The news that Fourth River Development LLC missed a $70,000 payment on the Peach Street condos brought up a lot of opinions — 76 and still counting – on my Facebook page Saturday. Yesterday,  Kim Green, the Redevelopment Authority executive director, announced one condo is sold, and the developers showed up to promise payment. All good news.

John Watson from the Pittsburgh-based developer Fourth River Development LLC knew it was important. “If public news of this created any questions, I wanted to answer them,” Watson said in the April 9 edition of the Erie Times-News article by Kevin Flowers. The group suffered a blow last year when the point man on the project died in a bicycle accident. To date, Fourth River has built seven town homes.

Comments on my Facebook page offered a lot of opinions that future developers might want to heed.

First the negative — it was bad. One Erie transplant, who has moved to Chicago, was bitter about almost everything Erie — jobs, rent, home prices and salaries. But in true Erie fashion, dozens of us rallied to defend our town. She finally took her battle to her own Facebook page.

Many folks questioned the location, the style and everything else about these town homes. What do people want? One reader — and I have heard this before — wants to rent a downtown condo. Before anyone scoffs, this is an idea worth pursuing, and I am sure there are a gazillion reasons to say no, but rentals in Lovell Place and Modern Tool have done well for decades. Decades, that is. I have worked with kids who live there and love their digs — some are no longer kids.

Marsha Marsh pointed out that downtown condos do sell, but it takes time. The Mercantile condos — built in 2009 — were marketed by Howard Hanna Real Estate and later by Marsha Marsh Real Estate. They did sell – all but two are sold. Prices ranged from  $85,000  – $160,000.

This downtown lifestyle is not the norm in Erie, but it is the norm in other cities. My daughter lives in Pittsburgh. True city folks love city life — and the seven units are no different than what I have seen in bigger cities. It is the first of 140 planned units in Erie. Will it work? My Facebook friends pointed out that that block needs an all-important grocery store, coffee shop and big-town draw to improve activity.

Matt Froehlich, of Coldwell Banker Select in Erie, supports the project and said that recent activity at the town homes has been helped by listing the units with an Erie real estate firm — something that should have been part of the original agreement.

One local couple already purchased a town home. I am impressed with all the folks who defended our city and defended the project.

Pam Parker is the editor ofLake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom to three. 

Next Sunday is National Bunsen Burner Day — the celebration of German chemist Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen’s birthday in 1811. He is the founder of the Bunsen Burner we all used in high school. This clip is from Muppet Labs, of course, where my favorite Bunsen is Muppet Doctor Bunsen Honeydew — who would not have his name without Robert Bunsen. That is Beaker on the left.

Even if you don’t like science, you must love the Muppets. Back to National Bunsen Burner Day – it even has its own Facebook page.

Enjoy the day and the Google doodle from last year — Bunsen’s 200th birthday.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.

Here’s your chance to be a designer. The Ninth Annual Cheap Chic Weddings Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest Rolls Out — sponsored by Charmin. Don’t laugh — look at the impressive pictures of the dresses that won, and yes these are all toilet paper!

Make a beautiful wedding dress, and you just might win $2,000. Laura Gawne, Susan Bain and Roxie Radford operate the popular website www.Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com, and they are giving contestants until May 10, 2013 to submit toilet paper masterpieces.

They select the top 10 entries, and then the public gets into online voting for the top three dress designs that get showcased at a live event at RK Bridal in New York City on June 6, 2013. Celebrity judge Kate Pankoke, owner and creative director of Elaya Vaughn Bridal and Season 11 contestant on Project Runway, will crown the top designer. “Our world famous TP contest is attracting some amazing talent. We are excited to meet the finalists in New York City!” said Laura Gawne of Cheap Chic Weddings.

The Grand Prize winner will receive $2,000, the second place winner will receive $1000 and the third place winner will receive $500.

Here’s a glimpse of last year’s winners. Grand prize of $2,012 went to Susan Brennan from Orchard Lake, Mich., above. The 26-year-old aspiring artist, designer and member of the Detroit Pistons Cheer Team used 10 rolls of Charmin with hot glue, packing tape and needle and thread. Susan was the 2011 Grand Prize winner as well.

