Go U Northwestern

Northwestern (7-4) tries to take down UCLA (9-2) in today's Sun Bowl (er, Vitalis Sun Bowl -- shout out to men's hair care!)

The old alma mater has a good shot: Although UCLA is favored by 3 points, NU is No. 8 in the country when it comes to total offense. Northwestern's defense blows -- but so does UCLA's, so expect a high-scoring game.

The game starts at 11 a.m. on KCBS/2. I'll be rioting in Glendale if NU somehow wins its first bowl game since 1948.

Update: Sigh -- no rioting in Glendale. Northwestern dominated most of the first quarter, but then quickly saw its early 22-0 lead evaporate. In the end, UCLA won, 50-38.

Ambassador Cam, #21

I've been out of the office this week, which means I haven't been able to drive by the Ambassador and check on the progress of the hotel demolition.

Luckily, some of you are picking up my slack. Thanks to LAist's Carolyn Kellogg, who took these shots on Thursday:


More destruction on the east side of the building.


The west side of the Ambassador. The south wing still stands -- but presumably not for long.


Great shot of the west side of the building -- check out the size of the workers. This was a big hotel.

(Complete coverage of the hotel's final days at The Ambassador's Last Stand.)

Piece of Cake: Choice Cuts Vol. 4

Now that 2005's up, for the fourth year in a row I've compiled some of my favorite tracks of the year under the "Choice Cuts" banner. As usual, Maria handled the design duties (even while juggling several other projects).

This year's edition, "Piece of Cake," contains the usual round of remixes, slightly obscure tracks, a few you've heard (hopefully not too much), and a few that technically weren't released in 2005 (but since I stumbled across them this year, I've included them anyway). I tried to avoid songs that got too overplayed (Death Cab for Cutie's "Soul Meets Body," for example), and I'm sure there are several picks that will make you question my taste.

But hey, that's the fun of making a mix. Like last year, I'll likely have a few copies left over -- if you're interested in making a mix swap, drop me a line at the mikemaria@sbcglobal.net.

This year’s track list:

1. One of Us Is Going to Die Young-- The Ark: This is pure pop pleasure. A hooky chorus that'll have you singing along by the second verse. A breezy ode to being young and carefree, I thought this was the perfect track to kick off the mix.

2. Catch My Disease-- Ben Lee: I gotta hand it to Ben Lee; he seems to disappear for a few years, and then comes back with song worth putting on "repeat." His classic track "Cigarettes Will Kill You" remains my favorite, but "Catch My Disease" rivals it. How can you not love a song that name checks "Beyonce on the radio"? (Although, I don't get the love for Good Charlotte.)

3. Hip Teens Don't Wear Blue Jeans-- Frank Popp Ensemble: This mod-pop collective from Germany hasn't quite made it to the States, although I first caught this song on Indie 103.1's imports show. By far the catchiest song I've heard all year, it manages to avoid novelty status despite its title. I still haven't tired of this 60s-inspired track.

4. Goodnight and Go-- Imogen Heap: Ahh, Imogen. "The OC" and Zach Braff may have co-opted you, but we still love you. Imogen keeps a spot in our hearts because it was Frou Frou that we listened to on the portable CD player as Maria went into labor last year. That's why we think Evan has taken a particular liking to her; this song remains my fave off her new CD.

5. Leap Year-- Maria Taylor: What a haunting, beautiful voice. Maria Taylor was on our Choice Cuts mix last year through Azure Ray; this year she returns for an encore as a solo performer.

6. Hate It or Love It (Official Remix)-- Mary J. Blige feat. The Game: The Game's original version was good, but the Soul/Hip-Hop Queen takes it to a whole new level. Mary J. recounts her career up until now, and proclaims that she "ain't going nowhere -- but you already know me."

7. Slow Hands (Britt Daniel Remix)-- Interpol: Stripped down to the core, this Interpol remix could have wound up on 2004's Choice Cuts edition, "Baby Food." But it just missed the cut then; it was still a song I listened to enough in the early part of 2005 to make this year's recap.

8. We Might as Well Be Strangers (DJ Shadow Remix)-- Keane: It's official: No one can remix like DJ Shadow. This reworking of Keane is so powerful, you'll forget what the original sounded like. You'll want to listen to this one a few times.

