Glassy House Rumored Rendezvous Spot for Marilyn Monroe and JFK
April 28, 2012
Set 40 miles outside of Los Angeles and abutting a 3,000-acre nature preserve, a striking modern glass house coined the Farralone Estate summons the scenic privacy of a Hollywood set.
The only way you can see the grounds is by helicopter, says listing agent Lynn Teschner, adding some extra drama to the plot: “And when you’re there, you’re on top of the world.”
The home was remote enough to entice Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy to meet there, or so the story goes.
Rat Pack Parties
Monroe never owned the home, but when Frank Sinatra leased the property, she was a frequent visitor to Sinatra’s notorious Rat Pack parties and occasionally stayed in the home’s guest house. And when she stayed there, rumor is that she had a frequent presidential visitor.
The home was commissioned by Dora Hutchinson, the heiress to the Chase Manhattan Bank fortune. At the time, celebrities building ranches in Chatsworth included Roy Rodgers and Lucille Ball. However, Hutchinson didn’t want a ranch, she wanted a glass house.
The entire property is 13.5 acres, with the main house of the estate comprised of a 10,000 sq. ft. set on 5 acres, including two acres of rolling lawn. The main residence sits up a long, winding private road and contains 4 bedrooms and 5.5 baths, a grand gallery and three lower level private offices complete with a conference room.
There is also a 1,000 square-foot guest house that contains one bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms and has its own pool. An additional 9.5-acre section, out of site from the residence, has a tentative tract map divided into 13 lots and is currently used as a vineyard with horse riding trails. In addition to the large motor court there is parking for 200 cars.
“They built 50 percent of the home out of glass that have withstand the test of time,” said Teschner. “It was a complete architectural feat to build and it cost a fortune.”
Celebrities included Lucy and Ava
Despite the cost of the home, Hutchinson only lived in the Chatsworth home for a few years, in which she threw parties that attracted celebrities ranging from Lucille Ball to Ava Gardner. Then she mysteriously left, moving to New York.
Frank Sinatra then leased the home for a decade, hosting his own parties with the Rat Pack, but after he left, the home remained empty.
When the current owners bought the property, it was in “disarray,” said Teschner. “They restored it to its pristine, original condition.”
The home’s interior retains its Mid-Century charm, complete with all period furniture. Its location and history have continued to attract Hollywood.
The list of celebrities and studios using the studio is varied, from the shoot for singer Usher’s music video “Burn,” to the filming locations of “Dream Girls” to the location of a Emmy-winning episode of “Mad Men.”
Earth Day Free Compost San Carlos
April 21, 2012
The San Carlos and Recology San Mateo County invite San Carlos residents to the San Carlos Compost Giveaway on Earth Day. Each resident is welcome to take up to 5 gallons of nutrient rich compost to enrich their gardens. This will be just in time for all of our vegetable gardens out there.
The event is for San Carlos residents only – no commercial gardeners, please. Bring proof of residence. And remember, it’s BYOB – bring your own bags and buckets.
See you there!
Sunday, April 22, 2012 – from 9am to Noon
Highlands Park, Tennis Courts Parking Lot
2600 Melendy Drive
Club Fox Cinco De Mayo Celebration
April 15, 2012
Latin Rock Inc. Presents Puro Bandido And Los Cochinos Cinco De Mayo Celebration!
$12 in advance $14 at the door
You don’t want to miss this great band and celebration!
Thunder Bolts on Bay Bridge
April 13, 2012
You have to check this awesome photo out….
My daughter, Lizzy and I were driving home from up north of where we live last evening, not a good night to be out. Lizzy is good at driving in the torrential rains, which is actually a surprise for me.
Since in my younger days… when I flew for TWA, I remember being in a high rise hotel with other CA flight attendants and they all came running into my room. I actually thought we were having a bomb scare. Not to be. They were just afraid… None of them had experience the thunder and lightening that we just had.
I was at the office today and everyone was talking about the lighting and I said, “it is just like being at home”, another lady said, “just like being in Pennsylvania”…. I think we experience a lot growing up in the Midwest or East Coast and we are so grateful to be here. On the same note, I think we take our beautiful weather for granted.
For me, it is a joy to live here and not shovel snow, or freeze to death trying to dig my car out of snow in the parking lot, so I can drive home. And, I love flowers, we have that one all the time, don’t we?
Memory and Ageing by Stanford Center for Memory Disorders
April 11, 2012
The San Carlos Adult Community Center is sponsoring a free “Memory and Ageing” presentation presented by Geoffrey Kerchner MD from the Stanford Center for Memory Disorders…
A very usful presentation for everyone that has concerns over this topic. I feel it is always good to get as much information as possible. Dementia is an epidemic. Alzheimer‘s disease is the most common cause of dementia in individuals over 60 years of age and roughly half of all people aged 85 and up suffer from it.
You can learn: How to avoid dementia, warning signs, latest research and treatment.
This is on Tuesday, April 17 at 10:00 AM. For more information and to register call: 650-802-4384.
PET scan of a normal human brain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
PET scan of a human brain with Alzheimer's disease (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Farmer’s Market Canada College
April 9, 2012
An all year Canada College Farmers Market which is hosted by the West Coast Farmers Market Association, will be on Sundays from 9 – 1 starting April 15th. We have always had the one sponsored by the Kiwanis, but now we an extra one that we can frequent.
