How I Almost Missed Sunday's Big Eclipse

(Pic taken in Reno by my old Hawaii high school friend Eugene Hopkins.)

This Saturday I flew back to L.A. after a whirlwind of an upfronts week in New York. What was the first thing I did before even heading home? A kids' birthday party for one of Blogger Kid's classmates.

Then, what did I do Sunday? That's right, another kids' birthday party for one of Blogger Kid's classmates.

So you'll have to excuse my idiocy on Sunday at 6:30 when, walking out of Home Depot with more construction supplies for a little home project we're doing, I was taken aback by the strangely dark skies. "Weird sky at the moment. Strangely dark yet light, with no clouds in the sky," I Tweeted.

To which I was immediately reminded: The eclipse. Yep, I had been so out of the loop on everything but TV (I can give you plenty of details on Dan Harmon being fired from "Community") that I hadn't even been paying attention to the eclipse news.

So there you go. We witnessed the big eclipse from the parking lot of the Glendale Home Depot. Could have been worse; I was beginning to suspect an alien invasion. Whew.

Los Angeles As Brazil: L.A. Ad Town

Thanks to Franklin Avenue reader Stuart, who notes that this commercial -- for the Dodge Journey -- supposedly follows the U.S. Women's Soccer Team as they drive to Brazil for a rematch.

But that's no Brazilian stadium in the final shot -- that's the Home Depot Center in Carson!

Home Depot Slinks Away from Atwater Village/Glassell Park

(Flickr pic by Luis Lopez.)

The No Home Depot Coalition fought the big box chain, and won. Home Depot has officially given up its attempts to take over the old abandoned K-Mart store on San Fernando and Fletcher (above). Write the No Home Depot folks:

"Home Depot has reportedly abandoned its efforts to open another store in Fletcher Square at the old Kmart site. Los Angeles Council District 13 released the information that the leasehold on the old Kmart site ( 3150 San Fernando Rd ), which Home Depot purchased several years ago, is up for sale.

This latest update is welcomed news to the No Home Depot Coalition (NHDC); and many community activists in both the Atwater Village and Glassell Park communities who vigorously protested against Home Depot installing a 3rd store on a four mile stretch of San Fernando Road.

The NHDC continues to believe that a Home Depot in this location is contrary to the spirit and intent of the Northeast Community Plan and the recently adopted Fletcher Square Community Design Overlay. With the lease on the site reportedly for sale the NHDC hopes that community efforts will focus on attracting a development that satisfies the community's desires and needs."

The group was particularly bothered by the fact that Home Depot is already a mile or two north and south of the site on San Fernando -- was another one necessary? Others on Curbed LA point out that the declining house market may have as much to do with Home Depot's retreat than the protests.

As for the site, I know the neighborhood has big dreams: One mock-up illustration suggested a Grove-like structure, complete with chains like The Cheesecake Factory.

But there's a big snag to attracting big name retailers: There's a large sex shop right across the street. Not exactly the most family-friendly of spots!