9. Mirrorball (DJ Jazzy Jeff Sole Full Remix)-- Everything But the Girl: Yes, you read that right: DJ Jazzy Jeff. This parent understands: (Yes, that was so cheesy, but I had to say it)Everything But the Girl better put out a new CD soon. In a mean time, this year's remix CD -- including a beautifully done reinterpretation of "Mirrorball" by Jazzy Jeff (love the subtle piano) was a nice substitute. Now, if only we could get new parents Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt to release a new original CD...

10. Dance Music-- The Mountain Goats: Less than 2 minutes long, this song gives out a quiet but powerful punch more potent than tracks twice as long. Bonus points for location checking San Luis Obispo, which doesn't get the kind of song love that most other California cities get.

11. In the Morning-- The Coral: A tad cheesy, yes. But I bet you can't get that steel drum line out of your head. Big in the U.K., this song didn't make the same kind of splash here.

12. Twilight Creeps-- Crooked Fingers: Erich Bachman, who makes up Crooked Fingers, has a gritty voice that's paired rather nicely here with the sweet voice of Lara Meyerattken.

13. 16 Military Wives-- The Decemberists: Either you love 'em or hate 'em: The Portland-based Decemberists (who also appeared on last year's Choice Cuts mix) came out with one of my favorite CDs of the year, "Picaresque," their most accessible one yet. With "16 Military Wives," they also stepped into anti-war territory, although the song is equally hard on newsanchors and mindless celebs. Plus, the chorus is catchy.

14. I Drive Alone-- Esthero: Esthero's back! Finally. As a big fan of her 1998 release "Breath from Another," I waited for the follow-up... and waited... and waited. Finally, she released the EP "We R In Need Of A Musical Revolution," followed by the full-length "Wicked Little Grrrls." I didn't like the new CDs quite as much as "Breath," but I still dug on most songs -- including "I Drive Alone," reminds me of 1998 Esthero. For some reason, this track only appears on the EP.

15. Six Days (remix)-- DJ Shadow feat. Mos Def Another DJ Shadow appearance. I loved this song as a solo project, but also like what Mos Def has added to the remix. That's what you'll hear here.

16. I Can't Believe Its Over-- Bent: Sian Evans, from the group Kosheen, adds a seductive voice to this smooth track. From the Bent CD "Ariels," which was actually released at the end of 2004.

17. I See You, You See Me-- The Magic Numbers: "Love Me Like You" would have been the obvious pick from this group, who released their debut CD this year and immediately took Europe by storm (and are about to do the same here). Comprised of two sets of siblings, the Magic Numbers are clearly inspired by the folk traditions of the 1960s -- yet sound super fresh. I heard them perform "I See You, You See Me" live on KCRW, and immediately fell in love with this track.

18. Worn Me Down-- Rachael Yamagata: Actually released in 2004, I didn't catch up with Rachael Yamagata's "Worn Me Down" until this year. Better late than never; it's a stellar track. Bonus points: I didn't know her at the time -- actually, still don't -- but Rachael lived in the dorm across the street from me at Northwestern.

19. Mary Jane (DJ Green Lantern Evil Genius Remix)-- Rick James: It's Rick James, bitch! The late Superfreak comes to us courtesy this year's "Motown Remixed" project. One of the better CDs to come along recently and reinterpret classic songs (in this case, well-known Motown entries), "Motown Remixed" ends with "Mary Jane" as a bonus track.

20. Brighter Than Sunshine-- Aqualung: One of the more overplayed songs on this year's Choice Cuts mix, there were more sentimental reasons to keep it on here anyway. "Brighter Than Sunshine" became our unofficial song for Evan; we even used it as the accompaniment to a home movie of Blogger Baby.

(For a complete list of Mike's playlists, going back to 2001, visit ChoiceCuts.blogspot.com.)

Another View From the Pantry

Our recent series of shots from the Ambassador Hotel's pantry -- where Robert F. Kennedy was shot in 1968 -- has elicited several more submissions from readers. Here's one from reader Joe Barrett:

After seeing Grant's photo of the pantry where Kennedy was shot, I thought I would send you my photo of the same site.

If you look at my photo and the photo of the original police investigation just below Grant's Photo, I think you can confirm that this is indeed the spot. Note the open doors on the right side of the frame in both the police shot and my shot.

As for the spot where the "X" was painted, I was told by the people that were managing the Ambassador as a film location that the "X" was painted by Ambassador employees after the shooting because so many people wanted to see the place where the crime occurred. The "X" is in a spot that is easily accessible, and would have made for a quick tour (for a tip, I suspect), while the actual location is much deeper in the Ambassador, and made for a much more involved trip.

