And the 2009 Song of the Summer Is...

Earlier this summer, inspired by Sean Ross' annual column on the song of the summer, I asked you to pick what you think this year's top contender was -- and you chose "When Love Takes Over," by David Guetta and Kelly Rowlands.

Now that the summer is over, Sean has revealed his own pick for song of the summer... and it's probably not a shocker: “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas.

Sean writes:

“Boom Boom Pow” was not just a massive hit but a sonic landmark. It had millions of supporters of all ages and from all quarters, but like “SexyBack” a few summers back, it was also a seemingly unsparing record that redefined what a hit song sounded like. I know a surprising number of people my age who pride themselves on staying current but couldn’t warm up to this one; (and it didn’t fall on the “love Hip-Hop/hate Hip-Hop” axis either, some of them had “Knock You Down” as their favorite summer song). And those are the records that become touchstones in years to come.

Sean notes that "Boom Boom Pow" actually came out in the spring -- and the BEP's "I Gotta Feelin" might have been a more timely choice. But in the end, the sheer weight of "Boom Boom Pow's" popularity and ubiquity pushed it over the top.

Christmas Tree Lighting Attracts Massive Crowd in Atwater Village

More than 1,000 people showed up to usher in the holidays Thursday night in Atwater Village.

The occasion: Atwater Village's 17th annual tree lighting ceremony. Yes, it's big -- and so is the tree, a natural one that sits on a Glendale Blvd. median all year round, waiting for its annual spotlight come December.

Not only is the Atwater Village tree lighting ceremony one of the biggest of any L.A. neighborhoods, but I'm guessing that it's the only one sponsored in part by the Black Eyed Peas. That's right, the group, which records in the neighborhood, was one of several donors who helped make the event possible.

Of course, the event dragged on a little too long for my taste -- light the tree, dammit! But the crowd wasn't just there for the tree; they were also there to catch their children and neighbors from various schools perform. And, perhaps, to feel the Eric Garcetti love.

By the end, Blogger Preschooler was falling asleep, but we managed to prop him up long enough to witness Santa roll in on his fire truck ride. A few more shots: