Rose Parade Hosts Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards: Yeah, We're Old.

Given the Stephanie Edwards/Tournament of Roses Parade controversy earlier this decade, the KTLA spots promoting this year's parade coverage are quite surprising.

As you probably remember, Edwards' advancing age was to blame for KTLA's decision to replace her alongside Bob Eubanks in the mid-2000s. Edwards was eventually brought back to the parade thanks to overwhelming demand... and now, in this year's spots, both Eubanks and Edwards poke fun at, well, their advancing age. (In another spot, Edwards cracks that a float dedicated in their honor would be titled... wait for it.. "Day of the Dinosaurs.")

I kinda admire their willingness to poke fun at their ages... but still surprised KTLA was willing to center their Rose Parade marketing campaign on the idea that Eubanks and Edwards are, well, old. I guess KTLA's coverage so dominates the New Year's Day ratings (truly, no one comes close in the L.A. market) that it doesn't matter. (And these spots may even endear the duo -- who, it's always been rumored, didn't exactly play nice with each other -- to viewers.)

Catching Up with Reggie the Alligator

We took the boys back to the Los Angeles Zoo on Tuesday -- yes, to once again let Evan skate on the plastic polymer fake ice skating rink -- and took time to check in on Reggie the Alligator.

You may remember Reggie as the media star of 2005, as the alligator was first spotted in Machado Lake (at Harbor City's Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park). Reggie was raised as a pet but illegally released into the lake -- where several attempts to initially catch him failed.

Reggie was finally captured in May 2007 and sent to the zoo -- where later in the year, he conducted a daring escape.

The alligator is now one of the first animals you see upon entering the zoo, and attracts throngs of fans. When we were there, Reggie was slowly walking around -- to the delight of kids (Blogger Kid asked me if Reggie was friends with any sharks) -- and looking for the perfect spot to sunbathe.

Sig Alert in the World of Disney/Pixar's "Cars"

This is what happens when you let a 5-year-old watch the local TV news. A few days ago we watched a brief live report on KTLA-TV as a helicopter landed on a shut-down freeway to pickup a severely injured accident victim.

Cut to a few days later, when I caught the Blogger Kid re-enacting that news report -- with his Disney/Pixar "Cars" toys. (Poor, poor Mater.)

Time Is Running Out to Check Out SoCal's Christmas Lights Mecca

Franklin Avenue reader Nancy recently tipped us off to the mega-holiday lights displays in Pasadena's upper Hastings Ranch neighborhood.

We had never checked it out, but finally decided to stop by on Monday. The Hastings Ranch lights are well-coordinated among neighbors, as each street boasts a different theme. Highlights included the homeowners who erected a makeshift movie screen and were actually screening "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on their front lawn.

Blog photos, of course, don't do it justice. If you're looking to grab one last piece of holiday spirit before it's all over, I'd recommend driving up and down the streets of Hastings Ranch tomorrow night, before the holidays are officially done.

KCAL Wins Los Angeles' Christmas Day Yule Log Smackdown

Santa was good to CBS-owned independent KCAL on Christmas morning.

KCAL won this year's battle of the Christmas morning Yule logs vs. Tribune's KTLA, which mounted a full-fledged challenge this year.

The fireplace on KCAL attracted an average of 120,000 viewers between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., while KTLA -- which actually fired up its wood at 4:30 a.m. -- attracted an average of 40,000 viewers between 6 and 10.

KCAL was particularly strong between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., when its burning log dominated the hour among all stations, not just KTLA, with adults 18-49. (KABC's Disney holiday parade coverage took the crown at 9 a.m.)

KCAL, which brought the Yule Log tradition to L.A. in 2004 (inspired by New York's WPIX), simulcasted adult contemporary KOST-FM's Christmas music during the morning. On KTLA, the station went with classic rock KLOS-FM's rock-oriented holiday tracks.

In other demos, KCAL averaged a 0.7 rating and 7 share in the 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. slot, vs. KTLA's 0.3/4; and a 0.9/8 with adults 25-54 (vs. KTLA's 0.3/4).

