Rate-A-Restaurant #306: Proud Bird

Disappointing news this weekend, as it appears that the Proud Bird restaurant, an LAX staple, is set to close on Nov. 21. The Los Angeles Times has the details:

The biggest names in aerospace have sat at the bar here to watch the planes land, people such as Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh and Neil Armstrong.

But the Proud Bird's days may be numbered.

John Tallichet, the current owner and son of the late founder, said it will close Nov. 21, after an unsuccessful two-year effort to negotiate a new lease from the property owners, Los Angeles World Airports.

The city airport commission says it can't help the historic gathering place, saying that federal law, which controls some aspects of airport operations, requires current market value for rents.

Although Boeing Co., Northrop Grumman Corp., the Aerospace Corp. and Raytheon Co. all have major facilities nearby, the industry is much smaller than in its heyday and less able to support the red-meat-and-fish dining room.

Nonetheless, supporters of the restaurant are outraged by the upcoming closure, saying that it would mean the loss of an important piece of Los Angeles' history.

We visited the Proud Bird a while ago, but I never got around to writing a Rate-A-Restaurant review. Better late than never:

Restaurant: Proud Bird

Location: 11022 Aviation Blvd. (LAX)

Type of restaurant: American



We stipulated: A while back when my parents were in town, we decided to do lunch at the Proud Bird (vs. my parents' usual LAX stop at the nearby In N' Out). I knew my dad the Air Force vet and aviation pro would enjoy the environs, and the Blogger Kid would enjoy watching the planes from the window.



They stipulated: "A tribute to the evolution of modern aviation, The Proud Bird Restaurant is located right next to one of Los Angeles International Airport's (LAX) approach runways, affording diners a one-of-a-kind, front-row view of airplanes coming in for a landing." Also: "As a tenant of the Los Angeles Department of Airports, the Proud Bird is governed by the Living Wage Ordinance of the City of Los Angeles. In order to assist us in honoring the Living Wage Ordinance, and in lieu of raising menu prices, we assess a 15% fee on all sales. None of this fee is paid as a gratuity to employees. We invite you to leave a gratuity separately. Your understanding and continued patronage is greatly appreciated."



What we ordered: Beer battered fish and chips (Tartar sauce, french fries, malt vinegar) $12; French picnic (Choice of soup or salad, served with a half Turkey & Avocado Club) $10; Prime rib sandwich (Carved to order prime rib on a toasted French baguette, served au jus and creamy horseradish) $13



High point: The views, naturally. Plus, the inside of the Proud Bird is an aviation museum of sorts. It's a shame that all of this stuff may disappear from public view.

Low point: Nothing all that interesting food-wise here -- the lunch entrees are pretty basic.



Overall impression: A unique spot and a trip back to the golden age of aviation and Los Angeles' aerospace industry.



Will we return: Looks like that may be impossible, unfortunately.

Plenty to Do This Weekend: Free Art and Museum Events Across Los Angeles

Like art and culture? More importantly, do you like free art and culture events? This weekend is for you. Here's a roundup of some great stuff going on this weekend. There is NO excuse to stay home. Highlights:

The Eighth Annual Frogtown Artwalk (4-10pm, Sep., 28, 2013, Elysian Valley along Blake Avenue, 90039)

A celebration of the creativity and talent flourishing in the industrial buildings of this working class neighborhood along the LA River, the Frogtown Artwalk has drawn thousands of guests and each year keeps evolving.

Visitors can stroll the newly paved river bike/walking path from studio to studio as they wander into artists’ studios, manufacturing sites occupied by furniture and drum-makers, and through a series of impromptu galleries that temporarily transform local businesses into art venues. Movie projections will illuminate trees on the river path as they point the way into the Frogtown Artwalk’s studios and events.

New to the Artwalk this year is a “River Pavilion” with information on on-going L.A. River revitalization efforts as well as a youth art show that depict interpretations on the theme of “River Ecology.” Artist Leo Limon, creator of the iconic “L.A. River Cats,” will give a presentation on public art at the River Pavilion; his paintings will be displayed at the nearby RAC Design Building.

Musical performances will permeate the Frogtown Artwalk which will feature bands playing at three locations. Scheduled to perform are: The Lonely Wild, Jessica Fichot, Tommy Santee Claws, The Black Watch, The Furious Seasons, The Vintage 45, Joseph Sings a Song, Don't Forget Your Shoes

Families will find plenty to do at the Frogtown Artwalk. Kids can sign up to be in a hula-hoop contest (6-8 p.m.), create their own masterpieces on the Chalk Walk, and enjoy a shadow puppet show from Lynn Jeffries.

