Rate-A-Restaurant, #157 in a series

Restaurant: Tiara Cafe

Location: 127 E 9th Street, Los Angeles (Downtown)

Type of restaurant: Bakery, Californian, Eclectic

We stipulated: A friend and I wanted to take advantage of the "Dine L.A." promotion. Yet most spots we called said they weren't open for Sunday lunch, or weren't honoring the Dine L.A. menu on Sundays. That left us with few choices. Tiara Cafe was one of them. Big mistake.



What we ordered: Smoked Duck Media Noche Pressed Cuban Sandwich ($10) and Artichoke and Goat Cheese Frittata ($8.50)

High point: Zero. Nada. Zilch. Zip. Wala.

Low point: We specified the Dine L.A. menu when we made reservations and the person on the other end took a note of it and acknowledged our request. The only waiter there took our order off the Dine L.A. menu, only to return twenty minutes later to say that they were not serving the Dine L.A. menu on weekends.



Overall impression: There is no redeeming quality to this restaurant at all. Are we supposed to be dazzled by their jewel-like, high-ceilinged decor that we ignore the mediocre food and slow service? Granted, we were sympathetic to the lone waiter on his first day as he tried to handle the half-filled restaurant, but that is just bad restaurant management if you ask me. Downtown L.A. may be starved for more restaurants but there is more to opening a restaurant than having a cool locale.

Chance we will go back: No way in hell.

For a complete list of our over 150 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

Yes, I Have Seen Tonight's "Lost" Episode...

... and yes, it is awesome. As others have said, the season 3 finale wasn't a fluke. For those of you who thought "Lost's" best days were behind it: Oh, you couldn't have been more wrong.

For starters, tonight you'll find out more about who managed to get off the island. And how it affected them. You'll see how the castaways react when confronted with the news that the "rescuers" may not be rescuers at all. And you'll see how everyone takes the news about the demise of Charlie.

But watch it for yourself. Tonight at 9 p.m. on ABC.

Tower Records' Last Sunset Strip Stand

(Flickr pic by Zona Girl.)

Our friend Lizzy recently returned to Los Angeles after several years abroad. We filled her in on some of the goings on with us, as well as Los Angeles. She was most surprised, though, to learn that Tower Records was history. "Wait, all of it? The entire chain?" Yup.

For what was once a mighty chain, Tower disappeared rather quickly. Signs still adorn empty stores in some location, serving as a reminder... but it's still bizarre to think that Tower is completely gone. (Well, the website lives on, but owned by a different entity. That's like saying Montgomery Ward survives, as someone bought that name and runs a website as well.)

Now, as the Los Angeles Times reports, the building that housed the most famous Tower of all -- the Sunset Strip location -- might not survive much longer.

Writes the paper:

Preservationists complain that city leaders blocked their application to have a former Tower Records building declared a historic resource because color photographs of the brightly painted building were attached to the paperwork instead of black-and-white pictures that officials said were required.

As activists hunted for black-and-whites to add to the paperwork, a Chicago developer planning a multimillion-dollar office and retail complex at the record store site filed his building request at City Hall.

Now the iconic music industry landmark at 8801 W. Sunset Blvd. famous for its hundreds of impromptu rock 'n' roll performances and album signings awaits demolition.

Its iconic yellow facade has been repainted somber blue. Some preservationists are beginning to feel the same way.

Granted, the 1971 building isn't an architectural treasure; preservationists value it for its place in Sunset Strip and music lore. They'd like to turn it into a West Hollywood rock 'n roll museum. The developer has his own idea for how to honor that legacy:

Brian Lewis, a spokesman for Barket, said the proposed building's nod to the site's iconic past might include something like rock 'n' roll-themed decorations in the gym.

"We don't want to forget that Tower Records played a role here," Lewis said.

That's a joke, right?

What's Better Than Democracy? Democracy Plus Free Drink.

LAist is throwing a Super Tuesday party, and we're all invited.

Here's the key part: They're handing out free drinks to the first 75 people who show up with their "I Voted" sticker. So don't throw that thing away, wear it proudly, then hit downtown's Seven Grand between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Feb. 5 for a drink. It'll be nice to see the Blog-LA-Sphere, live and in person.

Seven Grand
515 W 7th St
Los Angeles, CA 90014

Here's How CVS Honors 400 Years of African American History

Darleene, who was amused by my coverage of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as celebrated by furniture stores, sends us this: CVS' interpretation of Black History Month. The struggle for equality and human rights? Nah, it's all about the struggle for soft, shiny hair.

Link: Darleeneisms.la

License Plate of the Day: En Espanol Edition

Somebody loves a "One Year Doctor"? "One Year Drive"? Or am I reading this wrong, and it's not Spanish at all, but someone is in love with "One, An Odor"? Any guesses?