Also as a curious aside, many people have described seeing a sinister face in the lower center of my picture (it takes a minute to see it), and they have also noted that the white shape you see to the right of the face is positioned similar to Kennedy as he lay on the floor in (the famous) photo.

Spooky, huh?

Full Ambassador Hotel coverage at The Ambassador's Last Stand, and send your pics to the email found on the right.

Press Release of the Day: The Year of Living Infidelitous

As we say a fond farewell to 2005, we must tip our hat to Infidelity, who had a big, big year. So says Ruth Houston, who apparently lists her occupation as "infidelity expert" on her IRS forms. Ruth counts down her ten fave infidelity stories of the year (edited for space) in this nostalgic press release:

Top 10 Infidelity News Stories of 2005

Infidelity expert, Ruth Houston lists the top 10 infidelity news stories of 2005.

December 27, 2005 -- Same-sex infidelity, workplace infidelity, celebrity infidelity and emotional infidelity figure prominently in the annual list of top infidelity news stories compiled by Ruth Houston, a New York- based infidelity expert frequently called on by the media to comment on infidelity issues in the news.

Below are infidelity expert Ruth Houston’s picks for the top 10 infidelity news stories of 2005.

Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, and Angelina Jolie
The divorce of Hollywood’s golden couple was the leading infidelity story of the year. Brad and Angelina met during the filming of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, while he was still married to Jen. Their ensuing emotional infidelity eventually led to Brad and Jen’s divorce, though Brad and Angelina repeatedly denied being sexually involved.

Boeing CEO Harry Stonecipher’s Resignation Over His Extramarital Affair

Stonecipher, 68, was forced to resign after the board received a anonymous tip about his affair with divorcee Debra Peabody, a vice president in the Boeing’s Washington, DC office. Stonecipher was exposed by x-rated company e-mails to Peabody, whom he’d met only weeks earlier at an annual company retreat.

Canadian Ruling On Same Sex Infidelity
In a landmark decision, Canadian Supreme Court Judge Nicole Garson ruled that same sex affairs constitute adultery and are legitimate grounds for divorce.

Prince Charles Marries His Mistress
Prince Charles finally marries Camilla Parker Bowles, the woman with whom he conducted a long-term affair while they both were married to others; and whom Princess Diana blamed for the breakdown of the royal marriage.

Clara Harris’s Prison Interview On The Oprah Winfrey Show
Oprah aired an exclusive interview with Clara Harris, the Texas dentist who is currently serving 20 years in prison for running over her husband after confronting him with his mistress at a local hotel.

Jude Law and Sienna Miller
Despite Jude Law’s public apology after he was caught cheating with his children’s nanny, Sienna broke off their engagement. They eventually reconciled after months of begging on Jude’s part. Then Jude ditched Sienna on learning that she’d cheated on him with new James Bond actor Daniel Craig.

Author Terry McMillan Divorces Her Gay Husband
McMillan divorced her husband of 6 ½ years after learning that he was gay, claiming he defrauded her by not revealing his sexual orientation.

Worldcom Judge Allows Questions About Witness’s Own Extramarital Affairs
During the securities fraud trial of former WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers, U.S. District Judge Barbara Jones ruled that the defense could quiz star prosecution witness, Scott Sullivan about his own marital infidelity because it addressed the witness’s character for truthfulness.

Brokeback Mountain
This movie, a love story about two cowboys involved in a same-sex infidelity relationship, based on a short story by E. Annie Proulx, leads the nominations for next year's Golden Globe awards.

Trapped in the Closet
R&B singer R. Kelly’s serialized pop song melodrama with a plot involving multiple adulteries, including same sex infidelity.

Compiled by Ruth Houston, infidelity expert, author of Is He Cheating on You? – 829 Telltale signs, and founder of www.InfidelityAdvice.com

I personally think Ruth saved the best for last. It would have been an even merrier Christmas had Santa thought to gift me all 12 chapters of "Trapped in the Closet."

The End of Internet Hunting As We Know It... and Other New Laws

The Pasadena Star News (via LAist) highlights some of the new laws that go into effect at midnight on Jan. 1.

The highlight, of course, has to be the new ban on hunting via computer. Huh? The paper explains:

SB1028 by Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Marina del Rey, prohibits anyone within California from using the Internet to hunt animals, and prohibits the establishment of such a hunting range or Web site in the state.

At least one Web site based in Texas has reportedly set up rifles near animal habitats, and connects them to video cameras that allow a hunter to control the rifle and fire a shot.

