Rabbit Kinney

2010... already?

2010-01-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

Tortoise Life

Really, where does it go?!?!
I pretty much hibernated from Xmas till New Years. I vegged. A guilty but satisfying feeling. Best to all for the new year!

A little treat: Kooza

2009-12-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

The last few months have been quite hectic because of the holiday season. Now that it's drawing to a close (regarding preparing and delivering goods), I can finally begin to relax.

Well, it started with a little surprise treat from Pirco last night. We went to Cirque du Soleil's, "Kooza." It was another edge of your seat, make your hands sweaty performance with their creative signature costume design. Circus has come a long way since Ringling Barnum, my first experience. In fact, it's so un-circus like. It's just beautiful performance.

In Times of Sadness...

2009-12-14T19:28:00.000-08:00

We are still grieving the loss of a community member. We are sorry that she is gone. I wish we had known her. At times like this, it makes you reflect upon a lot of things. It makes you remember what's important to you.

Candlelight Memorial for Eun Kang

2009-12-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

I've been gripped by intense ANGER and sorrow the last few days regarding the heinous crime against Eun Kang, a fellow Venetian, also of Korean descent with ties to New York. I prefer not to go into details on Rabbit's blog but anyone who do not know about this and wish to find out more, here is the LA Times article.

It has shaken our tiny but vibrant community. There will be a candlelight memorial on December 14, 2009 - Monday, 6pm at 1660 Electric Ave. For more info, please call Jim at 310.386.1698.

My deepest regret and sympathies to Ms. Kang's family and friends. Even though we have never met, you will always be remembered.

Rabbit Kinney at Unique Los Angeles! (Update #3)

2009-12-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

A two-day shopping event with over 300 designers/artists selling their goods, Unique LA is now the LARGEST independent design & gift show in the country! On top of supporting the community by buying local, every attendee will receive a free cotton tote bag featuring exclusive “Unique LA” artwork by Shepard Fairey’s, Studio No. 1!!!

Don’t miss this!

Date: December 5 + 6, 2009 (Sat + Sun)
Time: 11am - 6pm
Addy: California Market Center - Penthouse
110 E 9th St Los Angeles, CA 90079 MAP
Booth#: #715
Price: $10 per ticket with partial sales benefiting the local charity, "826LA"
Parking: $6 in the building with Unique's validation (but PLEASE visit Unique LA's web site for exact info)

Bazaar at UCLA-Univ. Parents Nursery School

2009-11-30T21:49:00.000-08:00

Rabbit Kinney will be at the UCLA's University Parents Nursery School (UPNS) in West LA for the annual Holiday Bazaar, open to the general public. This is a fund raising event where 20% of all sales are donated to the nursery.

Address: 3233 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles 90034 (map)
Time: 8am-6pm

Rabbit Kinney Buttons

2009-11-25T07:27:00.000-08:00

People tell me that they like the Rabbit, but they don't necessarily want apparel, especially the onesies (this is the 18-30 age range). So I'm further expanding the women's line, as most of the designs are for children and diversify even more (I swear, the plush and the book are still in the works!). So this week, I am introducing the Rabbit Kinney buttons, which can pretty much accommodate anyone.

Take a look. I think it's pretty cute.

Button 2.25"

The new Rabbit Kinney models are here!

2009-11-23T21:06:00.000-08:00

"Best Friends" organic kids tee

"Portrait" organic lap tee

"Sailing" organic lap tee

"Linnie & Howland Twins" organic kids tee

After weeks of shooting, the first batch of Rabbit Kinney models are here! Aside from realizing that I really miss shooting, I actually enjoy photographing children.

What Jean has learned:
1: 4-12 mos (or just before they can walk): PROS: great because they can't run away. CONS: can become too squirmy.
2: 12 mos -3 yrs: PROS: they'll somewhat listen to you but be prepared to run after them and get a workout. CONS: be prepared to run after them and get a workout.
3: 3 -5 yrs: PROS: they'll somewhat listen to you more than the previous category. CONS: one of their favorite word is "NO."
4: 5 yrs+: PROS: they totally get it and will pose for you, even hold still! CONS: none!

Thanks to ALL the parents and the models for their time and support!

ECO ARTS: Nov. 21, 2009 - Saturday @ The Electric Lodge

2009-11-19T13:25:00.000-08:00

We will be at "Eco Arts" this Saturday, Nov. 21, part of a bigger 4-day event called, GREEN SCREEN ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL & SALON. The festival starts today and will end this Sunday.

Entry for the Eco Arts event is free (screen film tickets starts at $5) featuring other sustainable vendors and food stalls, like Samosa House, my fave Indian veggie take-out place. There are various screenings and events for the whole family during this event, so please check out their schedule here!

Date: November 21, 2009 (Sat)
Time: 10am - 6pm
Addy: Electric Lodge
1416 Electric Ave Venice, CA 90291 MAP

Medical diets and such... (like sugar)

2009-11-12T18:31:00.000-08:00

I have severe allergies. Actually, it's pretty BAD. But it only truly manifested after I moved to LA (smog?!). I also have very annoying digestive problems. So with both combined, sometimes I am not a happy camper. I have seen various medical practitioners and my last acupuncturist said that part of the cause is from the Candida yeast. She put me on daily nasty herbs and a very restricted diet. No wheat, no sugar, no sugar substitute, no dairy (love cheese), no fruits, no alcohol... and this is just part of the list. Because of this diet, I have been slowly switching to a pescetarian diet. The double restriction is too hard for me. I don't have a sweet tooth but once I started this regimen, I began to have very explicit brownie fantasies. That lasted about a month. I cheated here and there but I think I can say that I was observant 75-85% of the time. This diet is recommend for 3 months. I am at my 4th month now and I think that I will continue with it. I can't really tell if it's helping my allergies (Oct/Nov has been really bad with the severe winds) but it has definitely helped with my stomach problems. Not only has it calmed down dramatically, I lost about 7 lbs too. It's amazing what sugar does to your body.

Speaking of sugar, I broke down and had a few ice cream sandwiches today... for lunch. I knew that I would pay for it, but at that moment, reasoning took the back seat (more like locked up in the trunk) and I plowed through them without remorse.

Fast-forward to the evening, shopping at the supermarket. I was collecting ingredients to make my new favorite dish when I suddenly became anxious and felt that I would have to eat something right NOW. That's when the dizziness started. I became foggy and lightheaded. I then started to heat up, breaking a sweat on my forehead, which then spread to my chest and then to the rest of my body. I tried to wrap up my shopping asap but all I could think of was, "cake, pastries, sweet stuff - but no chocolate bars," over and over again. This made no sense to me. I was about to pass out at the register, barely able to sign my bill and I'm thinking of cupcakes and such. I sat at their dining area to rest and eat my sushi roll. I can't explain, but that just wasn't what my body wanted. Once I had enough energy, I was determined to fulfill this vision. I got an apple turnover, a muffin and some very expensive gummy bears. I sat in the car for another 10 minutes devouring everything. This relieved most of the symptoms and I was OK enough to get back home, though exhausted.

Is this a sign of hypoglycemia? Or worse diabetes? Whatever the case, I don't think I'll be pulling another super-sugar stunt for awhile.

Sorry to report...

2009-11-12T18:17:00.000-08:00

So it looks like I will not be at the Abbot Kinney Flee for the rest of this month. There are weekend events that keep on popping up and I'm reluctantly making the hard decision to pull out for the rest of November. I am currently conducting photo shoots every Sundays until end of December. I planned on taking a break for this Saturday and re-join next week but then there's a meeting that I need to attend, so I will miss that too. Then the last Saturday is Thanksgiving weekend. I hope my schedule will be better for December for AK Flee.

"Mauerfall!" 20th Anniv. of the fall of the Berlin Wall... and I'm not there...

2009-11-09T21:09:00.000-08:00

Photo: Pirco
Giant dominoes painted by students representing the wall, waiting to be toppled.

About a year ago, Pirco and I were on a Long Island Railroad train in NY and saw a poster advertising the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. I got really excited and proclaimed that we would have got to go, can't miss it, what a cool event, blah, blah, blah... so on and so forth.

So here we are, a year later and I'm writing about IT from home, rather than from there in the midst of all the buzz. Somehow in the last few months, a little bit of laziness crept in and decided that I didn't want to bother with traveling, save some money, blah, blah, blah... so on and so forth.

Now I'm kicking myself for missing out on such a historic event, a party to remember as Pirco uploads photos and videos on facebook. Oh well... Maybe the 25th Anniversary will be just as celebratory.

I just remembered a story that Uwe (P's dad) told me of what he was doing when the wall came down. Once he heard about it, he and Verena (P's mom) drove to the wall and an East Berliner approached them. He was in awe to see a real Mercedes. The only car they had in the East was the "Trabant," a very basic car made of plastic derivative, like formica. Uwe invited him into their car and they just drove around town watching all the East and West peoples spill out into the streets.

