Correction o' The Day

Sorry beachgoers -- it wasn't quite as warm on Saturday as the Los Angeles Times had you believe. From Sunday's paper:

Wrong temperature: The weather page in Friday's California section listed Saturday's high temperature beaches forecast in the 5-day forecast column as 116 degrees. It should have read 61 degrees.

Eagle Rock Picks Its "American Idol" Contestant

Looks like they're rooting for Ramiele Malubay at the Eagle Rock Plaza. (Ramiele's from Florida, but as you know, Eagle Rock boasts a large Filipino population -- and don't count that big vote out nationwide.)

Yes, I've started watching (hey, it's my job, people). Not sure any contestant has my vote yet, but David Cook's rendition of Chris Cornell's version of "Billie Jean" was the only interesting performance last week.

Ambassador Cam: New School, Coming in 2010

I've actually been meaning to post this for months, but never had the camera handy... so here goes, the recently revised LAUSD poster for "Central LA New Learning Center #1" -- a.k.a. the Ambassador Hotel school.

Remember when the old drawings for the school made it look virtually identical to the Ambassador? Obviously those plans are long gone, as the school is looking much more modern these days. Not that I object -- attempting to create a fake Ambassador facade is pointless; the real building is gone.

Also, as you can see, the opening date has now been pushed back to fall 2010; until recently, the goal date was fall 2009. Again, makes sense, since actual construction has yet to begin.

Meanwhile, you may have noticed the Angels Walk markers that are all over downtown have now made their way to the Mid-Wilshire area. Starting with MacArthur Park, the signs continue west on Wilshire (until at least Western). Below, the Ambassador Hotel marker -- which just missed being installed in front of the actual Ambassador by two years. (LA Observed's Kevin Roderick handles the text; Kevin, of course, wrote the "Wilshire Boulevard" book.)

McDonald's Now Overseeing Air Traffic Control at Bob Hope Airport?

Talk about a McDonald's destined to be on the "to see" list the next time my dad is in town. Located just outside the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, this newly built McDonald's sports two faux airport control towers.

Meanwhile, speaking of McDonald's, big points to the first person who can figure out where this retro McDonald's can be found:

ALOHA FRIDAY RADIO Tonight on KCSN!

Don't forget, Bruddah Mike's spinning the Aloha Friday jams tonight from 9 p.m. to midnight on 88.5 KCSN!

Listen there or over the air live, or check out the blog later to stream it or download it.

And yes, it may seem like the competition was fixed... but Maria did come up with "Aloha Friday" as the show's title... and it makes the most sense. That's what my show's all about -- a way to kick off the weekend with a breezy mix of contemporary and traditional Hawaiian, reggae, surf rockabilly, and other tunes.

Retro Friday: Soft Drink of the Future

Crystal Pepsi! It's a clear cola! It's what they'll be drinking centuries from now... while wondering how their ancestors in the 1990s developed it first. Our future generations will be aghast how we came up with such an advanced formula -- then squandered it.

My Chuckle From Yesterday, Courtesy "Which Way L.A.?"

God bless Warren Olney and his "Which Way L.A.?" program on KCRW. But he had me chuckling yesterday, as the show covered the current L.A. Times/forged documents scandal.

Hearing Olney stumble over the names of the hip-hop artists in question was more than amusing. "Sean DIDDY Cooombs," "Too-PAC SHA-koor," "The No-tor-i-ous BEE-EYE-GEE!" Lovin' it. Clearly not names that normally roll off Warren's tongue.

Here's the show, in case you want to hear for yourself.

Zombies Invade Scoops (But Sorry, No Brains Here)

We get a lot of press releases here at Franklin Avenue, but when one includes those magical words -- "Scoops Ice Cream" -- I gotta take notice.

Rebecca writes to tell us about the film AMERICAN ZOMBIE, which opens
at the Laemmle Sunset 5 today.

The movie, about a group of L.A. zombies struggling to gain human acceptance, hasn't received great reviews. But for Angelenos, the setting alone should be interesting: The film was shot in and around Hollywood, East Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Altadena, the Valley and Downtown.

Now, the Scoops part: In conjunction with the film, the "American Zombie" folk are putting on an art exhibit at Scoops Ice Cream Shop's Gallery. "The Art of American Zombie" runs through April 20; to mark the occasion, Scoops maestro Tai has whipped up a few special flavors. (Nothing brain-related, Rebecca promises.)

The Bloggest Loser Loses

Well, I'm sad to report that the Bloggest Loser has gone the way of most New Years resolutions. It started out strong, but by February started to fizzle out. We held on for a few more weeks beyond that... but now that just about everyone has dropped out, it's time to call it a day.

No one reached their goals, but some folks lost a nice amount of weight. The Bloggest Losers:

Ashley lost 7 pounds, going from 155 to 148.
Bob lost 9 pounds, going from 226 to 217.
Don at one point lost 8 pounds, but put a few back on; last I heard, he was at 228.
Will lost 9 pounds, from 225 to 216.
I lost 7 pounds, from 180 to 173.

The goal, of course, is to not put that weight back on; and ideally, I'd like to keep losing. But I think it's time to shut the door on this year's Bloggest Loser. Until next time, America.

(Logo via BloggestLoser.Blogsome.com)

50 Ways to Celebrate the L.A. Dodgers' 50th

Congrats to my cubical neighbor Jon Weisman, who gets a nice write up in the L.A. Times' Guide section this week. The piece cites 50 different ways to bleed Dodger blue in this 50th year.

