Last First Friday at Brick Lane

Well friends - I am sad to report that tomorrow evening - Friday September 5th is the Last first Friday on Abbot Kinney that Brick Lane will be participating in. We will be open until 10PM with lots of wine and beer and a last shopping chance for you all - with things marked from 25% off (Brand new fall arrivals) up to 90% off. Please come by and say goodbye if you can.

Our last day of business will be Sunday September 28th.

After that the doors will be closed. It has been a difficult and sad time as I start saying my goodbyes - but I am trying to take with me the good memories and focus on the positive things, such as the wonderful relationships I have made with my customers and neighbors these past (almost 4) years.

The past weeks have been challenging to say the least - but I thought I would share....

TOP FIVE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS / COMMENTS I HEAR EVERYDAY:

1. Oh my God - you are going out of Business? Does that mean you are moving or opening the store somewhere else?

No sadly. Generally Going out of Business does not mean re-opening to another location - this is it.

2. But WHY are you going out of business?

To put it simply - The Bush Economy

3.What are you going to do? What's next? Where will you work?

I have NO bloody idea - any suggestions or offers?

4. Is it 75% off the marked price? If not I will come back when you have marked things down more.....

No - this isn't the dollar store - it is price as marked - already 75% off and WELL below wholesale - so feel free to come back but I still won't give it away for free.

(and people wonder why I am going out of business)

And my FAVORITE - heard at LEAST 10 times plus a day for the past 4 weeks.....

5. Well you know what they say....Everything happens for a reason....

Really? Yeah....it's been mentioned once or twice...thanks. Of course I am open to anyone who has "The Reason" for me.

Please excuse the most obvious sarcastic and bitchy tone to the above - as I know that for the MOST part these comments come from a place of concern and love by my wonderful customers (with a few glaring exceptions that I will write about at a future time when it starts to finally become funny for me), I just get really exhausted explaining the situation 50 times a day and by the end of the day get - well sarcastic and bitchy to be honest. Apologies.

So these are the final weeks - please spread the word and come say goodbye. I WILL miss my customers very much...and will keep everyone posted on future endeavors - although don't hold your breath for me to open another store anytime soon unless we have a radical turn around in the economy.

I will say though - my natural sense of restlessness and quest for adventure is slowly creeping it's way back in......it may be time to pack my bags....and then who knows where I may end up?

Cheers Luvs

X's

Amanda

Amazing Photo Exhibition

My friend Deborah is having her debut photography exhibition at our friend Holly's store SALT on Friday August 15th.

Showcasing her stunning photographs from her trip to MALI.

African inspired music by her talented son DJ Benjamin LaBrave

Come on down and check it out!

Cheers luvs

X's

Amanda

First Friday S-Factor Event

S-Factor Event at Brick Lane

The LA Newsletter for S-Factor posted this about our upcoming event:

GIRLS' NIGHT OUT At The Venice "First Friday" Event

S Factor will be a part of Venice's "First Friday" Event, Friday, August 1st, 6pm 10pm! "First Friday" is an extended shopping hours street fair on Abbott Kinney Blvd in Venice the first Friday of every summer month. Come see us at "S" woman, Amanda Dugan's store Brick Lane, for her annual summer blow out sale. Men's and women's clothing and accessories will be 30% to 75% off. S Factor women get 15% off full price merchandise on this night and all year round!

What a cool event we have planned! If you have ever wondered what exactly S-Factor is all about, now is the time to check it out. We will be giving away FREE INTRO CLASSES as gift with purchase that evening. There will be amazing S Ambassadors on hand to answer any questions and tell you more about this amazing workout that is a favorite with celebrities and regular woman a like. You can even get a little demonstration and try out some of the signature moves that make this one of the most unique exercise classes out there!

Come down August 1st 6PM - 10PM for an evening of pure S!

Hope to see you there

Cheers Luvs

X's

Amanda

SUMMER and HOLIDAY SALES

Well the sun has been creeping out - the temperature has been rising and people are feeling the buzz...the buzz of early season SALES!

Everywhere you look it seems you can find early season Sales and Specials and Brick Lane is on board!

Offering specials to help beat the heat come down for steep discounts of summer frocks and duds!

