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Friday, July 30, 2010

Retro Friday: David Letterman Reports on Illegal Immigrants, in 1978



From a 1978 TV special, a very young David Letterman "reports" on illegal aliens (using the fake name "reporter Dan Cochrane"). Consider it "The Daily Show," thirty years before.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Local TV Roundup: KNBC Names New News Director; KCET Pink Slips 13



KNBC Los Angeles has named new news director: Vickie Burns, who moves from WNBC New York.

Burns replaces Steve Lange, who resigned under fire in May.

Lange had been accused of trashing KNBC's journalistic standards in favor of adding fluff and entertainment to the mix -- including faked "news segments."

Burns appears to at least have a bit more news chops:

Burns will lead the day-to-day news operations of KNBC and will oversee content production and distribution across all digital platforms. Burns will start at the station on August 16th and will report directly to Robinson.

"Vickie is a seasoned journalist who has extensive experience running a newsroom," said Robinson. "She understands the needs of local news consumers and how to create quality content that can travel across multiple media platforms."

Burns joins KNBC from WNBC, NBC’s owned and operated station in New York, where she was Vice President of Content and Audience Development for NBC Local Media New York since 2009. In that capacity, Burns was responsible for developing strategy to build audiences across the station’s media platforms, including WNBC, NY Nonstop, nbcnewyork.com, taxicabs and other out-of-home platforms at NBC Local Media New York.

From March 2008 to June 2009, Burns served as Vice President of News and Content for WNBC. During that time, Burns spearheaded the station’s transformation from a news operation into a comprehensive content center, producing news and information on multiple platforms. Additionally, she led her team in the launch of NY Nonstop, WNBC’s groundbreaking 24-hour digital news, information and lifestyle channel.

Prior to joining WNBC, Burns was the Vice President of News for WRC, the NBC owned and operated station in Washington, D.C., from September 2003 to March 2008, the #1 news station in the market.

Might this also mean KNBC will launch an "LA Nonstop" channel, much like WNBC's 24-hour "NY Nonstop"? We'll see.

Also in local L.A. TV news: PBS outlet KCET pink slips 13 employees, according to public broadcasting journal Current:

At an all-station meeting in Los Angeles Tuesday (July 27), KCET staffers were told that 13 employees are being laid off. Cuts come from across several departments, and at least one vice president is affected. In June 2009, KCET cut 12 full-time and part-time staffers and announced furloughs and pay cuts. The station also dropped its 45-year-old program guide that month, citing financial reasons.

License Plate of the Day: Boo Boo Fixer Edition



You got a boo boo? This Cal fan will make it all better.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Y-Que Looks To Lindsay, Mel For Next T-Shirt Designs



You can always count on Los Feliz's Y-Que boutique to quickly turn the current celebrity scandal into a T-shirt.

It all started with Y-Que's "Free Winona" shirts more than a decade ago. Now, every celeb with jail troubles gets a shirt. That, of course, includes Lindsay. I gotta imagine "Free Lindsay" merchandise is selling quite well at the moment.



Writes Y-Que: "Stop the injustice before it's too late!!! Free Lindsay before she is jailed again."

Then there's the obligatory BP shirt:



And the American Apparel shirt, just as creepy as Dov Charney himself:



Check out more Y-Que shirts here.

License Plate of the Day: Tired Edition



Tired? Oh man, I hear ya. I hear ya.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Tease Campaign for "Battle: Los Angeles"



The real, mysterious 1942 Battle of Los Angeles formed the inspiration for Sony's upcoming feature "Battle: Los Angeles."



I'm sure you all have heard about the "Battle of Los Angeles" -- when jittery personnel shot anti-aircraft guns in the nighttime L.A. sky on Feb. 24 and 25, 1942, assuming that Japanese planes had come to attack. Later, it was explained away as a weather balloon mistaken for something else; others, of course, have called it a UFO sighting.

"Battle: Los Angeles" centers on Marines battling aliens on the streets of Los Angeles. (Except the movie wasn't shot in Los Angeles. It was shot in Louisiana. Really. So it oughta be called "Battle: La.")

Check out the "Battle: Los Angeles" site here.

KCBS/KCAL Makes Weather Team Changes



KCBS/KCAL is going an unusual route with its chief meteorologist gig. That title is normally reserved for a station's marquee 5/6/11 p.m. weathercaster -- but instead, the KCBS/KCAL duopoly has named morning meteorologist Josh Rubenstein to the post.