Second-place went to Katrina Chalifoux, of Knoxville, Tenn. The 50-year-old electronics technician and certified mechanic enjoys making costumes. She created a garden of flowers on the gown and used 28 double rolls of Charmin with medical tape, glue and needle and thread. A three-time contestant, she was the 2008 Grand Prize winner. She received a $1,000 prize for her entry.

Third place went to Jennifer Henry of Las Vegas. Henry, 31, is an alternative material designer and stylist who has made more than 70 different designs out of unconventional materials. She called this creation Flockflockflock, inspired by the velvety texture of Charmin tissue and ribbons of whipped cream. She used 36 rolls of Charmin, packing tape and double stick tape. This is her first entry and she won $500.

Here’s How to Enter:

First: Plan your design.

Second: Grab some Charmin Toilet Paper (Ultra Strong, Ultra Soft or Basic), tape and/or glue and/or needle and thread (that’s all you can use)! To help offset the cost of designing theses memorable creations, Charmin is providing coupons via the Cheap Chic Weddings website for those who enter.

Third: Make the dress and headpiece on your model or mannequin and take some digital photos (front, back and side).

All photos are to be submitted to Cheap Chic Weddings at TPdresscontest@gmail.com by May 10, 2013 at 11:00 PM EST. There is no entry fee. The Judging Panel at Cheap Chic Weddings with past eight years here: http://www.cheap-chic-weddings.com/wedding-contest-2013.html

Official contest rules along with lots of other wedding cost saving tips and information can be found at www.Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com.

Pam Parker is the mom of three, stepmom of three, GramPam to one and editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

It’s the first day of spring, and what better day to spring a proposal? David’s Bridal sent me an update on wedding etiquette — social-media style. Here’s the unveiling (get it un-veiling):

• Skype a seat  49 percent of all respondents would consider “skype-ing” their wedding.
• Hold the phone! 56 percent of newlywed women think it’s important to have social media rules at the wedding.
• 61 percent forbid their bridesmaids from uploading pics of the bride donning her dress before the ceremony
• 52 percent say the bride and groom must be the first to post a picture of their wedding to a social media site.
• 3-year-old Pinterest is the ultimate tool for brides-to-be. 46 percent wouldn’t use an idea they found on a friend’s Pinterest board!
• Phone it in – 68 percent of brides text fitting pictures to family and post videos on a social media site.
• Cover it live – Last month, TheKnot.com held a live-streamed, crowd sourced wedding, and Brides magazine plans a live-streamed Facebook wedding. Companies like I Do Stream and Marry Me Live even offer webcasting services.

Thanks to Stacey Tropeano, senior account executive at Coyne Public Relations in New Jersey for the latest news on social media.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.

Can any of us afford a little piece of Chanel? Well, I covet the buttons. And we can buy buttons. And it isn’t even Fashion Friday, yet.

First of all,  today’s blog resulted from my friend Susan McChesney posting a video on the classic Chanel jacket on her Facebook page. Then I Googled Chanel buttons and discovered the jewelry that has cropped up with Chanel buttons.  Here’s an article about it. Pieces are available for $200 to $390 — still not everyday pricing, but it is Chanel, vintage Chanel, at Monkee’s. A lot of sites offer Chanel buttons, but not everything is genuine, I am guessing.

Trellis in Erie, Pa., has a selection. So does Traditions Unlimited in Erie. Call them and a few vintage stores and ask — you might find some gems that will have you wearing Chanel.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one. 

I won’t spoil anything that happens on Downton Abbey, but the grand finale episode in February will be cause for a party and a fun night in Erie’s historic abbey. Well not really — it’s the Watson Curtze mansion on West Sixth Street — but it is historic.

On Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, patrons at Watson Curtze will dine on a British-themed menu. Dinner will be followed by a live viewing of the season finale (which airs Feb. 17 on PBS) in the mansion’s planetarium.

Dinner will be held at 7:15 p.m. with the show airing from 9 -10 p.m.

Black or white tie are encouraged.