This year, the Frogtown Artwalk will feature text and the written word. Bookshow LA, a new, used and vintage book store in the area, will host a spontaneous poetry event by “Typewriter Poetry” as well as displays of altered books created by local artisans.

Some of the returning artists to the Frogtown Artwork include artist/photographer Bill Lagattuta, painter Mary-Austin Klein, drum-maker Pat Bylard, wood-maker Emette Rivera and furniture-maker Donna Pungprechewacht of reMADE Studios. Artist Jim Piatt will again be showcasing more of his provocative conceptual art pieces in his recently remodeled gallery/studio. Kohne Kenny will also be displaying her distinctive urban paintings on found objects.

LAX Art Walk and "Everywhere Nowhere" (Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29)

For the first time, the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Art Program will present an original performance work at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), entitled Everywhere Nowhere. Directed and choreographed by Sarah Elgart, with an original score composed by Yuval Ron, Everywhere Nowhere is a site-specific, multi-sensory spectacle of movement, media, and color. It was commissioned as part of the Influx: Art at LAX, an ongoing public art festival featuring the work of 45 Los Angeles-based artists and 11 original, site-specific installations located throughout LAX. Prior to the performance of Everywhere Nowhere, LAX is hosting its first-ever Art Walk, inviting the public to take self-guided tours of the various Influx installations located in the airport’s public spaces.

Influx Art Walk: Maps for self-guided tours will be available at the Art Walk Welcome Table at the Terminal 1 Arrivals level, as well as online. Influx installations are located throughout LAX. Self-guided tours of Influx take place 5 – 7 p.m.

Everywhere Nowhere performance: the outdoor courtyard located on the Arrivals level in between Terminals 1 and 2 at LAX. Live performance takes place 7:30 – 9 p.m.

GLOW Santa Monica (Saturday, Sept. 28, 7pm-3am)

Glow returns to Santa Monica this Saturday, September 28 from 7pm to 3am, with 15 artists from around the globe showcasing an incredible array of original works on the beach.

LA-based artist Steve Boyer will be launching the interactive art experience Colorfields, which will unite the masses gathered on the sand for a wondrous experience with color, light and sound via the device that often separates us – our cell phones. While it will be ongoing throughout the evening, he is encouraging attendees to gather at 10pm to put his technologically-driven display to the test. The participatory art experience will be centered at a location south of the pier on the beach in front of the Sea Castle apartments, between Loews and Shutters hotels.

Participants will need to download a special smartphone app, which is available now for both iPhone and Android devices. As visitors move from location to location within the Colorfield zone, the app synchronizes locational information via GPS and the colors and sounds on their cell phones will change. A large video projection will display the full field of users on the side of the Wyndham Hotel.

Watch a video from 2010's Glow:

Museum Day Live! (Saturday, Sept. 28)

In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission everyday, Museum Day Live! is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket... for free. Go here for a list of museums participating; in L.A., that includes the Autry, the Petersen Automotive Museum and many more.

Whew. You've got a busy weekend ahead of you. Get moving!

Christopher Hawthorne: Los Angeles' Architectural And Urban-Planning Failures

Pershing Square in more glorious times

L.A. Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne nailed it in Sunday's paper: Although Los Angeles is home to some fantastic architecture and civic innovations, those things are overshadowed by all the things that we've gotten wrong. "Los Angeles has become as well known for its high-profile architectural and urban-planning failures — for the buildings, institutions and public spaces we can't seem to get right — as for its innovations or breakthroughs," he writes.

L.A.'s civic mistakes are legion and noticeable from the moment you fly into the city and walk through our tragically horrendous international airport. LAX is an embarrassing travesty. As is our river. And a lot more.

A few choice excerpts from his must-read piece:

As a gateway to the city, Los Angeles International Airport could hardly be more dispiriting. A jumble of mismatched, outdated terminals, LAX gives visitors a resounding first impression of civic dysfunction.

The city, which owns the airport, has tried several times to remake LAX. The latest attempt is a master plan by Fentress Architects, which is also designing the nearly $2-billion Tom Bradley International Terminal.

But the truth is that the airport's biggest liability is not simply architectural. Somehow Los Angeles built a major rail route, the Green Line, past LAX 20 years ago without adding a stop at the airport.