Here's what Kevin Bronson and Cindy Bertram wrote about Jon and his Dodger Thoughts site:

As a guy who, at age 10, "wanted to be Vin Scully" when he grew up, native Angeleno Jon Weisman has been synthesizing media reports, analyzing between-the-lines drama and occasionally venting on his Dodger Thoughts blog since 2002. If you're looking for online snark, move on; Weisman and his readers merely exude true-blue passion. dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/

It's been a good few weeks for Jon, who just welcomed Weisman Kid #3 into the world. Everyone's doing fine; Jon says Kids 1 and 2 adore the new entry.

A few more entries from the Dodger piece:

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS

The Dodgers are making quick work of honoring new manager Joe Torre -- his Bobblehead Night is April 25, the first of five doll giveaways for the season. Best of all? Fans vote online for which player will be immortalized in polyresin at the Aug. 12 giveaway.

LISTEN TO VIN AND JAIME

The comforting cadence of Vin Scully -- "The Voice of the Dodgers" -- has provided the soundtrack to summer for 58 seasons. And with Jaime Jarrín helming the team's Spanish-language broadcasts, it gives the Dodgers the distinction of being the only team with two Hall of Fame announcers. KABC-AM (790), KHJ-AM (930) and various TV affiliates.

PRE- OR POSTGAME

Myriad eateries in the Echo Park and Silver Lake areas cater to the ballgame crowds, but our favorites are pregame fare at Taix French Restaurant -- which isn't known so much for its French as its collegial atmosphere -- and a nightcap at the Short Stop, though there can be culture clashes between ball fans and the jukebox-and-photo-booth crowd. Taix, 1911 Sunset Blvd.; Short Stop, 1455 Sunset Blvd.

BEATS A TEXT MESSAGE

Yes, it will set you back $50 to tell your girlfriend you love her, or wish Dad a happy birthday, with a message on the Dodger Stadium Ribbon Board behind first and third base. But proceeds go to the Dodgers Dream Foundation, and you get a 5-by-7 color photo of the message.

OH SAY . . .

Can you see yourself singing the National Anthem to a crowd of 56,000? Submit your rendition on a DVD, CD or video, with a professional bio to: Jane Biondi, Special Events, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles CA 90012

In This Age of Cynicism, Why Are We Still So Naive?

In journalism school, they had a saying -- "If your mother says she loves you, check it out."

Considering we live in an age of cynicism, irony and sarcasm, you'd think it would be harder to pull a fast one on people -- particularly high-powered book editors and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists.

And yet it keeps happening.

A con man named James Sabatino forges some documents, leading the L.A. Times to run a major article linking Sean "Diddy" Combs to a Tupac Shakur shooting. In hindsight, the docs look pretty shoddy and Sabatino's story pretty ridiculous. (Perhaps a Google search of Sabatino's name would have turned up past articles about his scams.)

A few years earlier, it was Dan Rather and his team, as well as the New York Times, snookered by a different set of documents.

Author Margaret Seltzer writes a wild book about growing up in gang culture, a white/Native American woman who's raised by an African-American woman who goes by the name "Big Mama." In hindsight, the story was pretty far-fetched. But a book publisher and plenty of reviewers fell for it.

A few years earlier, it was author James Frey, whose book "A Million Little Pieces" wound up being not so much memoir, but more so much fiction.

Fake intelligence convinced this nation to go to war in Iraq. The list goes on.

It's an interesting question -- what makes us so quick to suspend disbelief in some cases? Are we still hopeful enough to dismiss the notion that someone may be pulling the wool over our eyes? In these uncertain times, are we so looking to find success that we're blind to the red flags that this may not be it? Or, have people always been duped, but it took the Internet age to expose the world's frauds?

MTV's First Look at "The Real World: Hollywood"

From the looks of it, the 20th edition of "The Real World" -- back in L.A. for the first time since season 2, but this time in Hollywood -- will be chock full o' people screaming at each other and punching things.

Actually, that sounds a lot like season 2. Except with more sex and booze, and a lot less attention to actual issues.

"The Real World 20: Hollywood" premieres April 16 at 10 p.m. on MTV.

FRANKLIN AVENUE CONTEST: America's Best Dance Crew Finale

Anyone free? We've got a pair of tix to see the finale of MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew" tonight.

Mario Lopez hosts "Best Dance Crew," while Lil Mama, JC Chasez and Shane Sparks star as judges. Show airs Thursday night at 10 p.m.

Tix are courtesy Fanscape, and will go to the first person who emails us at franklin_avenue(at)yahoo(dot)com and can make it to the show.

Tupac and Lie in L.A.

The Los Angeles Times is apologizing for their recent piece on the 1994 Tupac Shakur shooting. As first uncovered by The Smoking Gun, the L.A. Times story on the Tupac ambush (two years before he was murdered) was based on some forged FBI documents:

A Los Angeles Times story about a brutal 1994 attack on rap superstar Tupac Shakur was partially based on documents that appear to have been fabricated, the reporter and editor responsible for the story said Wednesday.

Reporter Chuck Philips and his supervisor, Deputy Managing Editor Marc Duvoisin, issued statements of apology Wednesday afternoon. The statements came after The Times took withering criticism for the Shakur article, which appeared on latimes.com last week and two days later in the paper's Calendar section.

"In relying on documents that I now believe were fake, I failed to do my job," Philips said in a statement Wednesday. "I'm sorry."

