Well-Priced Blast from the Past at the 1928 Factory Outlet

BY CAROLE ROSNER

1928, the antique inspired line of costume jewelry, is available for at least half off its regular retail price at the 1928 Factory Outlet Stores in Burbank. Deeply discounted prices on necklaces, earrings, bracelets, brooches and more are available at two Burbank locations.

Owner Melvin Bernie created the fashionable, budget conscious line over 40 years ago for customers who wanted estate-style jewelry with an updated look.

All items at the Outlet Store are discounted at least 50% with some prices being even lower. Current specials include jeweled picture frames at 75% off of their regular price of $45-$110, belts for $5 each and a $19.28 watch special. The premium “Macy’s Exclusive” line called 2028 is available here at a big savings too as well as 1928’s Vatican Library Collection® of religious artifact reproductions. The Factory Outlet Stores can offer these prices on their timeless jewelry and accessories because the pieces are excess inventory from past seasons.

The 1928 Factory Outlet Store is the perfect place to pick up a gift for yourself or someone special and it has an excellent selection for Bridal parties too.

Magnolia Blvd. Special: Magnolia Blvd. merchants offer special items on sale the last Friday night of each month from 6pm-9pm.

1928 Factory Outlet Store Two locations: 3000 W. Empire Ave. Burbank, CA 91504 818.842.7654 Hours: Tues-Sat. 10am-4:30pm. 3412 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505 818.842.1928 Hours: Tues-Sat. 11am-6pm www.1928.com. meters on street

Carole Rosner is a native Valley Girl who took the school bus with Michael and Janet Jackson and worked at the Sherman Oaks Galleria in its heyday. She likes to spend her free time finding bargains at Crossroads Trading Company, eating Chinese chicken salad at Stanley’s and admiring the view from Fryman Canyon. Check out her new blog: www.anythinggoodlately.blogspot.com – reading, watching and eating.

Eclectic gift offerings at Harrisons in Tarzana

BY CAROLE ROSNER

I thought my holiday wish list was near complete—world peace, extra sleep and a non-home cooked meal—until I visited Harrisons gift store in Tarzana. After spending some time at this new store, my list has greatly expanded.

Mother and daughter co-owners, Stephanie and Shellie Harrison, opened their namesake shop in April 2009 with a goal of bringing an assortment of top-of-the-line gifts from well-known and emerging lines to the west San Fernando Valley.  Merchandise is quite varied and includes such items as collectables from popular South African artist and sculptor Carrol Boyes, as well as rarely seen Israeli-made “metal lace” serving pieces. “This is a place for personalized attention and unique items that aren’t found anywhere else,” said Stephanie.

Harrisons is one of the only specialty stores in the San Fernando Valley to offer a large variety of merchandise from American born artist Michael Aram.

Aram works primarily in metal and his pieces are often referred to as “table art.” All of his work is handmade and usually has a fruit, flower or vegetable casting as the focus of the piece. The selection at Harrisons includes salad sets, bowls, platters and picture frames. Aram’s large sized soy wax candles (my wish #1) have nickel plated lids that are beautifully adorned with silver lemons, pomegranates or lotus blossoms (to name a few). Once the wax is melted away, the glass jars are perfect for storing odds and ends ($60).

Another great gift idea are Vanishing Creatures Chocolates. (my wish #2). This Certified Organic candy features hand carved heads of endangered species (hippo, elephant or gorilla) in either white or dark chocolate. The eco-friendly product line donates 10% of its profits to Wildlife Trust and the package is designed to be “repurposed” as a floating candle (included) with holder ($48). Very cool!

Stephanie and Shellie also have a great eye for jewelry. Harrisons has cases filled with fine jewelry laced with diamonds and precious stones. There are sparkly necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings—eye-catching pieces with white Agate mixed with rose gold and diamonds, earrings with white Topaz and black diamonds and any teenage girl’s favorite, diamond key charms. To support Breast Cancer Awareness, Harrisons carries a diamond and gold necklace and ring (my wish #3) that sparkles with subtle pink diamond ribbons (manufacturer’s price is $3150, but discounted to $2400 with 30% donated to the American Cancer Society).

The jewelry at Harrisons ranges in price to fit any budget–there are funky, chunky oxidized silver rings and semi-precious jeweled cuffs too. Always looking for ways to help their customers, Harrisons buys old gold jewelry and pays top dollar. It’s a great way to trade up or cash out.

Although I have made my top three wishes from Harrisons’ merchandise, Stephanie explained that the store offers customers an opportunity to create their own “Wish List” by coming in and selecting what they’d like. The gift buyer then just has to go in and buy it—pretty easy for the shopping challenged.

