In L.A. we have to make our own winter sometimes, and one way to do that is to buy a chopped-down tree and prop it up in your living room. There are plenty of artificial options on the market that look great and can be used year after year, but if youre more interested in bringing a living plant straight from the farm to your living room, theres a lot to consider. Roadside stands selling trees are a dime a dozen, but can you be sure of how sustainably the trees were raised or transported? These seven tree farms, shops, and pop-ups promise trees that, in addition to looking great, have been grown and harvested with integrity, making them our top picks for where to buy a Christmas tree in L.A.

From the family behind popular Halloween pumpkin patch Mr. Bones comes holiday destination Mr. Greentrees, opening November 29. A wide variety of sizes will be available, all firs sourced from family-run tree farms in the Pacific Northwest. Other holiday decor needs are met, too, with an assortment of ornaments, decorations, wreaths, and more. 8950 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood.

This year-round family farm (founded in 1940!) goes all-out for the holidays. From November 29 to December 15, you can pick up a tree, stop by a holiday market, and shop a produce stand on grown-on-site seasonal veggies. Take a tour, and pose for pics with Santa or the Snow Queen (who strongly resembles a character from a popular movie that rhymes with Brozen). 5380 3/4 University Dr., Irvine.

Mr. Jingles operates two locations in L.A., in addition to six other locations, so you know youre dealing with a major player in the tree business. You can stop by one of the stands to buy your tree, wreaths, or garlands in person and bundle them up the old-fashioned wayor let the delivery and installation pros on staff handle that part for you. You can even order your tree online if you want the easiest (if less grammable) experience possible, and they can handle pickup and recycling, too. 11852 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. (open November 29); 1841 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood (open from November 28).

Online plant-delivery site Bloomscape wants you to consider a living tree that you can keep all year. They just launched shaggy, rustic Norfolk Pines in 46- to 52-inch ($195) or 14- to 18-inch ($65) sizes. Your selected tree will arrive at your doorstep in a stylish terracotta planter and some orders even include free twinkle lights. Non-toxic, pet-safe poinsettia alternatives are also available.

Shawns trucks six different varietals of firs down from Oregon to stock two L.A. pop-up locations starting on November 29. They offer setup and removal services, as well as California fire marshal-licensed flame retardant treatments. 3443 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Palms; 6020 W. Jefferson Blvd., Culver City.

Mark and Patricia Rohlfs started their own tree farm in Oregon in 1983 and became one of the founding members of the Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers. This year, customers can order their tree online, virtually shopping the lot by webcam. Opens November 29. 12901 Burbank Blvd., Valley Glen.

Christmas Tree Ranch is one of the few farms left in Los Angeles County where you can chop down your own tree. The U-Cut options include Monterey Pine, Aleppo Pine, Coast Redwood, Arizona Cypress, and Leyland Cypress. A number of Fir breeds are also stocked as precut trees. A vintage army Jeep ride will take adventurous choppers out in search of the perfect specimen. The ranches opens on November 29. 1586 Pederson Rd., Thousand Oaks; 3800 Cochran St., Simi Valley.

RELATED:Too Early for Christmas Music on the Radio? L.A.s All-Holiday Stations Dont Think So

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Where to Buy a Christmas Tree in LA: 7 Spots to Try in 2019 - LA Magazine

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. With the 40th anniversary year of its USA business now coming to a close, Kalaty Rug Corp. is seizing the opportunity to send a new message in the new year. The company is unveiling two new catalogs one of which marks a first for the company and is re-launching its website.

One catalog is a 400-page tome spotlighting the companys current line of top-shelf heirloom-quality rug collections, spanning traditional to transitional to modern styles, as well as featuring Kalatys three high-end decorative accent pillow collections and its designer-friendly custom-color rug program.

The second catalog represents Kalatys inaugural dedicated catalog for its newer, K-Two program, which comprises mid-tier and mass retail-focused products at more affordable price points. The offering encompasses 15 collections available in a range of design genres, weaves and constructions.

Both catalogs will roll out to customers next month, and print copies will be available for distribution at: Atlanta International Gift, Home & Area Rug Market Jan. 14-21 in Kalatys showroom space, 4-G-14 in Building 1 of the AmericasMart; and Las Vegas Market from Jan. 26-30 in its showroom in B-455 of the World Market Center.

Earlier this year, Kalaty began to oversee a vast website remodeling project. The results are now in, and Kalatys online presence has been retooled to include several new tools and tech features aimed at enhanced user-friendliness. As part of that effort, the company has also updated and added tools to its popular Kalaty app.