In his statement, Duvoisin added: "We should not have let ourselves be fooled. That we were is as much my fault as Chuck's. I deeply regret that we let our readers down."

Times Editor Russ Stanton announced that the newspaper would launch an internal review of the documents and the reporting surrounding the story.

The documents, as shared by the L.A. Times, claimed that associates of Sean Combs (you know -- Puffy/Puff Daddy/P. Diddy/Diddy) were behind the shooting, which took place in the lobby of a Manhattan recording studio. The docs, and the LAT story, fingered "promoter" James Sabatino to the attacks.

The problem: Sabatino's a con man, who's been known for forging documents and assuming fake identities. What's more, the FBI documents that were the basis of the LAT story weren't found on any FBI database, were typewritten (the FBI has used computers for three decades) and include horrible grammatical errors.

In hindsight, it seems pretty obvious after reading The Smoking Gun that these docs were more than a tad suspect. Sabatino has attempted to inflate himself into a larger-than-life character in the hip-hop world, when the honest truth is he's been mostly incarcerated for various crimes for more than a decade.

There is also a tragic element to Sabatino -- according to the Smoking Gun, his mother abandoned him as a child. Since then, his desperation for attention has led to all of his various crimes.

Meanwhile, in a story first published on the LAT website Wednesday, the paper says it's investigating the story and the truths behind it. Yet, strangely, the lengthy piece didn't mention the reporter, Pulitzer winner Chuck Phillips, for most of Wednesday. The newly rewritten apology, which I assume will run in Thursday's paper, does.

It also looks like the LAT has removed the PDF files of the documents, which had been posted until mid-day Wednesday; but interestingly, the March 18 live chat Phillips held with LAT readers -- in which he discusses the story -- is still online here.

The question remains: What made the LAT lawyers skittish in withholding publication of the story for two days after it first showed up on the website? And what made them decide it was OK to finally pull the trigger? (OK, terrible reference.)

The LAPD's Big Boy Tricycles

Flickr user Discarted, who took the above pics, is aghast at the LAPD's use of these goofy T3 Motions on Hollywood sidewalks.

Discarted asks:

1. Why are our monthly trash fees increasing to $38 when LAPD has the money to buy ridiculous things like big boy tricycles?
2. Why can't these cops patrol Hollywood Blvd on foot(among the people I might add) instead of wasting money on crap like this, and acting all high and mighty 2 feet above us.
3. Why are teachers being let go, but LAPD has the money to buy some big wheels soaked in HGH.
4. How can a GIANT MACHINE like this be allowed on crowded sidewalks, thus, causing even more congestion? For instance, see those baby stroller wheels on the left side of the frame. A woman had to pull her child and stroller out of the way so these 3 wheeled monstrosities could roll by.
5. Do you think these machines actually create even more animosity between the LA people and the LAPD?

As well as 11 more questions. Those look like fun vehicles to ride -- but, as Discarted notes, the LAPD would probably harrass any civilian riding around on sidewalks on such a vehicle.

(H/t to reader Julie for pointing us to the Discarted post.)

Baby, If You Ever Wondered, Wondered What Ever Became of Loni Anderson

I share Will Campbell's disappointment that nope, the Loni Anderson running for Culver City's city council isn't Jennifer from "WKRP in Cincinnati."

(Pic by Will Campbell via Metblogs LA.)

One L.A. Attraction Slowly Disappears; One L.A. Eyesore Is Slowly Dismantled

(Pic credit: Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles Times reports that the ugly parking lot off of 1st and Olive -- you know the one, it's that terrible structure you park in when you go downtown for jury duty -- is finally going away.

When it was built, the Times notes, city leaders complained -- and were promised that it was a temporary parking fix. That was nearly 40 years ago:

Even before it opened in 1969, the "Erector set" parking lot at the corner of 1st and Olive streets downtown was one of Los Angeles' most reviled structures.

Richard G. Mitchell, head of the Community Redevelopment Agency, complained that it was just another monolith of concrete, asphalt and steel atop Bunker Hill. The mass of girders and slabs, perched atop what look like stilts, "fights you," Mitchell said. He predicted it would have a "depressing effect" on downtown.

Robert Bolling, president of the Southern California chapter of the American Institute of Architects, agreed, warning that the structure would have a "deleterious effect on the fabric of the city."

At the time, the 1,062-car structure's saving grace was that it was temporary. Planners promised the "portable parking structure" would be dismantled and moved somewhere else, replaced by a more fitting form of architecture.

(Pic credit: Los Angeles Times)

Meanwhile, the Times also digs into the mystery of the disappearing Echo Park lotus plants. As everyone has noticed in recent years, the plants -- which inspired the park's annual Lotus Festival -- have been dying off at an alarming rate. The paper writes:

Only 30 blossoms appeared in 2007, down from hundreds the year before. Park employees blamed cold weather and drought. When the lotuses bloomed too late for the 2006 festival, cool winter and an extra-hot June were considered the culprits. When the 2004 blooms came early, some cited an extra-hot May.

The lotuses' recent strange behavior remains a mystery, park staff told the Echo Park Advisory Board at its regular meeting Tuesday.

"No one can give you a rational scientific explanation," said board member Isa-Kae Meksin. And their condition this year? "It's too early to tell," Meksin said. The underwater plants don't send up new green shoots until late April or May.

The lotus problem is unrelated to the 13 turtles found dead at the park last year, said Stephen Moe, the park department's water manager.

The lake is scheduled to be drained and cleaned in 2010; park officials hope the removal of contaminants in the water might lead to healthier, more plentiful plants.