Chef Marc Berarducci will prepare a menu that includes roasted butternut squash salads with warm cider vinaigrette, cottage pie, English roast and lemon curd tart. Cost is $75 per person including wine with dinner. RSVP deadline is Friday, Feb. 8.

RSVP to: Caleb Pifer 454-1813 x25 or cpifer@eriecountyhistory.org

Masterpiece’s Downton Abbey airs Sunday evenings on WQLN. You can catch up on all the episodes on PBS here.

Shirley MacLaine joined the show this season. The history, the fashions, the cars and the fans are incredible, and so is the award-winning writing.

I interviewed Mrs. Patmore — actress Lesley Nicol — by phone about a month ago for our January issue of Lake Erie LifeStyle – here’s the link to that interview.

The comments on Twitter can be found at #Downton.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.

There’s an entire fashion show dedicated to chocolate clothing. See the video here.  Of course this topic made me think of Lady Gaga’s meat dress — it has its own Wikipedia page — see it here. But instead of showing a picture of that, I found some other fun stuff.

Kara Rodemer from Delish.com wrote about some yummy and oddly stylish dresses like the one at left, a chocolate bubble dress. She had more — like Cloris Leachman in a cabbage dress,  a spaghetti and meatballs dress, an artichoke dress, a creampuff dress, stale bread dresses (and slippers) and more salad dressings — err make that dresses. Click here to see 10 fun outfits all made from food on the Delish.com website.

Now, we know what to do with those leftovers!

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.  

It’s early morning tennis time!

You don’t have to be a tennis fan to appreciate the talents of Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic and more at the 2013 Australian Open. I won’t spoil anything for anyone, but some great matches take place overnight.

Serbian Djokovic is playing this morning in a real nail-biter. Last year, he played in the final match that took 5 hours and 53 minutes — the longest final in history, but not the longest match by any means.

If you’re a tennis fan, early morning TV is live with the Aussie Open, or check out all the coverage at AustralianOpen.com.

Sharapova has had some great years and some real disappointments after shoulder surgery several years ago. She has been “steamrolling,” the Aussie websites say, this year. Good for her. Serena Williams is playing well also, but sister Venus is out of singles play.  But as a doubles team, the Williams sisters are still contenders.

Matches like these are something to see. For those of us who have played tennis every week for decades, or even if you just take the game up tomorrow — it’s great exercise, great fun and exciting to watch — especially live in the early mornings. G’day!

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.

Obsession is a good word for those of us who watch Downton Abbey, and that’s what the cover story in Parade magazine calls it. New and current fans joined in on Facebook to comment on the phenom of Downton Abbey. And many new fans had a good point — it is called Masterpiece in a lot of television listings rather than Downton Abbey. So, it was difficult to find for folks new to the program.

Masterpiece’s Downton Abbey premiered its third season last night on WQLN. If you didn’t see it, catch up on it and all the episodes on PBS here.

Shirley MacLaine joined the show with a flourish. She was entertaining but not over the top. If you want to catch up on the recaps and reviews, here they are:

• Entertainment Weekly — click here.
• A fitting review from Forbes is here – Forbes you might ask? It all makes sense because Downton’s owners’ investments raised concerns in the premiere episode last night — fascinating stuff with great historical connections.
• And here’s the Rolling Stone review.

I interviewed Mrs. Patmore — actress Lesley Nicol — by phone about a month ago for our January issue of Lake Erie LifeStyle — here’s the link to that interview. I got my husband hooked last night — I think the cool cars helped!

The comments on Twitter can be found at #Downton.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.

I love gloves, and I usually lose gloves — well at least one. Some styling glove lovers like me invented colorful, clever gloves that are pop-tops — to free up your fingers.

The gloves at left combine the best of both worlds — pop-top mittens over gloves that pop off when you need to use your fingers. These are $28 at Zappos.

You can find the cashmere gloves at right from clickmom.com that have an index finger that pops off, and these softies come in seven colors.

Here’s another shot of fingerless gloves at left. These are $25 at clickmom.com, but a lot of places sell fingerless gloves and flip-top mittens. Zappos, Amazon and other boutiques have quite a selection and you can get pretty much anything you want for $8 and up — including wild patterns and more.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.