This was the second year that KTLA broadcast a Yule log, but last year, the station stayed mostly out of the way of KCAL. In New York, WPIX made the yule log an annual tradition from 1966 to 1989, and brought it back in 2001.

Black Ash from the Station Fire: The Unwanted Gift That Keeps on Giving

Last week's heavy winds blew another round of ash from the Angeles National Forest down to the communities below -- including Glendale. That means we once again have a light coating of black dust on our sidewalks, driveways, cars and homes.

That can't be good. What will be the long-term effects of breathing all this gunk in? And at what point will the leftover ash from this summer's Station Fire stop raining down on us?



(Above: Black dust collects on our steps.)

Retro Friday: "The Simpsons" Debuts, 20 Years Ago

Here's a promo for an encore airing of Fox's 1989 "The Simpsons" Christmas special. Yes, it's been 20 years -- and yes, we're all old. Merry Christmas!

Christmas at the Cathedral, and Denied at the Dorothy Chandler

After the church we usually attend -- Los Feliz's St. Casimir -- decided to move its Christmas Eve mass to 10 p.m. (waaay too late for us, as we had a family gathering that evening), we discovered that downtown's Cathedral had scheduled its family-targeted Christmas Eve mass at much more workable 4 p.m.



The $189 million Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, designed by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, opened up in 2002. Erected to replace downtown's old St. Vibiana cathedral -- damaged in the 1994 Northridge quake, and now remade by Tom Gilmore into a special events venue -- came with plenty of controversy.

The high cost of some of the Cathedral's features led to the nickname the "Taj Mahony" -- a dig at Cardinal Roger Mahony, who heads up the Los Angeles archdiocese.



We briefly investigated getting married at the Cathedral back in 2002, but the timing didn't work (plus, we ultimately decided to go with the Plaza Church -- La Placita -- in El Pueblo de Los Angeles). As a result, we had never actually attended Mass at the Cathedral until Wednesday night. (Above, tapestries of saints by painter John Nava hang on the walls.)



I'm glad we did. Surprisingly, it was crowded, but not packed; there was plenty of room for attendees at the Cathedral (which holds 3,000). And because it was geared toward families with small kids, it wasn't an overly long service. Most interestingly, Cardinal Mahony was there (above, he greets folks after Mass) -- and while he didn't preside over the Mass, he did remain on the altar and give a blessing at the end.



The timing of the Mass was also perfect for several local TV news teams -- KCBS/KCAL, KABC and (I believe) KTTV were all there. (Above, a KCBS/KCAL cameraman does double duty.)



Meanwhile, the 4 p.m. time meant that we had time to stroll over across the street to the Music Center, with the hopes of checking out the Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration.

Something else we've been meaning to do for years, the annual event -- which takes place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion -- features countless performers, and is free to attendees, who come and go throughout the show.



We naively thought we could stroll in and check it out. Uh, not quite. The line from the door snaked down the entire length of the Music Center.

We didn't have time to spend 45 minutes in line, and instead walked around the Music Center, where others who opted not to join the queue were milling about. A big screen erected in the Music Center plaza featured what was going on inside (via the live simulcast on KCET).



Even though we didn't get in, there was a jubilant mood there in the plaza, as we walked around with a few hundred other Angelenos on Christmas Eve -- the crisp air, the tall, sparking Christmas tree lights, the downtown skyline, the music piped outdoors from the stage. A pretty cool Los Angeles experience.

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," According to the Blogger Kid

In honor of both Christmas and the Blogger Kid's fifth birthday (which was yesterday), Franklin Avenue is proud to present... the lyrics to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," according to Evan:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say he blows

I love the other reindeer
We forever call him names
They never net called Rudolph
Join in all the Rudolph games

Then one night of Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
When Rudolph get your (unintelligible)
Won't you let my sleigh tonight

Merry Christmas!

Synthetic Ice Skating at the Los Angeles Zoo

Is it really "ice skating" if it's not really ice?