On another note, I guess it rings a deeper bell for me as my birth home of South Korea is still divided, reaching nearly 60 years. The hope of reunification is strong and yet seems so distant for the Koreas.

UPDATE: P said that it was cold and rainy and hard to get to. They waited almost 2 hours to watch the falling of the dominoes which took less than 1 minute from where they were standing. Oh, well...

What is twice the size of Texas?

2009-11-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

Of course there are many answers to this but the particular response that I'm looking for is "garbage in the ocean." There are chunks of debris that are floating in the Pacific; here is an article in the NYT about this topic. Strangely, this is my second mention of garbage in the last few weeks. Anyway, saw the photos and it made me very sad.

"In a remote patch of the Pacific Ocean, hundreds of miles from any national boundary, the detritus of human life is collecting in a swirling current so large that it defies precise measurement."

Photo: Mario Aguilera/Associated Press (via NYT)

"Light bulbs, bottle caps, toothbrushes, Popsicle sticks and tiny pieces of plastic, each the size of a grain of rice, inhabit the Pacific garbage patch, an area of widely dispersed trash that doubles in size every decade and is now believed to be roughly twice the size of Texas.
Photo: Lindsey Hoshaw for The New York Times

Unique Los Angeles UPDATE

2009-11-04T19:58:00.000-08:00

We are slowly (in a fast way) heading towards Unique Los Angeles. Rabbit Kinney's personal page is finally up on Unique's site, including a picture of Baby J from my recent photo shoot. Practically all the craftsters that I know are abandoning other events just so that they can be at this show. Unique just needs to update my URL and then I'm totally set!

I have a feeling that this is gonna be B-I-G...

Date: December 5 + 6, 2009 (Sat + Sun)
Time: 11am - 6pm
Addy: California Market Center - Penthouse
110 E 9th St Los Angeles, CA 90079 MAP
Price: $10 per ticket (children 10 and under are free), with 50% of ticket sales benefiting a local charity
Parking: $6 in the building with Unique's validation (but PLEASE visit Unique LA's web site for exact info)

Visit Unique Los Angeles' web site for detail info.

CD Release Party for "The Wild World of Wildlife"

2009-11-04T05:10:00.000-08:00

Date: Nov. 6th, 2009 - Firday
Place: The Treehouse Social Club
426 S. Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Time: 4pm until 7pm
Price: Free with purchase of food

The songstress Birdie Mendoza will conduct 2 performances from her new kid-friendly CD at the Treehouse Social Club with great activities for the youngsters and a raffle giveaway, including some gifts from Rabbit Kinney!

"The Wild World of Wildlife" is her latest CD with hits like, "Iguana Wants to Baila," "Elephant in the Congo" and "Shake Their Tail Feathers."

I've heard that the venue, The Treehouse Social Club has an amazing playroom. I will be there around the 2nd set of music, so if anyone will attend, come by and say "hello."

To learn more about Birdie Mendoza, visit her web site.

Abbot Kinney Flee: Oct. 31 + Nov.1, 2009

2009-10-30T03:39:00.000-07:00

I will be back at the Abbot Kinney Flee Market this weekend! For the first time this Fall, the market will be open Saturdays and Sundays.

Addy: 1219 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA (between Bulldog Realtors and Topo Ranch) MAP
Time: 10am until 6pm

No AK Flee for the Rabbit tomorrow

2009-10-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

I will not be at the Abbot Kinney Flee tomorrow, October 24-Saturday. Sorry!

Memories of the Infamous Garbage Barge

2009-10-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

I have a hard time with the term, "GREEN" and "ECO" because the marketing/advertising industry has turned it into such a fad and the issues at hand are much more worthy than just a trend. However, it is great that the light has been shining on this subject.

My hope, as well as many others is that it becomes more ingrained into our way of life and we don't have to differentiate between the conventional and "alternative" way of living (which was the way life was until about 100 years ago). I think we are going in that direction despite the current economic challenges.

This made me wonder, when did I first become aware? I certainly did not live a green, hippie, granola-head life, especially growing up in NYC. But looking back, there was one incident that had made a deep impression and became the seedling for my way of living.

In 1987, there was a barge, called “Mobro 4000” carrying garbage from NYC floating up and down the northern Atlantic coast. We ran out of landfill and the city didn’t know what to do with it. It was 3,168 tons of waste that wandered from state to country looking for a place to be disposed of. It’s entry was rejected by all the ports and it eventually came back to NYC and was incinerated in Brooklyn.

My thought back then was, “My goodness, how much garbage do we really have and why do we have so much of it?” That was the beginning for me, a forgotten but significant influence.

Here’s the full story on Wikipedia.

Unique LA Holiday Show

2009-10-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

Just got the email yesterday that Rabbit's been accepted to the Unique LA Holiday Show. It's a 2-day event showcasing over 350 independent designers and artists.

Some of the featured categories are clothing, accessories, stationery, jewelry, artwork and of course, so much more. There will also be a "Green Room" in the lobby housing a DJ, a drink/bar station and free eco-gift wrapping.

Date: December 5 + 6, 2009 (Sat + Sun)
Time: 11am - 6pm
Addy: California Market Center - Penthouse
110 E 9th St Los Angeles, CA 90079 MAP
Price: $10 per ticket (children 10 and under are free), with 50% of ticket sales benefiting a local charity
Parking: $6 in the building with Unique's validation (but PLEASE visit Unique LA's web site for exact info)

Visit Unique Los Angeles' web site for detail info.

Abbot Kinney Flee: Oct. 17, 2009

2009-10-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

It turns out that the "Venice Flee" has changed it's name to "Abbot Kinney Flee" and I didn't even know it. I've only done a few shows, so I think I'm excused.

Since Eden's Green Closet has closed (RIP!), I've been experimenting with the Flee to have direct contact with the public and see what they think. As of now, I can't say that I can commit to every Saturdays, but I will try to for awhile since visitors are now asking me if I am always there or if I will be there next week. So look for the Rabbit tomorrow if anyone will be stopping by!

Addy: 1219 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA (between Bulldog Realtors and Topo Ranch) MAP
Time: 10am until 6pm

Exercising Patience

2009-10-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

Rabbit's site went down yesterday. Thought it was a minor glitch but after talking to Pirco, it was more serious than I thought. Do I freak out or not? Is there a backup? What now? The worst part is that I have a shopping cart with an attached database and to lose all that would be quite painful. I've been meaning to put up a store on Etsy as well but I wanted to wait until I do the next photo shoot with the new designs. Now it seems like a really good backup web store idea. On top of that, our cable and internet connection died too. Anything else?!

The server status this morning was that it could be back up today or it could be a few days after migration and re-build. All I had left was patience. Really, what can you do? Nothing. And you know, sometimes that's not too bad.

Pirco's been slaving since last night and the good news is that we're back up - thanks P.

Very Thirsty

2009-10-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

We're expecting a storm in LALALAnd and it's a very BIG deal. Most people seem to be annoyed rather than relieved to hear that we'll be getting some rain, maybe forgetting that this is the 3rd year of drought.

One of the main concern is flooding and landslide, particularly in areas of recent forest fires. Without the trees’ roots, it can’t hold the soil back. Yes, it could be a rough storm, but I welcome it with open arms. We’ve been thirsty too long.

Venice Flee Market: Oct. 10, 2009

2009-10-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

OK, another last minute decision to join Venice Flee, but this time on Saturday. I've never participated for the market during the day, but after last week's First Fridays evening event, I realized that I should give it a try. The day crowd is sure to be different from the bar-hopping, night owl party crowd. Grabbing a onesie or a tee shirt wasn't their highest priority (though some did buy). Nonetheless, they we're all enamored and gaga'd over the Rabbit. Their comments were pretty funny and flattering too. The most common one was (from women, of course!), "I want a baby now just so I can get the onesie."

Address: 1219 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA (between Bulldog Realtors and Topo Ranch)
Time: 10am until 6pm

"First Fridays" Event / Venice Flee Market

2009-10-02T16:12:00.001-07:00

Last minute decision to participate in the Venice Flee Market, even though I'm still catching my breath from the Abbot Kinney Festival.

Address: 1219 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA (between Bulldog Realtors and Topo Ranch)
Time: 5:30pm until 10:30pm (ish)

I will have some organic knot hats and bibs with the latest design collection. Come by!

Abbot Kinney Festival '09 - UPDATE

2009-09-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pirco

It's amazing how a one-day event can draw so many pedestrians in a car-culture city like LA. But it was jam-packed, equal to or exceeding last year's 150,000 visitors.

I think I had the most fun at this year's festival. First of all, I wasn't situated in the "Kids" section as before and I think this increased my exposure even more. I also unveiled some new designs on colored organics and it was well received by many. I shared my booth with "Tree By Kerri Lee," an accessories design company and that worked out well too. Always nice to have some extra partner help at these events. And also a big "Thank You" to my friend Parichard who helped out in so many ways, especially as the official RK balloon representative during her 5th month in pregnancy and to Pirco for taking care of the car load/unload situation and being on call for everything else.