And guess what? We are about to build another light-rail route — this time the $1.7-billion Crenshaw Line — near the airport and make precisely the same mistake again.

[snip]

Since 32 of the river's 51 miles are within the L.A. city limits, the mayor has a powerful say over its future. The goal should not be to take the river back to some idyllic, preindustrial past. Instead we should look for a few places where we can crack open its hard shell and interact with it in new ways.

A number of intriguing ideas have already emerged, building on advocacy by the Friends of the Los Angeles River and a master plan the City Council adopted in 2007. Among the most promising is a proposal by landscape architect Mia Lehrer and three architecture firms for the so-called Piggyback Yard, a 125-acre site across the river from Union Station.

It would add walking and biking paths along newly green riverbanks, as well as a park with soccer fields and a botanical garden. It would also act as a powerful pilot project, helping the public see the river's larger potential.

Pushing landowner Union Pacific to sell or make the site available to the city should be high on the next mayor's agenda.

[snip]

No such defense can be made of the city's repeated missteps at Pershing Square. The 5-acre park in the heart of downtown is manageably small and self-contained. It is also a perfectly depressing symbol of L.A.'s neglected public realm.

The square was once the most vibrant public space in Los Angeles. The decision to build a parking garage beneath it in the 1950s added entry and exit ramps that cut the square off from the sidewalks around it. A 1993 redesign somehow made that sense of disconnection worse.

Now entertainment giant AEG, the company that brought us L.A. Live, owns the Staples Center and wants to build a pro football stadium downtown, has pledged $700,000 in seed money to reimagine Pershing Square. City Councilmember Jose Huizar, who represents much of downtown, has said that when it comes to a redesign, "everything is on the table."

Here's one thing that shouldn't be: AEG's direct involvement in the revamp, given its track record of sleekly generic architecture and design.

Hawthorne also discusses the frustration of how we're still struggling to build a subway to the sea. And he chastizes the city for spending so much time, money and energy on a flawed attempt to turn Grand Avenue into something it's not.

More Kardashian For Your Flight, As E! News Comes to LAX

Looking for a way to bring a little more Kardashian to your plane ride? An "E! News"-branded store is about to open in LAX's Terminal 8:

The 2,100 square-foot newsstand is one of the largest in the airport and will feature a variety of products, from snacks, beverages and travel supplies to exclusive E!-branded merchandise.

The E! News store at LAX will be a must-visit destination for fans flying to and from Los Angeles and will reflect the look and feel of the city from the merchandise to the decor. The interior of the store will feature images of iconic Southern California landmarks and destinations, as well as boulevards lined with towering palms, the glittering lights of the Los Angeles skyline at dusk, and the golden beaches of Malibu. While travelers browse the store late-breaking entertainment and pop culture news direct from E! News will be broadcast on large plasma screens throughout the store, ensuring that fans don’t miss a minute of the information they crave.

LAX... Now With More Seacrest.

Retro Friday: LAX Circa 1970

LAX, the most exciting airport in the world? You sure can't say that now. But in 1970, when this promotional film was shot, you could make a case. Enjoy.

Retro Friday: The 1960s-Era Proposed LAX/Santa Monica Island

It seems like quite a leap to imagine L.A. actually pulling something this ambitious off. But even back in the 1960s, the folks behind the Los Angeles International Airport knew that LAX needed to expand to accommodate the huge increase in air passengers. That's where this idea came from: A new man-made island off the coast, connected by bridge and subway, that would continue LAX plus house a full community.

Someone at Reddit L.A. found these images the other day while looking through the Los Angeles Public Library's amazing photo archive collection.

Here are the details, direct from the photo caption:

Drawing of a combined Los Angeles International Airport. Drawing shows a new Santa Monica Island with a subway connecting to the aiports (bottom) and a causeway, bridges and subway at the top of drawing. The island will have provisions for the SST, with 2-15,000 ft. runways. The island will also have its own commercial area, hotels, art center, trade center and office building, apartments, parks and beaches, an aerospace university and a sports center. Drawn by architect R. Donald Jaye. Photo dated: March 12, 1968.

And here's an architectural rendering:



Others have found these drawings as well; here are takes on the Santa Monica Island That Wasn't via Skyscraper City; Examiner and the LA Weekly.