Evan's a big fan of the real-ice skating rink at Pershing Square -- so when we heard that the Los Angeles Zoo had opened a rink of its own, we grabbed our Zoo membership pass and headed over to Griffith Park on Wednesday.

Turns out the Zoo's rink is part of a growing network of eco-friendly, quick-to-assemble Synthetic Hybrid-Ice rinks.

It's not actually ice at all, but a plastic polymer (coated with a "glide enhancer") that acts like ice. The zoo rink rents out nice, real ice skates -- but the experience doesn't quite emulate the actual ice rink experience.

The company behind the rinks notes that the pros of such a set up include the ability to operate a ice skating attraction "without the need for expensive refrigeration units, generators, or electricity, and made from a recyclable, polymer compound, our rinks are the eco-friendly, low cost alternative to real ice."

The rink is also perfect for beginners and shaky skaters. For Evan, that meant being able to skate on his own for the first time -- unlike the real rink at Pershing Square, which is still too slippery for the kid to go out on his own (i.e., I hold his hands the whole time).

On a weekday afternoon, the rink (smaller in size than the already-tiny Pershing rink) was nearly empty -- also making for a more pleasant experience for our kid skater.

By the end of our 30 minute session, Evan was doing turns on his own and learning how to glide on his skates. That'll be helpful the next time we hit the real rink.

On the con side, there is no "resurfacing" of the fake ice. The plastic polymer gets pretty scraped up -- and dirty. What's worse, the skate blades create tiny plastic shavings, which get all over you if you fall down. Evan's pants were covered with those white spots as we left.

For more comfortable skaters, the polymer doesn't allow for fast skating -- the company compares it to skating on a frozen pond, with 10%-15% slower speeds than normal ice rinks -- which might be frustrating if you're used to skating on ice.



Overall, the rink wasn't for me -- but was a fantastic experience for the Blogger Preschooler. I highly recommend it for folks who aren't quite ready to skate on their own on real ice.

The Los Angeles Zoo rink costs $5 for 30 minutes. The rink is open through Jan. 10 (except for Christmas day, when the zoo is closed).

Your Favorite Southern California Holiday Traditions, Part III: Hastings Ranch and Christmas Tree Lane

Hastings Ranch Christmas Lights
Originally uploaded by Manitoba Museum of Finds Art

Our contest to find some great Southern California holiday traditions -- and reward the best ones with a $25 eBay gift card -- continues.

Today, reader Nancy takes us to Pasadena and Altadena, where the Christmas lights shine bright:

Even when I was very young, my parents would drive me and my brother into Pasadena's Hastings Ranch neighborhood to see the decorations. We used to go in our pajamas and coats as small children, then as giddy middle-schoolers. I even took friends when I got my license so they could see the elaborate individual decorations on each home and every block's parkway theme. I loved seeing my favorite Peanuts characters on one particular block. Other parkway themes included gingerbread men, lighted stars and shining bells. It was a completely magical experience.

Next we would head over to Christmas Tree Lane, also known as Santa Rosa Avenue in Altadena. We dimmed our headlights and drove slowly down the street, flanked by immense lighted deodar trees. When I was in high school, I volunteered with the St. Elizabeth's Youth Group at the Lane each year, spending endless hours screwing lightbulbs into sockets so that the annual spectacle could go on. Neighbors, Scouts, teens and children worked together - and still do - to bring the lighted Lane to life each year.

We traditionally finished up the drive in Altadena at the famous Balian Mansion. The glow from hundreds and hundreds of Christmas lights gave off heat, enough so we could walk around the mansion's fence and look carefully at each part of the display. In one corner we could see Rudolph with his famous glowing nose. In another, a Nativity scene. And everywhere, up, down, right and left, there were lights and more lights.

I've lived in several states and two foreign countries, and nothing I've seen at Christmas has ever matched the Christmas brilliance of the holiday light traditions in Pasadena and Altadena.

Balian Christmas House welcome
Originally uploaded by okarol

Thanks Nancy! We'll be checking out those very light displays in the coming days.

