Wishing you a Happy Easter!

Photo of chocolate eggs in the window of Laduree, Paris, courtesy of Claudia of The Paris Apartment, who is there right now! We are so envious Claudia!! Visit her blog to see her lovely photos and daily Paris excursions!

Have a Happy Easter!

Save the Tonga!

The Tonga in its Mid century heyday (above)

The Tonga Room in the Fairmont Hotel has been a landmark of San Francisco since 1945 and is one of the most authentic examples of faux Polynesian design in the country. My first memory of the Tonga is of my parents taking me there when I was 10 years old. We went to the symphony and what a treat to have a bite at the Tonga after! With its fancy drinks with tiny umbrellas, to a live band floating on a pool (thunderstorms included), the Tonga Room is the epitome of kitsch at its finest!

menu photo from arkivatropika.com

After years of service, The Tonga may be demolished to make way for condominiums. The Fairmont’s owners have submitted plans for a condo conversion in an adjacent tower and rumor has it that the Tonga won't survive. This is really sad as it's happening all over. Take the Plaza Hotel in NYC. Certainly not the same since the condo conversion.

"A gleaming dance floor provides space for guests to dance; little do they realize that it was originally the deck of the S.S. Forrester, one of the last of the tall ships that plied the route between San Francisco and the South Sea Islands."

I am so saddened by the possibility of losing this gem! The Tonga Room deserves to be designated a protected historic site, like other treasured buildings. These special buildings and sites give San Francisco its historical and cultural value that draws visitors from around the world and makes the city an amazing place to live. So, from a San Franciscan that wants to "Save the Tonga", please visit their website for updates and sign the petition here.

Thank you!!

Happy Passover to all who celebrate! Have a wonderful seder!

a few of my Favorite Things...

As an antiques dealer, I'm constantly asked, "How do you part with this?" That's a good question. I think most of us started out as collectors and have a difficult time selling our acquisitions. I only purchase what I like, so it's really hard to sell it. And unique items are becoming more difficult to find, so it's even tougher!

I thought I'd share some favorite finds that I can't part with. At least for now...

I recently acquired this old silverplate chatelaine notebook from the "Grand Restaurant" in Brussels. It has so much detail...I'm crazy for it!

the menu printed on the back...how cute it that?

AND it's a note pad. Never seen one like it before. It's a keeper...

I LOVE vintage trophies and have a small collection of them. This one reads, "Awarded to Parisian Cloak Company for Best Dressed Store Window." I use it for fresh flowers...

and this 1930's trophy from the Catskill Mountains for a "Bathing Beauty Contest"

I stumbled upon these 19th century mercury glass apothecary jars at a flea market. I was planning on selling them, but I have to hang on to them for awhile...

I found this French top hat with a prize ribbon and it must stay...

Then there are my San Francisco collections, such as this antique souvenir cup...

...and my prized oil paintings of San Francisco. Over the years I have amassed about 8 paintings of the Cliff House and Golden Gate Bridge. Some are really small and charming. They are all done by amateur artists, and that makes them even more special...

Many years ago I purchased this colorful, whimsical oil painting of a tourist in Paris. It's so quirky...

another painting that I cherish, c. 1960's...

I purchased this huge map at a San Francisco antiques store...

My Great-Grandfather was a woodcarver in San Francisco and carved for many of the churches, as well as Hearst Castle at San Simeon. These are just a couple of relics of his that I treasure. I found them in my aunt's basement...

This old French vanity piece was given to me by a dear friend and holds a special place...

I love anything hotel-related, so I flipped when I found this old wooden room sign at an antiques show. It is permanently glued to the second bedroom door, so I guess it's staying!

Thanks for letting me play "show and tell."

What are some "favorite things" that you can't part with? I'd love to hear! If you have any photos to share, please e-mail them and I'll post on this blog!

Play Date Friday

I'm exhausted from an estate sale I went to yesterday, so I skipped today, thus, no "Estate Sale Friday" post. But the good news is that Vito had his poodle friend, Alfie, over for a play date. Alfie's Mom is Lisa from Willa Home & The Pickled Hutch, which I will be blogging about as soon as I get great shots of the store.

I think I have more fun watching the dogs play than they do playing. I couldn't resist posting these photos...Alfie's so happy, he's smiling...

Best Friends Forever (Alfie left, Vito right)

A Favorite Blog: Paris Atelier

It is a treat to post about one of my favorite blogs, Paris Atelier. California-based Judith Borello lived in Paris for a number of years and returned back to the states to share some of her fabulous “Parisian” stories with us.

Her blog has the most wonderful eye-candy! From Marie Antoinette and Versailles, to 18th century interior design and fashion, Judith whisks you away to 18th century Paris.

stunning French chandeliers...

Blogging allows Judith to share her love of travel, literature, art, cultures, beauty, simplicity, people, anything handmade, anything vintage and antique, and new adventures.

...mouth-watering shots of the Paris Flea Markets are some of my favorite posts on Paris Atelier...

If you love Marie-Antoinette, Judith shares some wonderful stories on her blog...

Crowns...crowns...crowns...aren't they lovely?

Judith comes from a very long line of interior designers and is in the process of starting an online boutique. We can’t wait Judith!

So, grab a cup of tea, get cozy in your favorite chair, and visit Paris Atelier!

Photos courtesy of Paris Atelier

Happy April Fool's Day! Poisson d'Avril!

There's some uncertainty about when and where this­ bizarre tradition began, but the most accepted explanation traces April Fools' Day back to 16th century France. Up until 1564, the accepted calendar was the Julian calendar, which observed the beginning of the New Year around April. According to "The Oxford Companion to the Year," King Charles IX then declared that France would begin using the Gregorian calendar, which shifted New Year's Day to January 1.

Not everyone accepted this shifting of dates at the same time. Some believed that the dates should not be shifted, and it was these people who became the butt of some April jokes and were mocked as fools. People sent gifts and invited them to bogus parties.

Today in France, people who are fooled on April 1 are called Poisson d'Avril, which literally means the "April Fish." One common joke is to hook a cardboard fish to the back of a person. What a fish has to do with April Fools' Day is not clear.

Have fun and don't pull too many foolish tricks on your friends or families! I'm a little prankster, so I have to think of something good!

Info from howstuffworks.com - photos of antique postcards from Paris Hotel Boutique