I can never get enough of these depictions of proposed redesigned L.A. city plans that never got off the ground. Past posts:

What Could Have Been (and Thankfully Wasn't): The Doomed Ambassador International Project

Failed Civic Center Plans Through the Years

What Could Have Been: L.A. Civic Center, Circa 1933

24 Hours Over LAX

Cool video via Airboyd.TV, which posted animation of real airplane traffic traveling in and out of Los Angeles International Airport. Notice how it's busy nonstop, then slows down slightly in the middle of the night, before getting out of control in the morning.

Here's some of what Airboyd writes:

Los Angeles LAX is the fourth busiest airport (2009) in the world by by traffic movements and a major gateway to Asia, Hawaii, and the South Pacific. Many major U.S. airlines, such as American, Continental, United, and Alaska, use LAX as a hub.

Three major traffic routes are visible in the animation. The southern corridor consists of flights to Phoenix, Dallas, Houston and Florida.

The middle corridor runs from Denver to Chicago and on to the northeast. The Pacific coast corridor connects LA to San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.

Compared to other airports, LAX remains busy throughout the night.

For a follow-up, checkout this 24 Hour of World Flight video.

Scenes From An Airport: No, This Isn't Denver

From a few weeks ago, here's the view from the south side of the Los Angeles International Airport tarmac -- standing outside the Flight Path Museum and looking north.

With such a clear view of the snow-capped mountains in the distance, you're excused for thinking this shot was taken at the Denver or Salt Lake City airports. But nope, it's straight from sunny Los Angeles.

It May Be One of the Country's Worst Airports, But At Least LAX Has a Song

You may remember our November 2009 post on the Flight Path Learning Center and Museum -- located right on the LAX flight path. (Check out their official website here.)

It's still one of the best-kept secrets about LAX -- a completely free museum complete with tons of memorabilia from the jet age and before. We first discovered the museum during the L.A. Conservancy's "It's a Mod, Mod, Mod World" tour of the South Bay's 1960s-era architecture, and vowed to come back.

Because my parents were in town this week, it was time to once again visit the museum. (My dad, after all, has spent his entire career around the world of aviation and flight.)

We were pretty much the only people in the museum when we visited on Tuesday -- and as a result, the staff lavished plenty of attention on us. They sat us down to watch a propaganda video about how great LAX is (slightly outdated, however, as it also touted Palmdale as an airport of the future). What also stood out, however, was the revelation that LAX is the only airport to have a hit song named after it.

I had never heard the song before, but apparently Country singer Susan Raye scored a minor hit in the 1970s with "Los Angeles International Airport."

A protege of Buck Owens, Raye appeared for several years on "Hee Haw." Wikipedia has more:

Her biggest year as a solo artist came in 1971, when she issued three consecutive Top Ten hits — "L.A. International Airport," "Pitty, Pitty, Patter," and "(I've Got A) Happy Heart." The title track of 1972's My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own also reached the Top Ten. Although not her biggest hit, "L.A. International Airport" became Raye's signature song, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Country Chart and a minor hit on the Billboard Pop Top 100, peaking at #54.

Raye dropped out of the business in the 1980s.

As for the museum, I summed it up a few months ago:

Everything from 1960s-era flight attendant outfits, to old airline seats, to an actual old DC-3 plane are a part of the museum. I was especially intrigued by all of the items saved from long-lost airlines like Pan Am, Western, Air California and many more.

The museum building originally served as an operation facility for Northrop Aircraft Corporation from 1951 to 1965; it then became a terminal for charter flights and foreign carriers that didn't have regularly scheduled service. MGM Grand Air took the building over in 1987, until it went out of business. The building was empty until the museum -- a joint venture between the Los Angeles World Airports and the Flight Path Learning Center of Southern California -- was founded.

And you gotta love free. The Flight Path Learning Center is located in the LAX Imperial Terminal, located at 6661 W. Imperial Highway, Los Angeles on the south side of the airport. It's open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Border Grill Makes a Push To Get Into LAX

LAX continues to be a culinary wasteland -- particularly in some terminals. The Border Grill gals want to change that.

The restaurant has launched a campaign to try and persuade airport commissioners to allow an outpost of the Border Grill at LAX.

Here's a note from chef/owners Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger:

Wouldn't it be great to have the delicious Mexican food of Border Grill at the Los Angeles International Airport?

With a Border Margarita and a Yucatan Pork Taco, suddenly getting to the airport two hours early isn't that bad. Grab a Carne Asada Quesadilla to go, and you'll never go
hungry on a flight again.