"Killing animals over the Internet is about as sporting as shooting fish in a barrel and it ought to bother animal lovers and true hunters everywhere," Bowen said in a written statement.

Other new rules:

:: One that allows people to use the Internet to comparison shop between hospitals.

:: New rights for used-car buyers, setting specific standards for calling a used car certified; allowing buyers to return a used car after two days; adding new disclosure requirements for loan terms; and prohibiting dealers from manipulating loan terms to hide the true cost of a purchase.

:: One that authorizes cities and counties to conduct clean needle-exchange programs, without having to first declare a local health emergency.

:: An increase in penalties on drivers who run from police when such chases result in death.

:: A new effort to crack down on human trafficking and slavery, including a new task force and new penalties on activities such as bringing a person into the state for the purposes of forced labor.

2006: Less computer hunting and human trafficking! It's already shaping up to be a good year.

Grand Prize

For all of its revitalization, Downtown L.A. still lacks a central gathering place. Pershing Square? Too much concrete. The Staples Center parking lot? Good for a Lakers victory celebration -- but it doesn't look like we'll be having another one of those in a while. And Skid Row might count -- but only if your name is Brad Renfro.

The L.A. Live development would love to become that hub, but that's like referring to The Grove as Los Angeles' main street. L.A. Live will be a gathering spot in that overly-commercialized, mass consumer sort of way.

That's why a lot is riding on the proposed 16-acre park planned for the strip between Disney Hall and City Hall. Imagined as "L.A.'s front yard," the park -- one part of the Grand Avenue redevelopment -- could be our version of a smaller Central Park or Union Square.

Marty Kaplan, associate dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and director of the Norman Lear Center, recognizes that importance. That's why last July he expressed some concern that a design competition hadn't been included in the park's plans. In conjunction with the L.A. Times, Kaplan's Norman Lear Center launched the "Grand Intervention" campaign, gathering unsolicited ideas from some of the area's brightest in the hopes of stirring up some creativity and public interest in the park.

Kaplan blames the lack of a design competition from a stipulation that the winning developer (New York-based Related Cos.) and the other firms bidding for the project couldn't present design proposals. The park's unusual financing -- in order to redevelop Grand Ave., Related Cos. had to pay $50 million in upfront land-use fees, which will pay for the park -- also played a role.

The L.A. Times' Current section revisited the issue on Sunday, and Marty emailed us to highlight the Grand Intervention website (www.grandintervention.org).

Writes Kaplan in the Sunday paper:

The future of this park offers Los Angeles a signal opportunity to declare — to itself and to the world — what the right balance is between private and public, between commercial and civic, between a civic project that is created from the top down (that is by politicians and powerful developers) and one that grows from the bottom up and is inspired and nurtured by a passionate public.

If we believe that our city is the emblem of 21st century urbanity, then the way we imagine our new frontyard is a statement about what we think city life can and should be. New York's Central Park, Washington's Mall and the great boulevards and parks in many other cities, here and abroad, are not only places to stroll and have fun; they're messages to the world — messages about identity, creativity and ambition.
...
Some of the most dazzling recent park designs, such as the High Line in New York and Downsview in Toronto, have sprung from competitions. There are plenty of ways to run competitions, from invited to open, from local to international. There are ways to write rules that set boundaries on budget, engineering and use. There are ways to build the committees that write competition rules and that choose the winners so that a wide variety of community stakeholders are represented. In Orange County, the process for designing the new Great Park has been a model of balancing competition and civic input with real-world practicality and accountability. There's no reason Los Angeles can't do that just as well.

The riot of ideas this Grand Intervention has already unleashed suggests to me that our city is eager to engage in every aspect of park design and programming — not just during polite, contained and essentially powerless encounters with the developer, but also in the back rooms and the corner offices where decisions get made.

I know, I know: Design isn't democracy. Planning isn't a popularity contest. Creativity doesn't come from consensus. But what's wrong with a little competition?

About 300 concepts have been submitted so far -- some a tad unusual (check out this design for futuristic floating pods) and others more traditional (like this lawn), but all interesting.



Check out the L.A. Times articles here; some ideas of what makes a strong park here; and some sample submissions -- including that way-out-there floating pod idea -- here.

Mayor McCheese

Mayor Sam links to a City News Bureau story posted on the KCBS website about the 1,390 Polaroid photos Mayor Villaraigosa took Thursday with city employees.