Not only is our newly updated Kalaty.com faster but visitors to our website will now find it easier to navigate with such new tools as the ability to click on any rug in the line and be able to see it in a variety of room settings, said Ariel Kalaty, a company spokesperson. And, in addition to updating our website, we have make major updates to our Kalaty app, one of our customers most popular and most often-utilized marketing and business tools.

Available for both Apple and Android devices, the app allows Kalaty dealers to explore the companys rug collections, access and check orders, make payments, track and check shipments, and communicate with the company.

Kalaty celebrated its 40th anniversary in the U.S. with several key milestones:

Not only did our return to High Point help us commemorate this important anniversary year but it also helped us send a strong message to existing and potential customers confirming our commitment to serving them at this all-important market, said Ramin Kalaty, company president. And, at the fall High Point market, Kalaty chose to present more new product than it has ever shown previously at High Point in order to further showcase the depth and breadth of our product line.

Cecile B. Corral is a senior editor with Home Textiles Today and is editor of luxury textiles supplement POSH. She also covers the area rug category for Furniture Today and Home Accents Today.

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Kalaty caps 40th anniversary with two new catalogs - Furniture Today

The continuation of a yearlong series

My hands are trembling all over this typewriter keyboard as the reaction sets in to a night of almost indescribable horror.

These were the opening words of the breaking news story written by Gardner native and Associated Press staffer Harry C. Glasheen, reporting of the events of 77 years ago this week in Boston one of the most horrific tragedies in the history of the commonwealth.

It was Nov. 28, 1942, the night of the devastating fire at Bostons Cocoanut Grove nightclub where some 492 people lost their lives and hundreds more were injured.

On that Saturday night, the club was jammed with approximately 1,000 occupants, many of whom were soldiers preparing to leave overseas for military duty. According to legend, a lighted match, used by a 16-year-old busboy dispatched to replace a light bulb, was the cause of the tragedy.

History has documented the tragic tale and the chaos that ensued, bodies stacked nearly four and five deep as the panic-stricken throng attempted to wedge through the clogged revolving doors. It was later learned that possibly 300 of those killed could have been saved had the doors been able to swing outward.

Glasheen, a newspaperman who worked previously out of Gardner, Springfield and Lowell, was the son of Henry and Mary Glasheen of Vernon Street and nephew of longtime Gardner High teacher Minnie Glasheen.

He worked in an era when the newspaper man did not just record the events that were happening, rather he became a part of the action as his first-person narrative was documented in the newspaper.

I can still hear the screams of the dying. I can still recall the stories of the living torches running wildly about, trying to get away from the swift-reaching flames and suffocating smoke, Glasheen wrote. I can still see those 30 or more bodies huddled on the floor of a garage, transformed into a morgue, some of them so horribly burned it will be difficult ever to identify them positively, he wrote.

Although the fire occurred some 50 miles east of Greater Gardner, this area did not escape its brushes with the tragic event.

Two former Baldwinville residents 27-year-old Bartlett P. Stuart and 40-year-old Clyde C. Clark both perished in the fire. Stuart was at the Grove attending a farewell dinner for a fellow worker from the Lynn General Electric plant, while Clark and his wife were both enjoying a night out on the town with their daughter, Ann Marie.

Clark and his wife, Mabel, both died from their injuries suffered in the fire, while their daughter was also injured but survived.

The nightclub, a former Prohibition-era speakeasy, was located at 17 Piedmont St. in what is now Bostons Bay Village neighborhood. Prior to the time of the fire, it had been expanded with the addition of a lounge that opened onto an adjacent street.

Decorated in tropical style, the restaurant, bars and lounges were adorned with flammable paper palm trees. It was learned after the tragedy that the place was a virtual fire trap. Cloth draperies covered the ceiling and other festive decorations obscured the exit signs.

Men and women were reported to have clawed through the smoke in an effort to get out of the building. Another exits panic bar had been welded shut while a large plate glass window, that could have provided another access out, was boarded up.

In the aftermath, bodies were found piled up behind the welded exit door. Still another exit was hidden by draperies. Autopsies indicated that, in addition to the fire itself, the leak of the refrigerant methyl chloride (also called xhloromethane) may have also contributed to the high death toll.

It was impossible to get through the entrance immediately because firemen and volunteers were coming out of the building in a staggering stream with the dead and dying, Glasheen continued. At first there was a shortage of stretchers and it was necessary to use overcoats to carry out the victims.

