

Whatever your style is, come in and experience ours! There’s lots to see - I think we’ll be able to give you a little inspiration, a little whimsy, a smile and some helpful advice, if needed. Don’t forget to check our website, Twitter and Facebook pages for product updates and social happenings - just click on this post's title to get to our site. Valentine’s Day is looming and we’re all decked out for it – hope we see you soon!

Our Facebook Fan Page Tells The Story

Those of you who read my personal Facebook page know that Scott and I have been experiencing a real doozie of a plumbing catastrophe at home. The concrete box that encloses our water meter out in the sidewalk in front of our home is crumbling away and has created a leak in the main water line. DWP turned off our water last Monday evening, just as we were getting home from the store, so we're on day 7 of no water. There's been no response from the City or DWP despite our daily calls. Tomorrow morning we take it to our Councilman's office and hope for resolution.

Challenging as life without water at home may be, business must go on. And so it does, as we enter into Market Week. The California Gift Show starts this Tuesday, as mentioned previously, and we'll be there to see all the new offerings for the season. I'm really looking forward to discovering unique items made here in the U.S. or even better, locally. We get such a charge out of picking products that pass our high standards, and it really is a collaborative process here at WFS. Be sure to join our Facebook Fan Page (simply click the title of this blogpost) for updates from the show and the latest news of what's uber hip and cool!

There's a lot of mention about WFS in the press lately and you can read about that on our Facebook page as well. Noted author Ellen Snortland wrote an article that appeared in the Pasadena Weekly (and will be in the Huffington Post soon) called "Homeland Security" that touts The 3/50 Project and mentions us. Hometown Pasadena and Eat L.A.'s lovely Colleen Dunn Bates just posted an article called "Local Heroes: Retail" on her blog and it mentions us, too! And our own Altadenablog reported on WFS' donation to Danny's Farm last week. A huge thank you from WFS to all our supporters - we appreciate you so much!

Until next week (when I can hopefully report that water has been restored to our household),

Lori

Trending Forward in 2010

Last post I reviewed our progress in 2009 and now I’d like to take you along with me as we look at what 2010 will bring us.

“Trend” is a word that causes a lot of retailers to quake in their boots, because purchasing “trendy” items means risk. Risk that the “trend” may well past its prime before you jump on the bandwagon, or that you’ll ride the “trend” only to discover that you’ve got way too much invested in it when that “trend” starts wearing thin. I like to stick with a more classic sensibility, because that’s what’s seen me through years of decorating – and we all know how fickle decorating trends can be.

Trends are like myths, in a way. They say there is a grain of truth at the root of a myth, and there are solid, classic ideas in each new year’s color trends, presented by Pantone, the world’s top trend forecaster. They set the color standards for the fashion and home décor industries and this is what they’ve foreseen:

Their color of the year for 2010 is turquoise. According to Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone’s Executive Director, “Turquoise is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky”. “Appealing to both sexes, turquoise can look elegant or casual and because of its warm and cool undertones it pairs well with any other color,” she says. “It adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, compliments reds and pinks and creates a classic maritime look with deep blues and is especially flattering with yellow-greens.” People who like turquoise tend to be complex, imaginative and original. Turquoise and other ocean-inspired blues are “eco-colors” that reflect increasing consumer appreciation of the environment and nature.

They advise using turquoise as a wall color sparingly....high voltage colors normally are best confined to an accent wall or powder room. However, I know several people who’ve used this color successfully in living rooms, great rooms and bedrooms. It’s a stunning color when used with lots of white trim! But if you’re not ready to paint your room turquoise, that’s fine. Updating your accessories will do the job nicely, like the pop of color a turquoise lamp or pillows gives an otherwise neutral room. You can also use this color on picture frames, towels, glassware (think translucent turquoise vases or bowls) and my personal favorite, a painted chair or side table. Check out my friend Kim’s blog, Dear Daisy Cottage (link below in our blogroll) for wonderful color inspiration.

It’s a good thing that I love the color turquoise in all its guises, from lightest ocean blue to deep peacock! We’ll be bringing in décor items that you’ll love in this luscious color – so great for bringing the warmth of summer into drab winter months and wonderfully cooling later on in the year. I also hear that ice blue, turquoise’s cousin, is hot for holiday 2010! Look for new product arrivals after Valentine’s Day.