The Bloggest Loser: Week Three

Ugh, a weekend of consuming party food and cake on Saturday at a 3-year-old's birthday, and rich food and wine at the SAG Awards on Sunday. It looks like I'm still on course, but that's deceiving: I had actually bumped all the way down to 173, but have climbed slightly back up to 175. OK, back to diet!

Meanwhile, it looks like our contestants are hitting some bumps as well. Several weight gains this week, I'm sad to report:

Anna: 222 (from 223, minus 1 pound!) START: 227, GOAL: 160, by end of 2008
Ashley: 150 (from 150.8, plus .4 pounds.) START: 155, GOAL: 140
Don: 227 (from 226.5, plus .5 pounds.) START: 231, GOAL: 196
Fexy: 134 (from 133.5, plus .5 pounds.) START: 135, GOAL: 125
Jenny: 155 (from 155, same) START: 155, GOAL: 130
Jim: 343(from 340, plus 3 pounds.) START: 343, GOAL: 263
Joe: 232 (from 233, minus 1 pound!) START: 238, GOAL: 198
Kathryn: XXX (from 252, minus XXX pounds) START: 257.4, GOAL: 190 (140 by end of 2008)
Me (Mike): 175 (from 178, minus 3 pounds!) START: 180.5, GOAL: 163
Will: 222 (from 223, minus 1 pound!) START: 225, GOAL: 195

... and welcome newcomer Bob to the mix!
Bob: START: 226.4, GOAL: 190

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

Atwater Village Wine Bar Closer to Reality?

As first noted by Miles Think last month, Atwater Village's long-awaited wine bar appears one step closer to opening.

A "Coming Soon" banner is now heralding the arrival of 55 Degrees Wine. So far, the windows are covered up, so it's unclear just how "coming soon" the store really is. But after some uncertainty over the business (which was put for sale before ever even opening), it looks like either the original owner is going ahead and opening, or he actually found a taker.

Extreme Makeover: Downtown Los Angeles Edition

The downtown blogs are abuzz over the latest Broadway revival proposal, this one spearheaded by city councilman Jose Huizar (see Blogdowntown's coverage here.

"Bringing Back Broadway" -- official website here-- promises to revive some of the grand old movie palaces, clean up and restore building facades, make Broadway more pedestrian-friendly, and even install a streetcar to run up and down the street.

Of course, we've heard many Broadway proposals through the years, so it's hard to believe until we actually see some progress made. (And there has been some in recent years, includng the restoration of the Orpheum). The L.A. Times notes that the "Bringing Back Broadway" initiative is counting on $40 million -- including both private and public funds. The paper writes:

Broadway, which cuts through the heart of downtown, has long been one of the city's best barometers of demographic and social change.

Before World War II, it was considered by many to be the center of the city, where residents far and wide came by car and street trolley to catch movies at ornate theaters, such as the Globe, Orpheum and Million Dollar, and shop at department stores.

After the war, even as downtown declined, Broadway continued to bustle -- catering to the growing Latino immigrant population settling in neighborhoods to the east and west of the area."

More recently, however, Broadway has seen the number of consumers in the area decline, as shoppers go elsewhere. That's why the "Bringing Back Broadway" team doesn't expect to encounter much resistance.

MEANWHILE, the Times also writes about another revival campaign, this one to declare downtown's Los Angeles River bridges as historic-cultural monuments to the city's early-20th century architectural roots.

The paper notes:

The move comes as the city is undertaking a bridge-improvement program that will affect six of the river bridges. The impending upgrades have lent a sense of urgency to those who think that the structures deserve special status.

"Many of these bridges are proposed for sizable seismic upgrades and even possible reconstruction," said Ken Bernstein, manager of the Office of Historic Resources in the city's planning department. "We wanted to ensure that the city's own historic preservation commission was part of the conversation about the future treatment and alteration of these important historic bridges."

The bridges in question, most of which were constructed between 1910 and 1930, were part of a campaign to deal with a river that was prone to flooding and had destroyed many of the metal truss bridges built in the 1840s.

Beautification was also a goal: In 1903, the L.A. Municipal Art Commission wrote that the city had to "work for the gradual elimination of ugliness from the conspicuous parts of our city."

The result was a recommendation to begin construction of the Art Deco and beaux-arts bridges that today extend from downtown to Boyle Heights, Cypress Park and Lincoln Heights. Sculpted into the Washington Boulevard Bridge are scenes that depict the men who built it. In muted colors, the figures are shown drilling, pushing wheelbarrows and carrying beams.

As the paper writes, the bridges are very popular with Hollywood location scouts.

The Plight of the Bubble Homeowner

Every time Los Angeles Times columnist Meghan Daum brings up her experience as an L.A. homeowner, I feel oddly comforted: It reminds me that I'm not the only Gen X'er who was finally ready to buy a home in the mid-2000s -- and wound up doing so, despite the crazy bubble prices.