For over 25 years, Border Grill has been shaping the food culture in Los Angeles. Now we're so excited at the possibility of showcasing Border Grill to the world at LAX. More importantly, we would love to share our food, flavors, and fun with you
when you're at the airport.

Yes, please. Go here for more info.

SPEAKING OF Feniger, she has signed on to compete in the next edition of Bravo's "Top Chef Masters." Here are the L.A.-based contestants for the competition, which returns for season two on April 7:

Govind Armstrong - 8 oz Burger Bar, Los Angeles, Calif.
Susan Feniger - Street, Los Angeles, Calif.
Ludo Lefebvre - Ludo Bites, Los Angeles, Calif.
Mark Peel - Campanile, Los Angeles, Calif.

Lefebvre and Peel return from season one.

Words Of Wisdom at LAX, By Tiger Woods

Looks like Accenture, now attempting to scrub Tiger Woods from its world, has so far missed this ad at LAX.

Perhaps Tiger could take heed to his own advice: "It's what you do next that counts."

(Pic by Matt Rice)

More from "It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod City": The Flight Path Learning Center and Museum

Talk about a well-kept secret, a nice little gem of an aviation museum. The Flight Path Learning Center and Museum, actually located on the LAX flight path (hence the name), boasts quite a nice collection of memorabilia from the golden age of flying. 

Everything from 1960s-era flight attendant outfits, to old airline seats, to an actual old DC-3 plane are a part of the museum. I was especially intrigued by all of the items saved from long-lost airlines like Pan Am, Western, Air California and many more. 

The museum also includes a research library and a flight simulation center.


(The view from the flight path.)

The Flight Path Learning Center and Museum was a part of the Los Angeles Conservancy's It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod City tour on Sunday, in which participants got a close-up view of several 1960s-era modern buildings.



The museum building originally served as an operation facility for Northrop Aircraft Corporation from 1951 to 1965; it then became a terminal for charter flights and foreign carriers that didn't have regularly scheduled service. MGM Grand Air took the building over in 1987, until it went out of business. The building was empty until the museum -- a joint venture between the Los Angeles World Airports and the Flight Path Learning Center of Southern California -- was founded.



The DC-3 on display began in the 1930s as part of TWA's fleet. Later, it became a private plane for the executives of the Union Oil company. The plane ended its run in the early 1980s.

Groovy interiors!

The Flight Path Learning Center is located in the LAX Imperial Terminal, located at 6661 W. Imperial Highway, Los Angeles on the south side of the airport.

It's a great deal: admission and parking are free. The aviation museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod Sixties Sunday in Los Angeles

Talk about a coincidence: AMC ran the season finale of 1960s-set "Mad Men" on Sunday, on the same day we spent several hours traveling back in time to experience some of Los Angeles' and the South Bay's 1960s-era architecture.

It's the 50th anniversary of the modern architectural revolution of the 1960s, and the Los Angeles Conservancy (along with its Modern Committee) is celebrating with a year's worth of events. That included "It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod City," Sunday's all-day driving tour of some memorable architecture in L.A.

Similar to the Conservancy's 2005 driving tour of Wilshire (see our coverage of that event here), "Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod City" included a booklet of 37 buildings and sites in the area for drivers to check out on their own. Six of those sites included docents and guided tours:

The Proud Bird Restaurant (11022 Aviation Blvd., Westchester)

Flight Path Learning Center and Museum (6661 W. Imperial Hwy., Westchester)

Theme Building at LAX (In the middle of LAX)

Otis College of Art and Design (9045 Lincoln Blvd., Westchester)

St. Jerome Catholic Church (5580 Thornburn St., Westchester)

Northrop Grumman Space Park (Redondo Beach)

The Blogger Preschooler joined me -- much like he did, back when he wasn't even quite 1 years old, for the Wilshire event in 2005. This time around, he's nearly five -- and was obviously much more interested in what was going on. That's why I was glad that we hit the Theme Building first.

The famed space age-style building, which has inspired everything from the Jetsons to the stage for U2's new tour, was itself inspired by the 1953 film "War of the Worlds." Built in 1961, the Theme Building is now home to Encounter restaurant -- as well as an observation deck that has been closed since 9/11. (It opened to tour participants on Sunday for the first time in years.)

The Theme Building has been undergoing renovation ever since a 1,000 pound chunk of its stucco fell to the ground a few years ago. As the fix went on, the airport realized that the aging building needed more than just a little rehab.