Rubenstein will take on KCBS' weekday morning 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. weather reports.

"We are very pleased to have a weather team that features experienced and popular broadcasters with deep roots in Southern California and a shared commitment to being the very best at what they do," said KCBS/KCAL president and GM Steve Mauldin.

"We are especially proud to recognize Josh Rubenstein for his many years of service and leadership, both on the air and behind the scenes, by naming him our chief meteorologist and having him serve as our new leadoff hitter," he said. "We love the idea of having our most experienced weather expert on the air first thing in the morning when Southern Californians are planning their days."

Jackie Johnson continues to serve as KCBS' evening weathercaster, having replaced the retired Johnny Mountain. Rubenstein had replaced Johnson on KCAL's primetime news; now, new hire Evelyn Taft will take the KCAL primetime job.

Meteorologist Henry DiCarlo will now move from weekday mornings on KCBS to the weekday afternoon newscasts on KCAL and Kaj Goldberg will continue to serve as KCBS and KCAL's weekend weathercaster.

KCBS/KCAL also announced that Whitney Drolen has joined the KCBS on-air team as the station's morning traffic reporter.

Rubenstein has been with KCAL since 1997-- prior to CBS' acquisition of the station.


"I approve of the changes," said Young Paul Magers.

Press Release of the Day: Free Lindsay Edition



Lindsay Lohan's tanning salon -- or, so they claim -- is feeling the hurt now that the former actress is in the pokey.

The salon is so desperate for publicity... er, I mean, so concerned for Lindsay's well-being, that it is staging a "Free Lindsay" rally thousands of miles from where Lindsay, well, actually is incarcerated.

Here's the press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GIANT RIBBON TO BE TIED AROUND MANHATTAN BUILDING WITH RALLY BY FRIENDS AND FANS FOR LINDSAY LOHAN'S JAIL RELEASE


New York, N.Y.--TUESDAY, July 26, 2010—James Oliver of Beach Bum Tanning Salon who has kept the Lohan family bronzed for over a decade is holding a “Free Lindsay" rally to support the troubled starlet with Lohan's friends and fans in attendance.

The ceremony kicks off, Tuesday July 27, 2010 at 12 P.M. at the 239 7th Avenue salon location, with a press conference and ribbon tying ceremony. On display will be a prominent homemade Sign across the building saying “We love you Lindsay! Come home soon.”

Beach Bum held a similar rally in 2007 when one of their high profile clients, Paris Hilton, did jail time after being sentenced for a DUI.

Lindsay Lohan is one of Beach Bum’s most loyal clients, with her entire family regularly visiting the salons. The salon hopes its campaign will draw awareness to the harsh punishment inflicted on Lohan due to her celebrity status and that she will be released from jail before her 90 day sentence reaches completion. Beach Bum has pointed out that Lohan was ordered to serve twice the time Paris Hilton was sentenced back in 2007 for a similar probation violation.

Lohan began her sentence on July 20, 2010 at a Hollywood facility after a trial that was filled with media attention and paparazzi presence. The actress is set to be released in October; however, she may be let out early due to overcrowding. The owners of Beach Bum miss seeing her at the salon and hope for her speedy return.

Contact: Danielle Orsino
Phone: 480.XXX.XXXX

Some businesses are fed up with the freeloading ways of the Lohan clan, which didn't meet a gifting lounge it didn't like... or completely suck dry. But apparently Beach Bum Tanning Salon doesn't care for, you know, actually getting paid.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Rate-A-Restaurant #231: Pitfire Pizza



Restaurant: Pitfire Pizza

Location: 108 W. 2nd St. (at Main) (Downtown)

Type of restaurant: Pizza



We stipulated: We were meeting our friend and "Comic-Con widow" Jess for dinner; that makes for four young kids between us. We needed something kid-friendly -- can't beat pizza -- and a reliable spot for good food but relatively quick service. Jess recommended Pitfire; and although we'd had Pitfire pizza before, we had never visited the downtown location. So we were in.

They stipulated: "We hand-make our food." Also, Pitfire has you order and pay upfront before finding your seat.



