What's black and white and led all over? The answer is Peggy super model, sweater-wearing, TV-watching, world-traveling Peggy better known to locals as the sweet, well-mannered Boston Terrier that belongs to Tom Cianfichi and Bryan Batt of Hazelnut (5515 Magazine St., 891-2424;
www.hazelnutneworleans.com).
With a girlishly trim figure and weighing in at 21 pounds well below the 25-pound maximum pet weight allowed in the cabin of a commercial plane a fashionable wardrobe that includes designer sweaters and a couple of tri-coastal owners whose careers regularly take them to New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans, Peggy often flies tourist class for business and pleasure. And when she's not traveling, she keeps a busy schedule here at home. On a typical day, she rises early, keeps in shape by exercising with the Doberman next door and puts in a full day at the shop, sometimes shadowing Cianfichi's every move and always using her woofy wiles to make Hazelnut's impressive showroom of fine gifts and home accents look even more alluring. How does a dog like Peggy make her way into the limelight? It helps to be cute, smart, great with children and extremely affectionate. It also doesn't hurt if she's always in a good mood at work, has never broken any of the merchandise, attempts to open doorknobs with her paws, and is, like her owners both of whom have experience in the entertainment industry a consummate professional.
While being photographed for CUE, Peggy never once disappeared like a pouty diva, made special demands for her entourage or stressed over her hair. While the photographer readied his equipment, she sat patiently on her bed, ladylike and composed.
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| Photo by Romney Photography |
| Bryan Batt, Tom Cianfichi and Peggy at Hazelnut |
"I was never really a dog person," says Batt, whose own ease in front of the camera can be seen in this summer's pilot for Mad Men, a new AMC series about Madison Avenue ad execs. "Peggy's converted me."
Batt walks the walk. Last fall, he emceed the Howling Success auction put on by the LASPCA, which opens its new facility this month. Peggy wants to put her talent, beauty and good will to work for animal issues and causes as well. If anyone's listening, she'd love to one day reign as Queen of Barkus.
my
favorite things ... Turtleneck Sweaters
Watching Comedy Cental
Whole Paws Healthy Coat Formula Dog Biscuits (available at Whole Foods)
Her Pink Leather Collar
Dog Night at the Bridge Lounge (she gets hit on a lot by big boy dogs, says Batt)
You Had Me at Bow Wow, a book of dog cartoons from the New Yorker (available at Hazelnut)
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| Photo by Romney Photography |
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| Photo by Romney Photography |
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| Photo by Romney Photography |
