Pie Night '12

Rules are rules. At Pie Night, which some people refer to (well, one person) as Pie Knight, you must have your traditional Dave Knight photo. What would I do if Dave didn't show up?

If you click on Dave Knight in the blog labels below, you will notice something uncanny. Over the time I've known Dave--the Pie Nights we've seen and the real estate adventures we've shared--he and his wife have had two children. And he's gotten younger. How does he do that? Secret potions? Poison apples? No. I think perhaps it's the pie.

The other photo you get to take at Pie Night, if you're lucky, is of Pie Night Hostess Susan Savitt Schwartz. (Co-hosts Michael, Natalie Rose and Molly must have been stationed at various other points in the house at the time, apparently having fun instead of posing for me.)

Pie Night is a Schwartz family tradition. This year everyone came on time and the place was packed. There were a few more savory pies, which is great because after all that sugar you need some balance.

Or not. It's all pie, after all.

Pie Night '09

I don't know who this cherub is, but last night she had a table full of rivals for the title of Sweetest Thing at Pie Night.

An annual Schwartz family tradition, my previous Pie Night post got so many fun comments that last night John and I were greeted as "the publicity department."

Pie night is sugar overload. The hosts make pies from the pumpkins they grow and everyone else brings a pie, too. (If we're lucky, a couple of savory pies appear on the table at some point.) There are always delicious people to meet, as well. Last year I met Dave Knight, and not only did he become the Pie Night photo for 2008, he took me on a real estate "caravan" in the spring.

It's just not Pie Night without Dave Knight in Bad Light.
Wait a minute. Who's that sneaking up behind Dave with a camera?

Home Shopping With Dave, Part 3

Look closely. Click to enlarge. Yes, it's a putting green.

I don't think I'd want one in my back yard. Then again, I have dog poo in my back yard. I must want it there, because otherwise I'd go out and poop scoop instead of sitting here blogging, wouldn't I?

Dave Knight and I visited a third high-end Pasadena property on our caravan (visit yesterday and the day before for details). This one's in the Chapman Woods area, a $3.5 million property on Madre Street. For grace and charm I prefer yesterday's home but this one has some nice amenities, like a tennis court and a 1200 sq. ft. guest house. The main house has about a hundred bathrooms (I exaggerate - there are actually only six). My favorite amenity is an unmanicured area beyond the tennis court, where the kids have their own jungle.

Dave and I did some talking during the caravan. (No, we didn't, of course not! We sat silently in the car as we rode from house to house.) Dave found his way into real estate by way of charity work; he'd been with a group that helps the needy find housing, and thought he could do good work in the business. He has a wife and a three-month-old son to support so he's gotta make a living, but regardless of commissions he still gets a charge out of finding a great deal for someone who needs it. Those were the stories he relished telling: the friend who got a house for $130,000; the older couple who decided not to sell based on Dave's advice. "I lost that deal," he said, "but they would have lost everything."

If Dave looks familiar, here's why: I first met him last October, at the now famous Pie Night.

Home Shopping With Dave, Part 2

Did someone mention points for the stager? I love the candelabra on the basketball court.

I'm on a caravan with Dave Knight, Pasadena realtor. (Yesterday's post will give you a little background.) I didn't get good pictures at the first house we visited in Linda Vista, sorry. The place was nice, clean, ready to move in. Nothing fancy, though, I must say, and the asking price was $1.275 million.

This place, however, is special. The rooms flow from one to the other. The lot is gorgeous, overlooking the Arroyo and Brookside Park. And you can have it all for less than $2.4 million.

When we entered it was obvious we were in an exclusive home. We introduced ourselves and shook hands with the selling agents. Dave is a young guy, and the other agents were seasoned pros. We chatted about the house - its beautiful surroundings, flowing floor plan, artistic lighting. Dave wanted to know, so he just up and asked: "How does a new agent like me get a listing like this?"

The other agents couldn't have been nicer. Out poured all kinds of friendly advice: "keep up your contacts," "participate in the community," "do charity work," "it's all about your connections," and more.

This exchange was my favorite part of the caravan. I've experienced actors helping actors, writers helping writers, and now realtors helping realtors. I know business is competitive, but people really can be good to each other.

Anyway.

Tomorrow: Part 3, our final installment, where we'll learn why Dave looks familiar (if Cafe Observer keeps our secret), and we'll see a backyard accoutrement some folks might kill to have.

Home Shopping With Dave, Part 1

You may remember Dave Knight, but for now I'm not going to tell you from where.

When I began the irregular but not indifferent Home Shopping series here on Pasadena Daily Photo, I contacted a few local real estate agents to tell them what I was doing. Because I'm not an expert in the field I asked if they'd occasionally check in and add their input. The fabulous Irina Netchaev contributed excellent info on Mediterranean Altadena, for example, enhancing that post with her knowledge.

It's obvious I need assistance. There's a lot I don' t know about real estate. Did you know these people regularly go on caravans? They're not trekking across the desert on camels to visit mysterious oases. No, they're trekking across Pasadena in air-conditioned vehicles to view glorious properties, eat lovely snacks and schmooze with their kind.

I accompanied Dave Knight on a caravan last week. We visited three Pasadena properties, each listed at well over $1 million. I took just a few pictures so as not to be obtrusive. I learned some things. I did not indulge in snacks.

When I took this picture, Dave was standing on the back porch of a glamorous home not too far from the Gamble House. I was on the basketball court.

Part 2 tomorrow.

Pie Night

You don't know a sugar high until you know Pie Night.

John and I first lived together in a rented home in Altadena, where we got married in the back yard. We lived there, across the street from our friends the Schwartz family, for a year and a half before we bought our Van Nuys house and moved away. By the time we moved back to the Pasadena area two years later, Pie Night at the Schwartz home had become an annual fall event. It's casual. Just come--and bring a pie.

Last night it was cold and blustery outside. It's full-on autumn here. Just right for our third Pie Night.

The Schwartzes have been around here for about ten years. Michael's a frisbee artist and JPL scientist (oh I know, isn't everybody?) and Susan's the Executive Director of P.E.N, the Pasadena Education Network. Natalie Rose is a budding ballerina/actress and Molly's not sure about future plans yet, but she can swing from a tree on her rope swing about nineteen different ways.

The guy in the picture is named Dave. He was gonna get him some pie. I got me some, too, let me tell you. Several varieties. And homemade cre-->me brulee.

Took a while to come down.