What we ordered: Big Sur pizza (wild Gulf shrimp, marinated tomato, Italian parsley, red chile flakes; $10.25); crab cappellini ($12.95); plain mozzarella/tomato sauce pizza ($7.95); Diet Coke ($2.95)



High point: The restaurant put up with our crazy kid shenangians -- can't ask for much more than that. But the menu of diverse pizzas is also a plus. And the crust is strong.

Low point: Maria's pasta dish strangely came out of the kitchen much later than the rest of our dishes.

Overall impression: The pizzas are good, although the prices are a bit on the high end for such a spot. Dinner for just the three of us came to $40 -- that's pretty steep for a pizza place. It's also a little strange that the pizzas come in only one, personal size. But the food was good -- I liked my pizza, Maria liked her pasta, and Evan managed to stretch his pizza out to two nights.

Chance we'll go back: There's a good chance, but particularly if we get a coupon.

(For our full list of more than 230 restaurant reviews, check out Rate-A-Restaurant here.)

Friday, July 23, 2010

Retro Friday: Casey Kasem Counts Down The Top 10 New Acts of 1990



Has it really been 20 years? Yes. Yes it has. Here, watch a special 1990 episode of "America's Top 10," as Casey Kasem counts down the new acts of 1990. Ahh yeah, they're all here: Bell Biv DeVoe. Bad English. Young MC. Slaughter. Wilson Phillips. And the only one who actually had any staying power, Mariah Carey.

Now, as a bonus... below, here's an edition of "America's Top 10" from THIRTY YEARS ago. Enjoy the episode below from July 27, 1980. And remember to keep your feet on the ground... and keep reaching for the stars.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

You Knew This Was Coming: The 99 Cents Only Store Gets Hit By a Frivolous Lawsuit



Remember when the 99 Cents Only Stores increased its prices to 99.99 cents?

It was well covered by the media. But just in case you missed it, the 99 Cents Only store plastered signs everywhere, explaining the price increase -- its first since opening in 1982. Every item now says 99.99 cents -- *every* one.

Given the dramatic increase in the price of merchandise since then, the measly penny increase was seen as a pretty good deal. And for the 99 Cents Only store, the small .0099 addition meant that it could keep hawking the idea of "99 Cents," even if technically everything was now a dollar.

But no surprise here: Some enterprising hucksters and their out-for-a-buck lawyers still saw an opportunity to sue the chain. The L.A. Times writes:

The move seems to be riling some customers who say they weren't aware of the nearly one-cent increase and felt duped into believing they were still paying 99 cents "only." Because U.S. currency makes it impossible to pay 99.99 cents for an item, shoppers are essentially paying $1 plus tax at the cash register.

Now the company faces two class-action lawsuits that were filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court this month. The complaints allege unfair and deceptive business practices and misleading advertising.

"If they call themselves 99 Cents Only, it should be 99 cents," said Dan Callahan, an Orange County lawyer. "We had a survey done before we filed the lawsuit to see how many people thought they were paying 99 cents, and it was just about unanimous that nobody realized that they were paying more than 99 cents. The people who go to that store are typically lower income or seniors, so the people they're taking advantage of are the ones least able to discern the difference and least able to afford it."

The lawsuits are asking for unspecified monetary compensation and contend that 99 Cents Only should have been more clear in its advertising. A judge will decide whether the cases can proceed as class-action suits.

Silver Lake's Shirtless Walking Man Dies at 58


(L.A. mag pic by Gregg Segal)

This is quite disheartening: According to the L.A Times, the famous "Shirtless Walker" of Silver Lake has died. And he was only 58.

Marc Abrams became famous for being constantly spotted walking, always with a newspaper in hand, on a daily basis throughout Silver Lake. He was recently even the subject of two different profiles, in both the LATimes.com and Los Angeles Magazine.

According to those stories, Abrams (who was a doctor) had been walking 20 miles every day for 30 years. Almost always topless (hmm, was that the problem?).

He was quite fit in addition to being quite tan. And yet... he died at the relatively young age of 58. What gives?

UPDATE: KNBC reports that Abrams appears to have drowned in a hot tub. Read more here, and check out the Facebook tribute page to the Shirtless Walking Man here.

ALSO: A memorial walk is being organized for this Sunday. Read all about it here -- and make sure to bring along short shorts, a rolled-up New York Times and lots of sunscreen.