Like Daum, I'm constantly surprised at how much I spent on such a small house. It somehow made sense four years ago, when things were so frenzied that it wasn't uncommon to be outbid by 40 people on a house. Just managing to secure a winning bid felt like an accomplishment -- and was a sign that you better jump on that house, or you may never become a homeowner.

In her latest column, Daum compares that frenzy to quick-fad fashions that eventually fade. That Member's Only jacket that once looked so cool, now seems a little ridiculous:

Many of us who bought property did so with the nagging shame known to customers who pay full price because they're too impatient to wait for a sale. Meanwhile, the smug renters have been living it up in far-nicer homes than they could ever afford to buy.

The subtext of all this is "The Tortoise and the Hare." As we were taught in kindergarten but perhaps forgot by first grade, the race is won patiently and cautiously, not by jumping on a bandwagon. When the real estate market reaches its nadir (how will we know? Maybe when HGTV trades shelter porn for actual porn) the renters -- especially those with money in the bank from well-timed home sales -- will waltz back in and snatch up formerly overvalued homes for rock-bottom prices, thereby joining the ranks of those who bought in the market crash of the early 1990s. The rest of us will remain tragically zipped inside Member's Only jackets that we can't take off without losing a ton of money...

While I'd be lying if I didn't admit that my house often seems like a roller-coaster car making a long, steep plunge into oblivion (the fact that it's approximately the size of a roller-coaster car may have something to do with that), I'm getting a little tired of people insinuating that I was stupid to buy it. No, it's probably not going to double in value in the next decade, and yes, I could probably afford an extra bathroom if I were a renter. But like everyone who bought at the "wrong" time, I had my reasons. Some were better than others, but they had less to do with building my investment portfolio than with building my life.

True there: Of course, had I been thinking about my investment portfolio, I would have bought a house in the late 1990s and made a killing. Instead, I waited until I felt sufficiently "adult": Married, with a kid on the way. But by the time I felt "adult" enough to buy a home, it was 2004, and the bargains were long gone. And at the time, it looked like they'd never return. Of course, even in 2008, I know plenty of people still waiting for the return of those bargains. And waiting.

OK, I'm On Facebook. Now What?

I finally succumbed to peer pressure and joined Facebook over the holiday. And quickly became addicted to it: Finding friends, looking at others' friends lists, looking at their friend lists, etc. There seemed to be an unending list of people to "add" as contacts.

But that seems to be coming to an end, as now most requests are of the "so and so took a movie quiz. Does your score match theirs?" variety. Yeah, it's fun to update my status... but where does it go from here?

In the meantime, I got so hooked on the site (and again, I know, I'm a year late to this, sorry) that I even started a group. If you're an L.A. blogger on Facebook, be sure to add "Blog-LA-Sphere" to your list of groups. And where does that go from here? I guess we'll see...

The Bloggest Loser: Week Three

Hey everyone, still waiting for this week's weigh-in numbers. If you haven't yet, send 'em in! We'll publish week three results tomorrow.

Too Bad I'm Not a 12-Year-Old Girl

Attended the SAG awards last night, and brushed past Jake Gyllenhaal before nearly walking right into Zac Efron. A little cooler: I walked right out of the men's room right as Christopher Walken was walking in. Nice guy award: Cuba Gooding, Jr., who stopped to shake the hand of a worker and exchange pleasantries before heading to the men's room as well.

License Plate of the Day: A Minisicle? Delicious!

I suppose this Mini Cooper owner was going for "miniscule," but I like the concept of a "minisicle" better...

Rate-A-Restaurant, #156 in a series

(Flickr pic by Jek-in-the-Box.)

Restaurant: Maria's Fresh Seafood

Location: 317 S Broadway (Grand Central Market, Downtown)

Type of restaurant: Seafood, Mexican

We stipulated: We were downtown with our friend Lizzy (just back from her world travels!) to see the Murakami exhibit, and wanted to take her to Grand Central Market for some cheap grinds. I was also jonesing to try Maria's after reading some good reviews on Chowhound.

What we ordered: Fish tacos, scallop tacos, all around $2 each

High point: Ahh, the scallop tacos. Lightly breaded and damn near perfect. Plus, we got a table at Grand Central (not always an easy proposition on a weekend afternoon) quickly.

Low point: Maria didn't care much for the fish taco -- I think she thought it was too fishy. I liked it, although I preferred the scallop. Also, it's always confusing where to stand and order at Grand Central Market, especially during the lunch time frenzy... but just follow others, and it won't be a problem.

Maria notes: The fish taco was not too fishy, there was something about the flaky tasteless nature to it I did not like.

Overall impression: One Chowhounder writes: "It's important to stress that in addition to being a taco stand, they're also a fishmonger. So you know the stuff is good enough to sell by itself, let alone put into a taco." Indeed, nothing like biting into a fish taco and tasting the freshness. Also, another Chowhounder suggested asking for sauces on the side, and I'm glad I did.

Chance we will go back: Next time we're at Grand Central Market -- which probably won't be too long from now. I want more scallop tacos!