Former Gardner City Councilor William S. Tappin, a call member of the Gardner Fire Department, was one of the volunteer workers at the tragic scene. He and his wife had accompanied another couple to the Boston College-Holy Cross football game earlier that day. They were staying at the nearby Bradford Hotel when the fire alarm sounded.

Tappin and the other man left their wives at the hotel and rushed over to the Cocoanut Grove when the second alarm sounded, to help firemen pull hose lines from fire trucks.

The longtime veteran of many years with Engine 2 of the Gardner Fire Department said that the entire experience was the worst sight he had ever seen.

I half leaned over into the building to grasp bodies dragged to the window by firemen. These were hoisted through the window and onto waiting stretchers, Glasheen noted in his story. One Catholic priest asked me to notify him of any of the living. Of the 20 or more which I helped take out at this point I saw signs of life in only two. We covered one man who looked to be dead and as the blanket was pulled up over his face he shouted, Dont smother me.

However, in the face of this unspeakable tragedy there was also a miracle of sorts. That miracle came earlier in the day, although at the time it hung over Boston like an ominous cloud.

The nations No. 1-ranked college football team, Boston College, faced lowly Holy Cross in their annual rival game at Fenway Park. A victory by the unbeaten Eagles over the 4-4-1 Crusaders would send them to the Sugar Bowl game.

However, the gods did not smile down on B.C. that day or so it had appeared as Holy Cross came away with an improbable 55-12 victory; a real old-fashioned whipping.

As a result of that devastating loss, a disconsolate Boston College team canceled plans they had for a victory party. A large horseshoe table in the middle of the first-floor room of the Cocoanut Grove had been reserved for the expected victorious gathering.

Among the players on that Boston College team was Gardners John Dubzinski, captain of the 1939 Wildcat football team, whose life was spared that night. In addition, Johns brother, Walter, and his wife, Ruth, were in town for the game. B.C. alum Walt would have likely also joined in the proceedings had the Eagles been victorious.

Instead, the Boston College players opted to lick their wounds at a smaller venue, booking a rather sedate gathering at the Park Plaza Hotel.

From nearby East Templeton, Leon Fredette also attended the Boston College game that day and hoped to also celebrate the victory at the Grove. However, at the last minute the disappointed Eagles fan also canceled his reservation and decided to head for home.

When the last body was reported out, I looked around the room of the ground floor. It was shambles, Glasheen further reported. Chairs and tables were upended, crockery and glassware were strewn everywhere, the same as if a tornado had whistled through the room.

In the years following the fire, a reform of fire codes and safety standards across the country were enforced.

Laws were immediately enacted in public establishments to ban flammable decorations and inward-swinging exit doors. In addition, exit signs had to be visible at all times, and all revolving doors used for egress had to be flanked by at least one normal, outward-swinging door.

In 1993, in the Bay Village Neighborhood where the Cocoanut Grove once stood, a bronze memorial was set into the brick ground on Piedmont Street and dedicated where the club formerly existed.

It is a mute reminder of a very dark day in our states history and a sad chapter of one of the most tragic events ever experienced in these parts.

Next week: Pearl Harbor bombed (December 1941).

Comments and suggestions can be sent to Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or in writing to Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Road, Sandwich, MA 02563.

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Headlines of the Past - Nov. 30, 1942: Cocoanut Grove fire, local residents perish - Worcester Telegram

A

meristar East Chicago, which in spring 2018 invested $6 million to move its high-limit room into a dedicated land-based position, now introduced live table games and slots into the pavilion.

Citing an increase in customer traffic in the pavilion in the wake of the opening of the sportsbook in September, Ameristars Vice President and General Manager, Matt Schuffert, said that it made sense to bring traditional casino gaming closer to sports bettors.

Since the opening of our sportsbook in the pavilion on Sept. 1, we have seen a lot of new guests who spend time in the pavilion, Schuffert said, as reported by The Times of Northwest Indiana. It was another opportunity for us to bring gaming on land and put us in a better position to utilize our real estate.

The grand opening of the new addition took place Oct. 31 and was celebrated in a Halloween-themed setting. Four blackjack tables and one roulette table were brought in, along with 35 slot machines, which are positioned along the streetscape of the pavilion. The development capitalizes on the hub of activity in Ameristars pavilion, created not only by the addition of the sportsbook, but also Stadium Sports Bar & Grill and Burger Brothers restaurant.

