Welcome to the Grand Opening of The Nut House
Mood:  suave
Welcome!

Those of you new to The Nut House, take a look around. We are decked-out for Bastille Day, but this is really just a local joint, a place to hang with friends.

As the Hostess, I will keep off the topics of religion, politics and money. You, the guests/patrons, may discuss any or all of the above.

Rancelot, I hope you didn't leave the Valley Valet Girl in the dark ... regarding your tip.

Along with the Bloody Maries and Champagne Punch, I have a lovely selection of French wine by the glass or bottle. I got an unbelievable deal by the case last year...oops, no politics.
Anyway, I got the wine for a steal, so Vive la France!

Officially, The Nut House is open to everyone. No restrictions. But aren't most things more fun if you have special entree? Being pulled out of line, or by-passing the line altogether does wonders for the ego. Perhaps we could revisit the "Speakeasy" at The Nut House? A password at the door, booze out of tea cups(except during Sunday High Tea), escape passage to boats under the pier. Doesn't that sound exciting?

Ah, the glamorous days of the roaring twenties. Would we miss the "Gangster" movies if the 18th Amendment had never existed? Were Cagney and Bogart worth restricting the rights of citizens of the USA? That's a toughy.

And without Gangster movies, no Film Noir, and consequently, no French New Wave.
No Truffant? NO NO NO!!!!

OK... I tested the Champagne Punch too many times.

So, we made a mistake with the 18th Amendment, but we fixed it with the 21st. And admittedly, some very good things came out...flourished because of it.

Looks like I slipped again.

Drink up, have some bouillabaisse. If you must have a beer, just ask. It's too hot to crank up the nut roaster, so ask the bartender for a bowl, we've got more nuts that you'll ever need.

Enjoy!!

Chinquapin
(the password is..."French fries")

Merde!!!
The Can-can dancers' bus broke down. Wonder if I can get Colin back to reprise his "YMCA"?

No worries, the jukebox is loaded with French ditties and ditties in French.

Chinq

Bonjour!!
FedEx on it's way...we will have bouillabaisse!!! I hope I don't regret holding back the best shrimp for Rance.

We're going for a Marseille/Bar de la Marine thing, so don't show up in "Couture".

Chinquapin

The Countdown Begins
Less than 19 hours to go until the start of the Grand Opening of The Nut House. This is a 4 day event, so don't blow your whole wad Wednesday night.

I'll see you all tonight. I've got to check on my Fed-Ex seafood shipment, Eiffel Tower punch dispenser, and the Can-Can dancers.

Bonne nuit,

Chinquapin

Tea and Sympathy
Mood:  caffeinated
Please forgive my inattentiveness. Setting up a high tea at The Nut House proved much more challenging than I'd thought. The only experience I've had planning a similarly formal event was my wedding some years ago(upon their arrival at the hall, the wedding reception caterers thought I was the wedding planner).

Very odd having high tea on the coast of southern California. It was quite warm out, and I imagine it was very much like Gibraltar.

The formal tea has gotten me thinking about wealth and class, especially after small-fry0 broached the subject at "Bloggers Paradise". I've seen a great deal of wealth out and about the "Greater Los Angeles Area", but the level of class has not kept up.

I'm not talking class structure, but class as in grace, charm, civility, manners, etc.

Sadly, even common politeness is absent among a group of "sales help". The incident a few weeks ago with that lovely full-figured young woman from "Hairspray, The Musical" is a perfect example. Rude and inconsiderate behavior is epidemic in the "civilized" world. It's as if rudeness confers some sort of elevated status upon the offending party.

Oh... the Sunday night crowd is rolling in.

So, off with the Anglophile hat and on with my Francophile chapeau in preparation for...
BASTILLE DAY!!!

Hope to see everyone at the Opening Night Celebrations.

Bloody Marie Antoinettes and Champagne Punch will be served. Any suggestions for the menu?

Chinquapin

HOLLYWOOD FOREVER
No folks, chinq hasn't gone out(or stayed in)on a bender and gotten a tat.

Hollywood Forever is a cemetery in Hollywood, CA, which happens to share it's southern border with Paramount studios. Douglas Fairbanks Sr. & Mary Pickford have huge, beautiful neo-classic monuments, it is truly a memorial park. I know this, because I would drive there on my lunch break and have a little picnic in my car. It's the nicest park in Hollywood(check out their website).

You don't even have to be famous to be buried there. And the fun thing is, you or your family can bequest/request(for a fee) graveside remembrance screenings on video. Hey, it is the 21st century.