Retro Friday: Wally George vs. Rick Dees

Goofy "fight" between the late Wally George and a younger Rick Dees, on George's old late night KDOC talk show. From the look of the audience, this must have been taped in the late 1980s.

The L.A. Times Website Gets Creepy

The skeleton... the Marilyn Manson ad... the headline (bottom left) that asks, "Scary or nauseating"... was Stephen King guest editing the latimes.com site yesterday?

The M.O. on BCD

(Flickr pic by Operadork.)

The L.A. Times weighed in this week on one of our favorite 24-hour eateries, BCD Tofu. We've hit the Wilshire location (yeah, the one recently hit with health code violations, but whatever) several times through the years.

Turns out there's a pretty big success story behind the rise of BCD. Owner Hee-sook Lee opened BCD in Koreatown (on Vermont) more than a decade ago, and now has 13 locations -- including several overseas. The paper writes:

With a "secret recipe" for the common Korean dish and an entrepreneurial side that family and friends had never seen in her, Lee within a few short years was exporting her brand of tofu stew to South Korea, building a small empire that has spawned numerous imitators.

Today, tourists from South Korea arrive by the busload at BCD Tofu House and snap photos. Visiting dignitaries, sports stars and actors frequently dine at the restaurant. Even though the restaurant is open around the clock, there is almost always a wait.

Since the Vermont Avenue restaurant opened in 1996, Lee has expanded it into a transpacific chain with more than a dozen branches in Los Angeles, Seattle, Tokyo and Seoul. And she is far from being done.

"It's not important whether there are 10 or 100 branches," Lee said, speaking in Korean. "I consider myself a diplomat of sorts, making Korean food known to the world."

The success of Lee's restaurants has catapulted the immaculately dressed 48-year-old chief executive into minor celebrity status in South Korea. People recognize her from numerous media reports and approach her on the streets of Seoul. The South Korean government invited her to speak at a convention for overseas Korean business owners. In 2006, the tale of her success was reenacted in a 12-part radio mini-series broadcast in South Korea.

According to the paper, BCD brings in $19 million annually and employs more than 300 people.

Maria's Thursday Three

(Flickr pic by lushlulu.)

1. Hazelnut Latte: My new favorite drink at The Coffee Bean is their Hazelnut Latte -- that hazelnut flavor combined with the powdered vanilla is such a delicious combination perfect for a rainy, cold day.

2. Whole Foods Bulk: My pal Andrea has turned me into the section at Whole Foods that I usually ignore, bulk food. They have a huge selection and I was surprised when my total for some oats and popcorn kernels came to 98 cents. A trip to Whole Foods for under a dollar? I couldn't believe it either.

3. Amazing Race: Hilary's faves (and Huntington Beach locals) TK and Rachel won but found myself strangely rooting for Ron and Christina. They had matured and come together as a team toward the end with no more arguments and hernia complaints. Their non-win reflects the heart of "Amazing Race": The reason for the show's success is not just about the race, it's about the relationships. I'm fine with TK and Rachel's win-- that trivia challenge in the end was mighty hard and Rachel pulled through nicely.

Dedicating "Langer's Square" -- What About "Pastrami Park"?

Via View from a Loft: In honor of late founder Al Langer, the city will dedicate the corner of 7th and Alvarado today as "Langer's Square."

1st District Councilmember Ed Reyes will dedicate the corner right before lunch. According to the release:

“Langer’s deli has been an institution in my community for decades,” said Councilmember Reyes. “Al Langer was known for his personal interactions with customers, even through economic hardships. He served up sandwiches with a smile for generations and generations of families, and helped revitalize the MacArthur Park area.”

The decidication takes place Thursday, January 24, 2008, at 11 a.m. (7th and Alvarado).

An Interesting Prediction From Live Mega Doppler 7000 HD Plus

Still don't believe in global warming? It's going to be snowing in the middle of 100 degree weather this Sunday! Wait, what?

"Why Can't I Find A Decent (Blank) In Los Angeles?!"

Stories like this one make my skin crawl: "Los Angeles rivals New York City when it comes to transplants. And one thing all transplants share is a list of gripes about what was better about home. For New Yorkers it's bagels and pizza. For Austin, Texas, natives, BBQ. For Chicagoans, jazz. For Bostonians -- everything. But just scratch the surface and there's a little bit of everywhere in these United States of L.A. Read on and beat the homesick blues."

What is it about the L.A. transplants who never bother to get to know their adopted city? I'm constantly surprised by people who have lived here for years, but still don't know the basics about Los Angeles, don't pay attention to local politics, never venture into certain parts of town and refuse to become part of the local fabric. (I can't wait to get the Militant Angeleno's take on this piece.)

Hey, there are plenty of spots here in Los Angeles when I want to get a mini-dose of Hawaii (the ever-growing L&L Hawaiian Barbecue chain, King's Bakery, Whittier College's Hawaiian concert series, etc.). But I also don't whine that "things are so much better back home" -- perhaps because even though I'm a transplant, Los Angeles now is home.

