OBIT: Chez Jay's Jay Fiondella

Chez Jay's Jay Fiondella---former actor, man about town, hot-air balloonist, treasure hunter, and Cosmoplitan's "Bachelor of the Month" in 1970---died Thursday after a long bout with Parkinson's Disease. He was 82. According to Variety, Fiondella opened Santa Monica's Chez Jay in 1959, which has been a hot spot for celebs like Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Marlon Brando, Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson and Sean Penn. The restaurant is "known for its stiff drinks, potatoes au gratin with bananas, and for the historic 'Astro-nut'---a peanut which astronaut Alan Shepherd took to the moon and back," and for being just a great, local, old-school watering hole. A memorial celebration will be held at Chez Jay on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 2-5 p.m. To RSVP, call (310) 395 -1741.

House Envy: Architect Ray Kappe in Brentwood

Located at 12256 Canna Road, this Ray Kappe-designed home is a certified historical monument, people. And it it looks a tad more fun than that other Kappe-designed Brentwood home. Who know how much restoration went into this one, but here's what the listings says: "This published wood & glass home has been painstakingly restored to incorporate its original natural elements & evocative form...Updated kitchen & dramatic infinity pool compliment this incomparable property." It doesn't look like there's much of a lawn, but there is one of those dyed-blue pools. A five-bedroom, it's listed at $4.95 million.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/11/new_to_market_architect_ray_kappe_in_brentwood.php

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