We have been receiving positive feedback from our guests, who seem to appreciate bringing gaming closer to our sports bettors, Schuffert said. With our sportsbook located in the pavilion, there was a convenience perspective to take into account.

Under the present schedule, the table games open at 9 a.m. Friday through Sunday, the three biggest days for sports book traffic. Monday through Thursday theyll open later in the day at 5:30 p.m., however Schuffert did acknowledge that the times are flexible based upon demand. The tables will open with $10 and $15 minimum wagers.

There is room for expansion, Schuffert said. It has been in operation for less than a month, so well see how it performs and move forward from there.

Sports betting has been a boom for Ameristar. Of the total of $91.7 million wagered at the 10 sports betting locations in Indiana during the month of October, $46.17 million was generated by the East Chicago property.

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Ameristar East Chicago adds live table games and slots to its sportsbook pavilion - Yogonet International

The Cleveland Browns are in the midst of the playoff hunt. That fact alone is something I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. We have not had many Thanksgivings lately where we were in this position. So, there are a lot of things to be thankful for with the Browns. In this weeks film room, I will showcase some of the things I am thankful for on this Browns team.

Nick Chubbs Contact Balance

I am thankful for Browns running back Nick Chubbs contact balance. His ability to take on contact and continue to churn for more yards is at an elite level. There are not many in the NFL with this sort of ability. He is able to break tackles and gain more yardage after first, second or even third contact. The clip above is an example of this ability. Chubb catches the pass in the screenplay and runs upfield breaking two tackles and then carrying another defender for ten or so yards.

Jarvis Landrys Hands

I am thankful for wide receiver Jarvis Landrys hands. Landry has great hands to catch contested passes in close quarters. According to Pro Football Focus, Landry has three drops over the course of 92 targets this season. Landry has been the most productive and consistent receiver for the Browns this season. His hands are what make him a valued target. In the clips above, quarterback Baker Mayfield throws a back-shoulder pass to Landry on the sideline. The coverage is very tight, but Landry is able to catch the pass over the cornerbacks head and then hold onto the ball while the corner tries to knock it away.

Kareem Hunts Versatility

I am thankful for the versatility of running back Kareem Hunt. In three games, Hunt has 18 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 15 passes for 99 yards. He has been used all over the field as a running back, receiver and even a blocker. His versatility has allowed him to be used alongside Chubb. Hunt is a do-it-all back for the Browns right now. The video above shows this versatility. In the first play, Hunt is in the backfield for a handoff. He gets the handoff and almost immediately cuts to the outside to the right where he sees the edge open. He uses his speed to beat the entire defense around the edge for a touchdown. In the second play, Hunt is lined up in the left slotback spot. When the ball is snapped, Hunt crosses the formation and runs into the right flat to be a receiver in the pass play. He gets the pass from Mayfield and then uses his running ability to churn upfield for a nice gain.

Baker Mayfields Accuracy

I am thankful for quarterback Baker Mayfields accuracy. After an up and down beginning of the season, Mayfield has had a completion percentage of 64% or higher in every game since Week 8, except one game. He is completing accurate passes to every level of the field. He can throw open receivers with his accuracy. The clip above shows this ability. The first play sees Mayfield is rolling out of the pocket after he is unable to find a receiver early on in the play. He rolls to the sideline and sees Landry coming open toward the sideline. Mayfield is able to accurately throw the pass downfield while moving toward the sideline. The pass does not sail too far toward the sideline. It is thrown right in stride to Landry for a big completion. In the second play, Mayfield makes his best throw of the game. Mayfield does a play-action roll out to the left and sees Landry running an out route to the sideline. Mayfield is able to get rid of the ball right when Landry makes his break. He throws the pass while a rusher bears down on him and gets the ball over the underneath defender and into the perfect spot where only Landry can catch it.

Sheldon Richardsons Emergence

I am thankful for the emergence of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. Over the last several weeks, Richardson has been outstanding. As Cody Suek noted in his Wednesday post, Richardson has graded out as the second-best defensive tackle in the NFL from Weeks 9-12, according to Pro Football Focus. He has emerged on the defensive line in a time the line needed it with Myles Garrett out for the year. The video above shows his strong play versus Miami.