Meanwhile, we have room for one more winner, who we'll choose tomorrow. Last chance to enter your tradition now -- email franklin_avenue(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Ambassador Cam, #44 in a series

One final look this year at the new high school on the Ambassador Hotel site -- still without a name -- as it moves closer to completion. (The school is set to open in fall 2010.)

Here's the updated info on the site, from the LAUSD:

This project is the second phase of improvements for a comprehensive K-12 learning center being constructed at the site of the former Ambassador Hotel in the Mid-Wilshire District of Los Angeles. This project will provide 1,000 new middle school seats, 2,440 new high school seats, construction of a public park, restoration of the Cocoanut Grove and pylon structures, athletic facilities, and two-thirds of the site-wide methane mitigation system. Ultimate improvement of the Cocoanut Grove will include a 500-seat auditorium, and the restored Paul R. Williams Coffee Shop to be used as the staff/teacher lounge. This phase also provides four of the six commissioned art pieces for the site-wide public art program, commemorating the Ambassador Hotel's cultural and social history. The budget for the K-3 facility is included in the total budget for this project.

The school district cut the ribbon on the site's K-5 school back in October. The official press release:

CLALC#1 K-5 opened to more than 800 students on September 9, 2009.

"My father was a champion of those who suffered disadvantages in America. He was actively engaged in helping people help themselves through community action," said Maxwell Kennedy, son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy. "This new K-12 learning center will educate and empower our young people and their parents to fight for economic and social justice. I know of no better way to advance the living legacy of Robert Kennedy."

"The messages Robert F. Kennedy worked to deliver to us decades ago - that we can all be part of a change for a better world, a greater world - are alive with us as we celebrate the opening of not one, but two exciting new pilot schools here at Central Los Angeles Learning Center #1 K-5," Board President García said. "Years of commitment and struggle led by parents and the community come to fruition today as we mark profound change for students that now have two unique small schools dedicated to incorporating new and innovative methods of teaching."

The new elementary school site features two pilot schools (schools within the LAUSD given charter-like autonomy over curriculum): University California Los Angeles (UCLA) Community School (UCS) and New Open World (NOW) Academy. Both schools provide students with an opportunity to continue their education on the same school site once the middle and high school portions of the larger campus are completed.

Tamales, Theremins and Tom Bradley: A Night with the L.A. Conservancy's Modcom

The Los Angeles Conservancy's Modern Committee celebrated its 25th anniversary -- and the holidays -- on Monday night at City Hall.

Modcom member, Los Angeles mag editor and Franklin Avenue friend Chris Nichols enticed us with the promise of the three T's -- tamales, a theramin and Tom Bradley. We were sold -- especially because of that last one.

Yes, the top floor of L.A.'s City Hall is now named after L.A.'s five-term, twenty-year mayor. I had never made it up to the top, so it didn't take much arm twisting (just delicate scheduling at home, in order to make it there after putting the kids to bed).

I gotta say, it lived up to expectations. The Tom Bradley Room offers amazing 360 degree views of downtown, while the room isn't huge -- but still a decent size, and perfect home to an L.A. Conservancy-related shindig.

Chris, of course, M.C.-ed the event, which also honored photogs Jack Laxer, Leland Lee, Marvin Rand (accepted by his son Peter Rand) and Julius Shulman (accepted by his daughter Judy McKee).

A few pics:


Happy 25th, Modcom!


The view from City Hall's 27th floor Tom Bradley Room


Disney Hall


The Tom Bradley Room ceiling


The room


Tom Bradley or bust!


The musical entertainment included a theremin performer.


Plaque recognizing City Hall's Lindbergh Beacon, which was shining bright atop the building on Monday night.

Your Favorite Southern California Holiday Traditions, Part II: Hollywood Blvd.

(Pic by Micah 777.)

We're continuing to give away $25 eBay gift cards to folks offering up their favorite Southern California holiday moments... and today, we visit Hollywood Boulevard.