And of course, it was great seeing friends and other familiar faces.

I am prepping the new product shots and hopefully they'll be up on the web site this week.

Photo by Pirco

Photo by Pirco

Photo by Anita

Photo by Brigitte

Abbot Kinney Festival '09

2009-09-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

Date: Sept. 27, 2009 - Sunday
Time: 10am until 6pm
Booth: #C41B

The festival is right around the corner... how time flies! I'm taking a break from working on the book because there are a lot of changes that need to be made.

Instead, I've been focusing on the latest batch of tee designs so that I can debut them at this year's festival. I've also expanded the base tee colors to pink, blue and yellow.

I hope you'll all come by and let me know what you think!

Find us at booth #C41B, between Andalusia Ave. and Cadiz Ct.
(opposite side of Hal's restaurant) from 10am until 6pm.

For general festival info, please visit www.AbbotKinney.org.

Summer Vacay

2009-08-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

We just got back a few days ago from our yearly pilgrimage to Pirco's hometown, Berlin, Germany. If possible, we also try to do a little excursion to another area. It just happens to be that we have 3 connections in south of France so we took the plunge.

We started in Nice by surprising Lionel at his new American restaurant/bar, "Blast." He was a partner of French Market Cafe on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice. Ironically, when he was in the States, he was selling the French culture and now he's selling the American culture there. We then visited the family of Vincent's (our friend in LA) in Goult, a 3 hr. drive into the countryside... another beautiful area. We bbq'd with his family and joined them for the last day of the big annual music festival. I asked them what the celebration was about but no one had a clue; it's just an old tradition that each town conducts and the residents festival hop. In other words, a big excuse to party all summer.

Our final destination was to Rain and Lance's amazing hideaway in the mid-Pyrénées area. I gave a huff and puff during the long drive but when we got there, it all melted away. It's a 12th century medieval village in the middle of nowhere called, "Entraygues-sur-Truyère." The charming village is nestled between 2 rivers surrounded by luscious green hills. R&L moved from California a few years ago and now have vacation rentals dotted around the area. Check out their site: Sweet French Cottages.

More vacay pictures here. Yes, we had a great time.

Does Chocolate Ice Cream come off Rabbit Kinney tee shirts?

2009-08-07T10:15:00.001-07:00

I have been told "YES" by Gabriel's mother, Vanessa. Thanks for the pic!

Renegade Craft Fair: July 11 + 12, 2009

2009-07-07T08:50:00.000-07:00

Rabbit Kinney will be at the 1st Annual Renegade Craft Fair - LA at the California Market Center in downtown’s Fashion District.
Hours are from 11am - 7pm for both days. We will be at booth #232 (old booth # was 154).

The Renegade Craft Fair is a unique, DIY event showcasing over 300 of the most talented Artists + Crafters around. The fair takes place in cities across the US, including Brooklyn, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. You’ll find all sorts of cool handmade stuff – including plush items, jewelry, posters + prints, craft kits, clothing, stationery + more. On top of that, Rabbit Kinney will be available at sample sale prices!

Location: California Market Center
110 East 9th Street, 13th Fl. Penthouse Los Angeles, CA 90079

For more info, please visit Renegade’s web site.

Venice Flee Market

2009-07-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

Nope, not a typo.

Every weekend throughout the summer, there is an outdoor flea market at 1219 Abbot Kinney Blvd. (between Topo Ranch and Bulldog Realtors). However, Rabbit Kinney will be there from 5pm'ish 'till late this Friday for the monthly "First Fridays" event. AK businesses open late with snacks, goodies and live bands for all the night pedestrians to enjoy.

I will be there for this event only and then again, perhaps in August. I will be at a different event next weekend; more info to come.

Hehe... too cute

2009-05-01T15:15:00.000-07:00

The Kyoto Box

2009-04-26T16:29:00.000-07:00

I was taking a break from working on the RK book by lying under the wonderful Venice sun. I shaded my face with my sun hat and within minutes I felt my head baking. This heat reminded me of an article that I read a few weeks ago: The “Kyoto Box” by the inventor Jon Bohmer.

It is made from 2 cardboard boxes nested, the interior of the inner box painted black and the interior of the outer box lined with a reflective element. Once it is covered with a transparent cover, it can become hot enough to boil water and cook food. This would mean the reduction of firewood and deforestation, and less carbon emission. To top it off, it’s cheap to mass produce. It could serve the billions of people who still rely on firewood and at the same time give some relief to the environment.

Nothing like a great, simple idea.

Read more about it.

Feisty, Frugal and Fabulous!

2009-04-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

The site, “Feisty Frugal and Fabulous” was kind enough to review Rabbit Kinney. Check it out and enter to win the giveaway for a FREE RK tee. The drawing closes on April 22, 2009. Good Luck!

UPDATE:
The winner of this drawing is Heather of Alberta, Canada. Enjoy!

Studio Surya Yoga grand opening party

2009-04-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

Last night was the grand opening of the yoga studio that I attend, thrown by the owner, Yonnus Becker. So glad that I found a yoga home.

silly me and Yonnus

Yonnus and Bruna, "Slow Flow" instructor

Eco-Friendly Celebrity Gift Basket – UPDATE #5

2009-03-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

Just got the news that Charlie Sheen and his wife Brooke received a pair of Rabbit Kinney onesies for the April arrival of their twin boys. Once again, thanks to Eco Baby World and their Gift Basket program, our little Rabbit is getting around!

(all the way in the back!)

In love with “The Urban Craft Center”

2009-03-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

What a GREAT idea. The Urban Craft Center offers jewelry making, knitting, Gocco printing, sewing, decoupage… the list goes on and on. It’s a “creative communal space” with affordable monthly memberships and workshops.

I have been eye-ing this place for some time and finally got to take my first class last night: Soap Making. OK, to some it may not be romantic but to me this was my re-introduction to sculpture, something that I’ve been yearning for lately. And I’m creating something practical too! The two hour workshop was $75 with all the supplies included, 10 students and lead by the owner of the UCC, Ang Harad Jones.

I went a little crazy documenting my experience as well as photographing the essence of the center.

2 feet diameter ball of yarn

Ang Harad Jones

My first soaps!

"Green Envy" Giveaway from EcoBabyWorld

2009-03-18T21:24:00.000-07:00

Yay! Marwa Bernstein from Venice Beach is the first winner of “Green Envy” Celebrity Gift Basket giveaway from EcoBabyWorld. She received an exact replica that Matthew McConaughey, Tori Spelling and Natalie Morales recently received. There were entries from all over the country, but the draw of the lucky winner turned out to be a fellow Venetian. Hard to see, but there’s the Rabbit Kinney organic tote in the back of the basket!

Happy Wednesday!

2009-03-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

Just because...

Kimchee for sale in Venice

2009-03-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

How crazy does that sound? But at the Venice Farmer’s Market every Friday, there is a booth that sells kimchee and other Korean side dishes. I was surprised that every week there is a consistent crowd. I checked it out yesterday and realized that it wasn’t just our national signature dish that people were raving over (that is, for those of you who can handle it). He was also giving food remedy advice. “Let me look at your eyes… hmmm… I see some yellowness; don’t get the black bean dish, but the green bean dish.”

I bought radish kimchee - $7 for an 18 oz jar, tempeh / mock fish cake - $5 for about a 15 oz container, marinated ginger - $5 for about a 10 oz container and organic BBQ tofu - $5 for about a 10 oz container as well. This is definitely NOT cheap. It’s half the price if I drive to the markets in Koreatown. But that’s the problem: driving. For the sake of convenience, paying $7 for a small jar of good kimchee is justifiable. The other thing is that I’ve never seen tempeh mock fish cake, Korean style. I was really impressed by the level of imitation. If you didn’t know what it was made of, it can fool any Korean food gourmand. My only disappointment is that the dishes were too sweet, especially the BBQ tofu. Minus the BBQ tofu, everything else still gets my approval.

Brrrrr in the NorEast...

2009-03-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

I’m currently in NYC for my good friend’s baby shower and for my mom’s birthday. Little did I know that the morning of my departure would experience one of the worst snowstorms in recent memory. Whenever I visit New York during the winter season, I always complain that I don’t get to see enough snow. We’ll I got what I asked for, BIG time, and feeling the brunt of it as my flight has been affected.

Though a short trip of only 2 days, I got to do more than I expected. I spent time with my friend Risa and her daughter Bella, attended Ku-Ling’s baby shower, met with my darling cousin-nieces and had a birthday dinner with my mom.

The snow has been non-stop, blanketing everything in white. The snow plow machine has been consistent as well, beeping and rev-ing it's engine all morning. We are hibernating today.