The pics were taken in front of the red and gold decorated Christmas tree at the center of City Hall's third-floor rotunda:

For a majority of the city's employees, this was their first encounter with Villaraigosa, who took office July 1.

"This is the first time I'm going to meet him, and it might be my only time until next year," said Amy Navarro, a public works employee for 19 years.

The photo-op tradition started in 1973, when Mayor Tom Bradley took office.

Villaraigosa's staff started taking pictures of the mayor and city employees at 8 a.m., when the line was about 300 people deep down the third floor hallways, and didn't stop until noon.

I'm just shocked that between Mayor Sam, City News Bureau and KCBS (Darleene, I'm looking at you!), none of them came up with the "Mayor McCheese" headline. C'mon, where's the love for ironic usage of a Gen-X era Ronald McDonaldland character?


Speaking of KCBS/2, the station and sister KCAL/9 have now merged websites. Until recently, CBS 2 and KCAL maintained separate but similar-looking sites; now the Columbia Square siblings, who already share virtually everything, share the same site as well.


Coolest feature of the new site: A database of car chases, past and present. Looks like you can kill time just revisiting L.A.'s best pursuits all day long. Thanks, KCBS/KCAL! No, really.

Ambassador Cam, #20

We've got a backlog of new Ambassador destruction shots, taken Friday morning. First up, the latest view from Wilshire:


Ambassador Hotel, 12/23/05, 10:10 a.m.


Closer look of the Cocoanut Grove, now under wraps

But I've expanded the scope, since the view from Wilshire hasn't been changing too much. A few views from Catalina and 7th (on the building's east side), where the latest destruction is more pronounced:









Coming up later this week: More reader submitted photos of the Ambassador pantry, as well as pics from earlier this year of the hotel in its final pre-destruction mode. As always, please feel free to submit any Ambassador photos you have, past or present, and check out our companion Ambassador's Last Stand site.

Blogger Baby Turns One

A year ago this morning, I was sleeping in bed when I heard Maria's voice.

"Hey, Mike!"

"Uhmmmmghmmm... huh?"

"I think my water may have just broke!"

Strangely enough, panic didn't set in. Evan wasn't due for another week -- and Maria wasn't experiencing any contractions. So we calmly both showered, then picked up her maternity bag and headed for Providence St. Joseph's in Burbank.

There, the nurses echoed our calmness, noting that Maria wasn't close to giving birth -- and that they may send us home in an hour or so.

But then the contractions started happening. And quickly gained steam. Yet we couldn't convince the nurse that this was happening -- now.

Finally, another nurse checked in. I don't remember exactly what was said -- but in my memory, it was something to the effect of, "Holy shit, you're having this baby!"

As well as, "Maria, you're going to give birth in about half an hour -- do you still want the epidural?"

Which, again, my memory may be spotty, but Maria's response was something akin to, "F--- yeah, what do you think? Of course I want the f--ing epidural! Like, YESTERDAY, bitch!"

OK, she definitely didn't say that. But I'm sure she was thinking that.

Evan popped out at 4:51 p.m. Our Christmas Eve miracle. And quite honestly, the best Christmas present ever. Not even a video iPod (uh, hint, hint) could beat it.

One year later, it's impossible to put into words how much our lives have changed -- and how much being a parent has gone beyond every imaginable expectation. The best thing ever? That's an understatement. And it's just begun. We love you, Evan. Happy first birthday.

Mele Kalikimaka

I'm betting 103.5 KOST isn't playing these songs. On last night's edition of "Hawaiian Eye" I spent all two hours playing nothing but Christmas music, island style.

Looking for a change from the usual holiday tunes? Head over to Underheard.org right now, and scroll down to the "Hawaiian Eye" portion.

There, you'll be able to stream, download or podcast my mix of choice Hawaiian Christmas music. From slack key to Hawaiian reggae to traditional and contemporary, it's a wide mix. (And yes, there's even Don Ho.)

Tree Inferiority Complex

The Grove's Christmas Tree

The L.A. Times tweaks City Hall for its official Christmas tree -- which is a little on the wimpy side.

Actually, that's an understatement. According to the paper, San Francisco's official tree clears 100 feet; Chicago's, 85 feet. The infamous Rockefeller Center tree in New York tops out at around 74 feet.

Los Angeles? 25 feet -- if that. Sure, we've got the Grove's 100-foot tree -- but that's a shopping mall tree. Where's the civic pride, the paper asks:

Back at Los Angeles City Hall, the official Christmas tree has been living a lonely existence on Spring Street since the lighting ceremony.

