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August 2015
SECTION one
Chic Design is a ‘top star’ in home staging By Billy Taylor Leigh Ann Raines has been named a 2015 “Top 10 Rising Star Home Stager of the Year” by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA). Raines is the owner of Chic by Design, a full-service interior redesign and home staging company, which serves the greater Wilshire area. She’s only been a professional stager since 2014, but says she works “passionately in every home as though it were [her] own.” “It’s an honor to receive this award,” says Raines, “but while I’m thrilled to be recognized for my design, I’m a businesswoman and the real testament of my success comes from helping my clients achieve their goals.” As a former Disney marketing executive, Raines uses that experience to grab the attention of potential
FAMILY ROOM recently staged by Leigh Ann Raines.
homebuyers: “I want buyers to fall in love and develop an emotional attachment to the home resulting in fast and strong offers for the seller. “We strive to create an emotional connection with home buyers because when that happens, everyone wins.” Her work hasn’t gone unno-
ticed. Besides being named a 2015 top stager, Raines’ company also snagged a “customer satisfaction” award from Houzz, a social-media platform for home remodeling and design, based on client reviews and satisfaction ratings. For more information, visit chicbydesign.com.
Larchmont Chronicle
Author unveils urban walks to explore around the city A new book from “L.A. Times” staff writer Charles Fleming reveals long-forgotten walking trails in the City of Angels and its environs. “Secret Walks: A Walking Guide to the Hidden Trails of Los Angeles” is a sequel to Fleming’s guide to “Secret Stairs” and features a collection of urban walks through parks, canyons and neighborhoods unknown to most residents. In the book, Fleming provides walkers a description of each trail and uses his knowledge of the city to highlight the stories that make them famous. Fleming covers some of the region’s most historic names, such as the controversial water engineer William Mulholland, to the philanthropist and convicted murderer Colo-
9 Lives for $9
nel Griffith J. Griffith. Each walk is rated for duration, distance and difficulty, and is accompanied by a map for easy navigation. Urban walkers eager to explore can find historic walks in downtown L.A., as well as walks along the L.A. river. The book also includes walks around Elysian park, the Hollywood sign and the old zoo, as well as routes to the original Bat Cave from the Batman TV show, the lake where Opie learned to fish on “The Andy Griffith Show,” and the storage barn for one of L.A.’s oldest wineries—to name a few. Not limited to metropolitan Los Angeles, the book includes walks along the Venice and Naples canals, Marina del Rey's Ballona Lagoon, falls and lakes in the San Fernando Valley, and parks in Pasadena. “Secret Walks: A Walking Guide to the Hidden Trails of Los Angeles” is published by Santa Monica Press, $16.95, and is available for Kindle on Amazon.com.
Dodger Stadium Express gives free rides to fans
$9 adoption fees* on kittens and cats this August! Each adoption includes a free bag of pet food and a free month of pet insurance. All pets are microchipped, spayed or neutered and vaccinated. More than 100 cats and dogs are ready to go home today.
NKLA Pet Adoption Center 1845 Pontius Ave in West Los Angeles 424-208-8840 | Open daily, noon to 8 pm
NKLA.org/PetAdoptionCenter
Join us and make L.A. a no-kill city.
*Select cats are $9 to adopt.
Complimentary Metro services to Dodger Stadium from Union Station and South Bay have returned for the 2015 baseball season. The Los Angeles Metro offers fans two express services free with Dodger game-day tickets. Shuttles will operate 90 minutes before and 45 minutes after the games. Fans can park at Union Station for $6 and take the express shuttle directly to two stops—in center field, behind the pavilions, and at the Top Deck, Lot P. Fans traveling without a game-day ticket will pay regular one-way fare of $1.75 from Union Station, and $2.50 from South Bay. For specific route and schedule information, visit metro.net/around/dodgerstadium-express.