On the Town: Pedrini Music celebrates 66th anniversary
Pedrini Music celebrated its 66th anniversary in style. Music (natch), workshops, food trucks and live entertainment were available on Sunday at the store’s La Crescenta location.
Store owners Manny Mora and wife Diane Pedrini Mora held court as dozens of music fans got in on the action. According to Manny, father-in-law Bruno Padrini, now 97-years-old, founded the store in 1947. Manny and Diane have owned the store since then. In 1997 they moved the store to its present location from Glendale.
Hard times fell on Pedrini Music with the economic downturn, and son Joe Mora decided some sprucing up was necessary to stay afloat. New carpeting, flooring and a new arrangement of wall space did the trick. Guitars line one wall, while hanging sheet music is confined to one row. A “rock corner” with a stage was added, surrounded by framed photos of musicians.
This afternoon Crescenta Valley High School’s four-member jazz band took center stage to play some hot licks. Base guitarist Alexander Trimus did justice to the melody as the rest of the combo rocked the house.
Good news! Pedrini Music is back on track as sales are starting to increase.
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Yes, you can get a deep-tissue massage and suffer from arthritis at the same time. That was the premise of Helen McDonagh, owner of Glendale’s Massage Envy, when she opened up a 14-hour day of $39 one-hour massages (normally $98) and $49 one-hour facials (normally $108). On Wednesday (Sept. 19), dozens of massages and facials were booked. The Arthritis Foundation was the beneficiary of $10 from each procedure as part of the national movement, “Healing Hands for Arthritis.” This is the second year Massage Envy has partnered with the Arthritis Foundation.
Glendale resident Darra Stone decided on a facial. She purposely booked this day “to support the cause.” Although free of arthritis herself, Stone’s grandmother has arthritis. Lani Kelly also from Glendale was her facial therapist.
Longtime instructor at Glendale Community College Mona Field was in the very full waiting room ready for her massage. Now retired, Field has arthritis in her knee and was looking forward to a little relief.
Massage therapist and Glendale resident Gilbert Amerian had several massages scheduled afternoon and evening. Although an expert at deep-tissue massage, Amerian treads carefully on arthritic areas.
Healthy sandwiches, fruit and beverages contributed to a celebratory atmosphere as supporters were able to relax and give to charity at the same time.
Office Manager Dialle Co estimated proceeds to be donated to the Arthritis Foundation totaled approximately $1,000.
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It was a party at the Apple store in the Glendale Galleria. On Friday the store expanded its hours from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. to be able to accommodate the hundreds of customers with dreams of owning an iPhone 5 on this first day the devices were available for sale.
The line-up down the length of the Galleria’s second level was longest at the start of the sale and diminished into the evening. At any one time, there were at least 50 people in line. Apple personnel played traffic cop allowing a certain number of customers in the store at one time. Some had to deal with overenthusiastic customers who tried to cut the line. Apple Specialist Lauren McWorter was a whiz on traffic detail.
Fans of the iPhone 5 came from all over. Ten-year-old Miyae Folkes from Los Angeles hit the store in mid-afternoon and headed for a demo station. Her fingers were already flying across the keyboard. Asked whether she was considering a purchase, she answered “My mom doesn’t want me to get it.” Mom Neisha Folkes confirmed her daughter’s accurate perception. But Miyae’s Dad Rick Sanders seemed more in favor of the purchase. “But Dad will work on mom,” he said, [my daughter] is smarter than an the average little bug.”
Rumor has it that between the Galleria and Americana Apple stores over 1,000 iPhone 5 devices were sold within hours. Apple Inc. estimates that 10 million iPhone 5s will be sold worldwide in the next 10 days.
RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.