Occasionally, someone will clomp up the steps and look at it. Smokers taking a break from City Council meetings can sometimes be seen taking a puff by it...

Remember the Millennium?

On the evening that the calendar turned to 2000, Paris enjoyed a spectacular fireworks show near the Eiffel Tower, London introduced the Millennium Dome along the Thames and New York partied in Times Square.

In Los Angeles, the Hollywood sign glowed in the kind of pastels usually reserved for the Home & Garden Television channel.

It wasn't always this way.

As recently as a few years ago, City Hall underwent a holiday makeover that left the building strung with hundreds of lights. For reasons that remain unclear, the tradition died.

The mayor didn't seem too fazed by the small tree. "We have a $248-million deficit — we thought we'd be prudent," he said Thursday morning. "Next year will be different."

Meanwhile, Orange County's Fashion Island shopping center has everyone beat, with a 115-foot white fir from a Mt. Shasta tree farm.

The So-Called Good Ol' Days

I've finally added Here in Van Nuys (and a few others) to the blogroll at right. Some good reading over there, including this find: A bizarre shot of Panorama City area Ku Klux Klan members in a 1966 parade (above).

Writes the blog's Andrew:

The caption reads, "Ku Klux Klan Parade - Panorama City, Calif. September 15, 1966. Driving in a Dodge truck south on Van Nuys Boulevard just before Roscoe Boulevard. Man on sidewalk spraying KKK members in robes. Photographer and Donor: Ralph Samuels."

One can only imagine the reception they would get today driving along the same route. Something to think about when people reminisce about the "good old days".

Another One Bites the Dust?

In his column today on Amoeba Records, the Hollywood Reporter's Chris Morris hints at another potential change in Los Angeles' fragile indie record store scene: The potential sale of Rhino (the store, not the label) Westwood.

Such a move would come on the heels of Aron's Records' announcement that it was shutting down its store (on Highland):

Perhaps a mile away from Amoeba's sprawling floor, Aron's Records, one of the most popular independent record stores for three decades, is conducting its going-out-of-business sale. Sources also say that Richard Foos, the owner of the 32-year-old Rhino Records store in Westwood, is looking for a buyer for his shop, which never regained its footing after making a move up Westwood Boulevard a few years ago.

Morris quotes Amoeba partner Karen Pearson, who bemoans the lack of any monster release this holiday season. She also hints that Amoeba is looking at some sort of digital offering, to keep up with the times.

Anyone who talks to indie music retailers has heard their end-of-days chatter. Certainly, Pearson has heard it.

"It's a difficult business," she says. "It's an uphill battle. The margins are really small. ... I hope we're not seeing an end to (record retailing) because it's such a part of our culture and our history."

L.A.'s Mass Graves

Sploid -- which these days offers the best compilation of news anywhere -- shines the spotlight on one of Los Angeles' hidden shames: The city's unclaimed dead.

Services were held last week for 1,619 men and women cremated and buried in a mass grave by the Los Angeles Country coroner's office. All of them died in 2001 -- and not one of them was claimed by a loved one for proper burial.

About 10 percent of the corpses were never identified. Some were left because they had no known family and some families were unaware. Most were left by families too broke to be able to afford the cost of a funeral.

Last year's ceremony was for 1,606 unclaimed people. Some years the number exceeds 2,000. The coronoer's office keeps a website with the names of almost 4,000 unclaimed dead.

Los Angeles County cremates unclaimed bodies and keeps the ashes in small plastic bags for four years before the burying them. In lieu of a traditional headstone, the graves are marked with a metal plaque bearing the tracking numbers for each person.

Albert Gaskin is the caretaker for the county's plot at Evergreen Cemetery. He takes solace in what little he's able to offer the dead. "It gives you a thought that you're helping someone less fortunate than you are," he said. "I feel good by helping them."

Speaking of L.A.'s hidden shame, the death of four homeless people Monday on Skid Row stunned many, but Mayor Sam and LAVoice say that's not good enough:

While the council did vote unanimously to set up an ad hoc committee on homelessness to launch a new effort to combat the problem, one has to wonder if this is just yet another chance to put their mugs in front of the cameras. Enough is enough. Every single politician in this city is exploiting the situation for their own gain, and not a single one of them seem to be actually getting anything done towards getting these people the shelter and care that they need.