The street will forever be synonymous with Christmas thanks to Gene Autry's "Here Come Santa Claus." When Gene sings, "right down Santa Claus Lane," he's referring to Hollywood Blvd. -- and the nickname created by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to promote holiday shopping. (That's also how the Hollywood Christmas Parade originated.)

Franklin Avenue reader Leslie has fond memories of the boulevard:

I have to say my favorite LA holiday tradition has to be driving Hollywood Blvd. and listening to Christmas music (on KOST 103.5, of course.)

It seems simple, but when I first moved here after college to be a big time screenwriter, I said goodbye to my dad at the Ontario airport and headed back to my first grown-up apartment, right on Hollywood Blvd. and Fuller Ave. Not knowing Highland was easier, I got off the 101 at Hollywood. It was a couple of days into the New Year and the decorations were still up--the old ones that looked like reels of film that hung above the street.

Having just left the nest back in Indiana, I felt a little uneasy, but the lights were pretty and comforting, and kind of reminded me of the beginning of Lethal Weapon, which in turn reminded me that I wanted to be here to write and make movies.

It was a special welcome to Los Angeles that felt like it was just for me, a sign that I was supposed to be here, and it made all the difference. (And by the way, I truly, truly miss those film reel holiday lights. Why did Hollywood get rid of them and where did they go??)

Anyone know the answer to Leslie's question? I hadn't realized that the film reel holiday lights were gone; that must be a recent development (as the shot above, just taken a few years ago, still includes those iconic decorations).

More L.A. traditions to come... keep sendin' em in! (Email us -- franklin_avenue(at)yahoo(dot)com.)

Los Angeles' Televised Yule Log Smackdown

A Christmas Day yule log smackdown is heating up in Los Angeles.

KCAL's four-hour video of a burning Yule Log will face full head-to-head competition for the first time this Christmas morning, as KTLA brings out a rival fireplace.

As a result, chimney-deprived Angelenos (or auds who don't want to start a fire in balmy SoCal weather) will get a choice on Christmas morning of crackling, burning yule logs.

The stations, however, will broadcast two very different music soundtracks with their yulecasts.

CBS-owned indie KCAL, which airs its log between 6 and 10 a.m., will continue its partnership with adult contemporary radio station KOST-FM.

KOST goes all-Christmas music this time of year; on Christmas morning, the holiday tunes will intersperse the tunes with messages from morning team Mark Wallengren and Kristin Cruz, as well as KCAL anchors Pat Harvey and Rick Garcia.

Over on KTLA, the fireplace shots will be accompanied by classic rock from KLOS-FM. The Tribune station will run its wall-to-wall log coverage from 4:30 to 10 a.m.

It's actually the second year KTLA has broadcast a yule log -- but last year, the station stayed mostly out of the way of KCAL, which still had the prime 8 to 10 a.m. hours to itself.

MORE at Variety here.

Your Favorite Southern California Holiday Traditions, Part I: The Christmas Caroling Truck

We asked you last week, as part of our Franklin Avenue contest for $25 eBay gift certificates, to name your favorite SoCal holiday tradition. And you delivered.

This week, in the days leading up to Christmas, we'll award the best entries. (And it's not too late to enter -- send yours RIGHT NOW to franklin_avenue[at]yahoo[dot]com.)

Our first winning entry comes from Jodi, who shares her love of the Magical Christmas Caroling Truck of Toluca Lake and North Hollywood:

It's my 15th Christmas in L.A. (I only went out of town for one) and the tradition I love the most is the The Magical Christmas Caroling Truck that drives around Toluca Lake and North Hollywood every Christmas Eve. I'll never forget our first Christmas here when we were sitting in our apartment in Burbank/Toluca Lake and heard what sounded like a football game or something outside. We ran downstairs to behold a huge tractor-trailer totally decked out for Christmas, pumping out music, and filled with jolly folks singing and accompanied by a parade of more singers and dancers. I was awestruck.