Next week brings the California Gift Show at the LA Mart and Convention Center. We’ll be there from the 12th through the 16th and we’ll scour the showrooms for the best of the best. I’ll be posting from the show and tweeting about interesting finds, so be sure to watch for that. Until next week, here are some more “trends” that are said to be hot for this year…..let’s hear what you think about them! They are:

Mixed prints, platform clogs, red lipstick, distressed jeans, Lucite & Bakelite jewelry, nautical stripes (I swear, this one is on the list each year, and I hardly ever see them much here in L.A.), slick leather dresses & skirts, copper & bronze tones, 70’s inspired wild florals, big sunglasses (Jason Wu is a name to watch), jewel-encrusted and enameled animal jewelry, pastel shades for eyes, 60’s artist Claude Lelamme, chandelier earrings and platinum blonde hair color.

2009, Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow....

Bidding goodbye to the year 2009 won’t be such a difficult thing to do, will it? I hear this sentiment more and more as the new year approaches and at first I laughingly agreed. Yeah, 2009….good riddance with your economic woes, your politics and your generally depressing atmosphere…..we’re ready for something new!

Then I thought about it for a while and my opinion has changed. The new year is inevitable but it was this last year that taught us many valuable things. I don’t want to throw 2009 away completely, because this year saw some very awesome things happening at WFS and in Altadena. How awesome could it have been, you might ask? Let’s take a look…..

2009 saw the Altadena Arts Coalition firm its mission and help increase awareness of the North Lake Business District as not only a convenient shopping destination but as a culture hub as well. July’s Project: Altadena was a huge success that was enjoyed by so many! The Coalition looks forward to planning many more art-centered community functions in the coming year.

2009 taught us how to tighten our belts and taught us resiliency. Never before have we had to strategize so carefully and learn to make correct quick decisions. We’re pretty proud to say that in a year that saw many lay-offs and business closings, we managed to give our employees a small salary increase, and only lost one to greener pastures. 2009 taught us to value our crew members more than ever and that their role in the development of WFS is just as important as ours.

2009 was also the year of the Business Builders Bootcamp at the Women's City Club in Pasadena. Wonderful friends invited me to join the ladies there and I'm so thankful they did! The intelligence, ingenuity and creativity of the women in this group is astounding and I'm amazed every time I attend. A very special shout-out to the members (you know who you are!)....thanks to all of you!

2009 was the year we educated you on the value of shopping locally. It was also the year The 3/50 Project was born, which was fortuitous because it gave you concrete evidence of how money spent locally affects your community’s economic health. Keeping your town’s local character alive is crucial to its survival and it’s a good thing to know how you can help.

2009 saw WFS develop and move more in the direction we’re working toward. In addition to jewelry and art cards by local artists, we added books by several Altadena authors. We’re very excited about this facet of WFS and intend to expand it in the coming months. We’re also pleased to be aiding the Christmas Tree Lane Association by carrying their merchandise all year round and giving them 75% of the sales. We added wonderful fair-trade goods to our product mix and discovered that we like the way that made us feel! We plan to look for more fair trade goods to offer you in the future, and we’re also working on a local artist’s collaboration that promises to be fabulous!

So you see, 2009 wasn’t all that bad. We’re positive, though, that 2010 will be our year, and your year, too…..I feel it right in the center of my heart! Happy New Year to you all!

---Lori & Scott

'Tis The Season To Be Hoppy!

Shop-hoppy, that is! Because the North Lake Pole Winter Festival and Shop Hop was cut short by the pounding deluge Saturday afternoon, the businesses involved will extend the qualification time for the Grand Raffle until December 24th. During this time, visit the listed merchants/businesses/restaurants and get a star affixed to your Shop Hop card. No purchase or obligation is required for the star on your card so why not explore places you haven't been to yet, meet new people or say hello to old friends you haven't seen for awhile? What better time than the holidays, when you're out and about anyway? Once you get some stars on your card, you'll be eligible for an entry into the most exciting raffle ever! So many marvelous prizes, all generously donated by our local business owners, and just in time for the holidays. The grand prize will be a new bicycle from Steve's Bike Shop and there will be many more exciting giveaways. We'll pick the winners on Christmas Eve, December 24th, and the winner need not be present. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Altadena along with the holiday season.

Due to last Saturday's rain, WFS will be hosting a Holiday Open House this Saturday, December 19th. We'd love you to join us for holiday festivities, fun and food! We open at 10:00 am and the party starts then with pastries, hot coffee and cider. From 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm, hearty appetizers and other surprises will be on the menu and from 4:00 pm until closing at 6:00 pm, dessert is on us! We invite you to drop by - get your Shop Hop card with its first star on it from WFS, and stay for top-notch shopping, shipping and good old fashioned holiday fun! Shopping or shipping at this time of year is fun, you ask? It sure is when you've got beautiful music to listen to, interesting merchandise to peruse, delicious munchies to nibble and good friends to greet! It's a lot of fun, too, when you win one of the many door prizes we'll be giving away.