The 99 Cents Only Store Shopper

As I mentioned in the past, I love hitting up the 99 Cents Only store for unusual products or flavors that didn't quite work out in the mainstream. An early morning Easter run to the store resulted in these gems:

-- Limited Edition Carnival Flavors Skittles: Cotton Candy, Candy Apple, Bubble Gum, Red Licorice and Green Slushy flavored Skittles! Eat your heart out, Jelly Belly!

-- Mini Robin Eggs Milkshake, Strawberry flavor: From the makers of Whoppers. Malted milk candy, but with an artificial Strawberry finish.

-- Chex Mix, Apple Cinnamon flavor: It's like a breakfast version of the snack mix: Cinnamon Chex, Corn Chex, Apple Cinnamon Walnuts, Cranberries, Apple pieces, and yogurt-covered Chex.

-- Vanilla Creme Hershey's Kisses: Probably the most disappointing of the bunch. Like a Cadbury egg, just smaller.



Now, a bonus shopper tip: Target's line of baked chips, which includes flavors such as curry and Jamaican Jerk (above), are just $2 right now. The Jamaican Jerk is nice, with a kick that doesn't show up until you've scarfed down five or six.

Los Angeles Times Launches A Comic Strip Showdown

With Doonesbury on sabbatical until June, the LA Times is taking the opportunity to test out a few new strips.

First up, for the next month, the comic "Cafe Con Leche" will fill that space. Charlos Gary is behind the strip. Can't say I was too impressed with today's entry, but I'll give it some time. At the very least, it's nice to see the LAT comics pages now sporting quite a bit of diversity.

Another L.A. Radio Shakeup Is On The Way

Expect a format change soon on R&B "V100" 100.3 FM, KRBV-FM -- the station that was once hip-hop "The Beat." Since becoming a more mellow urban AC, the listenership on 100.3 has plunged.

Enter Bonneville, the radio group (owned by the Mormon church) that once had a presence here in L.A., owning outlets such as KBIG-FM 104.3 and country KZLA 93.9. Bonneville is back in L.A. and the new owner of 100.3, in a $137.5 million transaction.

Early rumors have hinted that Bonneville might flip 100.3 FM to a news/talk format. The company has had success with FM news/talk in other markets, including D.C.

If that happens, expect some real shuffling, as pundits believe Clear Channel would be prepared to put KFI on FM, dumping one of its music formats (such as Hot 92.3 or Star 98.7) in the process. Clear Channel would want to protect its news/talk franchise, the scuttlebutt goes -- and the idea of a KFI-FM has been floating around for years.

But the message boards over at Radio-Info wonder if Bonneville will go news/talk, given how saturated L.A. already is with two news stations and countless gabbers.

That's why another rumored format is making the rounds: Country. Would Bonneville bring some twang to the 100.3 frequency? And if so, what would independent owner Saul Levine do with his KKGO-FM 105.1, which flipped to country when KZLA 93.9 dropped the format?

With all this mixing and moving, perhaps there's an opportunity for an underserved radio format to also return to L.A. airwaves. What would you like to see -- a real album-oriented rock station? Dance? Adult alternative?

License Plate of the Day: Mofo, Or TV Movie Fan?

Here's another one that somehow slipped through the DMV radar (are they even paying attention?!):

Either this driver knows he's a bad ass MOFO, or he's a big fan of fictional Movies of the Week.

(Thanks to reader Richard Jarman to sending this. If you spot an interesting vanity plate on the road, snap it -- don't kill yourself in the process, of course -- and send em to the franklin_avenue(at)yahoo(dot)com address.)

Happy Easter!

As I post this, Evan and I actually are watching the entire "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" special on DVD (or, as I mentioned the other day, "the Easter Bagel").

The Easter Bunny hit our home last night and left the BT a small toy plane and some Easter eggs filled with jellybeans. He also left a note.

One of the things that always left me suspicious as a child regarding Santa and the Easter Bunny: Their notes were always written in the EXACT same handwriting as my parents. I still remember how much that bugged me. So last night, I made sure to scrawl the Easter bunny's note with my right hand. Sure, it looks like the scrawlings of a 4 year-old, but no one said the Easter Bunny had good penmanship. (He has no opposable thumbs, after all.)

P.S.: My big problem with "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" are the scenes with Marcie and Peppermint Patty. As we know from years of comics, Marcie is supposed to be the smarter one. Sure, Peppermint Patty has street smarts, but Marcie's no dummy. So why is it Marcie who can't figure out that eggs are meant to be boiled?

FRANKLIN AVENUE CONTEST: LA Jazz Festival

Interested in catching some jazz under the stars this summer? We've got a pair of tickets to see the "LA Jazz and Music Festival" at the Greek on July 26.

Just email the franklin_avenue(at)yahoo(dot)com address. As usual, BT will pick the winner randomly.

Tix are courtesy the Premiere Marquee Club subscription service.

The Greek Theatre and Gibson Amphitheatre are behind the Premiere Marquee Club (PMC) concert series. Members are guaranteed access to seats at every show, as long as they purchase three or more shows from the season launch. (No membership fees; only purchase the shows you want.)

Shows at the venue this year include Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; Crosby Stills & Nash; Erykah Badu with the Roots; and Earth, Wind & Fire with Macy Gray.

"Hawaiian Eye" Moves Tonight!

Don't forget! My weekly musical tour of the islands and beyond moves to its new Friday night time slot TONIGHT!

