May 2014 – Page 2 – IAMNOTASTALKER

May 9, 2014May 9, 2014

The Open Houses from “Hidden Away”

I know what you’re probably thinking after reading today’s title – she sure has stalked a lot of locations from a movie she professes not to have liked. And you’re right. But what can I say? The fact that there are filming locales in my current hometown that have yet to be unearthed is like an itch that has to be scratched. As I’ve said before, unknown locations are like kryptonite to this stalker. Which is why I recently found myself searching for the two residences that real estate agent Alexandra (Emmanuelle Vaugier) was trying to sell in Hidden Away, the ridiculously terrible Lifetime Original Movie that first aired last July.

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The first open house scene appears towards the beginning of Hidden Away, as the flick jumps ahead ten years to show Alexandra, who has moved to Palm Springs and changed her identity in order to escape her abusive husband Andrew (Ivan Sergei), in her new life as a real estate agent.

I tracked down the property thanks to an address number of 1075 that was visible on the curb in the scene. From there, I searched blocks bearing addresses in the 1000-range near downtown Palm Springs, where I figured the residence was most likely to be located, and fairly quickly found the right spot at 1075 East Via Colusa in the Movie Colony neighborhood.

In real life, the 1971 home features four bedrooms, four baths, a whopping 4,168 square feet of living space and a 0.38-acre plot of land. It last sold in December 2001 for $900,000.

The second open house scene takes place the following day in the movie. In it, a private investigator named Sloan (Melrose Place’s Thomas Calabro), who was hired by Andrew, crashes Alexandra’s latest listing in order to gain intel on her.

Thankfully, an address number – of 1020 – was visible on the curb in this scene, as well. Because it was also in the 1000-range, I had a hunch the property might be located close to the first open house. So I did a quick Google search for 1020 East Via Colusa and, sure enough, it was the right spot!

The home, which was built in 1974, boasts three bedrooms, two baths, 2,097 square feet and a 0.41-acre plot of land. It last sold in March 2003 for $510,000. Sadly though, not much of the place can be seen from the street.

The residence also pops up in a second scene in Hidden Away in which Alexandra’s partner, Lynn (Elisabeth Rohm), is kidnapped at gunpoint by Andrew.

The interior of the house was used in the filming, as well.

The backyard was also utilized, but it masqueraded as the backyard of the 1075 East Via Colusa home, oddly enough.

As you can see, the shape of the pool and the large white gazebo of the backyard that appeared onscreen match those of the home at 1020 East Via Colusa, which is pictured below via aerial views.

The backyard of the 1075 East Via Colusa home, which is pictured below, does not match the backyard featured in Hidden Away.

For more stalking fun, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Los Angeles magazine online. And you can check out my other blog, The Well-Heeled Diabetic, here.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! Smile

Stalk It: The first open house from Hidden Away is located at 1075 East Via Colusa in Palm Springs’ Movie Colony neighborhood. The second open house is located across the street at 1020 East Via Colusa.

May 8, 2014August 28, 2014

Today’s “Los Angeles” Magazine Post – The Disney Garage

Sorry to have been M.I.A. for the past couple of days. I was visiting L.A. and had the most amazing time! The trip even included a surprise makeover for a new reality show (which I promise to blog about at a later date). There was, unfortunately, no time for blogging, though, but I will have a new post up tomorrow. And don’t forget to check out my new Los Angeles magazine post today – about Walt Disney’s first L.A. Studio – on LAMag.com. (My columns typically get posted in the late morning/early afternoon hours.)

May 5, 2014July 22, 2014

Winnie Cooper’s Second House from “The Wonder Years”

UPDATE – The Wonder Years is coming to DVD for the first time ever in October! The 26-disc boxed set includes all six seasons of the show, plus a cast reunion segment, over 15 hours of bonus footage, a collectible metal locker, two production booklets packed with behind-the-scenes information, a replica yearbook, and Wonder Years magnets. Sets can be pre-ordered here.

I am still currently in the process of binge-watching The Wonder Years on Netflix. The Season 3 finale, titled “Moving,” in which Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar – who is completely ROCKING IT on Dancing With the Stars! LOVE her!) relocates to a new home located four miles away from longtime love Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage), absolutely broke my heart. Come to think of it, every episode breaks my heart. Prior to this recent re-watching, I didn’t remember the series being so sad, but yikes! I bawl during pretty much every episode. I am a nostalgic person by nature and the sentimentality of the show tugs at all of my heartstrings – but in a good way. So when I found the address of Winnie’s new house on this website, I ran right out to stalk it.