A few lines that bug me:

"Austin transplant Jenny Sperandeo cites the El Rey, Spaceland and the Troubadour as venues worthy of Austin's close-knit music scene": Well, gee, thanks. The Troubadour just celebrated its 50th anniversary, so I'm glad it's been deemed worthy.

"Without so much as a dedicated country radio station, L.A. is no cowboy mecca.": I'm thinking the people at KKGO-FM 105.1 "Go Country" might disagree.

"As for deli food, lower your expectations: Filmmaker Rachel Zabar, whose family owns famed New York deli Zabar's, isn't impressed with L.A.'s efforts. 'There are no decent Jewish delis. I've been to Jerry's and thought it was a joke.'": Well yeah, Jerry's is a joke. Why no mention of Langer's?

Coachella 2008: Thoughts?

Yeah, Yeah, It's Sad -- But More Importantly, How's Lindsay Handling the News?

TMZ manages to sniff out the Lindsay Lohan angle to Heath Ledger's sad demise. Because, after all, there's a Lindsay Lohan angle to everything.

Ambassador Cam #36

Ambassador remains, 9:45 a.m., January 22, 2008

It's possibly all over today, as the remaining pieces of the Ambassador -- mostly what's left of the Cocoanut Grove -- are demolished. We've already paid our final respects to the grand old hotel via the Ambassador Hotel wake two years ago; now it's time to let it go, I suppose.

The New York Times Weighs In On "Yo Gabba Gabba"

The New York Times picks up on the Yo Gabba Gabba phenomenon, taking particular attention at how quickly the toddler-targeted show has turned into a franchise:

While “Gabba” is a TV show — one of the 10 best of 2007, according to Time magazine — the idea of simply creating “a show” is antiquated. What is created now is a property, a platform, a brand, a multimedia idea, which obviously has to be Big on the Internet. And indeed, Advertising Age recently pointed out that “Yo Gabba Gabba!” clips have attracted 17.8 million streams from Nickelodeon’s Web site, compared with about 4.4 million viewers of a typical episode of the actual program...

Back in 2006, (producer) Wildbrain acquired a majority interest in Kidrobot, which makes and sells high-end “designer toys” and apparel that appeal to fashionable young adults (who may or may not be parents). Thus “Gabba”-related products arrived in exclusive retail settings much faster than usual, demonstrating consumer demand to other merchandise partners. By the time the word came that the show was being picked up for a second season, deals were in place for DVDs, CDs, toys, bedding and other items.

Blogger Toddler still can't get enough of "Yo Gabba Gabba." Two original episodes remain of the current season, including one featuring The Shins.

A Mid-Winter's Night Downtown

I hope you made it to the Downtown on Ice skating rink in Pershing Square before Monday, when it shut down for the season.

The rink remains one of my favorite downtown attractions. There's something magical about skating under the skyscraper lights on a chilly Los Angeles evening, all while facing the beautiful facade of the Biltmore Hotel. Nighttime's also better because there are fewer people on the ice.

Above, I took Blogger Toddler out on the ice on Sunday. I expected him to hate it; instead, he was so excited to be on skates and on the ice that he's already asking me when we're going back.

Can You Operate a CD Player? Then Do We Have a Job For You! (Oh, You Better Sound Like Kelly Ripa As Well.)

KOST's out with the old and in with the new (Amidon, left, and Ripa)

More than a month after KOST-FM canned morning co-host Kim Amidon, the station's looking for her replacement. Is "the Kelly Ripa of morning drive" code for "younger and perkier"? (And does that make her "Kathie Lee Amidon"?) Dunno, but here's the job description, as seen on Radio-Info:

On Air HOST, MORNING SHOW
KOST-FM
We're looking for the Kelly Ripa of morning drive to join longtime host Mark Wallengren! If you are opinionated, funny and witty, topical, can relate to women 25-54, be edgy but still talk in a family-friendly environment, and know the basics of radio, we want to hear from you! This is your chance to work with one of the most popular and legendary AC stations in the country. REQUIREMENTS: Formal training in radio broadcasting and min. 1 year on-air experience. Ability to operate on-air control board, CD player, and remote broadcast equipment. Knowledge of all FCC rules and regulations. HS diploma, AA or equivalent from 2-yr College or technical school preferred.
Stella Schwartz, KOST PD, 3400 W Olive Ave Ste 550 Burbank CA 91505 FAX: 818-566-6496Submitted: 01/09 EOE Deadline: 03/15/08

Lessee, I can relate to women 25-54, and I can operate a CD player... and they already call me the "Kelly Ripa of Variety." My tape's in the mail!

License Plate of the Day: Beatles Fan

Heart, heart me du...