When we moved into a house a couple of years later, it was within a mile of the apartment and we were thrilled to learn that our new North Hollywood home is within the Magical Caroling Truck's route! For many years now, our friends a few houses down have a party on Christmas Eve. Various people listen out for the truck (oh you can hear it coming) and when it's near us, we all run out and enjoy! Sometimes we walk along with it for a while. A couple of years ago, one of our friends made a bunch of red and green signs that said things like "Thank You!" and "Yay!" and I don't remember what else that we held up for the carolers, which they got a kick out of.

I can lean toward being a little bah-humbug about the holidays, but I LOVE this for some reason. I can't wait 'til next Thursday night! It should be hitting us sometime between 8:30 & 9:15 according to the flyer left on our door.

Thanks to Jodi, who wins our first $25 eBay card! More to come!

Charles Phoenix's Mid-Century Christmas Culture in Kodachrome

L.A.'s own keeper of kitsch, Charles Phoenix, brought his Retro Holiday Slide Show to Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre on Sunday, and Franklin Avenue was there.

It was a rare Sunday afternoon out sans kids (thanks to Maria's mom) -- but after years of not making it to a Charles Phoenix event for one reason or another, the timing was finally perfect.

Phoenix, of course, has become famous for collecting Kodachrome slides from the post-WWII era, in a sense curating a unique slice of Americana. The slides depict average Americans of the 1950s and 1960s in all of their horrific glory -- embarrassing outfits, shocking home decor, bizarre behavior and kitschy, far-out locales that were of that era.

Phoenix stumbled into this career after finding a dusty box of old slides while going thrift shopping. Now, when he's not searching for slides, people are sending their parents' embarrassing old collections to him.

Either way, Phoenix has amassed enough slides to pick out the best of the best for his stage show. It's a simple concept, but works because of Phoenix's larger-than-life personality: Phoenix narrates the slide show as he takes us on a journey through the holidays -- but mostly Christmas and New Years.

That means slides of drunk family members, poorly-dressed Santas, creepy presents (life-sized doll, anyone?) and more. The slides hail from across the country, although most are from right here in Southern California, which is the Ontario-bred entertainer's specialty.



For the show, Phoenix trotted out a mini Christmas tree that had been heavily flocked into a bright red color. (He gave a shout-out to the flockers -- the Christmas tree lot located in the parking lot of Atwater Village's Costco.)



Joining Phoenix was organist Dominic Cangelosi, who also owns Glendale's Moonlight Rollerway. Phoenix had organized a special show earlier this year at the Moonlight -- and hinted that a new show may be in the works for next spring.



After the show, we caught Phoenix as he was running out -- and I asked to take a photo. He said yes, but under two conditions: (A) That it be with Maria, and (B) That the pic be taken in front of the Egyptian mural.

Meanwhile, just in time for the holidays, Phoenix instructs how to make a "Astro-Weenie Christmas Tree," made famous from one of his slides:

Retro Friday: Christmas Edition

Up in the San Bernardino Mountains -- once upon a time, at "Santa's Village," it was always a holiday!



In 1980, Kmart suggested giving the gift of velour.



Albums for just $5.97 each! In 1986, that is. At the now-long gone Gemco.



From Thanksgiving weekend 1984: Ads for Alpha Beta, May Co., Glendale Federal and plenty more now-defunct local businesses.

This Year's Best Holiday Treat

Oh, Trader Joe's Pfeffernusse, how I love thee so. I can scarf three, four, eight at a time.

The outer shell, with the right amount of powdered sugar dusting -- and a nice, slight crunch. The inside, a perfect spice and (best of all) NO NUTS! The Pfeffernusse is pretty close to the perfect cookie. And is easily one of my favorite things about the holiday season.

We've already gone through two boxes. And the holiday season is still underway. Pfeffernusse. I just love the word.

Words Of Wisdom at LAX, By Tiger Woods

Looks like Accenture, now attempting to scrub Tiger Woods from its world, has so far missed this ad at LAX.

Perhaps Tiger could take heed to his own advice: "It's what you do next that counts."