(Image above from the recent Los Angeles magazine profile of Abrams.)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Los Angeles Magazine's Annual 'Best of L.A.' Issue Highlights Local Faves



Los Angeles magazine's annual "Best of L.A." issue is out -- and there's plenty of good news for both downtown and the Los Feliz/Atwater Village/Silver Lake/Eagle Rock crowd.

Among this year's selections:

:: Best Brownies: Sweets for the Soul (Atwater Village)

:: Hot Chocolate: Milk (Fairfax)

:: Cafe in a Bookstore: Stories L.A. (Echo Park)

:: Savory Cocktails: Hollywood Roosevelt's Library Bar. (Hollywood)

:: Spicy Food: Jitlada (yum!) (Hollywood)

:: Filipino Restaurant: Original Barrio Fiesta of Manila. (Eagle Rock)

:: Electric Bikes: Electric Bikes L.A.

:: Discount Pottery: Reseda Pottery. (Reseda)

:: Japanese Garden: The Japanese Garden: Suiho En. (Van Nuys)

:: Aquarium: Aquarium of the Pacific. (Long Beach)

:: Miniature Golf: Arroyo Seco. (South Pasadena)

:: Americana Radio Station: KCSN.

:: Neighborhood Amusement Park: Pacific Park. (Santa Monica)

:: Concerts: SummerSounds. (Hollywood)

:: Bouncy Houses: Planet Bouncy.

:: Museum Shop Gifts: Autry National Center. (Los Feliz)

:: Free Kid-Friendly Weekend Activity: Kids Rhythm Club Drum Circle. (North Hollywood)

:: Jazz Club: The Baked Potato. (Studio City)

:: Beer List: The Surly Goat. (West Hollywood)

:: Stained Glass Design and Repair: Judson Studios. (Highland Park)

License Plate of the Day: Why Are You Here? Edition



That's a very good question... why am I here?

(Pic thanks to TVMoJoe. Keep sending in those vanity plates!)

Los Angeles, Ad Town: University of Phoenix Edition



Cool shot of downtown -- including the Million Dollar Hotel/Hotel Rosslyn neon sign -- from a current ad for the University of Phoenix. (I've never gotten what exactly the University of Phoenix is.)



Another shot -- apparently the U of Phoenix couldn't license the "Hotel Rosslyn" name, as you can see it's somehow been morphed onscreen into the "Hotel Rosie."



(Pic via East of West L.A..)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Rate-A-Restaurant #230: Golden State


(Flickr pic by aharvey2k.)

Restaurant: The Golden State

Location: 426 N. Fairfax (Fairfax)

Type of restaurant: American


(Flickr pic by aharvey2k.)

We stipulated: I was meeting up with someone for a work lunch... and I thought Golden State would appeal to his taste, especially thanks to its burger and sausage menu. I'd been wanting to try it to, so I was glad he was up for it.

They stipulated: "The Golden State is a talent show for the best makers of food and drink in California. We love Samir's food. We love Scoops gelato. We love breweries like Craftsman and wineries like Topanga Vineyards. We think products like these deserve a stage of their own. California is an easy place to love. It's where we grew up. It's what we know. And it tastes very good."


(Flickr pic by tannazie.)

What I ordered: turkey burger (ground turkey, lettuce, tomato, housemade aioli and ketchup) with a side order of jalapeno cabbage slaw -- $10. Virgil's Root Beer on draught -- $3.


(Flickr pic by aharvey2k.)

High point: Golden State offers quite a nice sauce selection for its burgers and sausages. Also: dug the spiciness of the jalapeno slaw. Love the fact that the root beer on tap is Virgil's. And the toppings to the burger -- such as red pepper -- added quite a bit of zest to the overall package.

Low point: The burger was strong, but the bun was surprisingly weak. And loved the Virgil's on draught, but overall the soda selection was limited.

Overall impression: Any place that offers up ice cream made by Scoops can't be half-bad.

Chance we'll go back: Yes, a return trip is on my agenda.

(For our full list of nearly 230 restaurant reviews, check out Rate-A-Restaurant here.)

The Miracle Mile Food Truck Wars Continue, While The Counter Plans to Move In



As a regular lunchtime customer of the food trucks parked between 5700 Wilshire (Variety's old offices) and 5900 Wilshire (Variety's current offices), I've been enjoying LAist's ongoing coverage of the Miracle Mile's Great Food Truck War.