Preparing for the Apocalypse

Nina, the writer/blogger also known as the Slackmistress, has taken a whole new approach to the usual New Years' resolution: She's not just looking to exercise more or eat better. She's looking to survive the coming apocalypse.

So what's the The Post-Apocalyptic Workout? She explains:

So I woke up one day and realized that I'd be utterly useless in case of natural disaster, nuclear fallout, terrorist attack or a zombie revolution. I came up with The Post-Apocalyptic Workout as a way to document my attempt to not be a total and complete dumbass in the event of a Nightmare Scenario.

The whole philosophy behind TP-AWO is that I learn to carry my own weight and be responsible for myself (and my dog. Oh, and my husband!)

Kinda puts our Bloggest Loser campaign to shame!

The Bloggest Loser: Week Two

I spent most of the week eating healthy... until the weekend came, and I fell off the diet a bit. Someone sent us frozen Chicago pizzas as a gift... and yes, I had a few slices. Last night, we went to The Grove/Farmer's Market... and how could I not have a few Loteria Grill tacos? Right? This morning, I took Evan to breakfast... and was bad again. Nonetheless, the working out and better diet (for the most part) has been rewarded: I'm down several pounds!

OK, diet back on. I'm gonna try to hit the gym a few more times this week too.

Now, here's how our contestants fared. If you haven't yet, send your weigh-in stats in!

Anna: 223 (from 224, minus 1 pound!) START: 227, GOAL: 160, by end of 2008
Ashley: 149.6 (from 150.8, minus 1.2 pounds!) START: 155, GOAL: 140
Don: 226.5 (from 228.5, minus 2 pounds!) START: 231, GOAL: 196
Fexy: 133.5 (from 135, minus 1.5 pounds!) START: 135, GOAL: 125
Jenny: XXX (from 155, XXX) START: 155, GOAL: 130
Jim: XXX (from 340, XXX) START: 343, GOAL: 263
Joe: 233 (from 236, minus 3 pounds!) START: 238, GOAL: 198
Kathryn: 252 (from 254.2, minus 2.2 pounds) START: 257.4, GOAL: 190 (140 by end of 2008)
Me (Mike): 178 (from 180, minus 3 pounds) START: 180.5, GOAL: 163
Will: 223 (from 225, minus 2 pounds!) START: 225, GOAL: 195

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

One L.A. Times Writer's Real Estate Crystal Ball

Let's face it, even a few years ago it wasn't hard to predict the current housing downturn. My fear, way back even when we bought our home in 2004: That once all the crazy, short-term (think three-year, low rate ARMs) readjusted, there would be a lot of people who suddenly couldn't afford their home -- and a glut of foreclosures would drag down the market.

That's why in 2005, when the market was still exuberant, I switched my 7-year ARM to a 30-year fixed mortgage -- despite a higher rate.

The idea, of course, would be to refinance or sell when that ARM was up. That made sense in 2005. But at the same time, I had this sneaking suspicion that home values were going to potentially drop by the time the ARM was up, while 30-year rates would be higher -- and not only would we be stuck in our house, but the value would be lower, and we'd be forced to accept a 7 or 8 percent loan.

L.A. Times writer Peter Hong had that same sneaking suspicion back in 2005 -- but he went much more extreme, and sold his house (for a hefty profit). Now, in a recent piece, Hong explains how all of his friends now see him as some sage of the real estate marketplace:

Our friends said we were crazy. Relatives asked whether we were in financial trouble. But in April 2005, my wife and I bailed out of the American dream. We sold our two-bedroom Pasadena condominium and became renters again.

We got nearly three times what we had paid for the place nine years earlier. It seemed to us like a staggering profit -- and a sign that the market had been pumped up beyond reason.

That's why we decided to rent instead of buying another house right away. We wanted a place with a yard and a third bedroom, but we weren't willing to pay the sky-high price or take out an exotic mortgage to buy something our income did not justify.

So our plan was to take our profit and wait for prices to return to Earth. The madness had to end, we thought.

For a while, we wondered whether we would prove to be the crazy ones as home values in Southern California overall continued rising through last spring. But a closer inspection of real estate sales data shows that signs of trouble were already appearing when we sold.

Hong talks to some experts, who say that what he did isn't for everybody -- and even Hong admits he's not so sure when he'll be able to jump back into the market. He wants to do it, however, before his 8 year-old daughter is too old to appreciate it.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Other Dream, Part II

Last week, we shared Easylife Furniture's interpretation of MLK's "I Have a Dream Speech": Cheap futons for everyone!

Today, it's Ortho Matress' turn. Yep, they've managed to turn MLK's stirring, landmark speech into a pun on mattresses: "I have a dream," and it's while sleeping on a ortho-tempered queen set from Simmons Beautyrest. (In case you didn't catch that pun, Ortho adds, "Savings you've only DREAMED about!" in the bottom half of the ad.)