Tune in to hear which new title made the cut!

With this new primetime slot, I'll be mixing in a bit more surf music and reggae into the Hawaiian mix, to provide a nice island getaway to the weekend. It is Aloha Friday, after all!

TONIGHT -- 9 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT -- 88.5 KCSN (or KCSN.org)!

(And if you're curious about the title and artists, or want to stream or download the show later, go to our Hawaiian Eye blog.)

Schwarzenegger Gets a Tranny

You read that right: The California Transportation Foundation, which declares itself "Dedicated to the Promotion and Recognition of Excellence in California Transportation," hands out annual awards to individuals, organizations and projects that were tops in transportation for the year.

They call it... The TRANNY Award.

Schwarzenegger scored a Tranny for his support in 2006 of Propositions 1A and 1B. Most of the other winners last year were for Northern California projects.

Want your own Tranny? Nominations for the 2008 award were due on March 1. Perhaps "Project Runway" winner Christian Siriano will host.

Fall of the National

As LAObserved reports, the land where Westwood's Mann National theater once stood has been smoothed over. The theater is all gone.

Thepetecom put together a Flickr set of National Theater demolition shots, including the one above.

Can't say I ever saw any masterpieces at the National, but I did love the time warp feel I got when walking inside; I felt like it was 1981 all over again. Movies I did see there included "Private Parts" and one of the "Austin Powers" sequels.

It's always sad to see a large, single-screen movie theater go. RIP, National!

Retro Friday: Nuclear Bombs Are Bad

In this 1980s clip, a general manager for KHJ-TV (now KCAL) goes on a limb in this editorial, arguing that 30,000 nuclear warheads in the U.S. and 20,000 warheads in the Soviet Union are enough.

But stay tuned beyond the KHJ editorial for some more classic L.A. TV: A classic early 1980s Cal Worthington Ford ad, featuring Cal and "his dog Spot." That's followed by a sign-off message for KHJ.

THEN, a cheesy montage of mostly white folk exercising on the beach, set to the tune of Ray Charles' "America the Beautiful."

And Boom Goes The Radio Tower

KFI's hopes of finally erecting a new 684-foot broadcast tower in La Mirada were dashed Tuesday, when it came crashing down. K6RIX.com was there, and took shots of the collapse (above, and below).

KFI has been broadcasting from a temporary stick since 2004, when the station's old 760-foot tower collapsed after a small plane crashed into the tower while trying to land at nearby Fullerton Municipal Airport.

It took several years to get approval for the new tower, but construction finally began on Saturday. According to KFI, the tower had risen to about 250 feet on Tuesday, when it crashed around 2:30 p.m.

K6RIX.com reports that one person was injured, but thankfully most of the damage was confined to the tower:

Nobody was on the tower during this phase of the installation and only one person was hurt when the North/East guy structure gave away. There was some minor damage to a couple of trailers and the top 8' of the gin pole came through a warehouse roof. Other than that, there is just a bundle of steel and ceramic in the parking lot with some damage to the enclosure wall and fence.

K6RIX.com caught a shot of the tower in mid-collapse:

License Plate of the Day: Big Family Edition

Hey, how 'bout them five crazy kids!

The 64 Reasons You Love L.A.: Round Two

And then there were 32. Los Angeles magazine's 64 Greatest Things in L.A. smackdown is in its second bracket of voting, which will continue until March 24. And some good news: executive editor Mary Melton let us know that our fave Langer's is still in the running. A look at some of the match ups:

Disney Hall vs. Getty Center
Amoeba Music vs. In-N-Out
Central Library vs. Langer's
Grauman's Chinese vs. Studio Backlots
MOCA vs. Arclight
Spaceland vs. Trader Joe's
Pink's vs. Union Station
KCRW vs. Hollywood Forever Screenings
The Weather vs. Taco Trucks

The list will continue to narrow into the summer. Head to the LA mag website to vote.

What's With Los Angeles Movie-Goers and End Credits?

(Pic via alvinology.wordpress.com.)

LA Observed guest blogger Ellen Alperstein brings up a uniquely L.A. phenomenon: Unlike the rest of the country, much of L.A.'s movie audiences sit through the closing credits.

It's something I definitely noticed when I moved here. Elsewhere, people dash out the second the first name hits the screen. Here, people patiently wait for the scroll to end. Ellen writes:

In L.A., a movie isn't over at the fadeout; we want to see who was the best boy, who stood in for Julia Roberts and who got the catering gig. For Angelenos, the movie isn't over until the Dolby Sound System logo has appeared, and the house lights have come on.

I used to believe L.A. movie crowds watch the credits with as much interest as the story action because they want to see how many people they know making below-the-line appearances. To recognize names, to claim relationships, is a gauge of professional status in an industry town; it's a competition as much as a curiosity satisfier.

I'm sure that's true for some people, but I'm equally sure that's not the only reason people everywhere linger in the dark while the credits roll.

Take "Atonement," a film with a complicated story that packs a breathtaking emotional punch. Almost from the beginning, the audience is obliged to pay careful attention to the narrative only to be whipsawed into an acutely powerful parallel reality when what we hear, what we see, isn't really what happened, forcing us to experience both extremes of the human passion that informs each version.

I usually want to stay until the end in order to read the soundtrack info. There's usually a song whose title or artist I want to find out. The music credits aren't usually until toward the end.

Plus, these days -- particularly among comedies -- audiences who stay until the end are rewarded with some sort of bonus clip.