Specifically, LAist has uncovered plenty of evidence that the landlord at Museum Square -- 5757 Wilshire -- has started employing some sneaky methods in an attempt to crowd the trucks off the street.

Apparently, as you can see in the video above, Museum Square appears to have hired drivers to take as many parking spots on Wilshire as possible, in order to prevent the trucks from stopping there. Museum Square has its tenants to look out for -- including Marie Callender's, Baja Fresh, Johnnie's NY Pizza and Mixt Greens. (Too bad those selections are all pretty uninspiring.) Meanwhile, Councilman Tom LaBonge has thrown his support behind the brick-and-mortar restaurants.

In its most recent post on the matter, LAist noted that those cars regularly get tickets -- a small price to pay, perhaps, as Museum Square looks to protect its own. Or perhaps not a small price: One car is up to $800 in tickets, so far unpaid.

Meanwhile, in other Miracle Mile eating news, the food options there in the 5700 Wilshire block is about to get some fresh blood: Burger joint The Counter has announced that it's moving into the location recently vacated by Koo Koo Roo. That's the best food news we've gotten in the area in quite a while.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Beating the Heat in Manhattan Beach



Now that we've found free parking in Manhattan Beach, just a few blocks from the beach, it's become our go-to spot to hit the sand. (The 105 is also a lot less crowded on warm weekend mornings than the 10, as folks driving to Santa Monica and Malibu clog the freeway).

Where do you hit for a quick few hours at the beach? Let us know below.







FRANKLIN AVENUE PLAYLIST: July 2010



I hadn't put together monthly mixes since at least 2003, sticking to a bimonthly schedule since then. But there's a lot of great music out there these days, and so far I've managed to string together a playlist for every month this year (making it seven-for-seven so far in 2010). For this mix, since it's summer, I threw in another mainstream "song of the summer" contender ("Airplanes") among the selections. Here's what I'm listening to at the moment:

July 2010

I Know We'll Never -- Rose Elinor Dougall (3:04)
Towards The Future (feat. Deacon The Villain) -- Tunji Balogun (4:23)
Can't Back Down -- Bad Rabbits (3:15)
We Don't Want Your Body -- Stars (3:26)
Clap Your Hands (Prince Vince Remix) -- Sia (5:02)
Right On (Feat. Joanna Newsome, STS) -- The Roots (3:36)
Fire With Fire -- Scissor Sisters (4:13)
Shutterbugg -- Big Boi Feat. Cutty (3:35)
Dancing On My Own -- Robyn (4:51)
Tonight, Tonight -- Passion Pit (4:08)
Even Though (Surfing Leons Afternoon Remix) -- Morcheeba (5:38)
Airplanes (feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore) -- B.o.B (3:01)
Tell Me You Love Me -- Leela James (3:30)
Up In The Clouds (Shoes Remix) -- Darwin Deez (3:41)
Don't Turn The Lights On -- Chromeo (4:37)
Point Me At Islands -- Tired Pony (3:12)
Hot-N-Fun (Yeasayer Remix) -- N.E.R.D. (3:46)
Drunk Girls (Holy Ghost! Adult Swim Remix) -- LCD Soundsystem (4:17)
Cold War (Wondamix) -- Janelle Monáe (3:34)
Cosmic Love (Short Club Remix) -- Florence and the Machine (6:50)

Hawthorne on the Ambassador School: "Worst of Both Worlds"


(Photo by Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

L.A. Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne has gotten his first lengthy glimpse of the new school on the old Ambassador site -- and color him unimpressed.

Ultimately, the school is a double tragedy, he notes: Not only did the LAUSD destroy the historic 1921 Ambassador Hotel on the site.. but then it turned around and built its most expensive school ever ($578 million) -- in a misguided attempt to emulate the look of the original.

That's a lot of money spent just to copy the original -- without preserving much of the original at all.

Double fail, he writes:

L.A. and its cultural guardians, in other words, had the decisiveness neither to save the original hotel complex as a school nor to make a clean break with the past by building an ensemble of entirely new buildings. Instead the LAUSD settled on an architectural path — confused, expensive and a little macabre all at the same time — that suggests that the city has now entered a kind of limbo when it comes to cultural maturity. It is neither young enough to energetically (if blithely) embrace the future nor self-aware enough to fully protect its architectural heritage, particularly when that protection requires significant investment from cash-strapped public agencies.