What should I expect, right? I know, I know, using holidays like MLK day to sell stuff is nothing new. But do they have to do it in such a blatantly cheesy way? (I don't recall stores ever urging customers to "Emancipate yourself from high prices!" on Lincoln's birthday. But whatever.)

Mark Your Calendar: It's An End-of-the-Line Weekend

There must be something about this weekend: It's your last chance to catch, see or do several things in Los Angeles. It's almost as if the city is doing a post-holiday clean up. (And taking advantage of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to officially wrap things up.)

To boot:

Downtown on Ice finishes up its annual Pershing Square run on Jan. 21. I still haven't gone this year, so hopefully you'll see me down there one night this weekend.

The Los Angeles Central Library's Julius Shulman's Los Angeles photo exhibit closes on Sunday. (Although, one reader notes via the L.A. Public Library site that it may have been extended a week. But just to be safe, I'd hit it this weekend.)

Virgin Megastore's Sunset location closes its doors for good on Sunday. (See the post below for more details.)

It's your last chance to see the final remaining piece of the Ambassador Hotel. The chunk of the Cocoanut Grove that was to be preserved is instead slated to be demolished on Tuesday.

So go out there and see your ever-changing city this weekend!

Retro Friday: K-Earth Goes Spacey

KRTH-FM 101 "K-Earth" commercial from 1980. Laser sounds! Space age motifs! As one commenter on YouTube notes, "this commercial used to scare me as a kid."

Curtains for Virgin Megastore This Weekend

The Virgin Megastore on Sunset Boulevard is in the final days of its closeout sale; according to its website and an email sent out to Virgin Megastore V.I.P. members, the location shuts down for good on Jan. 20.

My colleague Joe, who alerted me to the V.I.P. email, visited the store the other day and said he managed to score some bargains -- but said the store is already pretty much picked over.

Another sad day for music lovers, as we've seen record store after record store disappear in the last few years. Virgin may be a chain, but its import section was once worth the trip -- and that annoying 8000 Sunset parking garage. Virgin Megastore's Hollywood & Highland store remains, but its selection isn't nearly as diverse -- and the store is just a fraction of the size of the Sunset location.

Consider us lucky that Amoeba doesn't appear to be going anywhere. In the meantime, I better get over to Virgin Megastore this weekend. CD's and DVD's are currently discounted 40%, while fashion and books are discounted 50%. That VIP Club email offers members an extra 10% off as well.

"The Amazing Race" Finale: Who Will Win?

If you've been watching "The Amazing Race" this season, then you'd have to admit, it's the best competition the show has seen in a while. The characters may not be quite as compelling as past seasons, but I think the show has at least got its race mojo back. In recent seasons, it seemed as if teams would constantly be bunched up and equalized, and the tasks got easier.

It's still not quite as great as the first few seasons, but "The Amazing Race" felt a little more like a competition this time. And what's great is two of the most unlikely finalists are now racing for the million bucks: Ron and Christina, and Nicholas and Donald. (I suppose even easy-going TK and Rachel could be unlikely finalists, because they're just so mellow.)

Who do you think's gonna win it all on Sunday? Take the poll below:

An Introduction to Red Mango

(Flickr pic by Bertakamous.)

As you know by now, Red Mango bills itself as the originator of the current natural/tart frozen yogurt craze, as it opened in Korea first, and inspired Pinkberry here in the U.S.


(Flickr pic by getofab.)

The Miracle Mile location recently opened, so I took a short walk from the office yesterday to finally give it a try. Red Mango touts the fact that unlike its competitors (ahemPINKBERRYahem) it uses real, live yogurt cultures.

I ordered a small (more than enough) for $2.50, plus a granola topping for $1 more (the pricing is similar to Pinkberry). The yogurt is indeed nice, although admittedly the granola added some sweetness. To be honest, I can't tell much of a difference between this and Pinkberry; I do have to say that the Miracle Mile Red Mango is generous with its portion; unlike most Pinkberrys, which usually have nothing but air in the middle of its swirl.

Also, I tried a sample of the green tea flavor. Very strong flavoring; not for people who are on the fence about green tea. I liked it.

Will I go back? At 90 calories for a small serving, Red Mango does indeed fit my diet... on the flip side, at $2.50 (or $3.50 with a topping) per serving, it doesn't fit my budget. So the answer is yes... but not frequently.

License Plate of the Day: 1040, Yo

Just in time for tax season... it's Tax Angel! (Metroblogging found another tax fan here.)

The Ambassador's Truly Last Stand

(Pic thanks to Franklin Avenue reader Theresa Inman)

The L.A. Conservancy has given up the fight to try to save the final standing elements of the Ambassador Hotel -- including the remaining pieces of the famed Cocoanut Grove (above, seen during an Academy Awards ceremony). The L.A. Times had the details on Wednesday:

Ending perhaps its most contentious battle over a new campus, the Los Angeles Unified School District will pay $4 million to fund historic school conservation in exchange for the Los Angeles Conservancy dropping a lawsuit that sought to preserve the once-glitzy Cocoanut Grove nightclub at the former Ambassador Hotel.

