Santa visits Brookside, Rainey Market makes a holiday splash
The holidays were in full festive shop-for-a-cause swing at the Junior League of Los Angeles’ Rainey Market shopping event, held Dec. 6 at their Larchmont Boulevard headquarters. The organization encouraged attendees to shop, connect, give back. Looking for that perfect gift for all the important people in your life? The Junior League definitely had you covered. Shoppers came from all over Los Angeles to stuff their holiday stockings with jewelry, candles, handbags, toffee, clothing, coffee, Squishmallow pillows (which, to be perfectly honest, were never going to fit into that stocking), and handmade ceramic creations.
A JLLA shopper personalizes her hat purchase with Hat Bar LA at Rainey Market.
A percentage of proceeds went to benefit the Junior League while allowing vendors a chance to show their unique wares and handcrafted talents. Shopping choices included Lavender Blue French linens, men’s colognes and care products from Henkey’s, handmade chocolate from Coco Suisse, personalized hat designs by Hat Bar LA, and jewelry designed by Claudia Botero, crafted by artisans in Mexico and Colombia. If shoppers didn’t leave with a gift for every person on their list…wait. Are we even having this conversation? Yes, there was something for everyone, and JLLA fundraiser benefited from the generous spirit of the attendees. JLLA, currently celebrating its 100th anniversary, is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action,
FRENCH LINENS and handmade purses were just a few of the items at Rainey Market.
collaboration, and training. Throughout its history, JLLA has launched more than 100 community projects focused on children and their families. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go try to stuff that Squishmallow pillow into one very large stocking…
SANTA MEETS with JJ from Page Academy at Larchmont Boulevard Holiday Open House Dec. 6.
CAROLERS FROM St. James’ Episcopalian School include music teacher Luisa Reyes with second- to sixth-graders: Langston H., Noelle H., Indy K., Emilia A., Sloan K., Kayla K., Alina K., and Hazel K.
Meanwhile, further down the Boulevard, the Holiday Open House was celebrated by Page Academy students, who met with Santa, carolers from Junior League of Los Angeles, and many others.
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FIRE STATION 61 with Santa and Brookside residents Archie and Walker Abramson.
Brookside neighbors started whispering about it around Halloween, and by late November, the whisper had turned into an anticipatory roar…Santa and Mrs. Claus were coming to Brookside with their snow-white, horse-drawn carriage! The beloved annual tradition lit up Tremaine Avenue Dec. 7, and this year was one of the biggest yet! Over 100 locals showed up to get a picture with Santa, ride with him in his carriage, sing carols, and
CHILDREN CLIMB aboard a one of three Fire Station 61 trucks.
usher in the festive holiday spirit. If elves was in town, that carriage would have flown! While taking a break from the caroling, revelers enjoyed mulled wine, eggnog, hot chocolate, cookies, candies, cupcakes, and other holiday treats. Delighted squeals were heard when “snow” magically started falling from the sky. Carolers were asked by the Brookside Homeowners Association to bring an unwrapped gift to donate to the Firefighters’ Toy Drive, and Fire Station 61 was not disappointed when they showed up three trucks strong. So many unwrapped gifts were brought to the event that the toy bin was filled three times over! The outpouring of generosity was a sure sign that the holiday spirit was beating strong throughout the community. Children shrieked with happiness as they climbed into the firetruck cab, imagining they were firefighters on an important mission.
SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS prepare their horses for the annual Brookside caroling party.
At the end of the night, some of the firefighters themselves got in on the caroling action, enjoying a carriage ride through the holiday-light-lit-up streets of Los Angeles. And now… Happy New Year to all!
And now you’re in the Larchmont know!
Category: News