What other city would knock down a major cultural landmark — a hotel where half a dozen early Academy Award ceremonies were held, to say nothing of the site's architectural and political significance — but then insist that the school replacing it squeeze into the same shape, so that anybody who remembers what used to be there is confronted not with tangible history but a ghostly shell of the original?

I kinda agree with Hawthorne, yet there is that macabre part of me that likes the idea of looking at Fake Ambassador, and pretending that it's still the real thing. But I suppose that's akin to the horrific attempt at preservation right across the street, where the shell of the old Brown Derby restaurant derby sits atop a strip mall.

Check out our coverage of the Ambassador Hotel's last days here.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Save Hollywood's Ye Coach and Horses!


(Flickr pic by Clearlight1971.)

Just got some concerning news in our Franklin Avenue mailbox: Legendary Hollywood watering hole Ye Coach and Horses is in trouble.

According to the bar's press release:

Ye Coach and Horses has lost its lease and is being evicted thanks to the owner of Samuel French Bookstore who owns the property. After 74 YEARS as a Hollywood nightlife institution, the bar will be forced out at the end of the month.

At this time, the owner and management of the bar is locked in a legal fight with Samuel French over an eviction notice served on July 1st.

So many celebrities of film, television and music have called Coach and Horses home over the past seven decades including Alfred Hitchcock, Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Spacey, James Gandolfini, Quentin Tarantino, Drew Barrymore, Michael Keaton and Alicia Silverstone. It would a shame
and a travesty to let this establishment slip away without a fight.

I don't know the ins and outs of the battle between Ye Coach and Horses vs. its landlord... but I do know that it would be criminal to see a business that had been in operation since 1937 go away. There are too few L.A. establishments left from that time... so we need to preserve the ones that remain.

The bar is planning a "Support the Coach" party later this month; details to come.

Retro Friday: Raymond Chandler's Los Angeles



Check out this interesting documentary, "Los Angeles History Project: Trouble in Angel City," a look at the corrupt L.A. of the 1930s, as seen through the eyes of Raymond Chandler.





Thursday, July 15, 2010

June Arbitrons: KIIS Remains On Top, While KAMP Gains



Market leader KIIS-FM remained in the top spot this June, according to Los Angeles Arbitron rankings. KIIS led with a 5.9% share of the audience, down slightly from 6.1% in May.

KRTH (K-Earth 101) also slipped but was still good for second place, while KIIS rival top 40 KAMP-FM (Amp 97.1) jumped over KFI-AM to take the third spot.

Among alt rockers, KROQ managed to improve to a 3.5 share, tying it with KYSR (98.7) – which had been beating KROQ as of late in the overall 6+ ratings.

KPCC-FM once again led among public broadcasters, with a 2.0 share; KUSC was next, with 1.7.

License Plate of the Day: Healthy Cooking Edition



It's the Smart Chef!

(Keep those vanity plate submissions coming! Thanks to TVMoJoe for this one.)

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

The Old Spice Man's Busy Tuesday, Making Viral Videos for All



Like many of you, we were transfixed at work by the nonstop output on Tuesday by Wieden + Kennedy, the ad agency behind those Emmy-nominated "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" ads -- along with the star of those ads, Isaiah Mustafa.

All day, W+K was uploading video of Mustafa, in character, responding to Tweets -- from both celebrities (he went back and forth with Alyssa Milano all day) and media organizations, as well as from Internet mavens and average folk -- and YouTube comments. The videos were being uploaded virtually half an hour after the original Twitter messages were made -- which means the W+K writers were scrambling to write the copy and put it in front of Mustafa, who would then, shirtless, perform it. This went on all day, and led to at least 100 videos.

Check them all out here, on Old Spice's YouTube home page.

Below, the Old Spice response to a L.A. Times staffer's Tweet -- making a reference to Los Angeles landmarks along the way.



Here's an example of a celebrity-targeted response, to Rose McGowan:



And finally, how about when brands contact other brands? Here, the Old Spice guy responds to a Tweet from Starbucks Coffee:

More Outdoor Movies, This Time in Pasadena


If it feels like we've been writing non-stop about outdoor movie events this summer, it's because we have. They've popped up everywhere -- perhaps inspired by the success years ago of Cinespia, the weekly screening at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

If you're looking to see an outdoor screening surrounded by fewer gravestones, the "Old Pasadena Film Festival" takes place Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, July 8 through 31.