These rust stains came directly from the soda machines at Encounter, which dripped enough fluid that it caused this. Mmm... a reminder that if soda can trigger massive rust, then it must be doing a number on your body.






LAX's star burst street lights.

More on the other stops -- including the very cool (but little-known) Flight Path Learning Center and Museum -- in upcoming posts.

Southern California's Ghost Airport Terminals

San Bernardino's terminal sits empty.

They sit there, ready for commercial airline service -- and the passengers that come with it. They're Southern California's Ghost Airport Terminals.

The two biggest are probably the San Bernardino International Airport and the Palmdale Regional Airport.



San Bernardino exists on land that formerly was a part of the now-closed Norton Air Force Base. The airport has been looking for an airline tenant, but has so far come up short. It nonetheless has built a new (and as of now, empty) passenger terminal (pics above and below) and is regularly used for film shoots ("X-Files," "The Fast and the Furious," "Terminator 3," "The Aviator").





From the airport's website:

The San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) allows for Stage 2 aircraft and has over 60,000 annual flight operations comprised mainly of charter, corporate and general aviation users. The Airport has recently completed a redesigned Passenger Terminal Facility in anticipation of future passenger airlines services. For scheduled and charter aircraft, or for more information regarding new charter or passenger flights, please contact the Airport at (909) 382-4100.

(Flickr pic by MECU.)

And then there's the sad case of the Palmdale airport. Los Angeles World Airports once upon a time harbored big plans to build a new international airport on this land, but nothing ever came of it beyond the small terminal (above) that is on leased Air Force land ("Plant 42").

The airport agency offered subsidies for United to fly a few planes from Palmdale to San Francisco. But once that money ran out last year, United bolted -- and Palmdale Airport, which has seen its passenger service ebb and flow, was once again without a tenant.

LAWA has even gone one step further and surrendered its federal certification to operate Palmdale Regional Airport as a commercial facility.

From the L.A. Times:

Mike Molina, an L.A. World Airports spokesman, said that maintaining the certificate no longer makes sense given the economic recession and the difficulty developing air service in the high-desert city, where eight airlines have come and gone since 1971. United departed Dec. 7 after operating at Palmdale for 18 months.

Should the opportunity arise to provide air service in the future, Molina said, Los Angeles World Airports can easily reapply to the Federal Aviation Administration for permission to operate at Palmdale. The FAA requires that certain conditions be met before a certificate is granted, such as runway inspections, adequate staffing and emergency preparedness plans.


Because a substantial effort has been made to develop Palmdale airport, L.A. World Airports officials contend that pulling out of the airport for now will not violate a 2005 court settlement that requires the agency to pursue a policy of regionalism -- spreading the growth in air travel to airports across Southern California to relieve congestion at LAX.

Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said the loss of certification should not interfere with the city's plans to take over the agency's leases with the U.S. Air Force and assume responsibility for attracting carriers to the airport. The terminal, the parking lot and aprons sit on 60 acres of Air Force property.

Wednesday Poll: Sick of LAX? Vote for Your Favorite L.A.-Area Airport

Retro Friday: Flying to 1950s Los Angeles

Ahh, the joys of travel during the golden age of air flight. Here's a 1952 film, produced by TWA, that follows a flight to Los Angeles -- and a group of dapper folks enjoying the West Coast. Check out the weird subtext as actor Richard Carlson invites a newlywed couple to his house -- and, with his wife, gets all touchy feely. with them.

According to video commenters, plane seen here is the TWA L1049A Super Constellation; this flight flew from Chicago Midway airport to LAX.

Rate-A-Restaurant #195: Pann's

Restaurant: Pann's

Location: 6710 LaTijera Blvd. (Ladera Heights)

Type of restaurant: Diner



We stipulated: After a quick trip to see my family -- and celebrate my Dad's 60th -- I flew back into LAX on the Monday morning following Christmas. Maria and Blogger Preschooler were there to pick me up -- and our thoughts immediately turned to a late breakfast. I've been wanting to try Pann's for years -- having passed by it on past trips to the airport. I pushed hard -- but it didn't take much to convince the BP, once I mentioned pancakes.



They stipulated: Besides its Googie architecture, Pann's is known for its biscuits. Baked fresh every 15 minutes, the biscuits -- named the best in L.A. last year by Los Angeles Magazine -- are popular enough that Pann's is starting to sell them throughout the day.