(Pic by Matt Rice)

Our 2000th Twitter Follower

Whoo-hoo, we've hit 2,000 Tweeps. OK, what now? (Answer: More silly gags about TV stories, and more links to cool L.A. things. Follow us here.)

Rate-A-Restaurant #219: Michelangelo

Restaurant: Michelangelo Ristorante

Location: 2742 Rowena Ave (Silver Lake)

Type of restaurant: Italian

We stipulated: After spending the morning at a Silver Lake event with friends and their two kids, we decided to head to lunch in the vicinity.



They stipulated: From their website: "Michelangelo Pizzeria Ristorante offers an enticing menu full of fresh home made pasta, thin crust pizzas and other Southern Italian dishes that are made right on the premises from fresh organic ingredients. Excellent cuts of meat are often used for house specialties including steaks and veal chops." (I love that qualifier -- "are often used." What, there are times you offer guests crappy cuts of meat?)



What we ordered: Penne Scampi ($16): Penne pasta with shrimp and artichoke hearts in a fresh tomato sauce; Di Verdure ($9) Mixed grilled vegetable panini with fresh mozzarella; Margherita pizza ($11) Mozzarella, basil and tomato sauce.



High point: Best part may have been the free hot bread with a great spicy oil. We also had the restaurant to ourselves -- great for us, especially for kids -- not so good for the owners.

Low point: $3 soda -- and no free refills! One of us asked for a second glass of Coke -- and they charged us another $3! Attention to detail was also a little off -- one of us made a big deal about asking for cheese on a sandwich, and yet it wasn't there when it arrived. Not a major problem, but strange given that we were the only people there.

Overall impression: Friendly staff, decent food but nothing too out of the ordinary.

Chance we'll go back: I wouldn't be opposed to it, but Michelangelo doesn't jump to mind as the first place I'd want to make an effort to eat at.

CHOICE CUTS: A Glimpse at Franklin Avenue's November Playlist

November 2009

Pop Art Blue -- Zero 7 (4:23)
Let's Go -- The Feelies (2:40)
Blinking Pigs -- Little Dragon (3:39)
Maybe So, Maybe No -- Mayer Hawthorne (2:57
How You Like Me Now (Single Edit) -- The Heavy (3:37)
100 MPH (In 2nd Gear) -- Gemma Ray (3:04)
Iamundernodisguise (Alternate Version) -- School of Seven Bells (3:42)
The Spectator -- The Bravery (3:50)
No One Said This Would Be Easy -- The Postmarks (3:34)
Sweet Disposition -- The Temper Trap (3:56)
Lovely, Love My Family -- The Roots (2:06)
Ghosts -- Fanfarlo (4:18)
Use Somebody (Andre Anjos Remix) -- Kings Of Leon (3:53)
First Train Home -- Imogen Heap (4:14)
Into The Chaos -- Howling Bells (3:15)
Another Likely Story (Aeroplane Remix) -- Au Revoir Simone (4:28)
Moth's Wings -- Passion Pit (4:16)
I Don't Feel It Anymore (George Raquet Remix) -- William Fitzsimmons (5:35)
Cecilia -- Thomas Dybdahl (3:42)
Green Eyed Love (Classixx Remix) -- Mayer Hawthorne (5:10)
You've Got the Love (The xx Remix) -- Florence and The Machine (5:44)

FRANKLIN AVENUE CONTEST: eBay Mobile Boutique

It's been quite a season for folks contacting us about giving away goodies to you, the loyal Franklin Avenue reader.

Next up, as part of its eBay Mobile Boutique pop-up store -- which comes to L.A. this week -- eBay is giving away $25 gift cards to Franklin Avenue readers.

Interested? Email us now, at franklin_avenue(at)yahoo(dot)com, and tell us your favorite L.A. holiday tradition.

As for the eBay mobile store, it will be located at Hollywood and Highland both this Thursday and Friday, Dec. 17 and 18, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Details:

The mobile boutique will showcase interactive shopping kiosks, hot holiday merchandise and virtual windows with live auctions on the site from local eBay sellers. Personal shoppers will be on hand to help you find and purchase your holiday gifts and have them shipped wherever you’d like.