Here's what's still coming up:

THURSDAY, JULY 15th
Harold and Maude (1971): One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley. 8:30pm

FRIDAY, JULY 16th
Seven Years in Tibet (1997): Distant Lands, 54 S. Raymond Ave. 7:30pm
How to Marry a Millionaire (1953): One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley. 8:30pm

SATURDAY, JULY 17th
The Way We Were (1973): One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley. 8:30pm
Jurassic Park (1993): Mills Alley, 22 Mills Place. 8:30pm

THURSDAY, JULY 22nd
Sorry Wrong Number (1948): One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley. 8:30pm

FRIDAY, JULY 23rd
Before Sunrise (1995): Distant Lands, 54 S. Raymond Ave. 7:30pm
Death Becomes Her (1992): One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley 8:30pm

SATURDAY, JULY 24th
Bringing up Baby (1938): One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley. 8:30pm
Troop Beverly Hills (1989): Central Park, 260 S. Raymond Ave. 8:30pm

THURSDAY, JULY 29th
Labyrinth (1986): One Colorado, 41 Hugus Alley. 8:30pm

FRIDAY, JULY 30th
Before Sunset (2004): Distant Lands, 54 S. Raymond Ave. 7:30pm
She Done Him Wrong (1933): One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley. 8:30pm

SATURDAY, JULY 31st
All About Eve (1950): One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley. 8:30pm
Night of the Living Dead (1968): location TBD. 8:30pm

There are more outdoor screenings we have yet to write about, so stay tuned for more!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

L.A. Cameo: "Pawnee Saint Joseph Hospital"



NBC's "Parks and Recreation" has shot all over Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and Downtown (among other spots) as the show's characters explore the world of fictional Pawnee, Indiana.

Above, an establishing shot from the "Parks and Rec" season finale. The sign says "Pawnee Saint Joseph Hospital," but I'd venture a guess that the word "Pawnee" has been inserted over "Providence" -- as in, Burbank's "Providence Saint Joseph Hospital." Am I right?

Keeping Tabs on Downtown's Happy Hours



The Downtown Center Business Improvement District has come up with a few more online tools to attract folks downtown.

Above, the DowntownLA.com site includes a new searchable Happy Hours guide -- which lists all of downtown's Happy Hours on a night-by-night basis.

The site's Kids and Families page similarly offers an ongoing, updated list of family-friendly activities going on downtown.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Rate-A-Restaurant #229: Four Cafe



Restaurant: Four Cafe

Location: 2122 1/2 Colorado Blvd. (Eagle Rock)

Type of restaurant: American



We stipulated: I had picked up a 30% off dinner coupon from Blackboard Eats for Four Cafe. The coupon was set to expire on July 14 -- so we wanted to try it before it was too late.

They stipulated: "Four Café harvests the freshest organic ingredients the community has to offer, and Chef Michelle Wilton transforms them into inventive yet comforting seasonal dishes. Inspired by a desire to nurture the body and the mind, Four Café is committed to buying locally from Farmers Markets, using a Slow Food cooking approach, and providing a high level of service in a relaxed atmosphere."



What we ordered: Grilled Fish Sandwich -- mahi mahi, heirloom tomato, tarter slaw ($11); Roasted Eggplant Pita -- spiced chickpeas, kale, feta, mint yogurt sauce ($9); kids grilled cheese ($5); peach gingerade -- peach, ginger, agave, sparking water ($3)



High point: That all-natural homemade soda was nice -- a little bit of spice courtesy the ginger, and a richness from the peach. Also, it's nice that the Four Cafe boasts an extensive kids menu -- seven different choices. The owners clearly know who their customers are.

Low point: I loved the bun that my fish sandwich came on, and the mahi mahi was cooked well. Yet it still came off a tad bland, I'm afraid.



Overall impression: The atmosphere to Four Cafe is great -- its homey yet very contemporary. We also love the goal of using fresh ingredients, of patronizing local farmers' markets and constantly shifting the menu. (It's also great that Four Cafe is casual enough that kids are welcome -- just look at that kids menu!) Four Cafe could really turn into something spectacular. It's not there yet, but it could be.



Chance we'll go back: I think we'll return to see how Four Cafe has evolved at some point.



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