New addiction: Yoga

2009-02-25T13:20:00.000-08:00

A burden has been lifted this past week. I was in a car accident a few years back and I’ve been in a legal limbo with the opposing car insurance. Nothing life threatening, but I continue to have problems with parts of my body to this day. Anyway, this past Monday, Feb. 23, we we’re suppose to go to trial but then at the last moment, we resolved the whole issue. Gradually, I started to feel the pressure lifting and decided that this would be a good time to really start healing, on my own terms.

I’ve taken a couple of classes of yoga before but it never really stuck. This past Sunday, I saw a postcard at Abbot’s Habit for a new yoga studio. With classes throughout the day at $10 each, I decided to give it a try. And glad that I did… I think I’m slowly getting hooked.

For those of you interested, it's called, "Studio Surya Yoga," 1501 Main St, by Windward Circle.

studiosuryayoga.com

Valentine's Tea Festival

2009-02-10T11:34:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, Feb 14th, the 9th Annual Kulov “Valentine's Tea Festival” will be held at the Electric Lodge in Venice.
There will also be festival performances, with 2 highlight shows. “Madam Chocolat Makes a Valentine’s Cake for Alice," is an interactive event for children only, at 3:30pm. In the evening, “Alice and the Wonderful Tea Party,” will be presented for all ages, performed by the members of the Santa Monica Playhouse.

Rabbit Kinney is also an in-kind contributor for the event by donating a $50 Gift Certificate for the big raffle prize.

Please visit kulovteafest.com or call 800.838.3006 for details and ticket information.

Hours: 2 - 8pm
Electric Lodge Performing & Visual Arts Centre
1416 Electric Avenue, Venice, CA 90291

What is recyclable?

2009-01-28T21:53:00.000-08:00

A flyer circulated listing all the new, as well as already recyclable items from the City of LA Dept. of Public Works. The mystery has finally been unveiled as to which plastic #’s are recyclable. So, as a reminder for myself and to everyone else, here is the full list:

New Items that are RECYCLABLE:
•Clean plastics numbered 1 – 7
•Clean Styrofoam™ cups and food containers and Styrofoam™ packing materials
•Plastic grocery bags, dry cleaning bags and plastic hangers

Already RECYCLABLE:
•Clean newspapers, junk mail, envelopes, magazines, catalogs, phonebooks, paper bags, cardboard, cereal boxes, frozen food boxes, mixed paper, colored paper, etc.
•Clean empty metal cans (tin, steel, aluminum), aerosol cans, empty paint cans, aluminum (foil and trays), metal hangers
•Clean and empty plastic bottles, jars and lids, plastic pots, dairy tubs (butter, yogurt),
•Clean and empty glass bottles and jars

NOT RECYCLABLE:
packing peanuts
clothing or textile items
hoses
window glass or ceramics
batteries
electronics
fluorescent lights

Courtesy of City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Bureau of Sanitation, Solid Resources Citywide Recycling Division
1149 South Broadway Street, 10th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90015
Dial 3-1-1 for more info
www.lacity.org/san

Eco-Friendly Celebrity Gift Basket – UPDATE #4

2009-01-19T19:34:00.000-08:00

Here is the official press release for Matthew McConaughey and Camilla Alves’ Celebrity Gift Basket, sponsored by Eco Baby World. Check out some of the other great products that were included.

Below is an excerpt:
“Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 18, 2009 -- Matthew McConaughey and Camilla Alves recently received the baby gift basket that contained all the eco-friendly products including the world's first stainless steel baby bottle…”

Before I forget...

2009-01-17T14:16:00.000-08:00

I got back from NYC last week and I’m still catching up with everything. I don’t know if I’m homesick or just have post-travel blues, but sometimes it takes me forever to get back into gear (I think I mentioned this before). Once I return a small batch of emails and phone calls, I should be caught up…

So before forgetting, I just wanted to share a few more moments in NYC with everyone. I hooked up with an old friend, Eva, someone who I haven’t seen in almost 10 years. She is now the general manager of Ilili, a Lebanese restaurant on 5th avenue between 27th and 28th street. Middle Eastern food is one of my faves, especially because I am now mostly vegetarian (I fish cheat once in awhile).

First of all, the space is beautiful. From my recollection, Eva said that the 2nd floor was razed creating a lofty atmosphere and the walls are covered with stalwart beams of cedar. And to top if off, well of course, the food was amazing. She picked out all the vegetarian dishes for me, some familiar and some new. She did say that the lamb was exceptional, so for all you meat-eaters, do try it if you ever visit the restaurant. She also said that everything is made from scratch, including the pita bread. It was the cleanest tasting, yet flavorful Middle Eastern food that I’ve ever had.

I also got to spend more time with my mom than ever before. It was because I had a cold and spent the evenings with her rather than meeting with friends. The day before leaving, we bought twin tee shirts and had a little photoshoot. Since so many people have commented on these photos, thought I’d post one here too.

Eco-Friendly Celebrity Gift Basket – UPDATE #3

2009-01-15T18:59:00.001-08:00

Last week I got news that Tori Spelling has received her Rabbit Kinney Gift Basket. This program is a courtesy of Eco Baby World.

Similar to the gift sent to Matthew Mcconaughey's family, I had sent over the Surfboard kids tee, the Skateboard onesie, the mini organic tote and the recycled paper coloring book.

New Year's Eve & New Year's Day

2009-01-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

I know that it is a big deal, but sometimes I do feel that New Year's Eve is a bit overrated. Everybody's looking for that perfect event to attend, making sure that they're at the right place with the right people. Pirco's a much more social person than I am, so I was surprised to hear that he wanted to be alone at home, back in LA. Eventually, he did join his friends and I went out with my friend to a restaurant/bar hangout in downtown NY. However, it was hard for us to get out of the apt too. We weren't in a highly festive mood. Maybe because it's been freezing outside... don't know. But we eventually did go out and ended up having a good enough time.

Ironically, it's a Mexican-themed joint; didn't feel too far from LA.

On new year's day, I ventured out to Brooklyn and hung out with my cousin Jenna, her husband Mark of Whimsy & Spice and their 2 adorable daughters, Mia and Claudine. Below is my interpretation of their evening dance routine:

... And wishing the best for 2009 to all.

Airline tests new biofuel

2008-12-31T06:48:00.000-08:00

I love to travel. Who doesn't? But one of the most obvious guilt is the pollution from jet fuel. Well, I just read in The New York Times this morning that Air New Zealand is the first commercial airline using a 50/50 combination of conventional jet fuel and the oil from the "jatropha" plant (Virgin Atlantic tested 20% nut oil combo in Feb. 2008). It's claim to fame is that it can even be cultivated in sub-perfect soil conditions, unlike soybean or corn. More testing by other airlines will start in January 2009.

"Spicy Jatropha" (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Mom Tonic

2008-12-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

I arrived in NY a few days ago with a little gift for my mom: a cold/flu. So immediately, she concocted her anti-sick stew of fruits and spices.

Honey was then added to the final cup. Another tip was squirting lime (or lemons) directly on to the tonsils. This numbed the pain immediately. She swears that this “tonic” has kept her healthy for the last few years.

Looks kind of, umm... "interesting," but I think it's been helping.

Ingredients (with the skin):
Apples, Pomegranate, Persimmon, Ginger, Cinnamon, Jujube, Grapes, Orange Peels and Ginseng (she released the content of tea packets).

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Christmas Dinner 2008

2008-12-27T07:07:00.001-08:00

We spent Xmas day at our dear friends' lovely home in Venice Beach. Debra made an amazing appetizer of chanterelles and caramelized onions on a bed of buttery crust and Bernard roasted a goose out on the patio deck through the light rain and drizzle. Paolo and his friend Yumi from the wine tasting circuit joined us, as well as my husband Pirco and of course, one of our favorite little girls (well, not that little anymore!), Miss Evelyn.

We had the best food and drinks for our intimate gathering. We we're also endowed with a concert by Evelyn and Bernard, a violin duet of, "Jingle Bells."

Most definitely an evening of merriment... However, Debra reminded us to not forget the hardships that plague our current times here, as well as abroad. Indeed.

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

I’m sold...

2008-12-26T21:48:00.000-08:00

... or I should say that I bought it. Actually Pirco bought it for me as a holiday present. I finally got a new phone, breaking my 7-year record of not buying a new device. I’ve dealt with P’s old hand-me downs for almost a decade, with the last phone being held together with a piece scotch tape. I’ve had more or less, a hate-hate relationship with phones but the new iPhone blew my socks off. I knew all the things that it can do but when I realized that I could track my inventory in real time through my web admin, I was SOLD. BTW, I also tried the Google phone and was quite disappointed by it.

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Eco Gift Festival 2008 UPDATE

2008-12-18T06:08:00.000-08:00

I am decompressing…

It was hard work but a great weekend of Eco Gift Festival-ing. The most exciting part was the publicity that Rabbit Kinney got. I had NO idea that it would be a magnet for press and an opportunity for networking. From journalists, to parents, aunties, uncles, grandparents, young adults and especially the children, I got a deeper affirmation that Rabbit Kinney draws an appeal.