Also ABBOT KINNEY FIRST FRIDAY in July has been moved to FRIDAY JULY 11th due to the holiday falling on Friday and stores being closed.

FRIDAY July 11th - Brick Lane will be co-hosting an adoption event with MUCH LOVE DOG RESCUE! Check back soon for more details.

We also have something REALLY special in the works for August First Friday - so stay tuned!

Head down to Abbot Kinney either pre or post beach visit, check out what is happening and stop in for great Summer Savings!

Cheers Luvs
X's
Amanda

Brick Lane - Best Specialty Boutique on Abbot Kinney

Thanks GenLux Magazine! Make sure to come check out Abbot Kinney this Spring!

Cheers Luvs

X's

Amanda

Abbot Kinney First Friday's

Yes it is that time again - when Abbot Kinney stays open late to play host to neighbors, customers and visitors.

Friday April 4th Brick Lane will be open until 10PM serving cocktails and kicking off a SPECIAL APRIL PROMOTION that you do NOT want to miss!

The Brick Lane website has new additions and more are on the way and the store is stocked full of Fred Perry, Anya Hindmarch, Ted Baker, Duffer of St. George, Edun, Orla Kiley and more!

We hope to see you soon on the boulevard!

Cheers Luvs
X's
Amanda

Abbot Kinney is in Vogue!

Literally!

Abbot Kinney got some Vogue love this month. Sadly Brick Lane was not mentioned - but we are thrilled for our neighbors who were! If you live in LA and haven't strolled and shopped the boulevard lately - what are you waiting for? Clearance Sales, new shops, galleries and restaurants galore! Brick Lane is having our semi-annual SALE of 40% - 75% off! Come down and visit us soon before everything is gone!

Cheers Luvs,

X's

Amanda

Abbot Kinney Annual Holiday Festival

It's that time of year yet again! With the holiday spirit abound - Abbot Kinney Blvd stays open late on Friday December 7th to welcome neighbors, customers and friends to come down and mix and mingle for the evening.

Shops on Abbot Kinney will stay open until 10PM and many of them will be having refreshments and specials galore! There will be a Santa at Tales and Toys from 5PM to 7PM, Carolers wandering the streets and other stores will be hosting music or art shows.

Brick Lane will be having cocktails and nibbles and absolutely MENTAL DISCOUNTS for the evening so get your christmas chopping started early and on SALE!

Friday December 7th from 5PM to 10PM come join in the merriment in Venice on Abbot Kinney Blvd!

Hope to see anyone close by here!

Cheers luves,
X's Amanda

Smart House - Smart Car Launch Party on Abbot Kinney

Thursday evening I was invited to the cocktail reception of the opening of the new SMART HOUSE on Abbot Kinney Blvd. I was invited because my lovely sister Kathleen Dugan is a publicist at LaForce-Stevens PR firm in NYC and their LA office is now handling the press for the Smart House.

Now I travel to Europe a bit and have seen the Smart Car for years over there. The cutest little car that looks like you could fold it up and carry it away in your purse ..."It's a purse...It's a car..." I have always found them cute but never really delved into them more than that. Well after an evening of seeing these cars, getting to sit it one - they really are roomier then one would anticipate, and learning more about the car, the company philosophy and how much better they are for the environment - my friend Elizabeth and I started musing on the benefits of having such a little car. I mean we don't drive that much, they are so little parking would be easier - and what a great way to run around town doing your errands without leaving as much of a carbon imprint on the world! Hmmmmm food for thought.

The Smart Car on the roof of the Smart House as seen at night.

Elizabeth Ryan - owner of Tales and Toys on Abbot Kinney Blvd and myself.

Robyn Kures - the point PR contact for Smart House from LaForce - Stevens

Danny Masterson as the evenings DJ

Designer Jordan Cappella and I at the Smart House main floor gallery

How cute are these little cars?

Designer, owner of Turquoise on Abbot Kinney and friend Vanessa De Vargas Schubert

Saturday October 13 from 11AM to 5PM SMART HOUSE will be open to the public for an Open House reception and then remain open Tuesday's - through Sunday's from 11AM to 9PM through January 2008. Stop by and learn more about the Smart Car, see the amazing design of the Smart House and take one for a test drive! Maybe it is time we all give up our SUV's and start to drive Smart!

