February 2009 Update

As you can tell, I'm dipping my toes into "social media".

Several of you have sent e-mails over the past year or so encouraging me to make the move to a BLOG, so here it is!!! I appreciate all of your feedback and comments, but most of all, I enjoy hearing how many of you are supporting the businesses highlighted below. Grassroots marketing and supporting friends with their dreams is AWESOME.

You all inspire me...please continue to help each other out.

1. RESERVOIR RESTAURANT (www.silverlakereservoir.com) – good friends, Anne & Darren Roberts, are opening a new restaurant in the Silver Lake area the first week of March. It’s located at 1700 Silverlake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026. reservoir offers “seasonal California rustic cuisine” and should be amazing.

Gloria Felix, Chef/Owner: Graduated from the prestigious California School of Culinary Arts- Le Cordon Bleu Program in 2001. She has worked at top restaurants in Los Angeles, including Vida, Lucques, AOC, Grace, Jar & Blair's.

Darren Roberts, General Manager/Owner: Darren has been on the opening team of over a dozen restaurants with different concepts and corporate cultures. Early in his 20 year career in the restaurant industry, he came to realize that restaurant patrons don’t frequent restaurants only to be fed, but to have an experience. He has since been mastering customer service.

Check out the following write-ups:
http://www.foodgps.com/review/reservoir-details-and-opening-menu-revealed/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/02/reservoir-forme.html


2. IT’S GREAT TO BE DIFFERENT BOOK (www.itsgreattobedifferent.com) – George Fisher has co-authored a great little book:

“What’s it like growing up and feeling different? Whether you are a tall banana, a little grape or just round all over, we all want to fit in. Sometimes it takes someone a bit wiser to show us why being different is great.”


3. MICHELANGELO THE DIVER BOOK (www.thedreamdiver.com) – Dana Cammandatore is the mother of a boy named Michelangelo. Our daughter Julia and Michelangelo were in the same pre-K class when we were in LA. Dana wrote this amazing story about her autistic son and his trip to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA. Here is Dana’s dedication:

“When my son, Michelangelo, was diagnosed with autism I was worried that all my dreams would disappear. I was wrong. He constantly inspires and challenges me to help him realize his dreams. He wants to be a scuba diver when he grows up. T his story is dedicated to all the parents who need to remind themselves to keep dreaming and to “Andy the Diver” for giving Michelangelo something to dream about.”


4. PROTOTYPES (www.prototypes.org) – a friend from the Pepperdine MBA Program, Cassandra Loch, is the CEO of PROTOTYPES. Many of you know my passion for helping people, well Cassandra and her team are doing just that. If you’re looking for a worthwhile organization to donate to or help out, take a few minutes and check out PROTOTYPES.

“PROTOTYPES provides treatment services in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, trauma, health issues, domestic violence, and reentry and prevention, outreach, and education services to women, children and families. PROTOTYPES also provides training, technical assistance, consultation and research. With a 20 million dollar budget and nearly 300 staff members, PROTOTYPES serves over 15,000 high risk women and families each year.”

5. LAYOVER (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1001521/) - April Wright, a long time friend has recently completed another film in which she not only wrote, but also the directed. Her film won the Silver Lei Award for Filmmaking Excellence in the Honolulu International Film Festival and is showing at the Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills on Thursday, April 2nd at 7:30pm.

6. BUYABARGAIN.COM (www.BuyABargain.com) - a friend from Sony Pictures, Ken Cheney and his friend Ross Jensen, have recently launched their long awaited dream business. Buyabargain.com is an online retailer bringing to you music CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray, computer software, video games, electronics, apparel, beauty products, toys, etc. Buyabargain.com has partnered with Amazon.com, as an authorized Amazon Affiliate to ease your mind about online fraud. Once you have chosen a product you will be able to create or use an existing Amazon.com account to complete your purchase. With the security of Amazon's secure checkout process you can feel confident that your personal information is safe and secure.

7. BURLANE PHOTOGRAPHY (www.burlanephotography.com) - a friend from Sony Pictures, Ginni Burch, has started her own photography company. Ginni is located in Orange County and is "infatuated" with taking pictures. Contact Ginni if you know anyone that is having or has had a baby, is getting married, graduating from high school or may just want to have some family photos taken.

8. COAST CAPITAL GROUP (www.coastcapitalgroup.com) - Todd Fite is a long time friend from back in our Babe Ruth baseball days. We all are commpletely aware that the current economy is tough right now. But if you or someone you know is looking to refinance or purchase a new home, Todd can help. Call him at 310-350-5679.

9. NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL FINANCIAL NETWORK (http://www.todd-tripp.com/) - Todd Trip and I met several months back to discuss some financial planning options, etc. He's a talented and straightforward guy...and he's a Trojan! During our conversation, Todd mentioned that he is hiring...that's right - HE'S HIRING. He's located in Irvine and is looking for highly talented sales representatives with high energy and drive, a self employment mindset, competitive yet coachable, and looking for a long term career. Contact Todd directly if you are interested.