This one girl (10 years old?), flips open her shiny pink cell phone and says, “Remember I was telling you about Rabbit Kinney? Well, they’re here…” click. Another girl, much younger, says, “What is the name of THIS business? What is the Rabbit’s name? I REALLY like him…” She starts taking pictures of the booth, then with herself, her friend and with a Rabbit Kinney mannequin. It almost made me cry. And she also said, “Why don’t you have a store?” I told her, “one day, one day…”

The setup with my booth neighbor also worked out perfectly. Lisa Helfer, representing “Mayron’s Good Baby” was selling diaper cream and other skin care products from the celebrity, Melanie Mayron of “Thirtysomething.” Melanie’s dad is a chemist and they’ve been working on baby skin care products for at least 10 years now. I’ve actually been using the sample as hand cream! Hey, if it’s good enough for a baby, then it’s good enough for me.

Another memorable occurrence was when 2 women bought the Rabbit Kinney coloring books. Then one of them said, “Will you please sign it?” I was like, WHAT?!@? I told here that I’ve never signed anything before. She said, “You better get used to it!”

I had a great time and I'm already planning the layout for next year’s festival. I would like to have at least the first book and the Rabbit Kinney plush toy by then.

Set up on 12/11/08. There was a curtain behind my booth but they decided to take it down so that the other vendors behind me could be more visible. So immediately, I called my banner maker and ordered a duplicate to hang on the back side as well for the aisle behind me.

All set up!

To maximize my half booth, I displayed 5 mannequins, staggered in different height so that it gets visibility.

I separated the inventory by size into square bins below the mannequins, instead of using my usual hanging rack.

My neighbor, Lisa Helfer with "Mayron's Good Baby"

I capriciously posed like my mom from her 60’s photos. You know, one leg over the front, slightly bent at the knee...

Melanie Mayron, Lisa Helfer, Jean Kim

Kids' stage and play area

"What is the name of THIS business?" per little girl

They were so cute and funny.

And of course, a shout out to Pirco, the hubby, and Christie Lee for helping out!

*Photography courtesy of me, Parichard Holm and Christie Lee*

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Going AWOL for a few days...

2008-12-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

I think I'm starting to stress just a wee-bit preparing for the Eco Gift Festival. I'll be back next week with details. If anyone will be visiting the Festival this weekend, come by and say, hello!

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Crayon Recycling Program UPDATE #2

2008-12-06T14:25:00.000-08:00

I just got an email that a rep. from a youth organization would like to discuss my Crayon Recycling Program and present my idea to one of the mayor’s of LA!

So thrilled… still catching my breath…

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Eco-Friendly Celebrity Gift Basket – UPDATE #2

2008-12-05T08:10:00.000-08:00

I feel awkward name dropping, but people have been asking me who the celebs are (see original post). Well, yesterday, I got an email that Matthew McConaughey and family have received the Gift Basket with Rabbit Kinney items and that I may officially say that “… they have the products and use them.” I thought I had to wait until they’ve been photographed in public with it. But I guess there aren’t set rules to play by, except getting the permission to mention their names and respecting their privacy.
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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Eco Gift Festival 2008

2008-12-04T06:07:00.000-08:00

During this year's Abbot Kinney Festival, I was approached by the CEO of Eco Gift. He thought that Rabbit Kinney would be a good candidate for the event. I was quite excited about it but also knew that it wouldn’t be small change to rent a booth. In the end I agreed to a half booth and thought that it would be a good exposure for the Rabbit.

So now, I’m going through inventory again, preparing all the odds and ends and trying to implement a lesson or two from my previous festival experiences.

Another aspect for Rabbit’s presence at the Eco Gift Festival is that I will be taking donations of old crayons (see post from 11/13/08) for my Crayon Recycling Program. This will be a great depot to collect them en mass and spread the word even further about the program. As an extra incentive, all contributors will be eligible to win a $75 gift certificate of Rabbit Kinney gear. Pass on the word!

Time:
Friday, December 12th: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday, December 13th: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday, December 14th: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Where:
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Booth: #112

Admission: $10 each day or $20 for all 3 days
Please visit the web sit for more info and ticket purchase.

Visit Eco Gift Festival for detailed event information.

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Happy Thanksgiving Holiday

2008-11-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

I will be away for Thanksgiving to be with family and friends in NYC. Have a great one.

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Eco-Friendly Celebrity Gift Basket

2008-11-23T16:34:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, I got a call from someone who wanted to include Rabbit Kinney as part of an eco-friendly “celebrity gift basket.”

For those of you who are not familiar, celebrities are bombarded with branded items. The brand provider can then publicize that celebrity “Blah Blah Blah” has/uses their merchandise. There are companies that specialize in this sector of marketing and all who participate must pay to submit their items. So, at first I was skeptical because I’ve been approached by such agencies before and I know that the fees are astronomical (at least a few thousand!).

But this Gift Basket program was different. There are no fees and the only stipulation is that you cannot announce that “Blah Blah Blah” is using your product unless they are photographed with it. I think that’s VERY fair.

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Snowing Ashes

2008-11-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning was beautiful with clear blue skies and not a single puff of a cloud. But by 3pm, the sky turned spooky with a dark, pinkish glow. Within the hour, you can see white particles, swirling around in the air and beginning to settle on everything in sight. The fires have been going on for days in the outer parts of LA, but now everybody’s noticing the effects.

This is the second time that I’ve witnessed snowing ashes in Southern California. The fires seem to become more frequent every year and with intensity, reminding us that the drought has been with us for a long time. We’re lucky that we don’t experience fires as such in our area. But our heart goes out to those whose homes were or are in the danger zone.

The white specs are ash particles. Click on image for a bigger viewing.

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Recycled Crayons

2008-11-13T20:38:00.000-08:00

One of the products that I would like to introduce is the Rabbit Kinney Crayons. I have been discussing with manufacturers for a while, but instead had a new idea: collect old crayon stubs from the community and recycle them into new crayons.

This will help create a dialogue of sustainability for the youngest generation, fulfill Rabbit Kinney’s product resources and reduce our landfill.

I had my first meeting with a local school, First Lutheran School of Venice. They were gracious enough to squeeze me in their PTA meeting to give a brief talk. I was thinking of all the things that I would say but the moment I walked into the classroom, all the memories started to rush in from my elementary school days. How long it’s been! The chairs were smaller, the walls covered in printed educational materials, the exposed cavity of the desks filled with notebooks and what-nots…

I was glad that the parents had questions and suggestions for me. I hope to discuss with more schools and other community organizations and begin to roll out the recycled crayons early next year.

If there is anyone interested in this program, please email me.

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

YES WE DID! … That’s R-I-G-H-T !!!

2008-11-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

Let me start with a deep SIGH of relief.

I feel like I’ve been holding my breath for the last 8 years. For the first time on November 4th, 2008, I felt a gust of fresh air entering my lungs.

Since last weekend, I have been volunteering at the Obama Phone Bank in the Venice Canals. We were calling voters in the swing states, urging them to vote and provide polling location information if they did not know where to go. It was a gratifying experience. It made me realize that action is the only remedy to complaining. My only regret was that I did not get involved any sooner. Nonetheless, an amazing experience to cherish forever. I can’t remember the last time when so many people gathered for a single burning cause. You felt the energy all over the city as if the Olympics, World Cup and Super Bowl had all rolled into one.

As the last phone calls were made on election day, food and drinks started to rolled out. Nothing like trying to “chill” with a drink or two when the fate of a nation dangled by a thin string. It’s like waiting for a child to be born, except it will either be the angel of your dreams or a horrific offspring that will ruin your life. “Cheers” to that…

Then like a silent earthquake after 8pm PST, we saw a full-screen graphic of Obama being declared the 44th President of the United States! Was it a mistake? A pre-mature airing? Many of us expected a drawn-out event and prepared to put on our mental boxing gloves and battle the mischievous tactics of the opponent. But it was nothing like that. Nothing like that, at all.

Voted in the morning.

Everyone brought their own cell phone to the phone bank, was handed a script and a list of names in the battleground state. I had a long conversation with a 65 year old man who said he had waited 40 years for this since Martin Luther King Jr.

Waiting...

The crowd's reaction to Obama's victory:

The next day!

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Abbot Kinney Fevstival 2008

2008-09-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

September 28th, 2008 - Sunday (YES, this Sunday!!!)
Booth #M83B On Abbot Kinney Blvd. near Westminster Ave.
Official info: www.abbotkinney.org

It's that time of the year again! How quickly time flies... I have been slowly preparing for the event throughout the summer but then suddenly became very ill in August. I am still recovering but I think I will be strong enough to participate in the festival. As mentioned in an earlier post, never too early to prepare, and thank goodness that I did.

