For the love of tacos, margaritas, friendship, parties with people you’ve never met and photography. Not really in that order. Before leaving Palm Springs my friend Tammy invited me to talented photographer Gary Dorothy’s amazing garden + outdoor space to celebrate the sweet 16 year anniversary of his gorgeous gallery Imageville. I admired a piece she and her husband David have of his in their home. It’s obvious that Gary also has a good eye for party detail. Complete with tended Margarita bar and a help yourself to tacos smorgasbord. And any Mexican-theme party would be totally incomplete without Bichon Frise piñatas right? Exactly. Simply divine!
Image: Gary Dorothy Photography
This from California’s Prestige Magazine Palm Springs Life:
You think you’ve seen our mountains, palm trees, architecture, and iconic places. Then you see Gary Dorothy’s photographs and realize you haven’t really seen them after all. The owner of Imageville — his gallery in downtown Palm Springs (La Plaza) has a curious eye that sees the desert from a different perspective.
Gary Dorothy Photography
I also wanted to include the Palm Springs Modern-style
home to convey what we who live here see in most neighborhoods, period pieces that reflect a simpler time long past but somehow preserved here in this unusual desert town. – Gary Dorothy
We already know they’re more dog friendly than most places in and around Palm Springs but here’s a place where you can actually work out with your pooch. It’s called Venus de Fido and it’s in Palm Desert. I mean I’m not sure my two are up for pilates or anything like that, but Layla is bugging me to get a membership to this place.
Not only that, but they have a specialty retail doggy boutique that’s dedicated to offering stylish, high-quality, unique products. After your work-out you can check out the fashion-forward designer apparel, carriers, accessories, eco-friendly grooming and spa care products, novelty toys, premium pet foods, treats to share and other fabulous dog gifts and goodies. Oh; now I see…that’s probably what Layla really wants.
Fido & You Fitness Class
The Fido & You fitness class combines light cardio, with yoga and core strengthening exercise for you while providing agility and trick training for your dog. You can check out Fitness Class/Workshop Calendar for dates and times.
These classes are reason enough to move to Palm Desert:
Make Over Monday – All Day Spa Special and Happy Hour (4-6p)
I don’t know why they call them “Standard” Poodles when they’re anything but Ordinary.
I first heard about the Standard Poodle Club of the Desert at Poochellawhere I take my dogs for grooming.
The SPCD is a social club that is comprised of over 350 poodles and their people. They have meet-ups once a month from November through April to promenade oodles of poodles in a walk along El Paseo in Palm Desert. Then everyone meets for breakfast.
Pet Companion MagazinePet Companion Magazine
The goal is to socialize and share their love of the breed with the community. And it is a sight to see. I thought I would check it out even though my preference runs towards shelties.
After all, poodles are sought after canine companions, known for their intelligence, hypoallergenicstylish coat and good nature.
Fun fact: the poodle of yesteryear was originally used as a hunting dog in Germany.
Michael Sporn Animation
To properly walk them, you have to look as good as they do.
I never had a Standard Poodle. As a kid we had two miniature poodles. Maybe because I was tiny at the time. Pom Pom, the male, was black. Trixie, the female, was white. People usually conjure up images of poodles elegantly prancing around a show ring. My mom had ours coiffed but never in a show ring. Although at the time they did run the show & appeared pretty high maintenance.
Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods.
Christopher Hitchens, The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever
Natasha (Tasha for short) is the new addition to my friend Rosa’s life. And you can bet she’s a princess. So is the cat.Jia Jia models a gift from uncle Michael
Not to be outdone by Layla who definitely has attitude.
Just give me a comfortable couch, a dog, a good book, and a woman. Then if you can get the dog to go somewhere and read the book, I might have a little fun. – Groucho Marx
My friend went to Cuba and all she brought back was this fine bunch of Cubans. They’re called Brisas del Palmar.
If you live in Vancouver you have the opportunity to watch them perform this evening. I’ve seen them before – they’re amazing! In Vancouver for one concert only before returning back to Cuba for Fall/Winter is EL GRUPO CUBANO – BRISAS del PALMAR.
Fresh from engagements in Victoria: these Cuban musical ambassadors have performed for the Pope and granted diplomatic passports to represent Cuba in international music competitions. Their traditional music and danceable tunes are featured daily on the nationally broadcast Radio Taino. Their winter engagements include Bodequita del Medio, the Havana bar made famous by Ernest Hemingway! Yes, I’ve been there too. And yes, I had a daiquiri (a temporary departure from mojitos). Havana little more:
Where: St. James Hall – 3214 West 10th Ave., Vancouver, B.C.
When: Friday, October 13th at 8 pm. They start on time. Doors open at 7:30.
Mixing together Fun & Fashion. Since I loved the movie, the models and Dolly Parton:
On the final day of the New York Spring collections, director Charlotte Wales and Fashion Editor Jorden Bickham asked Kate Upton, Joan Smalls, Elsa Hosk, and a crew of their catwalking pals to come to work at the Vogue offices. How to wear the new officewear was the immediate challenge. How to navigate a corporate tower while retaining a fierce sense of style was the actual heart of the matter.
For those of you not familiar, she was the original ROCK CHICK!
A muse ing
Anita Pallenberg, Actress and Longtime Paramour of Keith Richards who passed away in June of this year at the age of 73. I bet she had some good stories to tell being that she was the ‘It’ Girl to the Stones. Why has she not written a book?
How blonde can you be?
You know those blonde jokes…well I think this is as far as I want to go!
Feelin very rock ‘n roll in these photos taken by my hairdresser (who decided to make me even more unnaturally blonder than before) because he felt I needed some lightening up.
The Party’s Over! The very last sunny summer day – Friday, September 15thA corner of my deckMy summer blue polish
Say Hello to:
Fall ClothingOutside Heaters if you’re lucky (at Lift, Vancouver)Hearty Dishes (this is Tavola on Robson, Vancouver). Whole Seabass & GnocchiDifferent DessertsMaybe some dancing here and there
SUMMERhas officially arrived in all its sunny glory. Here is how I celebrated the very first day.
Not exactly diving into the first day but still enjoying the pool and wondering where have all the ducks gone?A girly get together for another birthday celebration. L-R Sylvain, Louise #2, Rosa, Louise #1 (birthday girl), hostess Colleen (in her stunning garden).Rosa & Jia Jia. I’m so relieved he didn’t jump fall into the pool like he once did in Las Vegas.
Louise, Colleen, mango cake & local strawberries Shady Lady Selfie (RAEN, LA Durante Sunglasses from Summer Box of Style; yeah! – gotta get my plug in)
Before leaving Palm Springs my friend Tammy invited me to talented photographer Gary Dorothy’s amazing garden + outdoor space to celebrate the sweet 16 year anniversary of his gorgeous gallery Imageville. I admired a piece she and her husband David have of his in their home. It’s obvious that Gary also has a good eye for party detail. Complete with tended Margarita bar and a help yourself to tacos smorgasbord. And any Mexican-theme party would be totally incomplete without Bichon Frise piñatas right? Exactly. Simply divine!
I’ve seen them before – they’re amazing! In Vancouver for one concert only before returning back to Cuba for Fall/Winter is EL GRUPO CUBANO – BRISAS del PALMAR.
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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