CIP's Profile

Check out Happy Trails in Pasadena; they're a small restaurant/catering business, but they have a beautiful, intimate garden space in back that they rent out for weddings. Also in the area, Pasadena Museum of History also has a very nice garden setting behind their historic Fenyes Mansion. Once you start looking around you should be able to find tons of options; LA is not lacking beautiful garden spaces. Good luck!

I know it's been said before, but I can't help but say it again: how can ANYONE in their right mind think that arranging books by color counts as being "organized?" It might make a "statement" (such as: I don't read, these are here just for show), but "organized" is not the right word here. It would be nearly impossible to actually FIND something in that mess of books, and isn't being able to quickly and easily access one's stuff one of the main points of being organized?

Love the deck, but feels like it's missing something. I could go from feeling neutral to loving it if there were some more plants -- maybe some splashes of flowers.

Research neighborhood organizations. Some cities seem to be highly organized in that way (Minneapolis is!), others, less so. Here in Minneapolis every part of the city is part of a neighborhood, and most (possibly all) have websites, many have Facebook pages, many have email lists, online newspapers, etc. Many areas also have formal studies available for both commercial and residential districts; these can be full of useful things like resident surveys, market studies, even traffic counts. (yeah, I like my research.) It's not the most useful way for the very initial searches, but is great for when you're starting to zero in on a smaller list of options. Nothing can replace actually getting out and walking around a neighborhood, though. Also keep an open mind and explore adjacent neighborhoods, just in case. When we moved to LA we assumed we'd be in Los Feliz or Silverlake, then fell in love with the weirdness that is Hollywood. We zeroed in on our SF place using Craigslist, then later finding a wonderful local blog. I also use walkscore.com to get a snapshot overview of types of businesses in the immediate area, supplemented with google streetview "walks."

I like to unpack my books before almost anything else. They take up a lot of boxes (yeah, I have a lot of books), they go up fast, and they make me feel more at home. They're easy and the boost of seeing the empty boxes and the filled shelves makes the rest of the more monotonous unpacking a little bit easier.

It all depends on priorities. What is it that you want most out of life in your new city? Will you be happy living in the city you live on a budget that doesn't allow you to live the lifestyle of your dreams? There's much to be said for living in a city that's less expensive (but which you also seek out a neighborhood that you love) and save your money for fun trips to NYC. Your money will certainly buy you more as far as housing, etc., in most other cities. If the experience of New York (or other expensive cities) is the top attraction, then go for it. Just do your research in advance and realize what exactly you'll be able to afford, and spend some time figuring out if that's enough to make you happy. So figure out WHAT it is that you love, and try to see if it's obtainable. I think most of us can be happy in many different cities, at least for a few years, so having some flexibility (especially in this economy!) is a useful thing. And you don't have to live anywhere forever, for that matter. I think each move we've done has helped to me better understand my own tastes, and to be able to appreciate the different pluses and minuses that come with every location. A smaller city may not be as exciting as NYC, but you could perhaps afford a place in a fun neighborhood with an unforgettable view. Or maybe you prefer to live in a crappy tiny apartment with no view in NYC for more money, but figure it's worth it because hey, you're in NYC.
(P.S. I'd move to Italy in an instant, but the reality is that I don't have the visa, and can probably not easily get one. So we're moving to NYC instead. I can't wait!)

My three year old son and I spent three weeks in Venice this past winter, and it was absolutely worth every penny. It was just the two of us on the flights to and from, but even that went relatively smoothly. Granted, our trip was different than my previous Venice visit -- pre-child -- but there will be plenty of time later in life for a more adult-oriented vacation. In the meantime, I LOVED having the experience of seeing the city through his eyes. We both had a fabulous time. And as far as the "planning out every minute" question, I can't think of any WORSE way to travel with kids. Take it easy, let life unfold, and just enjoy BEING somewhere. Check out the local playgrounds, go to the local grocery stores, bakeries, etc., take time to watch your kid run around the square with the other local kids. We did lots of exploring and wandering around, interspersed with a few church visits and other more "traditional" tourist activities, and thought it just about perfect. I can't say the actual flight with a kid is all that wonderful (although it wasn't as bad as I'd feared; I've had far worse domestic flights), but even if the flight is unpleasant (and it may not be!) it will be over soon enough. Honestly, I don't understand why anyone would NOT travel with kids, assuming they could afford to do so. (that's our biggest barrier; if it wasn't for cost and time we'd be out there traveling the world right now!)

The "after" is nice (very elegant), but I really liked the "before." It had character that the remodel lacks. I agree with those who loved the red and white floor.

jkmp - ventura village (the neighborhood) in Minneapolis has a carriage house program. I haven't seen them in person, but they have several different plans available. I think they're supposed to be cheap, green, and meet Minneapolis code (although you'd need to get approval if you're not living in parts of the city already zoned to allow them, but from what the city people told me it didn't sound like that was a big deal.) It's not prefab, but it could be a good starting point.

If I owned a house I would happily do it! I don't care if it's ugly and tacky.