It's the Easter Bagel, Blogger Toddler

Ever since we visited the Charles Schulz/Peanuts museum in Santa Rosa last fall, Evan has been a Charlie Brown and Snoopy fan. Having recently watched "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown," the BT has been asking to watch it again. But then, again, he's been asking to see the "Easter Bagel," so he may have something entirely different in mind.

L.A. Conservancy Unveils This Year's Last Remaining Seats Roster

Los Angeles Theatre, photo courtesy Berger/Conser Photography

For those of us who attend the L.A. Conservancy's "Last Remaining Seats" festival for the grand old movie palaces, this year's gonna be a good one. For those of you who attend to check out the classic movies, this year's gonna be a good one too.

The Los Angeles, Million Dollar and Orpheum theaters have all been booked -- and this year, you'll have a chance to check out quite a cool range of films. Here's the release:

LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY ANNOUNCES 2008 SEASON OF LAST REMAINING SEATS

Classic Film and Live Entertainment in the Historic Theatres of Los Angeles Wednesdays at 8 p.m., May 28 – July 2, 2008

LOS ANGELES, March 13 -- The Los Angeles Conservancy has announced the 22nd annual season of its signature series Last Remaining Seats, which presents classic films as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, in movie palaces, surrounded by fellow fans. What began in 1987 as a way to raise awareness of Los Angeles' neglected historic theatres is now a summer tradition, bringing the glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age to thousands of Angelenos.

The 2008 season runs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. from May 28 through July 2 in downtown Los Angeles' Broadway Historic Theatre District. The lineup includes:

-- May 28: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), starring Marilyn Monroe, at the spectacular Los Angeles Theatre (1931)
-- June 4: Mildred Pierce (1945), starring Joan Crawford, at the recently renovated Million Dollar Theatre (1918)
-- June 11: Goldfinger (1964), with Sean Connery as James Bond, at the beautifully restored Orpheum Theatre (1926)
-- June 18: Young Frankenstein (1974), the Mel Brooks comedy starring Gene Wilder, at the Los Angeles Theatre
-- June 25: El rey del barrio (King of the Neighborhood) (1950, in Spanish with English subtitles) at the Million Dollar Theatre, co-presented by the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles
-- July 2: Masters of silent comedy at the Orpheum Theatre, featuring Buster Keaton in The Navigator (1924), plus short films by Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd

See you there!

Rate-A-Restaurant, #164 in a series

(Pic by Steven Pantazis.)

Restaurant: Kushiyu

Location: 18713 Ventura Blvd. (Tarzana)

Type of restaurant: Sushi

They stipulated: Kids are welcome -- hell, half the tables had young ones there, so we weren't too worried about bringing the little guy. Just try to keep them behaved. (The loud sound levels help drown out some of that.)

We stipulated: It was our friend Lizzy's birthday, and she suggested sushi. It just so happened that we would be in West Hills on Sunday, while she was also in the West Valley looking at apartments. As you know, sushi joints dot Ventura Boulevard like coffee shops in Seattle. After a quick glance at the Chowhound and Yelp boards, Kushiyu -- located in a strip mall off Yolanda on Ventura -- seemed like a good pick.

What we ordered: Sushi & kushiyaki plate ($19.50); chicken and veggie plate (we needed this one for Evan; $16.50); special Asian roll, $13.50. Sushi included the basics -- salmon, squid, shrimp, yellowtail, etc. Kushiyaki included chicken meat ball, lotus root, chicken breast w/citrus, fish, asparagus with pork, etc.

High point: Some of L.A.'s best sushi restaurants reside in strip malls. And while this isn't among L.A.'s tops, it's still a fine spot -- and probably one of the better ones in the West Valley. The sushi was fresh without being too fishy (a complaint some Chowhound/Yelp readers gave Kushiya) and the skewered kushiyaki items were a hit with the BT.

Low point: Well, file this under both: You had to specifically order hot tea; in order to save a bit of money, I didn't. Turns out it was free.

Overall impression: Well-designed dining room, and (thankfully) no wait, even though we showed up without a reservation on a busy Sunday night. Big enough that kids are welcome, and their noise blends in; not too big, though, that you get lost in the shuffle. Good service, and most importantly, good sushi and kushiyaki. Always nice to feed three people at a sushi restaurant for $55.

Chance we will go back: Don't know how often we'll make a point to hit sushi in the West Valley... but after reading more raves online over Kushiyu's lemon roll, we may have to make the trip west on the 101.

For a complete list of our over 160 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

License Plate of the Day: Can't We All Just Get Along? Edition

Mr. Prius owner, with the save-the-whales vanity plate, would like us all to co-exist. Peace out.

How the Dodgers Came To Town

(Image via the Los Angeles Public Library collection.)

As the Dodgers celebrate their 50th anniversary in Los Angeles, Bob Timmermann is putting together what promises to be an interesting talk about how Walter O'Malley and the team made it out here from Brooklyn. (H/t to Jon Weisman for pointing this out.)

Bob will conduct the talk on Thursday, April 3, at the Los Angeles Central Library.

He's already been tossing out some interesting tidbits over at The Griddle, such as:

-- Dodger Stadium is not actually in Chavez Ravine, but rather, Chavez Ravine is across the street.

-- The debate over Proposition B, the 1958 referendum that Dodgers owner O'Malley pushed in order to trade his Wrigley Field (in South L.A.) property for the land where Dodger Stadium now sits.

-- What a larger Wrigley Field (the L.A. one) might have looked like.