Some new things that you will see:
Being with the rabbit for the last year or so, and feeling out what he means to me and what he wants to be, we are moving toward a content-based entity. Some of you might have heard that the Rabbit Kinney book is in the works. Yes, very true. I wanted to premiere the book for the 2008 Festival, but a production of this nature seems to take longer than I thought (especially when you have no idea how the publishing animal works!). So until that's realized, a side project to fill in that void will be the Rabbit Kinney coloring book printed on 100% recycled paper.

I am also introducing some of Rabbit Kinney's pals, "Linnie" and "Howland," a pair of sibling ducks from the famed Venice canals.

We will also have Rabbit Kinney balloons and temporary tattoos for everyone, big and small.

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

A Window Between Worlds: "The Monster In Me" Exhibit

2008-08-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

Open House Thursday, August 7th, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
710 4th Ave. Venice 90291
RSVP: 310.396.0317 eml: events@awbw.org
www.AWBW.org

Please join A WINDOW BETWEEN WORLDS for this FREE community event, with a special viewing of "THE MONSTER IN ME" exhibit created by women and children survivors. These artists, faced with fighting against abuse and domestic violence, take you from the dark side to the light and share their experiences of pride, sadness, pain and power.

A Window Between Worlds has been providing art as a healing tool for battered women and their children in crisis shelters throughtout the US since 1991. Please join them for an evening of food, meeting friends and becoming a member of the AWBW community to help make the healing happen.

Be a part of the Art Supply Drive and bring new supplies with you to the event.

See you there!

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

Venice Perks: Hummingbird

2008-08-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

One of the perks about living in Venice (and maybe all of LA?) is the presence of hummingbirds. I'm always on the lookout for them, a quick zig-zag in the air with the sound of their wings flapping like a high-pitched propellor. I was lucky enough to catch one in action. Take a good look in the first few seconds; he was, uhm… taking care of bathroom duties!

Here's a bigger and better quality video.

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· · · · · www.RabbitKinney.com ··· info@RabbitKinney.com · · · · ·

The "Dirty Dozen +" Chemicals

2008-07-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

OK, I don’t mean to be negative here, but let’s face it, there’s a lot of stuff that we put on our skin that has nothing to do with skincare. Even when I buy “organic” or “natural” items, there is still sometimes one ingredient that I’m just not sure about. I admit that this is hard to avoid but it also led me to the idea of creating my own of skincare. I just want the basics and nothing more. Here's a list of some of the culprits (brace yourself, it's a long list):

Chemical: Butyl Acetate
Solvent in polishes and treatments, prevents chipping.
Present in: Nail polish and nail treatments like strengtheners, hardeners,
top/base coats.
Health Concerns: Repeated exposure causes skin dryness and cracking;
vapors may induce drowsiness or dizziness.

Chemical: Butylated Hydroxytoluene
Function: Anti-oxidant; slows down the rate at which product ingredients
change in color.
Present in: Lip Makeup, Moisturizer, Eye Makeup, Anti-Aging Treatment,
Foundation, Fragrance, Bar Soap, Shaving Products, Antiperspirant/
Deodorant, Concealer, Sunscreen, Facial Cleanser, Body Wash, Blush,
Shampoo, Conditioner, Acne Treatment, Body Lotion/Oil, Powder, Makeup
Remover, Depilatory Cream, Toothpaste, Styling Product, Exfoliator, Nail
Treatments.
Health Concerns: Eye and skin irritant.

Chemical: Coal Tar
Function: Controls itching and eczema, softens and promotes the dissolution
of hard, scaly, rough skin, also used in hair dyes.
Present in: Shampoos and hair dyes.
Health Concerns: International agency government research on cancer says
there is sufficient evidence that coal tars are carcinogenic in humans. EU
banned coal tar from cosmetics in 2004.

Chemical: Cocamide DEA/Lauramide DEA
Function: Used as foaming agents in shampoos and bath products, and
as emulsifying agents in cosmetics; foaming and cleansing agent for
“mouth feel”.
Present in: Shampoo, Body Wash/Cleansers, Bath Oils, Facial Cleanser,
Liquid Hand Soap, Bar Soap, Acne Treatment, Baby Wash, Shaving Products,
Body Scrubs, Foot Odor/Cream/Treatment, Deodorant, Moisturizer, Hair
Dye/Spray.
Health Concerns: May be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer or
other significant health problems. May form carcinogenic compounds called
nitrosamines on the skin or in the body after absorption. Insufficient toxicity
data to determine safety in products that will be inhaled, where chemicals
become airborne and can be inhaled.

Chemical: Diazolidinyl Urea
Function: Formaldehyde-releasing, anti-microbial preservative.
Present in: Moisturizer, Styling Products, Shampoo/Conditioner, Hair
Spray/Dyes, Anti-Aging Treatment, Facial Cleanser, Sunscreen, Facial
Moisturizer, Foundation, Eye Makeup, Acne Treatment, Mascara, Body
Wash/Cleansers, Deodorant, Concealer, Exfoliator, Powder, Body Scrubs,
Bath Oils/Salts, Eye/Contact Care, Lip Makeup, Shaving Products, After Sun
Product, Douche/Personal Cleanser, Makeup Remover, Depilatory
Cream/Hair Remover, Liquid Hand Soap, Nail Treatments, Pain Relief
Rub/Ointment, Fragrance.
Health Concerns: May be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer or
other significant health problems.

Chemical: Ethyl Acetate
Function: Solvent.
Present in: Nail polish products, mascara, tooth whitening, perfume.
Health Concerns: Eye and skin irritant.

Chemical: Formaldehyde
Function: Disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, preservative.
Present in: Deodorants, nail polish, soap, shampoo, shaving cream.
Health Concerns: Suspected human carcinogen, may trigger asthma, irritant
to the eyes, upper respiratory tract, can damage DNA, banned by the EU.

Chemical: Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl)
Function: Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in
cosmetics to inhibit bacteria, yeast and mold growth and are antibacterial
agents in antibacterial toothpaste.
Present in: Moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, hair styling gels, nail
creams, foundations, facial masks, skin creams, and deodorants, baby lotions,
chemicals in our daily use products that should be avoided
and other personal care products for children.
Health Concerns: May alter hormone levels, possibly increasing risks for
certain types of cancer, impaired fertility, or alteration of the development of a
fetus or young child. May cause skin irritation, rash or allergic skin reactions;
studies have found parabens in breast tumors.

Chemical: Petrolatum
Function: Petrochemical that forms a barrier on skin; makes lipsticks shine
and creams smoother; helps to soften skin in the same way as other products
but less expensive.
Present in: One of every personal care products; creams, lotions, wax depilatories, eyebrow pencils, eye shadows, liquid powders, lipsticks.
Health Concerns: May be contaminated with impurities, linked to cancer or
other significant health problems; causes allergic reactions. Banned by the EU.

Chemical: Phthalates
Function: Industrial chemicals that are used as solvents and plasitcizers in
cosmetics.
Present in: Nail polish, deodorant, fragrance, hair spray, hair gel/mousse,
lotions.
Health Concerns: Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and in particular the developing male reproductive tract; permanent birth defects in the male reproductive system.

Chemical: Propylene Glycol
Function: Penetration enhancer; keeps products from melting in high heat or
freezing when it is cold.
Present in: Shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, face cleanser, liquid
hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, shaving products, moisturizer, makeup
remover, toothpaste, sunscreen, perfume, cologne, deodorant, toner/astringent,
foundation, bronzer powder, nail polish, lip products, eye shadow/pencil,
mascara.
Health Concerns: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate
deep into the skin increasing the amount of other chemicals that reach the
bloodstream; skin irritant, causes allergic reactions.

Chemical: Sodium Laureth/Sodium Laurel Sulfate
Function: Penetration enhancer.
Present in: Shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, face cleanser, liquid
hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, mascara, shaving products, moisturizer,
toothpaste, sunscreen, makeup remover, perfume, cologne.
Health Concerns: Alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate
deep into the skin increasing the amount of other chemicals that reach the
bloodstream.

Chemical: Talc
Function: Absorbs moisture.
Present in: Primary ingredient in blush and powder eye shadow, perfumed
powder, baby powder, deodorant, soap.
Health Concerns: Cosmetic-grade talc is a proven carcinogen, link between
use of talcum powder and ovarian cancer, talc particles are similar to asbestos
particles and data suggests that it can cause tumors in the lungs, found to
cause tumors in lab animals.

Chemical: Toluene
Function: Solvent to improve adhesion and gloss.
Present in: Mainly nail polish and hair dye.
Health Concerns: Potentially cancer causing, pregnancy concern, liver damage,
irritating to the skin and respiratory tract; harmful by inhalation.

Chemical: Triethanolamine
Function: A coating ingredient for fresh fruits and widely used as a dispersing
ingredient in hand and body lotions, shaving cream, soaps, shampoos and bath
powders.
Present in: Hand and body lotions, shaving creams, soaps, shampoos and bath
powders.
Health Concerns: May form carcinogenic compounds called nitrosamines
(compounds formed when chemicals containing nitrites react with amine,
natural chemicals found in food and the body) on the skin or in the body—
among the most potent cancer-causing agents found. Thought to possibly
cause cancer in humans, based on limited data.