Harrisons 18737 Ventura Blvd Tarzana, CA 91356 818.708.7133  Hours: Monday-Sat. 11am-6pm. Closed Sunday.  Free parking in lot.

Carole Rosner is a native Valley Girl who has lived in Studio City for the past 11 years. She is a strong supporter of her local public schools and an active volunteer in her neighborhood. Some of her favorite things to do in Studio City are to celebrate 4th of July at CBS Radford, walk along Ventura Blvd. and browse through the racks at Crossroads Trading Company.

Exercise + video games = Pure fun at I-Fitness KidZone

BY CAROLE ROSNER

Whether your kid plays sports or not, it’s often hard to persuade him or her to get off the couch, shut off the computer or hang up the phone and get some daily exercise.

We’re all told  that kids (and adults) should exercise every daily.  But as we all know, sometimes exercise just isn’t that much fun.

Luckily for kids, I-Fitness KidZone comes to the rescue.  It’s an interactive children’s fitness facility that’s just right for today’s ‘tech-y’ kids, ages 5-16. Owner Ryan Hughes, an Australian native, opened his Sherman Oaks fitness a center a year ago in the In-N-Out Burger shopping center, after having worked with adults and kids as a personal trainer for the last ten years.

Besides being a exercise advocate, Hughes also loves video games.  In fact, he loves them so much he created a 2,100-square-foot workout space that’s packed with virtual boxing rings, jet skis, racing cars and dodgeball courts. There’s dancing, fencing, table tennis and skiing — all played on a video screen.

Kids can pedal their stationary bikes through the Swiss Alps and jump rope on a giant “light space” board. They can follow Jackie Chan through a virtual obstacle course and have a dance-off against a friend on the arcade-style Dance Dance Revolution.

“My son Joseph loves it here!” says Charlene Black, an Encino resident, about her 10-year-old son.  “He always has a great time. We’re telling everyone about this place. Joseph gets very sweaty and has lots of fun. The staff is very attentive and he meets lots of other kids.”

What’s great for parents is that this is a drop-off gym where boys and girls ages four through thirteen can get a thorough workout in a kid-friendly environment. Most kids spend about two hours at I-Fitness per outing. Day passes are $12 and an unlimited monthly pass is $39.

I-Fitness offers all-inclusive birthday parties (with food, invitations and goody bags) along with day camp during school breaks. Ryan and his crew are available for mobile events where the games are brought to any location.  (Virtual snowboarding is very popular on Bar and Bat Mitzvah circuit.)

The kids going to I-Fitness don’t think about the exercise, they just think about the fun — and perhaps In-N-Out — but no sweat, they can exercise it off!

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This Sunday,  August 16, I-Fitness will hold a Guitar Hero charity event for Children’s Hospital from noon until 6 p.m.  Guitar Hero’s developers will be at I-Fitness to play against kids and their parents.

www.i-fit-kidzone.com 818.788.KIDZ (5439) Open Monday-Friday Noon-8pm Saturday—10am-4pm Sundays closed for private parties. 4454 Van Nuys Blvd. Sherman Oaks

Carole Rosner is a native Valley Girl who has lived in Studio City for the past 11 years. She is a strong supporter of her local public schools and an active volunteer in her neighborhood. Some of her favorite things to do in Studio City are to celebrate 4th of July at CBS Radford, walk along Ventura Blvd. and browse through the racks at Crossroads Trading Company.

Froggy’s Arts & Crafts a welcome haven for adults and kids

BY CAROLE ROSNER

When it’s 110 degrees, you’ve already baked cookies, cupcakes and brownies, and have spent too much money on amusement parks, water parks and laser tag, head over to Froggy’s Arts & Crafts in  Toluca Lake for a fun, inexpensive and creative way to spend a day.

Located at Tujunga and Camarillo, Froggy’s will keep kids busy all year long. As a matter of fact, forget the little kids — it can keep teens and adults busy too!

Froggy’s Arts and Crafts is the brainchild of Ali Porter, who envisioned a drop-in place for kids and adults where they could embellish clothing, paint, make jewelry, do woodworking and cook. It’s a place where it’s okay to be messy, dirty and imaginative.

The  colorfully designed  space  also incorporates  music, storytelling, puppeteering within its walls.

Kids and adults can work together or separate.  Those older than 6 years old can be dropped off.  Adults can come alone, and don’t need to be accompanied by a kid.

Porter decided to open Froggy’s after the births of her two  children and very successful careers in both entertainment management and event planning. Her experience clearly correlates as to how best to please the customer and handle every minor detail to make one’s experience ideal.