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During the first three seasons of The Wonder Years, Winnie and her family lived in a home (which I blogged about here) located right across the street from the Arnold residence (which I blogged about here). While the Cooper family sold that abode in “Moving,” their new dwelling did not actually appear onscreen until the Season 4 opener, which was titled “Growing Up.” It is said in the episode that the Cooper’s new pad is located four miles away from their previous one, but in reality it is located right around the corner.

The property continued to be utilized throughout the remaining three seasons of the The Wonder Years.

I actually find the residence to be an odd choice for use on the series for two reasons – it is substantially larger than the Cooper’s first home and it doesn’t really have a 1960s-feel to it.

Thankfully though, the property has not changed much since its Wonder Years days.

According to Redfin, the 1950 home boasts two bedrooms, two baths, and 1,896 square feet. It actually looks to be much larger than that, though, so I am not sure if the listed measurements are correct.

Whenever I think of the Cooper’s second residence, I am reminded of the Season 4 episode titled “The Accident,” in which Kevin climbed onto Winnie’s roof, peeked through her window and mouthed “I love you” to her. Ironically enough, though, after re-watching the scene, I do not believe it was actually shot at the house. As you can see below, the roof that Kevin climbs in the episode has two side-by-side dormer windows. Winnie’s residence does not have any such windows, so I am guessing that producers either filmed the scene at a different property or, in a more likely scenario, had a prop roof built on a soundstage for the shoot.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! Smile

Stalk It: Winnie Cooper’s second house from The Wonder Years is located at 501 Tufts Avenue in Burbank. Winnie’s first home from the series can be found right around the corner at 525 University Avenue. Kevin Arnold’s residence is located diagonally across the street from Winnie’s first home at 516 University Avenue.

May 2, 2014May 1, 2014

The “Hidden Away” House

As I mentioned in my post about Azul Tapas Lounge, I was not a fan of the 2014 Lifetime Original Movie Hidden Away, which was filmed largely in Palm Springs. I was a huge fan of the ultra-modern abode where the main character, Stephanie/Alexandra (Emmanuelle Vaugier), lived with her daughter, Rachel (Allie Gonino), in the flick, though, and became a bit fixated on tracking it down and stalking it. And while I did manage to find the dwelling quite easily, because it is located inside of a gated community, I was only able to stalk the front gates and, unfortunately, never got to see the actual home in person.

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Tracking down the property was a quick endeavor thanks to this 2013 article, which stated that the home was located in Palm Springs’ Alta neighborhood, and the fact that the number “245” was visible on the exterior of the residence in several scenes. From there I just looked at aerial views of all houses in the Alta community bearing that number and it wasn’t long before I found the place at 245 Patel Place.

After faking her death to escape her abusive husband and collecting on her own $250,000 life insurance policy, Stephanie changes her name to Alexandra, flees to Palm Springs, and settles into the stunning modern-style home pictured below. Now I realize that $250,000 is a considerable amount of money and, if invested wisely, could lead to an even more considerable amount, but I still found it a bit laughable that a woman who left everything behind and changed her identity could afford such a massive property. (RealEstate.com currently estimates the home’s value at $1.485 million.) Plus, wouldn’t someone living on the run be trying to keep a low profile?

The interior of the residence (which you can see photographs of here) was used quite extensively in the filming. Shown onscreen were the entrance (the front door is uh-ma-zing!);

kitchen;

living room [that’s Alexandra’s abusive ex-husband, Andrew (Ivan Sergei), pictured below setting up cameras all over the house in order to spy on her];

one of the bedrooms;

and backyard. As I said, the dwelling is absolutely stunning!

In real life, the house, which was built in 2006, features 4,000 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, five baths, a gourmet kitchen, two dishwashers (because one is just never enough), a double oven, seven (!) plasma TVs, including a 50-inch outdoor screen, an infinity pool, a hot tub that can hold up to 14 people, two fire pits, an outdoor gas fireplace, an in-wall espresso machine (um, yes please!), and ten-foot “disappearing” sliding glass walls and doors.

Outside of the front gate, though, there isn’t a whole lot to see, sadly.

You can watch a YouTube video showing interior photographs of the house by clicking below and you can check out the residence’s vacation rental website by clicking here. The pad currently rents for $1,300 to $2,000 a night!

Until next time, Happy Stalking! Smile

Stalk It: Alexandra and Rachel’s house from Hidden Away is located at 245 Patel Place in Palm Springs. The home is inside of a gated community and is not visible from the street.

May 1, 2014August 28, 2014

Latest “Los Angeles” Magazine Post – Pawnee City Hall

Don’t forget to check out my latest Los Angeles magazine post today – about Pawnee City Hall from Parks and Recreation – on LAMag.com. (My articles typically get posted in the early afternoon hours.)