No Luck of the Irish in New York

Continuing our ongoing coverage of all things Shamrock Shake, loyal Franklin Avenue reader Keith reports from the East Coast that L.A. has N.Y. beat on another important front:

Another reason for you to heart your beloved LA. NY McDonald's don't offer the SHAMROCK SHAKE.

Blimey! You've got several more hours, Angelenos, to enjoy one on St. Paddy's Day.

Me? I tried a Guinness milkshake at 25 Degrees in the Roosevelt Hotel. Yum.

Angelyne for Honorary Hollywood Mayor?

(Flickr pic by Thomas Hawk.)

Who will replace the late Johnny Grant as Honorary Mayor of Hollywood? The unpaid gig basically consists of emceeing Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremonies... and no, you don't get to take over Grant's penthouse suite at the Roosevelt.

According to the LAT's Bob Pool, billboard queen Angelyne has thrown her pink hat into the ring -- which, I suppose, would finally give her actual employment, except, again, the ceremonial position isn't paid.

Pool writes that the other two names being tossed around are "Laugh-In" announcer (and legendary radio DJ) Gary Owens, as well as "Let's Make a Deal" game show host Monty Hall.

Way to keep things hip, young and relevant, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. The LAT writes:

Angelyne is already on the campaign trail. She's promoting her run on her website and has won the support of some members of the Hollywood Political Action Committee, a neighborhood activist group.

Angelyne became locally famous in the early 1980s when billboards featuring her in sexy poses popped up around the city. She became something of a Hollywood icon when images of the billboards appeared in what she describes as "hundreds" of films.

She was one of 135 candidates in the 2003 gubernatorial recall election (she finished 28th).

"I'd definitely promote Hollywood in a much brighter light. It needs more flash -- pink flash," said the buxom blond, who tools around town in a pink 2004 Corvette with the personalized license plate ANGLYNE.

"When people think of Hollywood, they think of Angelyne," she said. "For goodness' sake, I was born for the job. Ceremonial suits me fine. It's way better than a job."

Is it me, or have the Angelyne billboards pretty much disappeared?

Meanwhile, are there really no potential candidates out there to serve as Hollywood ambassador? Any ideas?

Another Political Scandal? Fire Up the Silkscreener

When the Eliot Spitzer/prostitution scandal hit the headlines, I knew the folks at Los Feliz's Y-Que boutique were probably already designing a topical t-shirt.

Ever since they hit it big with their "Free Winona" shirt, Y-Que has reliably come up with a shirt for almost every celeb and political scandal. And the Spitzer scandal was no exception, as you can see above.



Y-Que is also hoping to make a few extra bucks off the potential Microsoft/Yahoo merger, as you can see above.

Of course, there's a short life span to many of Y-Que's designs; the store's writers' strike T-shirt has already been marked down from $16 to $10.

Trader Joe's Bargain of the Week: More Cheap Coffee

Following up on last week's post on cheap-o Trader Joe's coffee: That deal (small 25 cent canisters) may be gone, but here's another great one: $1.99 for a 14-oz can of coffee.

Yup, TJ's is closing out its Winter Blend coffee (which promises some spices on top of the beans). These cans are normally in the $8.99 range... so it's a pretty good bargain. We bought two. Who cares if winter is almost over; I'm a huge fan of buying seasonal stuff out of season at a huge discount.

From Television City to Studio City: CBS Moves

CBS' long-awaited move from Television City -- its West Coast base since 1952 -- to the CBS Studio Center (also known as the "Radford lot") happens at the end of the month.



It's been a long time coming; the network first started circulating drawings of a new CBS building in 2003; ground breaking took place (above, CBS' Leslie Moonves, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and others) in 2005.

I write in Variety:

The new 162,000-square-foot building, which has been housing KCBS and KCAL since last April, will also lodge Eye topper Leslie Moonves' West Coast office. It will be the home base for CBS Paramount TV Network Entertainment Group head Nancy Tellem and CBS Entertainment prexy Nina Tassler.

Much of the CBS Entertainment team will also make the move to the building, although some departments will remain at Television City. Plan is to gradually bring other staffers over in waves.

As for Television City, the historic landmark -- which first opened in 1952 -- isn't in danger of disappearing. Unlike Columbia Square, which went dark after CBS sold the facility and KCBS/KCAL (plus KNX and KCBS-FM) moved out, TV City is still owned by the Eye and will remain an active facility.

In other words, contestants will still be "comin' on down" for "The Price is Right" at TV City for the forseeable future.

By April, Fox becomes the only major broadcast net not located in the San Fernando Valley. NBC Entertainment is also moving this year, from Burbank to the Universal lot.

Blogger Toddler's Take on the Glendale Pancake Wars

Excuse me as I get a little more obnoxious with the BT posts... but he's now at that age where some funny stuff is coming out of his mouth.

Today, we were discussing the best place to get pancakes: Glendale diner The Toasted Bun, or national chain IHOP --which, by the way, is headquartered in Glendale, so I guess either way we're helping the hometown team. (And yes, I know there are better pancakes out there, but in BT's universe, it's a Toasted Bun vs. IHOP world.)

Dad: "So where should we go tomorrow for breakfast? Toasted Bun or IHOP?"

Evan: "Hmmmmm.... IHOP!"

Dad: "Are you sure? You don't like Toasted Bun better?"

Evan: "No, I like IHOP better. They say, 'Look at the cute boy' at Toasted Bun. The ladies there."

