On the Town: Cheering on pampered pets and classic cars

Do you ever wonder how a carpet business that remained on Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta for 27 years turned into a store for pet grooming run by the same owner? Here's the scoop. When Violet Hovsepian's husband decided to leave carpets behind, Hovsepian decided to follow her passion for dogs and cats. One year ago, she started Pampered Poochez in the same location with her sister-in-law Lala Maranjyan. The Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted an open house at the pet grooming store on Saturday.

Free treats and pooch bandanas were handed out to some 20 customers and their pets as part of the first anniversary for Pampered Poochez. The first customers were Maranjyan's daughters Irene Asatryan, 7, and younger sister Tiffany Asatryan, 5. Their pooch to be pampered was Mimi, a female toy poodle. The girls' father Robert Asatryan (Maranjyan's husband) supervised. Sunny and Thomas Ivani dropped off Cosie, a female Maltese. Cosie was cosseted, trimmed, brushed and hot-oil messaged. She even had a deep teeth cleaning and her ears cleaned — all for $35. Groomer Verona Bravo did the honors.

***

At the same time the L. A. Flea Market debuted on Sunday at Dodger Stadium, Glendale residents had their own Swap Meet/Flea Market to shop in, granted it was in a slightly smaller space. At Glendale Community College's upper parking lot, Glendale's market is open for business every third week of the month. Items for sale range from antiques and collectables to jewelry, dolls, books and musical instruments.

One of the most popular booths offered handmade jewelry and Romanian-crocheted doilies for the coffee table or dining room table "in the European style," said Mariana Lazar. Lazar is a first-time vendor at the Glendale Community College Flea Market. She recently lost her job as a pharmacist tech and needed to bring in more money.

Lazar, of Romanian heritage, decided to go the flea market route, taking advantage of her skills in jewelry and crochet work. She found the college flea market on the Internet. The market's emphasis on antique and homemade items attracted her and she set up shop. Her handy helper was grandson Trevor Rosca, 18.

One of the shoppers at Lazar's booth was Glendale resident Larisa Franchesco. She was eyeing a $3 pair of antique earrings. They may be for her mother who Franchesco takes care of in West Hollywood.