Information courtesy of: www.searchforthecause.org

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Beach Clean Up on August 3rd, 2008

2008-07-26T19:21:00.000-07:00

From a Venice mom, Susan Derby:

Join the Venice Moms (+ spouses/partners, kids and friends) for our next Heal the Bay Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup! We'll meet just SOUTH of the pier at 10am. **A Heal the Bay volunteer will give a short talk at 10am, before we get started with the clean-up, so please try to make it on time. (But if you are late, not a problem - I'll be close by to welcome you and give you bags and gloves.)

Please RSVP by July 28, as I need to know how many cleanup supplies to pick up. Feel free to invite any friends.

I'll bring bagels, but if anyone else is inspired to bring any other snacks or beverages, feel free and it'd be much appreciated (and much eaten!). Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you!!!

susanderby@yahoo.com
cell: 310/754-9933

P.S. Our third and final (for now) clean-up will be on Venice Beach (north of the pier) on Sunday, Sept. 7. An Evite with more details will be sent closer to the time.

I will probably get there around 11am myself. Pass the news and see you on the August 3rd!

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What was GLOW-ing on last night?

2008-07-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

We started the evening with a pre-Glow party at Switch Studios in Venice, getting the food and drinks squared away before biking over to the event. Approaching the pier, I’ve never seen so many bikers at night swerving through the crowd. Everywhere we looked, the side streets and parallel streets were filled with bicycles as more were swarming to the event.

One of the highlights from the evening was a light projection upon a large water spray on the sand, reminding me of the aurora borealis.

The second mention is Shih Chieh Huang’s animated creatures made of water bottles and plastic bags dangling from the ceiling of the walkway under the pier. They breathed and billowed in the still air resembling the graceful yet alien jellyfish.

The third and the main inspiration for this party was for the “grunion” fish, which comes to the shore to spawn on the beach during the warmer months. They are native to the Southern California/Mexico region and this spectacle can only be seen at night, after the full and new moon and the high tide.

(Grunion info and photos courtesy of Wikipedia)

I think we were all intrigued by the idea of partying until 7am… but that didn’t happen. We were back in bed by midnight, to be followed by our morning walk to the beach before the fresh beach crowd would gather again.

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"GLOW" A feast for the senses from 7pm 'till 7am!

2008-07-19T04:41:00.000-07:00

From KCRW.COM:

Internationally-recognized artists will create engaging sights and sounds from dusk till dawn.

WHAT: 20 multi-media art installations, music by KCRW DJs Garth Trinidad (10p-12a), Raul Campos (12a-2a), and Jeremy Sole (2a-4a)
WHERE: From the sand to the sea up to the Santa Monica Pier and Palisades Park
WHEN: Saturday, July 19 from 7pm to 7am
ADMISSION: Free

A collection of international artists will transform the iconic Southern California spot into a premier art destination from dusk until dawn, with a dazzling array of effervescent sights, sounds and interactive activities.

GLOW is the ONLY event to have ever received permission to use the historic Santa Monica Pier and beach as an all-night venue and more than 25,000 people are expected to attend.

The solar-powered Ferris Wheel will host a revolving orchestra, “tumbleweeds” of recycled material will float on the ocean illuminated by LEDs, SASSAS with dublab will take over the carousel to present Tonalism, an ambient sound and projected image environment, and Shih Chieh Huang will turn the path under the Pier into Neptune’s Net. Details on ALL the art projects can be found at www.glowsantamonica.com

Inspired by the wildly successful Nuit Blanche in Paris, GLOW takes its spirit from the fabled grunion that live in local waters and come ashore several times a year to spawn in the sand creating a momentary sensation of iridescence.

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Global Warming Town Hall Meeting July 17, 2008

2008-07-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

Assembly member Ted W. Lieu and The Venice Neighborhood Council will be holding the "Global Warming Town Hall and Resource Fair" at the Westminster Ave. Elementary School, from 6:00pm - 8:30pm tonight. The address is 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd Venice, CA90291.

Some environmental updates that have been mentioned:

•ensuring that new buildings in California are built to the highest possible energy efficiency standards. Reduces both dependence on foreign oil and the cost of energy bills, while taking a huge step forward in the fight against global warming.
•promotes and encourages solar energy installations.
•requiring the purchase of lower polluting vehicles for the state's vehicle fleet.
•calls on the Bush Administration to provide Endangered Species Act protections for the polar bear and ten penguin species.
•addresses air quality problems in the South Bay area.
•responds to the alarming increase of sewage spills on public beaches.

There is free parking and the location is accessible to people with disabilities. For more info, please call 310.615.3515

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Introducing Eco-Plush Toys!

2008-07-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

I have waited months for the arrival of the Eco-Plush dolls! It’s been half a year since I placed the order, as the manufacturer has been busy making the first batch of the handmade toys in Indonesia. It's made of 100% Soy Bean fiber and filled with 100% Kapok stuffing, a sustainable rainforest crop.

I loved plush dolls like any other child. But as an adult, I eventually developed an aversion to them. Not because I became a grumpy grown-up, but because I didn’t like what they were made of!

Here’s one tag description from your standard plush toy:
Contents: Polyester Fiber & Plastic Pellets

Eeeeeeek!! I would not want any child putting this in their mouth. I know that they claim that it’s safe and all, but when I think of polyester and plastic pellets, it’s not my prime choice of toy material.

So my quest began for something friendly and I am very happy (and proud!) that it is now available at Rabbit Kinney’s website! Checkout the various plush dolls from the Polar Bear, the Emperor Penguin and to the classic Teddy Bear.

Enjoy!

Eco-Plush Polar Bear

Eco-Plush Koala

Eco-Plush Puppy

Eco-Plush Emperor Penguin

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Mom's Mini Garden Paradise

2008-07-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

I don't have a green thumb. In fact, Pirco says that I'm capable of killing plastic plants.

My mom on the other hand, has a nimble green thumb… or two. While visiting NY last week, I was truly impressed by her little paradise.

When she’s not working or taking ballroom dancing classes (yes...), she’s tending to her little garden terrace of various herbs and vegetables. Living in New York, there’s only so much that can be done, but she’s proved otherwise. Her “babies,” as she calls them (I've been replaced) are the first and last thing that commands her attention on any given day. “You’re so cute!!” – she really said that to the plants.

The current inventory consists of tomatoes, chili peppers, cucumbers, eggplants and various culinary herbs. She was so proud of the flowers blooming on the eggplant vines. Then about a week later, we noticed a young eggplant, about 5 inches long.

Baby Tomato, about 2" in diameter

Baby Cucumbers, about 2.5" long

My mom plants the butt of green onions instead of discarding, let them grow a bit and then snip when needed.

The setup

This is my current attempt at gardening, a starter terrarium in my kitchen. Gotta start somewhere!

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A Getaway within a Getaway

2008-07-09T20:56:00.000-07:00

My husband was invited to stay at the summerhouse of one his clients in Long Island, New York around the 4th of July holiday. It's been so long since I visited these neck of the woods…

Anyway, it was a good excuse to visit family and friends and then getaway again from the getaway to the quieter side of New York.

Yeah, make the kids work!! Bella, Kai and Michael

Funny

As relaxing and pleasant the mini getaway had turned out to be, in the back of my mind were all the things that I had to do for Rabbit Kinney back in the west coast. New things to make, replenish inventory, continue to prepare for the Abbot Kinney Fair and so much more. So much more…

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Bike Me!

2008-06-27T06:03:00.000-07:00

I’m finally accepting the bicycle as a mode of transportation than just for leisurely rides on Sunday mornings. It hasn’t replaced my car, but for all the short local trips, I consider my 2-wheeled manual-mobile first. As I still continue to heal from an injury, I am trying to use it as a means of therapy as well (unless it flares up, like this week). Aside from my personal reasons, it feels good to know that my car can sit idle for days. I cluster my geographically related tasks to a specific day, “the car day.” I consider myself very lucky that I don’t have to do a long commute to get work done.

Here’s a recent NPR news piece about how "Americans Are Driving Less" due to the rising cost of fuel. I guess the positive side of this misfortune is that it’s seriously making us consider alternative ways of moving about. So there, to the automobile and oil industry, Bike Me!

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Venice Eco-Fest 2008

2008-06-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, June 28th, Earth Day LA and The Venice Chamber of Commerce will present the Venice Eco-Fest 2008 from 10am ‘till 7pm. It will be at Windward Ave. between Pacific & Speedway, across the Boardwalk into the Venice Beach Rec. area. There will be over 100 eco-exhibitors, a Kids’ section, a solar powered sound stage and one of my favorite subjects, food!

Good news and Bad news:
Bad: I will not be there as I will be away for family functions.
Good: Rabbit Kinney will be at Emily's booth #59, “Eden’s Green Closet.”