In the first clip, Richardson is on the right edge against this run play. He is able to make the run stop by avoiding the block and then tracking the running back inside where he is able to tackle the runner for a minimal gain. The second play shows his pass-rush ability, along with his playmaking ability and awareness. He starts by rushing from the center to the left guard, but he then sees the quarterback try to escape to the left. Richardson closes on the quarterback, forcing him back in the pocket, but before he does, Richardson gets a hand on the ball and causes the quarterback to drop it, causing the play to end in a sack. In the third play, Richardson again shows off his pass-rushing ability and awareness. After the snap, he is able to get some good push on his blocker, pushing him into the pocket. The quarterback decides to try to run, but Richardson sees it and is able to get off his block to make the tackle.

Also, Richardson is making a difference even when it doesnt show up on the stat sheet. In the fourth play, he is able to get in the passing lane of the quarterback, causing the quarterback to halt his intentions and then rush his actions to find another pass. This causes an incompletion. In the final play, Richardson is rushing up the middle, penetrating the middle of the protection. The rush causes the quarterback to rush his pass and throw the ball inaccurately for an incompletion.

Joe Schoberts Playmaking

I am thankful for linebacker Joe Schoberts playmaking ability. Schobert has been really good this season, especially over the last couple of games. In a defense that needed playmakers, Schobert has shown to be one for the unit. In 2019, he has 97 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, nine passes defended and four interceptions. He has had those four interceptions over the course of the past two games. He is seemingly always around the ball and in the right place to make the play. He is making game-changing plays for this defense and it doesnt always have to be a turnover forced. In the video above, Schobert shows off his playmaking ability. Both plays are interceptions where Schobert was able to make the pick because he was in the right spot. He is in the right spot to make the plays.

Olivier Vernons Soon-to-be Return

I am thankful for the soon-to-be return of edge rusher Olivier Vernon. Vernon has been out injured over the past three weeks. With the loss of edge rusher Myles Garrett to suspension for the rest of the season, Vernon is very much needed to come back and be a game-changer on the edge in Garretts absence. Vernon has not filled the stat sheet like Garrett, but he has still been good this season. His return will be a huge addition to the defensive line. The clip above is an example of what Vernon can do. In the play, he is able to quickly beat the tackle around the left edge and then show good bend to get to the quarterback for the sack.

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What I'm thankful for on the Browns: Browns Film Room - Waiting For Next Year

Cats and kittens on the North Shore will have a new place to go with the opening of North Shore Animal League AmericasBiancas Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center.

The latest major addition to the leagues headquarters in Port Washington, the center comprises a newly constructed second floor, where over a dozen rooms allow rescued cats to wander in cage-less surroundings.

Joanne Yohannan, senior vice president of operations for North Shore Animal League, said the addition is not meant to be evoke a traditional shelter.

This is more of a habitat for cats, so to be able to have the opportunity to provide a natural, stress-free environment for the cats is just great, Yohannan said.

The Bianca in Biancas Furry Friends is Bianca Stern, the late bulldog of Beth Ostrosky Stern and her husband, radio broadcaster Howard Stern. Upon the dogs death in 2012, Beth Ostrosky Stern, a frequent foster parent and adopter of North Shore rescues, approached Yohannan with an idea.

She said to me, Joanne, I want to do something special for Bianca in her memory,' Yohannan said.

The same year, North Shore received hundreds of animals displaced by Hurricane Sandy and the cages in the cat rooms became full. Stern and Yohannan thought up a cage-less solution, one that would allow rescues to roam around in rooms equipped with beds, litter boxes, scratching poles and structures to climb.

Beth and I wanted big windows, natural sunlight, we wanted an airy, bright feeling with high ceilings, we wanted it to be peaceful, Yohannan said. Cats always get overlooked, and oftentimes in animal shelters, theyre the first to die, and we wanted to change how they lived.

Stern then spearheaded a capital campaign for North Shore that raised over $12 million. It took six years to raise funds, acquire permits and construct the new addition.

The resulting structure, built by Clearwater, Florida-based Bacon Group Inc., is a 14,000 square foot, 12-room floor that houses over 100 cats and kittens.

Donors included Northwell Health lifetime trustee Sandra Atlas Bass of Great Neck, as well as other prominent names.

Singer-songwriter Billy Joel donated the proceeds from his 65th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden, according to Yohannan. His donation saw the addition of two themed rooms, with one including a functioning piano and another themed to New York City. Celebrity chef Rachael Ray, a longtime supporter of animal rescue organizations, was surprised last month on her daily TV show with her own room in the facility, which has a wooden tree with climbing-friendly limbs stretching across the walls.

Its not easy to raise the money, and I dont think it could have happened if the Sterns hadnt spearheaded the capital campaign, Yohannan said. They opened many doors to many of their friends, and thats really what catapulted us to making this dream a reality.