"We still continue to believe that it was feasible to save the hotel," said Linda Dishman, the conservancy's executive director. "At this point, we as an organization want to move on. What's left at the Ambassador site is not really historic preservation at this point, and there's a lot of other buildings we can focus on."

The settlement will allow the school system to demolish most of the Cocoanut Grove's structure and begin building a sprawling, 4,200-student K-12 campus on the site, which it had been eyeing for a school for decades.

"It is my greatest hope that this puts the whole saga finally to an end," said Kevin Reed, the district's general counsel. He said the district would have won the lawsuit, but decided to end the case so the $566-million project could continue on schedule. The first of the schools, a K-3 building, is slated to open in 2009.

Such a move was inevitable; as you can see below (in a picture taken in October), there just wasn't much left anyway. As so this sad chapter in L.A. preservation comes to a close. The remaining portion of the Ambassador will be torn down on Jan. 22.

And So "Idol Season" Begins...

Kind of hard to believe, but "American Idol" is already in its seventh season. The reality show returned Tuesday night, and so far the good and the bad seem to be evenly divided. Did you watch? Do you care?

And most importantly, which Princess Leia impersonator did you prefer:



The chubby guy who proved people will do anything to be on TV, or the (I assume) stand-up comedienne portraying a borderline mentally handicapped "Star Wars" fanatic?

One Last Look at Julius Shulman's Los Angeles

It's your last chance this weekend to catch Julius Shulman's Los Angeles, which continues until this Sunday at the Los Angeles Central Library's Getty Gallery. (Yes, I know it's technically the "Richard J. Riordan Central Library" -- but I still can't say it.)



If you love Los Angeles, you owe it to yourself to see this exhibit. You've probably seen some of these pics -- particularly his "Case Study House #22" (above), which served as an iconic image of L.A. in the 1960s. And you've probably also seen his shots of Bunker Hill in transition -- especially that famous pic of the last two Victorian homes on the hill (waiting to be removed), with a skyscraper looming in the background.

Shulman, who's now 97, has lived in Los Angeles since 1920... and has been documenting the city almost ever since. In a city that hasn't always taken care of its landmarks, Shulman's photos are sometimes the closest thing to a historical record that L.A. has.

As the exhibit points out, Shulman was simply a photographer out to take great shots. It didn't matter who his client was -- in the case of Bunker Hill, he was hired both by preservationists, to record the neighborhood's legacy, and by the Bunker Hill redevelopment agency, to promote the new skyscraper vision for downtown.

The exhibit isn't perfect: I noticed several messed up dates listed below the pics: For one photo, it said Shulman took a picture in 1969 of a building that wasn't even erected until 1974. In another, a modern building -- clearly built after the city's height restrictions were lifted -- was listed as having been erected in the 1940s.

But those are minor quibbles. I spent at least an hour examining all those photos; thankfully, the Getty Gallery is near the children's library (on the second floor), so Blogger Toddler and Maria kept busy as well.

According to the library, the exhibit includes rarely-seen photographs from the Julius Shulman photography archive at the Getty Research Institute. The best part? It's free and open during regular library hours: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

License Plate of the Day: R.I.P., Vampira

In honor of the passing of Vampira, a.k.a. Maila Nurmi, here's a car aspiring to be Vampirela. Or so I'd like to believe.

Happy Flowers, Dual Buddhas and a Lonesome Cowboy

The Museum of Contemporary Art's Murakami exhibit has just under a month left; we finally checked it out on Saturday.

First off, don't make the mistake we did: The exhibit is at the Geffen Contemporary -- the building once known as the "Temporary Contemporary," next to Little Tokyo. We went to the main MOCA building on Grand, before discovering (thanks to the person behind the ticket booth -- who recognized the Franklin Avenue crew) that we were in the wrong spot.

A few blocks later, we were there. What an alive show. And I almost mean that literally -- so much of what Takashi Murakami does features objects brought alive through big grins, sharp teeth, or huge eyes. It's what a museum exhibit looks like after sniffing glue.

Some of Murakami's work isn't quite kid-friendly (read: "My Lonesome Cowboy"), but Blogger Toddler appreciated the bright colors and the anime- and manga-inspired works (well, except for the objects with sharp teeth). It's also probably the first museum exhibit I've heard of with a Louis Vuitton store smack in the middle (selling Murakami-designed bags), or featured a music video from Kanye West (whose album features a cover designed by the artist).

I was told that photography wasn't allowed, since the MOCA doesn't own these works... so here are some shots others have taken of Murakami works:


(Flickr pic by Arte.)


(Flickr pic by K-Ideas.)


(Flickr pic by Slates 81.)


(Flickr pic by Knautia.)


(Flickr pic by Stufingerhut.)

The Murakami exhibit continues until Feb. 11 at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA; 152 N. Central, Downtown.