Abbot Kinney First Friday's at Brick Lane

Friday October 5th is our next First Friday's installment here on Abbot Kinney Blvd and at Brick Lane.

Brick Lane will be open until 10PM to give everyone an opportunity to come down, have a cocktail with us and check out the new Fall Fashions from London as well as mingle, meet and enjoy all the other activity on the street.

If you missed the Abbot Kinney Festival and the Once a Year BLOW OUT SALE at Brick lane - we don't have a ton left - but there are still a few great deals left including a few dresses by ISSA, Ted Baker and MERC and Oliver Spencer suits and shirts for men and more.

New Fall Merchandise will have a special on it for Happy Hour from 5PM to 10PM but you need to come down to the shop to find out about this one. In the past people have won $100 Gift Certificates, free classes at S-Factor and more. So come down and visit us on Friday October 5th for drinks and snacks and great London Styles!

Hope to see you down here! Cheers

ABBOT KINNEY FESTIVAL SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH!!!

It's that time of year again. This Sunday September 30th is the Annual Abbot Kinney Festival. The street closes off to traffic from 10Am to 6PM. Come down and cruise the street see all we have to offer.

Local Artists and Artisans

Food and Beverage courts

Jewelry, clothing and craft vendors from all over LA and then of course......

THE BRICK LANE ANNUAL ONCE A YEAR BLOW OUT SALE!!!!

The lowest prices on the Best clothes from Britain!

Slashed prices on past seasons ISSA, Orla Kiley, Oliver Spencer, Pringle, Fred Perry, Buckler and much more.....

$10 T- Shirts!!!

Prices Cheaper than Chips!

So come check out the festival - enjoy what is sure to be a beautiful day and visit us at Brick Lane for the crazy Sale!

Cheers!

Note: This year the Abbot Kinney festival is going GREEN! Check out the site for more information: Abbot Kinney Festival 2007

Abbot Kinney First Friday Event

Well another First Friday evening past and this one was hands down the most popular one on the street to date! For those of you who made it out, you were treated to drinks, specials, socializing with your neighbors, meeting new friends and enjoying a lovely summer evening out and about in your neighborhood! (And that was just at Brick Lane, I hear that the rest of the street had a fantastic and fun evening as well!)

It took a bit of time, but we think that some of the press such as the Santa Monica Daily Press article, the constant word of mouth from all the vendors on the street and the diligence from our Venice Neighborhood Council member Mike Newhouse in creating these evenings has paid off! Thanks to Mike for all his work organizing charities, keeping the group together, notifying the vendors on the street and for his all around supportive and enthusiastic attitude in helping bring success to the shops along the Kinney! (We are anxiously awaiting news of mike and Ruthies first baby, due a few days ago!)

Abbot Kinney First Fridays has been organized to help increase our neighborhood community, support of our retail boulevard of Abbot Kinney and the ability to give back to the community we call home by means of charitable donations. Our main goal is to help drive business to the small family owned establishments in an attempt to keep Chain store retail outlets away from our eclectic, artistic and ever growing and changing Abbot Kinney Blvd.

I would personally like to thank all of the members of the community and my customers who came out in support of the evening, shopping, drinking, laughing and generally creating an amazing environment for me to enjoy in my store for 5 hours. I had so much fun with you all - and would like to give a special shout out of congrats to 2 very special customers Alexa and Anton who came in to let Jordan and I know they recently got engaged! A bottle of bubbly was popped and will be for any future customers who come in with such special news! Sending lots of love to the happy couple from their Brick Lane family!

The drawing for the raffle was done on Sunday and the following 5 winners are the recipients of a $100 Store Credit! Congratulations to: Carie Maniscalco, Katy Ballard, Celena Perkins, Lisa Wren and Alexa Marino & Anton Bacardi!

For those of you who were unable to make it, please stop by the next First Friday Event at Brick Lane for drinks, snacks, specials and gifts! Then you can stroll the rest of the boulevard to see what specials are being offered up and down the street. Enjoy your neighborhood and support Abbot Kinney! Hope to see you all soon!