Spa

CITY HALL — The owner of a facility that once housed a massage operation suspected of Medicare fraud pleaded with city planners on Wednesday to grant a permit that would allow her to operate a day spa. Hoping to change the reputation of the then-illegal medical massage operation at 125 W. Los Feliz Road, owner Lucy Artinyan requested that City Planner Kristen Asp approve a permit that would allow massage services at the same location, but...

Her mom is a champion manicurist, her dad does the books, her sister works the spa pedicures and the salon is named after her late brother. So for Jennifer Grubbs, it might be an understatement to call her salon a family affair. Valentino's Salon and Spa celebrated its grand opening Wednesday with a fair amount of planned fanfare, including expensive champagne, a raffle, gifts and dignitaries. "It's like a dream," Grubbs said. She graduated from La Cañada High School in 2000 and immediately went on to secure a business degree from Loyola Marymount University and a license in cosmetology in her quest to one day operate her own salon.

CITY HALL — During a hearing Wednesday on their zoning permits, two troubled businesses with a host of neighborhood complaints and grievances lodged against them fought for the ability to keep operating. Acknowledging the long list of complaints against them, representatives from the Mix in Montrose and a new day spa on East Colorado Street promised at the hearing to work with city, police and community members to ensure both businesses run legitimate operations in the future.

Through special events or simply by letting employees pay for the right to wear jeans to work, several Newport-Mesa businesses are participating in events to raise money for breast cancer research and treatment. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and many local companies are working with the Orange County chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to raise money for research and treatment. The chapter raised about $2 million at the 14th annual Komen Orange County Race for the Cure, said Lisa Wolter, the chapter's executive director.

NORTHWEST GLENDALE ? The arm of a 30-ton crane crashed through the roof of a Cumberland Drive home Wednesday afternoon, causing significant damage to the residence but injuring no one, authorities said. The operator of the crane was attempting to place an 800-pound spa into the backyard of the home at about 12:20 p.m. when the incident happened, Glendale Fire Capt. Steven Parrish said. The operator told fire officials that he had lifted the spa from the front of the house, up over the house ?

Just about the time those bills come due for your Christmas presents, you?ll want to consider the next important gift-buying opportunity of the year, Valentine?s Day. While Feb. 14 is still two weeks away, you?ll need to make your decision early if you want to turn this year into a special getaway for you and your significant other. This year Valentine?s Day falls on a Thursday and that, no doubt, will encourage more getaway travel than if it came earlier in the week. Many couples will take Thursday and Friday off, or leave late Thursday and make a weekend out of it. The upshot: lodgings for those dates may be a little harder to find at the last minute.

More than 600 guests turned out Saturday night at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena for POSH, a gala to raise funds that will provide scholarships to deserving teens who hope to attend St. Francis High School. It was the largest turnout ever for the biannual event. The evening also honored Father Matt Elshoff, OFM Cap., the much-loved former president of the school who was celebrated for serving the campus with distinction from 1992 until last year when he was elected by his peers as Provincial in the Capuchin Franciscan Order’s Western American Province.

Fire Up The Grill Sometimes, when I am interviewing, my subject says, "You won't mention that, will you?" Or she tells me something funny and adds, "That's off the record." I nod politely, thinking to myself that I've just waved good-bye to an amusing tidbit. One day I asked myself, "If you were interviewed, Lynn, what personal topic would you want to avoid?" Boy, is this one silly. I have a thing about my feet. I don't like them. They make me nervous. As a child I was afraid to go barefoot.

Massage Envy Spa-Glendale celebrated five years in business this month. Wife-and-husband team Helen McDonagh and Andrew Garsten are former marketing directors in the technology sector who launched what was then the 48th Massage Envy franchise in 2005. There are now 640 locations nationwide. The company's mission is to make therapeutic massage and facials an affordable and convenient part of people's health and wellness routines. Massage Envy Spa-Glendale was recognized by the franchisor in 2009 for having the largest year-over-year growth of any location from 2007 to 2008.

CITY HALL — The owner of a facility that once housed a massage operation suspected of Medicare fraud pleaded with city planners on Wednesday to grant a permit that would allow her to operate a day spa. Hoping to change the reputation of the then-illegal medical massage operation at 125 W. Los Feliz Road, owner Lucy Artinyan requested that City Planner Kristen Asp approve a permit that would allow massage services at the same location, but...

CITY HALL — During a hearing Wednesday on their zoning permits, two troubled businesses with a host of neighborhood complaints and grievances lodged against them fought for the ability to keep operating. Acknowledging the long list of complaints against them, representatives from the Mix in Montrose and a new day spa on East Colorado Street promised at the hearing to work with city, police and community members to ensure both businesses run legitimate operations in the future.

If you’ve wandered along Montrose’s main business avenue in the past few weeks, you’ve probably noticed the new Spa Pura, which recently opened at 2270 Honolulu Ave. #A. Not only is Spa Pura a great way to relax, be pampered and take a break from the stresses of life, during the month of May when customers buy specific products from the establishment they will help the health of others who will probably never step foot in...

More than 600 guests turned out Saturday night at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena for POSH, a gala to raise funds that will provide scholarships to deserving teens who hope to attend St. Francis High School. It was the largest turnout ever for the biannual event. The evening also honored Father Matt Elshoff, OFM Cap., the much-loved former president of the school who was celebrated for serving the campus with distinction from 1992 until last year when he was elected by his peers as Provincial in the Capuchin Franciscan Order’s Western American Province.

Opening a new business during the nation’s economic downturn can be risky, but Spa Pura owners Ben Chun and Michelle Ju think their massage and skin care business will weather the storm. The pair understand that people are cutting back on spending, but Ju said people should treat themselves during these tough economic times. “I like to give people a good place where they can relax and they can relieve their stress with not too much expense,” Ju said. Chun and Ju knew they would have to make their prices affordable to make it through the recession, Spa Pura marketing director Kristen Spaun said.

Just about the time those bills come due for your Christmas presents, you?ll want to consider the next important gift-buying opportunity of the year, Valentine?s Day. While Feb. 14 is still two weeks away, you?ll need to make your decision early if you want to turn this year into a special getaway for you and your significant other. This year Valentine?s Day falls on a Thursday and that, no doubt, will encourage more getaway travel than if it came earlier in the week. Many couples will take Thursday and Friday off, or leave late Thursday and make a weekend out of it. The upshot: lodgings for those dates may be a little harder to find at the last minute.

HealthCare Partners Medical Spa, a clinic for rejuvenating skin treatments, celebrated its one-year anniversary last week with a little star power. In addition to a spread of hors d'oeuvres and chilled vitaminwater, spa guests were treated to first-hand advice from fashion model Eva Pigford, who won "America's Next Top Model" in 2004, during the television show's third season. "Moisturizer, moisturizer, moisturizer," Pigford said. But moisturizer isn't the only product or treatment Pigford uses to maintain a look that has landed the 22-year-old several film and television roles, she said.

Valentino's Salon and Spa recently celebrated a grand reopening of its family-owned business. Those who visit the salon at 1403 W. Kenneth Road, Glendale will benefit from the efforts of the entire Grubbs team. Mom Lyn owned a nail salon in the early 1980s, and was known in the industry as an award-winning sculptured-nail competitor and judge. However, when the time came to raise her children, she stepped back from her career to concentrate on mothering full time. Now, more than 20 years later, she reentered the beauty industry armed not only with knowledge and enthusiasm, but with the assistance of her two daughters, Katie and Jennifer.