There's one other benefit to our Shop Hop, can you guess it? It's the great feeling you'll get from helping to support not only your local businesses, but the economic health of Altadena as well. Civic pride might be something we tend to smirk at these days but it's something that's absolutely needed right here and right now! We've all seen the warning signs and have already witnessed the closing of many of our local places of business - it's time now to rally to support those that remain, lest they disappear also. If we collectively direct our buying at local, independent businesses it will increase Altadena's bottom line by funneling funds back into the community. It funnels back in by increasing the ability of these businesses to pay their taxes, both sales tax and employment tax. It funnels back by keeping their staff employed and the people employed spend money in other local businesses. It funnels back as the different businesses use other service providers, such as accountants, payroll services, janitors and printers. We invite you to read about The 3/50 Project at www.the350project.net - it certainly puts what I've just said into perspective.

The holidays are a perfect time for us to express our gratitude to our loyal customers - thank you from the bottom of our hearts! You've helped us survive this year and you'll help us thrive in the future so remember to join us this Saturday, even if just for a few minutes. Let us take this opportunity to wish all of you a warm and wonderful holiday season!

UPDATE 12/16/09 The Christmas Tree Lane Association will be joining in the fun on Saturday, too! Come see the many charming items they have at their Boutique, which will be set up in front of WFS and Galloway Alley, and help support this worthy Altadena institution!

Local Blogs Worthy of Note and Winter Festival Update

As promised in my last post, let me offer you some information on local sites and blogs that are, in my opinion, some of the best. Informative, amusing and such a great compliation of the culture of Altadena, these sites are waiting for you to discover them (if you already haven't). Read on, intrepid readers, and find a new sources of information, news, entertainment or historical facts....an entire world of the written word awaits!

Altadenablog, http://www.altadenablog.com Altadena's one-stop source for community news and opinion. If you want to keep up with what's happening in Altadena, this is the site for you! The site's author, Tim Rutt, was honored recently by Los Angeles County for Altadenablog's coverage of the Station Fire.

Altadena Above It All, http://altadenaaboveitall.com
Debbie Swanson Patrick, author, photographer and artist, says it best herself: "this blog is dedicated to capturing the life, history, preservation and improvement battles, the wildlife (animals included!), talent, beauty and magic that is in these foothills." We love helping her celebrate Altadena and we hope you do, too.

Altadena Hiker, http://www.altadenahiker.blogspot.com
Karin Bugge's View From The Trail, a glimpse into the life of this local resident who tells it like she sees it. A talented writer, Karin is funny, witty and spot-on!

One excellent perk about being a blogger is that you get to share other wonderful blogs with your readers. There are so many excellent local blogs in our area and I'll be pointing out more in future posts. Hopefully by then I will have figured out what's wrong with my Blogger account and why it won't let me attach live links. On now to exciting local news!



Altadena Arts Coalition Presents
The North Lake Pole Shop-Hop and Winter Festival


Come join the Altadena Arts Coalition and your local merchants on Saturday, December 12th, for an evening of holiday merriment and civic pride! Rediscover all Altadena has to offer by visiting the participating merchants and businesses, who are awaiting your arrival with seasonal treats and goodies. Collect stars on your map and once filled, you are eligible for entry into a drawing for wonderful prizes!

Set to start right after the lighting of Christmas Tree Lane , the AAC will host sledding in REAL snow in Galloway Alley, live music and a visit from Holly Jolly Wally! There will be food vendors in case you get hungry….John from O Happy Days will be serving hot soup, The Coffee Gallery will be serving hot coffee & tea, Park Bench Deli will be making tacos, Steve's Bike Shop is serving hot chocolate and Altadena's own Dip Me In Chocolate will be offering their decadent goodies. Stroll along the North Lake Pole Ave., greet your friends and neighbors and enjoy that good old fashioned Christmas spirit! Webster's Fine Stationers will be showcasing their holiday décor and will be serving hot apple cider, treats and a surprise guest. Webster's Pharmacy and Webster's Liquor will be serving soft-serve ice cream and Photography by Walt is hosting “Capture the World”, an exciting photo exhibit. The Gallery At The End Of The World will also be hosting an art exhibit you won't want to miss. This is a great opportunity to get out and see what makes Altadena so special. Get set to have a great time on the 12th …..we'll be waiting for you!