So, I was thinking that if we can take "entertainment" to the gravesite, what's the next step? Where would you like to be "laid to rest" if you could pick anyplace on earth(we'll save "the moon" until the mid-21st century)?

-The things the bartenders and I talk about while we close.

Chinquapin

I'm Tired, So Tired(Brenda Lee everyone!)
I'm sorry about that one, I get slappy when I'm tired.

I'm workin' hard this week, and once again have to share the computer with Mr.Man. Not much goin' on at The Nut House today. It's just as well, to much construction noise to have conversation, polite or otherwise.

Major renovations should be over by this weekend, so I hope to see some newcomers, along with the regulars-of course.

Night all,

Chinquapin

Getting The Word Out
It's hard to know which tact to take, the hard or the soft sell. I've tried to read the crowd, sometimes successfully, sometimes I guess I've pressed a bit too hard.

Formal invitations seem...too formal for this joint(thanks Rancelot-can't really call it a dive anymore). There is one exception however, the celebrity known as Rance.

A-lister or not, Rance is a bloggin' superstar. His appearance at the Grand Opening of The Nut House would garner more attention than a truckload of kleig lights.

"But chinq" you say..."Rance must get dozens of invitations, why would he show up at The Nut House?" Well, I've been looking around L.A., and celebs seem to like investing in local restaurants,clubs and movie theaters. Maybe it's vanity, maybe a tax shelter, I don't know. But it's the tactic I'm taking with Rance.

The following is a draft of my business proposal to Rance. Any input would be appreciated, but I need to get this to him on Wednesday, 7/7/04.


Chinquapin
The Nut House


Rance
http://captainhoof.tripod.com/blog/


Rance,

Post this or not, the following is a business proposal, asking only your time and your smile(that is if your mom hasn't knocked your front teeth out for back talkin' her).

I am not a lawyer, so please excuse the plain English.

I've recently opened a new blog-joint, The Nut House. The Grand Opening will be Bastille Day weekend(July 14-18). I know your time is valuable, so here's the proposition. In exchange for a brief appearance, a few words, and a smile(or not), a cold Bud and a plate of the finest shrimp on the California coast is yours.

The Nut House is open, but currently under renovation. Please drop by and take a look, no commitment necessary. The food service license hasn't come through yet, so just nuts, pretzels and other muchies for now. If you like what you see, we can discuss investment options. Otherwise, come by, have a drink, and enjoy.

Chinquapin

P.S. to the A.S.
Any or all of you are welcome at The Nut House in any capacity. 1st drink on the house!


Comments?

Chinquapin

What a drag it is getting old(Happy 4th of July)
Many celebrate July 4th as the birthday of the USA. I look at it as the anniversary of the conception of the USA. The birth taking place in Paris in 1783.

Either way, the holiday marks a passage of time. And that, my friends, has long been a no-no in tinsel town. And thanks to Extreme Makeover, The Swan, various cosmetic companies and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Board of P.S.(other countries names may be substituted for "American"), the apperance of aging is becoming a no-no all over the "civilized" world.

OK, here's the point(in a round about way, of course). I was talking to my mom on the phone Saturday. She's in a fly-over state, unless you're running for President. She's retired, and she and her friends have really gotten into community volunteering. One of her friends(lets call her Joan) visits what used to be called a resthome. Joan hadn't been in for a while, and one of the women she regularly visits wouldn't lift her head up. The staff told Joan that the woman had been in this position for a few days. Joan sat down and tried to talk to the woman, and upon lifting her head, discovered that the poor woman had grown a small beard and mustache. Joan told the staff to help the woman keep herself groomed, and on the next visit, the woman had her head up.

We all should have some pride in our apperance, but looking our best has nothing to do with looking young, or looking "done".

And so, to mark the passage of 228 years, Happy Conception Anniversary USA!!! I raise my glass to you!(She's looked better, but she's ready for a comeback.)

Chinquapin

It's about time!
While running around Friday, looking for "bar fixtures", I ran across a cute store in Larchmont Village selling Historical Action figures. I don't know how long these have been around, but it was the 1st time I'd seen or heard of them.

Take a look at them here(visual aid only, I am not promoting this website):
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AU11316

Screw Spiderman, I want Einstein.

Got to go pick up Mr. Man at the Burbank -oops, I mean Bob Hope Airport. Do you think the FAA changed the Airport code from BUR to BOB?

Chinquapin