The local Rotary Club will be launching their new evening farmers market soon as well. It will be held at the corner of Broadway and Hamilton streets downtown on Tuesdays, 4-8 p.m., beginning May 1, through September. 
“These [farmers markets] are a great way to get fresh produce and other products, and also to join together with friends and neighbors as you shop,” said Malcolm Smith with the City of Redwood City. “These markets take place on a variety of days, so take a look and get them on your calendar!”
Fox Theater Hairspray
April 7, 2012
It’s dated in 1962 and change is in the air. Baltimore’s Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion – to dance. Don’t miss the swingingly-soulful musical phenomenon, HAIRSPRAY. The lively cast of characters come alive with the upbeat sounds of “Good Morning Baltimore”, “Welcome to the 60s” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”
Shows are Friday, Saturday at 8, Sundaysat 2.
Hairspray (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)
Bay Area Easter Egg Hunts
April 6, 2012
Belmont:
Belmont’s Big Egg Adventure is Saturday @ 9 a.m. sharp in Twin Pines Park.
Burlingame:
Burlingame Lions Club annual Easter Egg Hunt and Pancake Breakfast is Saturday @ 8 a.m. in Washington Park.
Family Easter Egg Hunt is Sunday @ 1:30 p.m. in Leo J. Ryan Park.
Half Moon Bay:
Easter Egg Coloring Class is Saturday @ 2 p.m. at New Leaf Community Market.
City Easter Egg Hunt is Saturday @ 11:45 a.m at the Half Moon Bay High School softball field.
Menlo Park (2):
Firefighter Easter Egg Hunt is Saturday @ 10 a.m. in Burgess Park.
City Easter Egg Hunt is Saturday @ 10 a.m. in Kelly Park.
Millbrae:
Spring Festival 2012 is Saturday @ 1 p.m. in Central Park.
Pacifica (2):
City Egg Hunt is Saturday @ 10 a.m. at Frontierland Park.
Easter Egg Hunt is Saturday @ 1 p.m. at New Life Community Fellowship.
Palo Alto (2):
Children’s Easter Party is Saturday @ 9:30 a.m.,11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at Gamble Garden.
Easter Family Fun Day is Saturday @ 12 p.m. in Bell Street Park (EPA).
Redwood City (2):
Free Easter Egg Hunt is Sunday @ 11:30 a.m. at Malibu Castle.
Free Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday @ 10 a.m. at Whole Foods for ages 2-12.
San Carlos:
Easter Bunny by Helicopter is Saturday @ 10:30 a.m. at Hiller Aviation Museum.
San Mateo:
Eggstravaganza is Saturday beginning @ 9:30 a.m. in Central Park.
As with everything these days, there’s even a website for nationwide Easter Egg hunts in case you’ll be out of town. You can check it out here.
Compliments from Dave Colby
Easter Egg Hunt & Petting Zoo in Redwood City
April 6, 2012
Redwood City is at it again. They are hosting the first ever annual Easter Egg Hunt and Petting Zoo a t the Fox Theater located at 2209 Broadway Street in Redwood City. Times are Sat. April 23, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Whoever is the first to find the Fox Golden Egg will receive the Grand Prize of the day. Not to worry, everyone is a winner! There are lots of gifts in the Fox Easter Egg Hunt for everyone. Also on hand are the Easter Bunny and his friends from the Petting Zoo. Feel free to cuddle with a baby bunny or check out a pot belly pig. And let’s not forget about the baby chicks and those sweet little lambs. Bring your camera and snap the little ones having a blast.
$10 Regular, $7 Child
Belmont 80 Year Old Hit While Jogging?
March 21, 2012
I am so sorry to hear this news, however it does make me wonder where in the world I am headed. I can’t jog anymore NOW… This lady is to be admired. And, the driver 83, this could happen to anyone. So sorry for both of them at this stage of their lives. Still driving and jogging? Driving yes, but jogging???
Maybe, they can tell me how they do it.
“An 80 yr old Belmont woman was struck by a car, while jogging on El Camino, Tuesday afternoon. The woman was crossing Middle Rd at approx. 4:00 PM when she was struck by a 1988 Toyota that was making a right turn from Middle Rd onto S/B El Camino. The jogger was treated at the scene by Belmont Fire Department paramedics and transported to an area hospital with non life threatening injuries. The driver of the Toyota, an 83 yr old Belmont man, was not injured.
The driver was attempting to make a right turn on a red light, when the collision occurred. While the cause is still under investigation, it also appears that the driver’s attention was focused on the on-coming El Camino traffic to his left, and he did not see the jogger, who stepped off the curb to his right. The jogger, who saw the Toyota, may have felt that she was safe as she was crossing with the light.
“It is important that both drivers and pedestrians stay alert.” “Drivers must check all around them, especially when making turns” said Belmont Police Chief Don Mattei. “Pedestrians also shouldn’t assume that drivers see them.” “Just because you have a green light or a walk signal, it may not be safe to cross.” “Try and make eye contact with drivers, whenever possible, to make sure the driver sees you” Mattei added.”
A left-turn traffic light on El Camino Real in Sunnyvale. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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