The Hallmark Channel, which borrows cats from North Shore for its annual Kitten Bowl, also sponsored a cat habitat room, which Yohannan said will host viewing parties for the event, which airs a few hours before the Super Bowl each year.

Other rooms are dedicated to Julia Belle Mason, a Make-A-Wish child whose wish for a kitten was granted by the league, and the Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust, which provided funds for a feline nursery.

The addition also provided positives for the non-felines at North Shore, Yohannan says, with the dogs continuing to be housed on the first floor.

It not only benefited cats and kittens, but also dogs and puppies because now weve opened up more space to rescue more animals, Yohannan said.

She added that the centers improvements may set a standard for fellow shelters.

This could be a model for other organizations, so that if theyre doing expansions or want to have a capital campaign, its a nice model to follow to have habitats instead of cages, Yohannan said.

Next for the league will be the seventh annual Kitten Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 2, on the Hallmark Channel, and in May the Global Adopt-A-Thon, which will see the center unite with 2,000 shelters across the world to stay open for over 36 hours and offer 700 animals for adoptions.

Those in the Port area who enjoy animals but cant adopt are also welcome, Yohannan said.

Come for a visit, even if you dont want to adopt, she said. Even if you just want to see whats going on and socialize with the cats and dogs. The more interaction they get, the better a chance for adoption they have.

The rest is here:
North Shore sees opening of cat addition - Featured - The Island Now

Sausalito | $999,000A floating house built in 1965, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms

Part of a community of 480 homes anchored in Richardson Bay, this three-level floating house has been remodeled in the last two years, with a new roof, kitchen, guest bathroom, furnace and interior paint. It is on Kappas Marina East Pier, with views of Mount Tamalpais. Restaurants, an organic grocery store, a private kindergarten-through-12th-grade school, banks, a post office and the Heath Ceramics factory and shop are all within a mile of the home. A Safeway supermarket is one highway exit northwest, in Mill Valley. Mail is deposited in a locked box at the entrance to the dock, and packages are delivered directly to the door.

Size: 1,288 square feet

Price per square foot: $776

Indoors: The main floor has the original oak-strip floors, a beamed ceiling and walls with bead-board trim. The kitchen has checkerboard linoleum floor tiles, granite countertops, a ceramic farmhouse sink, new stainless steel appliances and a pantry. It is opposite a long, built-in banquette.

Beyond the kitchen is a living room, with sliding-glass doors opening to a rear deck with an awning. The renovated bathroom on this level has a walk-in shower with white subway-tile walls and a navy hexagonal-tile floor. Storage is cunningly built into bathroom niches and under the central staircase.

The daylighted lower level includes a master bedroom with a sisal carpet and an en suite bathroom surfaced in Tuscan-style stone tile. A wall composed of multipaned windows divides the bedroom from an adjacent sitting room. A small office off the master bathroom is lined in shelves.

The narrow top level has a trapezoidal bedroom with drawers built into the bed.

Outdoor space: In addition to the front porch and rear deck, there is an upper side deck reached by climbing out of a large window. Views extend to the Sausalito headlands and San Francisco. The property comes with a private dock for storing and launching a kayak, as well as a pass to the community parking lot, where there are unassigned spaces. On this particular dock, dogs are not permitted unless they are service animals. Cats are allowed.

Taxes: $12,488 (estimated), plus an approximately $1,200 monthly docking fee

Contact: Michele Affronte, Engel & Vlkers Sausalito, 415-798-0236; micheleaffronte.evrealestate.com

Completed in April, this two-story property just east of the Little Tuscany neighborhood is part of a development that will ultimately have 14 houses. Unlike many Palm Springs homes, this one has no homeowner association restrictions or fees, and you can own the land. It is within walking distance of much of downtown, including the Riviera Palm Springs and Arrive Palm Springs hotels (both half a mile south). Solar panels allow for reduced electricity costs.

Size: 2,213 square feet

Price per square foot: $450

Indoors: The house has a front yard landscaped with drought-resistant plants and is surrounded by a concrete privacy wall inset with glass blocks.

The living room has nine-foot ceilings, 24-inch-square white-porcelain floor tile and LaCantina glass doors that fold for access to the backyard, with its swimming pool and hot tub.

The kitchen has a stainless steel sink, Viking appliances and soft-close cabinetry with quartz countertops. An island that seats four separates it from the dining area. A laundry room with a sink and extensive cabinetry is downstairs, as well.