There will be items on site such as fashionista products (clothes, shoes, accessories), Zhu Zhu pets, items for gamers, and more.

I'm guessing my favorite item to purchase on eBay -- old TV Guides (yes, still a nerd, check) -- won't be there.

Christmas Night with Santa Conquering the Martians

More holiday opportunities for bad movies: If you're looking to do something on Christmas night, the folks at Cinefamily are offering up "Mondo Christmas," featuring the classic "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians."

Here's some info:

When December comes, connoisseurs of cracked cinema have reason to be jolly, for 'tis the season for holiday schlock to flood the TV screen and choke the movie theaters.

Once again, Cinefamily is going to spoil you rotten with all kinds of goodies, including verité footage of department store Santas, misguided movie tie-ins, exhumed cartoons and aborted holiday specials.-- as well as a specially-prepared Xmas video mix from Everything Is Terrible! Finally, in a rare 16mm screening, we'll unwrap Santa Claus Conquers The Martians, the supremely screwy saga of two moron Mars-men who, on orders from their supreme commander, go on reconnaissance to kidnap Saint Nick and bring him back to the "red planet" -- in order to edify all the gift-hungry alien children (including a very young Pia Zadora!) who've somehow heard of our loopy Earthbound holiday customs.

Come celebrate the holidays with the only family that knows what you really want--the Cinefamily. Yule be glad you did.

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians Dir. Nicholas Webster, 1964, 16mm, 81 min.

Angelenos, Here's What You Need For Christmas: A Water Filter

(Flickr pic by WHUhnnnnnnnn.)

Yuck -- according to a new enviromental report, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power tap water ranked 83rd out of 100 cities "because of its cocktail of 30 chemical contaminants."

Reports the L.A. Daily News:

One cancer-causing chemical exceeded federal legal standards while 14 other chemicals surpassed recommended health guidelines, according to the report.

In comparison, the agency that supplies potable water to 19 million residents around the city of Los Angeles ranked 58th. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California tap water contained 27 chemicals, most of them unregulated and legal, but potentially unsafe.

"Looking at the data, we're definitely concerned about water quality in Southern California. We recommend utilities really look at their processing. There's much room for improvement," said Olga Naidenko, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental watchdog based in Washington, D.C., and a co-author of the report.

"We recommend residents get water filters."

Get Your Motor Runnin': A Saturday Night at the L.A. Auto Show

Having first launched in 1907 (although it took a break for most of the 1940s), the Los Angeles Auto Show is a yearly look into a culture that shaped much of our fair city. I'd never actually stepped foot into the event until this year, when -- armed with free tix -- we finally checked it out on Saturday night.

As Maria noted, it was pretty much exactly what we expected. Large, loud booths, plenty of new cars to check out and random distractions to keep people interested. I enjoyed the opportunity to check out vehicles without the usual dealer distraction of salespeople ready to pounce. The Blogger Preschooler loved opening and shutting the car doors. To each their own.

The downside? Visiting the Auto Show so close to dinner. With two kids in tow, leaving and coming back would have been too much of a production -- so we were forced to check out the L.A. Convention Center's meager, overpriced options. It wasn't pretty, but you don't come to the Auto Show to eat.

Some pics from our visit:


One of the highlights for the Blogger Preschooler: The model car race track at the Ford booth.


The "Boyotas" -- yes, nothing says hip like Toyota's acapella crooners.


BMW's concept car -- "BMW Vision EfficientDynamics"


Honda's concept car -- "Honda P-NUT"


The west hall floor, facing Honda

And some shots from the high-end auto floor, where no car was under $200,000:









Some historic shots from a display at the show:


The 1954 Auto Show floor, at the (now demolished) Pan Pacific Auditorium.


The great Auto Show fire of 1929.


The Auto Show moved to the Shrine following the fire.