What we ordered: Fried chicken wings (4) with biscuits, $9.95; "Good Morning Special": Two Extra Large Fresh Ranch Eggs, with three bacon strips and biscuits, $8.15; kids' pancakes.

High point: The biscuits were, indeed, pretty damn good. The people -- both the employees and the other patrons -- were friendly. And the Googie style building cool inside.

Low point: The place was so packed -- it was the holiday week, after all -- that we settled for the covered patio seating. So we didn't quite get the full experience.



Overall impression: When it comes to classic diners, this is the real deal. It's not cheesy, or living in the past. It's a living, breathing diner with a large menu and an active clientele. That's exciting.



Chance we'll go back: We don't make it out to that part of town too often, so there'd have to be a reason. Future LAX run?



For a complete list of our more than 190 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.

FlyAway For a Few Bucks More

Our favorite way to hit LAX -- when we don't feel like plopping down $10/day (if we're lucky) for parking or $65 for a taxi (don't even mention the SuperShuttle, too many bad experiences) -- has become the FlyAway bus at Union Station.

According to Zach Behrens over at LAist, that's about to get a tad more pricey:

LA Board of Airport Commissioners today were scheduled to vote on increasing FlyAway fares a couple of dollars. Citing rising fuel costs, Van Nuys and Union Station routes increased from $4 to $6 and Westwood from $4 to $5 beginning Jan. 1, 2009. The board also voted a new discount fare of $4 for persons age 65 or over, disabled, or on Medicare (proof must be shown).

Hey, it's still an economic alternative (just make sure someone drops you off at the station, or if you're lucky enough to be Gold or Red Line adjacent, you know what to do -- or suddenly it's a lot less economic). For Blogger Preschooler, the bus ride is just as exciting (if not more so) than the plane ride. For me, it's a chance to get a great glimpse of the city from a high vantage point on the 110, something I can't normally do while driving.

Maria's Thursday Three

Shell, Glendale, 1927. Photograph by Edward Weston. (From huntington.org.)

1. Must See: A tribute to the work of world-renowned photographer Edward Weston at the Glendale Central Library next Thursday, September 27, at 7 pm. There will be a film about Weston's life and work and this event, sponsored by the Glendale Historical Society and the Friends of the Glendale Public Library, is free. The Glendale connection? Weston opened his first photography studio on Brand Boulevard in 1911.

2. The Hollywood Bowl, still a really good thing to do in Los Angeles. You don't even need to get the pricier box seats, it's pretty fun in the nosebleed section. Bring a great picnic, some wine and don't forget dessert. With the stars above and the performance below, I still marvel at the experience everytime I'm there. Too bad Mike is hatin' on Rufus.

3. We recently tried the Flyaway Bus from Union Station to LAX and the ride went pretty smooth as a good alternative way to get to the airport. Just don't stand in the wrong area at LAX when you're trying to catch it back to Union Station 'cause you'll be very sad when it ignores you... waiting there for a half-hour... with your bags... and a toddler who was a good sport about it. So sad. Also, please note that the buses are located at the very back of Union Station so have your friend or the taxi drop you off there instead of you having to lug everything back there.

Superjumbo Makes a Super Splash

The mega-sized Airbus A380 -- the largest passenger airliner in the world (beating out the Boeing 747) -- makes its inaugural landing in Los Angeles on Monday morning.

So far no U.S. passenger carrier has purchased the plane, which can hold 555 passengers -- or, holy crap, 853 people, if entirely in economy class mode.

Qantas is conducting the test, in conjunction with LA World Airports and Airbus, to "test airport function and compatibility in anticipation of Qantas' A380 passenger service at LAX, which is scheduled to begin in 2008," according to this press release.

The landing will take place Monday at 9:30 a.m. on Runway 24R; another A380 is also slated to land at JFK in New York the same day.

Will Campbell writes at blogging.la that he plans to wing it over to LAX on Monday morning to witness the A380's U.S. debut:

I'm usually not one to get all ga-ga over stuff like this, but in this case I'm actually uber-goober enough to plan on being stationed on a small knoll along Sepulveda, the better for the thing to pass a hundred feet or so directly over my head on its way to landing on Runway 24R...

The Airbus 380 has a wingspan of 261 feet and a length of 239 feet. The phrase "big ass jet airliner" comes to mind, and just I can't shake the urge I have to see her come to town.

A ceremony will follow the landing -- featuring speeches from the likes of Mayor Villaraigosa. The A380 will then depart on Tuesday morning.