Froggy’s offers a wide array of activities, classes and events.  There are drawing classes, cooking workshops, knitting nooks, and gardening projects. Birthday parties, baby showers or a “Girls Night Out” can be  also be hosted here.  Most recently, there was a “Hello Kitty” party for women.

Shelves are lined with a diverse assortment of individually priced “do-it-yourself” projects  in a range of prices.  Froggy’s has a boutique with unique gift items, and even carries American Apparel tees for fashionista kids and adults.

Through mid-August, Froggy’s also offers a daily Summer Camp with a different theme each week.

“I like making monsters out of paper and foamy paper.  I like making edible Play Doh,” said Nora, 6, who was creating at the Froggy’s camp.

“Froggy’s manages to be both kid-friendly and parent-friendly at the same time.  Usually kid places are, by design, loud and overpowering,” says her mom, Jill.  “At Froggy’s you can sit with your child and do art projects.  Or sit off to the side on the nice cozy couch and read.  I like being there as much as my six-year-old.”

Drop-in studio rates are $6 per hour plus the cost of the project.  (These range from $3-$10, with one or two projects slightly higher.)  Froggy’s offers a monthly membership which costs $55 per child with unlimited studio time, as well as a Rewards Program where you earn 5% back on all your Froggy’s purchases.

Froggy’s  two hour private birthday parties include full use of the studio and outside patio. The host can choose from many projects.  As a special treat, each guest decorates a square of a “Birthday Quilt” and Froggy’s assembles the quilt and gives it to the birthday child as a wonderful keepsake.

There’s plenty of free parking in the back as well as metered parking on Camarillo. And there’s wi-fi. What more do you need?

11332 Camarillo Street Toluca Lake, CA  (818) 980-3764(FROG)  Log onto www.froggysartsandcrafts.com for more information and upcoming events.

Carole Rosner is a native Valley Girl who has lived in Studio City for the past 11 years. She is a strong supporter of her local public schools and an active volunteer in her neighborhood. Some of her favorite things to do in Studio City are to celebrate 4th of July at CBS Radford, walk along Ventura Blvd. and browse through the racks at Crossroads Trading Company.

Sweet Candy Bliss in Valley Village

BY CAROLE ROSNER

You might not know it when you drive by, but there’s a shop near the corner of Magnolia Boulevard and Whitsett Avenue that’s a magical place. Step through the glass doors at this rather nondescript storefront and you will smell, taste, and experience the wonders of The Candy Factory. This unique neighborhood shop is celebrating 30 years in Valley Village and is one of the West Coast’s largest candy-making suppliers.

Filled to the brim with candy molds, colored chocolate, flavorings and gift boxes, The Candy Factory continues to be the place to go for the professional and amateur candy maker. Frank Sheftel, the owner since 1990 along with his parents Mel and Gloria, can teach you anything you need to know about molding your own chocolates.

The Candy Factory can also create distinctive treats for your special occasion. In addition to specialized molded chocolates (Frank made 1,000 chocolate pieces for Michael Jackson’s and Lisa Marie’s wedding party), The Candy Factory prints photos on kosher, edible rice paper that can be used on cakes, ice cream or candy. They can also print names and dates on satin ribbons and bows.

The Candy Factory offers more than ten colors of melting chocolate-easy-to-use chocolate discs which are ideal for making treats at home, for dipping fruits, or for filling a chocolate fountain. One- to four-pound bags cost $4.75 per pound; the more you buy, the more you save.

A private 90-minute party at The Candy Factory is every aspiring chocolatier’s dream. Before the party, the host selects four molds from the vast array of choices, as well as three colors of chocolate. When the guests arrive, each partygoer learns the tricks of the trade for molding the perfect piece of candy.

A chocolate party is messy but fun for the guests, and super-easy for the host. The guests can eat as much chocolate as they want, and trust me, they do! Each guest makes at least four molded chocolates and takes home whatever hasn’t been eaten in a printed box featuring the host’s name and photo. Cake and punch are included. An average-sized party is 15 guests and costs $22.50 per child plus tax and tip.

The Candy Factory is a gathering place, a teaching place, and a just-stop-by place. Frank Sheftel and his staff will help you celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, Quincineras and anything else you can imagine with chocolate. Or just come in for a chat and a free sample of chocolate. Yum!

The Candy Factory, 12508 Magnolia Blvd North Hollywood, CA 91607 (818) 766-8220 Closed Sundays for private parties; closed Mondays www.candyfactoryla.com

Carole Rosner is a native Valley Girl who has lived in Studio City for the past 11 years. She is a strong supporter of her local public schools and an active volunteer in her neighborhood. Some of her favorite things to do in Studio City are to celebrate 4th of July at CBS Radford, walk along Ventura Blvd. and browse through the racks at Crossroads Trading Company.