A glass-sided staircase leads to the second floor, where there are three bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom. The master has sliding-glass doors that open to a private balcony. The master bathroom includes double sinks, a walk-in shower with a rain shower head and a stand-alone tub. One of the guest bedrooms also has its own balcony, and all of the rooms have unobstructed mountain views.

Outdoor space: An outdoor fireplace is embedded in a wall of a covered deck in the pool area. Parking is in a two-car garage at the base of the house, behind a gridded glass door.

Taxes: $12,438 (estimated)

Contact: David Whitworth, Jesse Huskey or Romina Gil de Matos, Compass, 760-668-3483; davidjesseromina.com

Built several years after the 1849 gold rush, this house was originally associated with leaders of the Know Nothing anti-immigration movement. Its first occupant was Selden A. McMeans, the California state treasurer. J. Neely Johnson gave a speech from the balcony after being elected Californias fourth governor. And David Smith Terry bought it in 1856, the year before he became chief justice of California State and three years before he shot and killed a United States senator in a duel. The house was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

It is in the Alkali Flat neighborhood, next to J. Neely Johnson Park and five blocks northwest of Sacramento City Hall and the heart of downtown.

Size: 2,500 square feet

Price per square foot: $394

Indoors: The house has been enlarged over the decades: rear balconies were enclosed and indoor plumbing was added in the 1880s, and structural renovations were undertaken in the 1930s, 1970s, 2011 and 2017. The furnishings are being sold with the property.

Beyond the double front porch, the main door opens to a long hallway with maple flooring. To the right is a pair of parlors with decorative marble fireplaces topped by gilt-framed mirrors and swag plaster molding encircling the upper walls.

The kitchen was renovated with wood floors and suspended upper cabinetry, a stainless steel range with a quilted metal backsplash and an adjacent butlers pantry with a wide refrigerator and freezer and additional storage.

The formal dining room next to the kitchen includes parquet floors with an inlaid border; it is connected to a nook with a wet bar. A projector and retractable screen allow the dining room to double as an audiovisual presentation room.

The four upstairs bedrooms include a master with a fireplace (within it is a glowing electrical feature) and a door opening to the balcony. (This is one of two bedrooms that are not served by the central heating system.) The en suite bathroom has a bathtub, a bidet and a stone-topped vanity. A space used as a family room is connected to a bathroom with a combined tub and shower and could serve as another bedroom suite.

Outdoor space: Next to the house, a glass pavilion installed by the current owner holds a resistance swimming pool. A one-story covered porch extends from the back of the house. A paved area is used for parking. The owner, who is an architect, has drawn up schematic plans for a garage on the property.

Taxes: $12,313 (estimated). The house qualifies for a California Mills Act property tax exemption if approved by the city of Sacramento.

Contact: Liz Edmond or David Philipp, Lyon Real Estate, 916-838-1208; golyon.com

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$1 Million Homes in California - The New York Times

Share This Article:The library will host a grand re-opening Nov. 25, 2019. Photo credit: @TierrasantaLibrary, via Facebook

City officials will celebrate the grand reopening of theTierrasanta branch library Monday following a $1.6 million expansion.

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The ribbon-cutting will include music, face painting, balloon animals, refreshments and crafts.

The project features a patio with a wall garden. Local resident and philanthropist ArtGetis supported the patio addition in honor of Judy, his late wife.

The library also has a new reading nook with updated USB and power outlets, and a new seminar room. In addition, the librarys community room was expanded and the building was updated with new paint, carpet and remodeled bathrooms.

The branch opened in 1984.

In a statement, council member Scott Sherman expressed his gratitude to Getis for his contribution. The new and extensive renovations will drastically improve services forTierrasantafamilies, he said.

Staff reports

Tierrasanta Library to Celebrate $1.6 Million Facelift to 35-Year-old Building was last modified: November 25th, 2019 by Editor

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Tierrasanta Library to Celebrate $1.6 Million Facelift to 35-Year-old Building - Times of San Diego

Listing of the Day

Location: Kensington, London

Price: 9.95 million (US$12.81 million)

This new, opulently outfitted townhouse in Londons chic Kensington neighborhood, which is under contract, is a bit like a luxury resort.

Contracts were exchanged in early November, and the deal is expected to be completed in the new year, according to Jack Russell, a director and negotiator of house sales for Russell Simpson. He said that that sale price was close to the asking price.

Developed by Onyx London, the house, which replaced an apartment building, is a traditional Georgian style that blends with the rest of the residences in the neighborhood.