Parking info:
• On Venice Blvd. and the beach lot at the end of Venice Blvd. (Beach lot fills up early!) $6 before 9 am, $12+ after 9 am. Go north 3 blocks to festival site.
• Westminster Elementary School parking lot, on Main St. between Brooks and Westminster Avenues, for $10. Walk two blocks west to Ocean Front Walk, then head approximately 4 blocks south to the festival site.
• Free parking behind Ross Dress for Less on 1400 Lincoln Blvd. (Venice 90291) at California Ave. Park there and cross at light to the north-west corner of Lincoln and California to catch the Big Blue #2 bus, which runs down California Avenue every 20 minutes, a 7 minute ride to Pacific Ave. and Windward, in front of the festival site. Only 75¢ bus fare per person. Or just walk it… only 10-15 min.

Also at the Ross parking lot location will be the station for large electronic waste disposal, i.e. televisions, computers, radios, etc. You may park your car there and dispose of electronic waste.
You could also ride your bicycle from this location, and check it at the FREE Bike Valet.
Morning volunteers get free parking at the beach, call 866-220-2370

For more info, please visit "Earth Day LA"

Have fun!

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Flexitarian

2008-06-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

Growing up in New York, I had “Kalbi” (Korean style short ribs) almost everyday. Let me explain: my grandmother makes the best Korean food. That's a good enough reason, right? However, when I was around 10, I remember one night when meat was not available. I felt the rage starting to boil from my chest into my head and next thing I know, I'm having an outburst of temper because there were only 7 vegetable side dishes to eat… and NO meat. Eventually, I accepted defeat (I was hungry) and started my dreary meal. By the end of dinner, I had forgotten that there was no kalbi and was surprised how delicious and satisfying the meal had turned out. It made an impression but it never dawned on me that it could be an alternate way of eating.

Fast forward into adulthood. I shifted food focus to poultry and seafood and less red meat. However, with industrialized farming techniques that are deplorable to the animals, and the results being passed on to the consumers, I tried to minimize my intake of all farmed creatures. This made me want to become a vegetarian but it never lasted. I finally gave up on this pressure and instead performed a little “prayer” of thanks to the animal before consuming my meal. I had been content with my compromise… until I started to hear that animal husbandry emits a profound amount of greenhouse gases (15-20% of total emissions), next to or above the transportation sector. There, I pretty much lost my appetite. Then one fateful morning in December of ’07, I woke up and realized that the desire to eat any type of slaughtered animals had disappeared. I decided that I would make exceptions for special occasions. There has been a small handful since, no more than 4. Suddenly, all the vegetables were bursting with flavors, which had previously been overpowered by meat. Because we live in a time and place with so many food options, I want to take advantage of this. I can’t say that this will be a permanent way of living for me but for now, I am satisfied with my eating habits.

Yumm… diced eggplant is one of my new favorite dishes

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"Hob-Business"

2008-06-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

Depending on my mood, Rabbit Kinney is sometimes a hobby OR a small business ("Hob-Business!"). When I'm feeling over-ambitious, then it's a business: selling stuff, talking about my product line, obtaining a "City of LA Tax Registration Certificate" (and PAYING for it). But on other days, I wish I had no responsibilities and just say that it is a hobby.

Why, you ask? Here's ONE of my recent grief scenarios: I custom-ordered a certain product. It takes over one month for production. I diligently wait for FedEx on the delivery date. By 7pm, no knock. I do another tracking update and they post that it was left at the front door at 4:30pm! Here I am anticipating the package, only to be separated by the door for hours. Argh… That's not the grief part, but just wanted to share that becuase it has happened way too many times.

I’m excited and immediately take pictures and process it for the web site. But the more I inspect it, I realize that there are flaws. It’s not that obvious, but enough to BUG me. My other self wanted to get on the phone with them and throw a tearful tantrum (seriously). But then the voice of reason calmed me down and quieted the fuming complaints in my head.

The next morning, I objectively explained the situation in an email. I could imagine their disappointment in having a job go wrong, as it took them almost 2 days to reply. Luckily their response was good. They will take it back. But the point was that I wanted this product. Now I have to figure out another solution.

I’ll touch upon another incident, way bigger. Another vendor requires that I sign their agreement before we start production. It’s a wide encompassing request on their part, which shields no protection for me. So, I visit the “Legal Grind,” a cafe with a dash of legal consultation. I was advised that I get my own lawyer and draw up our own agreement before I start production with them. Argh, again…

I try to do one thing, and just to accomplish that one thing, I have to do 5 other things in parallel to achieve that original intention. Crawling under the covers doesn't sound so bad sometimes.

The life of a “Hob-Business.”

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Back in LA

2008-06-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

I've been away for a few weeks in May visiting with family in Berlin and New York and now I'm slowly getting back into gear (why is it so hard to shake off post-vacation blues?). One of the many things on my to-do list, which only seems to get longer and not shorter, is to prepare for the next Abbot Kinney Fair. The application finally became available for 2008 and I plopped down $425 (gulp). $300 for the booth and $125 for the mandatory fire-retardant canopy rental provided by the city of LA. Aside from the fact that this canopy will create a deeper hole in my wallet, this will unfortunately take business away from "La Piñata" party rental. They have been servicing the community for at least 10 years. And to note, their rental fee was under $70. Even though it isn’t a conglomerate corporation competing with their business, I think this is another reason to be conscious in supporting local economies.

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"Style with a Conscience"

2008-05-05T04:46:00.000-07:00

Two days ago I attended a “Style with a Conscience” event at the home of Steve Glenn, the CEO of "Living Homes." It was a showcase beyond the stigma and possibilities of pre-fab homes, which I wasn't aware of until later. A modern, modular layout constructed with friendly materials, this two-story home is the first to be "LEED" (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certified in the nation. The amazing part is that it was installed in one day!

The other causes for the gathering was for Compai Design, a green design studio from Brooklyn selling their recycled and new apparel pieces and their “how to” recycle clothes books (I got the 99 ways to re-do your tee shirts, since I’m a tee junkie) and the introduction of a new organic cosmetic line from the actress/model Josie Maran.

The catered chow was all organic, though most of it was gone by the time I got there and the spirits provided by “Veev,” an Açai berry derived-alcohol from the Amazon.

I sported my Rabbit Kinney Surfboard tee shirt and someone actually recognized it! That was nice.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary from any other parties… except for the free cosmetic makeovers.

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A Sweet Distraction

2008-04-29T05:18:00.000-07:00

I'm not much of a sweets fan but that just might change. My cousin Jenna and her husband Mark in Brooklyn, NY just started their cookie business called, “Whimsy & Spice.” Mark has a lengthy culinary background, including pastry chef at The Central Park Boathouse in Manhattan. The sweets range in exotic composition from "chocolate orange cardamom," "honey lavender" to "chocolate chili cashew.” It’s just the right amount of sweetness so you can experience the other flavors in harmony. Oh, and don't forget the brownie, which my husband had hijacked, not leaving a crumb for me. Turns out that he had hid it for days and when he decided to “share” the booty, I experienced brownie nirvana. Check ‘em out. I guarantee taste bud satisfaction.

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Squeaky Mailboxes

2008-04-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

I finally mustered up my guts and did the unthinkable (at least for me): the door-to-door print campaign of introducing Rabbit Kinney to the residents of Venice. I wanted to do this last year, but let's face it, it's not the most glamorous undertaking. I hi-lighted all the streets of Venice on my Google map and trekked for hours on various days, placing Rabbit Kinney stickers into mailboxes. I was courteous as possible and only approached the mailboxes that were easily accessible, although I gently wrestle with a few squeaky ones. I wasn't sure what the neighborhood reaction would be like. But my friends thought that it was a great way to spread the word about Rabbit, since he is unique to Venice and not just another take-out menu. The other bonus: got a good walking exercise!

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Another day in Venice…

2008-04-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

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Rabbit Kinney Mural

2008-04-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

When did this happen?!

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Eden's Green Closet

2008-04-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

Few weeks ago, Pirco and I noticed that one of the gallery spaces on Abbot Kinney was transforming. Not for a new show, but something completely different: a children's store. There were mannequins, shelves and retail items strewn everywhere. I was wondering when a real kid's store was going to open again on AK Blvd. Then few days later, I get an email from Emily Spire Blakeney, the owner of this new kid's store, "Eden's Green Closet" and was interested in Rabbit Kinney! It was a pleasant surprise. What's unique about her store is that she only carries eco-friendly and recylced clothing. What a great idea! All the new items are reasonably priced starting in the $20's and the used items start at a few dollars. I was hoping that she would also carry the Rabbit Ears hoody jackets, pants and the totes, but because they're made of regular cotton, they were not chosen. Understandable. I have searched so long for those items in organic, but haven't really found them yet. But if I start to manufacture my own line of babies and adult clothing and accessories made of organic cotton, hemp, bamboo and soy, then … oh ~ sorry, straying off into fantasy land again.

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