Dad: "Wait, then why do you like IHOP better?"

Evan: (Thinks for a beat.) "Yeah, I like the Toasted Bun better."

Retro Friday: They're Magically Delicious

In honor of St. Patrick's Day. Introducing a new, marshmallow-filled cereal: Lucky Charms!

Maria's Thursday Three

1. Starving Artist Mondays at Luna Park: I stumbled on this nice find on a random Monday night out with a friend: The prix fixe dinner offer at Luna Park. For $18 you get a choice of appetizer (I picked the goat cheese fondue with apples and bread), entree (salmon with lentils) and dessert (build-it-yourself smores)-- a pretty good deal, and a nice spot to catch up with an old friend.

2. Sweet Potato Fries of Love: The sweet potato fries are back in the freezer aisles at Trader Joe's! I longingly search for them in the freezer every time I go to TJ's, but the item went missing for a few years. The fries are back! I quickly picked up two bags in my excitement.

3. Top Chef: A promising season premiere, with Bourdain back on the first episode. I'm not sure who I like yet but I always feel bad about the first person to go. One thing for sure, there's a whole lot of swearing going on this season.

Help Rename "Hawaiian Eye"

It's been a long time coming, but "Hawaiian Eye" is finally moving to a more marquee spot on 88.5 KCSN!

Starting next week, I'll be spinning island tunes from 9 p.m. to midnight each Friday night. (You know, "Aloha Friday.") With the potential for more listeners, I'm also going to be throwing in a few more surf and island tunes from other parts of the world as well.

Also, with so many changes, I thought it was time to come up with a broader, more catchy title for the show. So I'm throwing it open to you: What should the show be titled? Should "Island" be in the name? ("Island Style"? "Island Rhythm"? C'mon, let's come up with something better!) Should it be a song title, which could then double as the theme song? (That's why I used "Hawaiian Eye" in the first place -- I used the old TV show theme.)

If I choose your entry, you'll get a cool prize. Not sure what it is yet, but it will be cool. Probably.

Rate-A-Restaurant, #163 in a series

Restaurant: Newcomb's Ranch

Location: Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2), approx. 27 miles north of La Canada Flintridge.

Type of restaurant: American

They stipulated: Newcomb's is known as a popular stop for motorcyclists (who thrill at speeding up the curvy mountains), but is completely family-friendly as well.

We stipulated: As you probably read in an earlier Franklin Avenue post, we headed back up the mountain for another afternoon of snow play. This time, we brought along Maria's brother and his family (including 2 young kids). We had just started to play in the snow when a cranky Blogger Toddler informed us that he was hungry. Newcomb's Ranch is the only restaurant up in the region, so we decided to check it out.



What we ordered: Seared Ahi Tuna sandwich (above) for Mike ($11.95); Hard shell beef taco appetizer (below) for Maria ($6.95); kid's chicken tender meal for Evan ($5.95)



High point: We weren't sure what to expect when we walked in the door, and were pleasantly surprised. Meanwhile, I was pleasantly surprised by the ahi sandwich -- again, I was worried (soon after I ordered, I kicked myself -- how fresh could it be? Who else would order an ahi sandwich up there?! But I did -- and it was nice, seared but perfectly raw in places.

Low point: Maria reports that the tacos were bland, and not that tasty.



Overall impression: Like I wrote earlier, it's a classier, more comforting setting that we imagined it would be. Plus, new chef Gary Foose has put together an interesting menu -- particularly for a restaurant that's 27 miles away from civilization.

Chance we will go back: Yes, and I see that Dallas Raines is forecasting rain this weekend -- and snow above 4000 feet; so who knows, maybe we'll be hitting the mountains again in a few weeks after all. Snow, anyone?

For a complete list of our over 160 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

The St. Francis Dam Tragedy, 80 Years Later

Mulholland inspects the dam's ruins

Will at Metblogs L.A. reminds us that Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of one of the deadliest engineering disasters in this country's history -- and the second biggest loss of life (behind the 1906 San Francisco earthquake) in California history: The St. Francis Dam collapse.

It was just after midnight on March 12, 1928, when the dam (located five miles northeast of what's now Santa Clarita) gave way -- spilling more than 12 billion gallons of water in its path. There's still not an accurate count of how many people were killed -- but it's believed to be as high as 600.

The dam was built in 1926 by William Mulholland, the man who helped birth modern Los Angeles by bringing water to the growing metropolis via the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Will notes:

In the first year after its completion in 1926, the dam hinted at its potential flaws in the form of cracks and leaks that Mulholland would inspect and dismiss as normal for a dam of that size. It was filled to capacity for the first time on March 7 and new cracks and leaks almost immediately appeared, again disregarded by Mulholland. On the morning of March 12 still more fresh cracks and leaks presented and for the last time Mulholland pronounced them normal and the dam entirely safe.

Mulholland's career pretty much ended after that, and he disappeared from public view; he died at age 79 in 1935.

"American Idol's" Leaving Hollywood, Dawg!

L.A. Live's Nokia Theatre has just lurred away another major TV event, but this time from another recent development -- Hollywood and Highland's Kodak Theatre.

"American Idol" announced Wednesday that its two-night finale would be broadcast live this year from the Nokia -- after six years at the Kodak.

Announcement comes just a few days after the TV academy announced that the Emmys were officially leaving the Shrine Auditorium for the Nokia.

Seacrest stalkers, take note: "Idol's" finale will air Tuesday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 21. Fox says more than 7,000 people will squeeze into the Nokia to watch.