"The exterior fits seamlessly within the character of the street," said Hattie Russell, sales negotiator for Russell Simpson, adding that it was short-listed for design et al magazines 2019 International Design & Architecture Awards. "Yet inside, you find all the amenities and quality you would expect from a modern development."

She said its proximity to good schools, parks, restaurants and shopping area will attract a family seeking a central location in the city and its gracious spaces make it an ideal entertaining venue.

The courtyard garden, she added, blends the indoors and outdoors. "The windows and doors all open into it," she said.

"The lift and the leisure amenities, including the pool, are not features that are found in the older properties in the neighborhood," she added.

More: History Buffs Will Appreciate This Five-Bedroom House in Berkshire, England

Stats

The seven-story, 6,321-square-foot townhouse has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, five reception rooms, a garage and a patio.

Amenities

The house has the features of a luxury resort, complete with a mini-spa. Its basement-level "wellness" floor includes a swimming pool, an air-conditioned gym, a Jacuzzi and steam room as well as an entertainment space.

It also has an elevator, a floating glass staircase that has polished wood steps, a plant room, and a media room with bespoke walnut acoustic paneling that is wired for a home-cinema system with surround sound. Its lighting, underfloor heating, air conditioning and audio-visual systems are operated by touchscreens and iPad Minis. In addition, theres an elite security system.

The formal reception room, which offers access to the garden, is designed for entertaining, and the master suite is clad in hand-selected gold-veined Sivec marble and features a walk-in wardrobe paneled in bespoke wood veneer.

More: Maseratis Makeover: New Cars to Carry on 100 Years of Heritage

Neighborhood Notes

The upscale Kensington neighborhood is appointed with Victorian homes and elaborate embassy buildings. The bespoke boutiques of Kensington High Street and Knightsbridge are within walking distance.

The property is right around the corner from Kensington Palace, home of Kate Middleton and Prince William, as well as other royals, and Kensington Gardens, a 270-acre public park. Hyde Park and Holland Park also are nearby.

Listing agent: Hattie Russell, Russell Simpson

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A Resort-Like Townhouse in Londons Luxe Kensington - Mansion Global

As an alternative to Thanksgiving food, owners can give their pets their own treat or safe chew toy away from the food preparation and dinner

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Thanksgiving is a special holiday that brings together a few of our favorite thingsfamily, friends, and food. While your furry friend may be an important member of the family, its important to remember there are some traditions Fido shouldnt take part in this Thanksgiving.

According to Kit Darling, infection control coordinator at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, food outside of your pets routine diet is likely to cause digestive upset, and there are several holiday foods that are hazardous to pets.

Some rich foods may cause digestive problems or pancreatitis, she said. Do not allow your pets to ingest turkey skin or dark meat, turkey bones, garlic, sage, onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, chocolate, bread dough, or the artificial sweetener xylitol.

Turkey and ham bones cause choking hazards and can splinter in the digestive tract, which could lead to an unplanned holiday trip to the emergency room. Fully cooked and boneless ham or turkey meat is OK to feed pets; however, owners should avoid feeding them anything with excess fat or seasoning.

As an alternative to Thanksgiving food, owners can give their pets their own treat or safe chew toy away from the food preparation and dinner, Darling said.

Owners can stick to their pets typical diet by mixing a bowl of their normal food with lean, boneless and skinless pieces of turkey or ham. Fresh vegetables such as green beans or sweet potatoes will also make a great addition to your pets Thanksgiving feast.

Owners should also keep an eye on special holiday displays, which may attract the attention of your pet, as well. Pets should be kept away from pine cones, decorative flowers and plants, candles, and electrical cords.

In addition, visitors can upset your pets, leaving them stressed or anxious during the holiday. A solution for this is to keep pets in a quiet room or crate with a treat or toy, according to Darling.

Thanksgiving can be stressful for you and your pets, with changes in their routine, visitors, and travel, she said. Remember to give your pet attention and provide them with a safe place to retreat to if things get too loud or intense. Before the holiday, it may be beneficial to give your pet the opportunity to be around people of all ages.

When visitors arrive or leave, Darling reminds owners to secure their pets to prevent them from running or sneaking out of the house. If your pet does happen to make a run for it, identification tags and microchips with current contact information will play a major role in their return home.

By following these simple precautions, you can ensure your pet remains safe and happy this November. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, your pet will be forever thankful that you kept them healthy for the holiday season.

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How To Keep Your Pets Healthy And Safe This Thanksgiving - Texas A&M University