Maybe rather than touring Skid Row for an hour in their shiny loafers or handing out toys and serving food in front of cameras, they should go there and spend at least an evening and truly feel these people's plight. (Mayor Sam)

+++

This isn't just Jan Perry's problem. It's the entire council's problem, and it'll take more than a few extra foot patrols or a few hundred grand for mental health services to make a dent.

People are coming from as far away as Azusa for the crack, meth and heroin you're letting people sell in this monstrous open market on the streets of your city.

Come on, Eric (Garcetti): show some initiative and call for an all-hands City Council tour of Skid Row. It's time to expand your colleagues' minds. LAVoice.org)

Ho, Ho, No CD

Are they getting a little lazy at KROQ? Fans of KROQ's morning DJs Kevin & Bean are still wondering what happened to the show's annual Christmas CD.

Released annually, with proceeds going to charity, the CD is a KROQ tradition. But the radio station decided to yank it this year. This blog said they talked to a "K&B" producer who said "they were burnt out on the insane amount of work they take. They'll probably be back next year, though."

Bean (real name: Gene Baxter) posted a comment to that blog, and had a different take:

just for the record, i never heard the story from lightning about the cd being too much work. i heard it was cancelled because it doesn't sell as well anymore as it used to and mr. weatherbee did not think we had enough time on the air to promote it properly this year because acoustic christmas is too big.

"Mr. Weatherbee" is actually program director Kevin Weatherly. KROQ also scrapped its annual calendar, another fundraiser.

Original Pantry

As most of you know, the Ambassador Hotel pantry is where Robert F. Kennedy, having just won the California primary, was shot (above, with busboy Juan Romero).

Reader Grant e-mails in a pic he took in late 2001 or early 2002 of the Ambassador Hotel's pantry. He writes:

A couple years ago I managed to get a tour inside the Ambassador Hotel from one of the security guards that were on the grounds 24/7. He took me inside to see the kitchen where Kennedy was shot. He showed me an 'x' on the ground where he said his head was when he fell. I found his story to be a bit fishy for some reason. So I went and did some research and found pictures of the actual pantry where he was shot. I then went back in the hotel with my camera and found the actual pantry. Strangely enough it was barricaded by a plywood wall and was locked up. He let me in and I took this picture. The peach colored doors in the middle of the picture are the doors he came out of from the hallway leading to the ballroom. He was shot right next the the sink, basically where that broom is leaning.

I thought it would be a good one to put up because it shows where Kennedy actually got shot. I think my picture was taken in late 2001 or early 2002.

The other picture I found is a police picture taken after he was shot in 1968. I just did that to compare them.

Keep up the good work with the site!

Grant

The Ambassador Hotel pantry, as photographed four years ago...


...and as it looked in the aftermath of RFK's assassination in 1968.

Coolest Box Set of the Year!

Congrats to Maria, who designed the Rhino box set "One Kiss Leads to Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost and Found." Rolling Stone just named the box its No. 1 reissue of the year -- and I'd like to think it's because of the expertly designed packaging:



Previously on Franklin Avenue:
Dzine Grrl Strikes Again (Sept. 2005)

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like... Well, Not Christmas

Happy First Day of Winter!

Mural Incognito

Before...


...and After

This week's Downtown News shares the frustration of artist Kent Twitchell, whose famous 80-foot-tall "Harbor Freeway Overture" mural along the 110 Freeway (if you've ever driven north on the 110, which I assume you have, you've seen it) is now hidden by fast-growing eucalyptus trees:

"It's a curiosity that that would happen. I kept hearing they were going to fix the trees," said Twitchell.

Completed in 1994, the three-panel mural on the western side of the 7+Fig parking structure depicts 11 larger-than-life musicians from the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), with instruments in hand, and one of the organization's significant donors. It is amongst the most noticeable artworks in Los Angeles, primarily due to its high visibility to northbound drivers on the 110.

Today, however, only the top quarter of it can be seen from the freeway. The rest is behind a veil of dense braches, leaves and bare tree trunks, some reaching to the garage's upper floors.

A question of who's responsible for trimming the trees -- LACO or the garage's owners -- has kept the mural from view. Both sides say a resolution is imminent, and we'll soon see the giant bearded guy and 80-foot tall woman with violin again soon.

Also in the Downtown News: The impending disappearance of Robinsons-May means two Macy's will soon sit down the street from one another.

This time next year, Downtown workers sneaking off to the mall for some lunchtime Christmas shopping might find themselves with a tough choice. Do they go to Macy's? Or Macy's?

The situation is arising because the Robinsons-May at the 7+Fig mall is on the national list of department stores that will be turned into a Macy's come February 2006. The move, if executed, would put that 125,000-square-foot Macy's, at Seventh and Figueroa streets, a short walk from the 266,000-square-foot Macy's West in Macy's Plaza, at 750 W. Seventh St.

Los Angeles: Ad Town

The latest Best Buy commercial features a store employee driving around Los Angeles, as holograms of the Pussycat Dolls pop into and out of the scene. Above, Ms. Best Buy Worker drives through Hollywood (notice the Capitol Records building in the background).

Ambassador Cam, #19

Franklin Avenue reader Theresa sends us another batch of fantastic (and sad) demolition photos, this time shots of the destruction from the west side of the Ambassador Hotel (with the photographer, Theresa, facing east).

Watching the destruction unfold earlier this month, Theresa believes she has spotted the hotel's kitchen. Theresa also toured the building in 2004 and in January 2005, and shares images from inside.









One more shot, this time from the east side (with Theresa facing west, on Catalina):



We've got more great shots coming from Theresa (thanks!) in the next few days.

Food Shack Blues

As expected, the endangered Tail o' the Pup hot dog stand is gone, at least for now, LA Observed reports:

Tail o' the Pup's giant hot dog has been removed and the iconic stand north of Beverly Center is boarded up. Apparently the dog was placed in storage while talks continue over possible relocation to Westwood Village. Tail o' the Pup has been there since 1985, when it moved from La Cienega (where it had been since 1946.) The new owner of the property wants to build a home for gay and lesbian seniors.

At least there's a plan in place to save the Tail. News still appears more bleak for Jay's Jayburger, which has been in limbo since February.

As losanjealous notes (via the pic above), the Jay's building still stands -- albeit, looking worn and graffiti-laden, and without the Jay's logo:

As the development surrounding it nears completion, the once-thriving Jay’s Jayburger shack remains standing, hoping beyond hope to one day again be able to serve up steaming egg-and-chili-topped midnight masterpieces to drunken eastsiders.

Previously on Franklin Avenue:

L.A. Bits (Nov. 2005)
Tail O' The Internet Gossip (Nov. 2005)
Wag the Dog (Nov. 2005)
L.A. Kitchen Confidential (Aug. 2005)
Jayburger Update (March 2005)
Jay Walks (Feb. 2005)

Press Release of the Day: Honeymoon's Over Edition

Memo to Nick Lachey: When brother Drew's couch gets old, you've got a friend in Las Vegas -- at least according to this e-mail I received today:

Dear Michael,

It’s official - Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey are finally on the fast track to divorce. And the Dukes of Hazard starlet is denying spousal support to the former 98 Degrees b-lister…

As the smoke begins to clear, Cheapseats.com of OneTravel Holdings, the fifth largest online travel agency in the country, is offering Lachey an all-expense-paid package to Vegas – including a week’s stay at the legendary “Rain Man Suite” – to try to finally get his “bad boy” tendencies out of his system for good.

“We wanted to give Nick Lachey one last chance to ride on someone else’s dime,” said Will Goldstein, CEO of OneTravel.

For more information about OneTravel, please contact Neil Alumkal at (e-mail address deleted).

Monday Oopsies

This probably escaped most readers of today's Los Angeles Times... but the paper today accidentally re-ran Saturday's color comics on the kids page -- meaning the under-10 set (well, the ones who actually see the paper) had a case of deja vu this morning, as Heathcliff, Marmaduke, the Family Circus brats and the Mutts pets repeated their same gags from two days ago.

More embarrasing, today's Glendale News-Press ran a letter to the editor from a Christian Scientist complaining that his religion was misrepresented by the newspaper -- under the headline Scientology picture created not accurate:



Oops.

Ambassador Cam, #18

Ambassador Hotel, 12/15/05, 10:30 a.m.

They've covered up the windows of the Cocoanut Grove. Perhaps it's best not to witness what's going on inside. (Much of the Grove -- which was already bastardized in the 1970s -- will be rehabbed and reused as part of the new high school being built. I'll be curious to see how they rework it.)

Meanwhile, most of the south wing still stands; I'm assuming we'll see much of it torn down in the coming weeks. Not sure if all of the hotel will be down by the end of the year, as originally planned, but we'll keep you posted.

(For Franklin Avenue's complete coverage of the Ambassador Hotel's final days, check out our companion Ambassador's Last Stand website.)