The Wednesday Poll: Looking for Love in L.A.

With Valentine's Day fast approaching... let's tackle that old cliche that it's more difficult to find love in L.A. compared to most major cities. Is it our car culture? Our high cost of living? Our insular lives? Or is it all just bull? Take the Wednesday Poll:

Wednesday Poll: Will the NFL Ever Return to L.A.?

In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, we ask: Are you optimistic that an NFL team might finally be coming back to Los Angeles? Or do you even care at this point?

The Results Are In: Hollywood and Highland is Your Least-Favorite L.A. Mall

(Flickr pic by Stuck in Customs.)

Our regrets to Hollywood and Highland, which pulled ahead to easily win our survey for worst shopping mall in Los Angeles.

The Beverly Center came closest -- and for me, it's a toss up. The Beverly Center is a hulking mess of an ugly building with no character, but at least it has some actual shopping options.

Hollywood and Highland was terribly designed, with no thought given to where stores are laid out. Some unfortunate shops are found in dead ends, and the corridor next to the Kodak Theatre entrance is particularly sad and un-pedestrian friendly. But at least it's airy, and has views of the hills.

Nonetheless, for being a disappointing example of what could have been -- but wasn't -- Hollywood and Highland wins. Here are the full results:

Franklin Avenue's Wednesday Poll: Pick The L.A. Region's Worst Shopping Mall

(Flickr pic via Champnet.

Having just spent what I assume was a less-than pleasant several weeks at Southern California's various shopping malls, you probably now have a pretty good take on which one best represents the innermost circle of hell.

It's the return of the Franklin Avenue Wednesday poll!

Wednesday Poll: Where Do You Stand on Comic-Con?

I still have never made it to the San Diego Comic-Con. This year, with so much TV presence, I might have gone or even moderated a panel. But since we're on Baby Blogger 2.0 Watch, that didn't make a lot of sense.

In a way, I was relived. But I also felt like I was missing out on quite a bit. So what's the deal, did I dodge a bullet... or miss the event of the year? Vote below.

Your Choice for the "Fake Eastside" Border

It wasn't much of a contest. When you think of the "Fake Eastside," you think of the neighborhoods East of Western -- in other words, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park, East Hollywood, etc. What do you call the Real Eastside? I suppose that's a poll for another day.

In second place is the street that psychologically for me served as an imaginary dividing point in the city (perhaps because it cuts through into the Cahuenga Pass), Highland.

Vermont Ave. got a fair amount of write-in votes, while one smart ass wrote "The 405." Perhaps someone who needs to do a little more exploring around their city.

The results:

Wednesday Poll: The Three L.A. Eats That Keep You From Moving Away

Whenever we visit Hawaii (where I went to high school), Chicago (college) or even New York (spent a lot of time there through the years), there are always a handful of eateries that are on the "must" list... mostly for nostalgia sake, yes, but also because it's just damn good food.

So what if we ever had to --gasp -- leave Los Angeles? What three places would be on our list to hit when we returned?

That's a tough one. But here goes:

1. Carnitas tacos at Yuca's
2. Pastrami at Langer's
3. Sausage/mushroom pizza at Casa Bianca

OK, maybe that wasn't too tough afterall. I could probably think of more, but it's time to turn it over to you.

What are your picks for the three L.A. food items you'd immediately go seek out the second you touched down at LAX? Comment below.

Your Summer Pop Song of 2009 Is...

... David Guetta and Kelly Rowlands, "When Love Takes Over"

The song barely beat out Madcon's "Beggin" (which was my pick)... I find "When Love Takes Over" to be pretty boring myself.

Overall, voting was low for the poll, which makes me assume that none of the picks excited you that much. Here's how the poll wound up:



"Other" picks included "Who's Got Your Money?" by Tina Parol, "Blame It on the Alcohol" by Jamie Foxx (really? Really?), "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga (probably too old to be a summer song), "Love Game" by Lady Gaga, and "Gimme Sympathy" by Metric.

Wednesday Poll: What's the Pop Song of Summer 2009? (Part II)

Last week, we asked you to submit finalists for Pop Song of Summer 2009. This week, we'll find our winner. Vote above! And there's still a space to add your own pick.

You Were Mostly Prepared for the Digital Transition

For last week's Wednesday poll, we asked you whether you were set for the digital transition. Turns out, most of you were -- 62%. A couple of you bought a converter box, while still others of you proclaimed that TV is a joke, and that you only surf the Internet anyways.

Of course, no mass hysteria resulted from the changeover; other than some reception problems around the country, the shift from analog to digital went rather smoothly. Did any of you encounter any problems?

WEDNESDAY POLL: Are You Ready for Digital TV?

According to Nielsen, just 2.8 million viewers are still unprepared for Friday's transition from analog to digital. Where do you stand? Vote below.

Your Pick for Favorite Villaraigosa News Babe: Mirthala, By a Landslide

Sorry, Lu, it wasn't even close. Even though former local Telemundo/KVEA anchor Mirthala Salinas was embroiled in a much bigger scandal with Antonio Villaraigosa, voters of last week's Franklin Avenue Wednesday Poll overwhelmingly chose her as their favorite Mayor V galpal.

Salinas picked up 65% of the vote, compared to Lu Parker's 23%. The remainder went to six write-in votes, which included:Beverly White, Huell Howser, Vera Jimenez, Sharon Tay, Paul Moyer and Elita Loresca.

Wednesday Poll: Mirthala vs. Lu

All right, it's a smackdown of local TV news proportions. Which Antonio Villaraigosa paramour do you choose? Are you a member of Team Mirthala or Team Lu? OR... is there another local TV news star you think Mayor V oughta be with (Jackie Johnson? Sharon Tay?) Vote below.

Your Answer to What Caused California's Economic Crisis: All of the Above

Last week, we asked you to pick which factor most contributed to the mess California finds itself in. Not too surprisingly, given the magnitude of our Sacramento disaster, most of you chose "all of the above." And it's true, not just one symptom got us into this mess, it was a perfect storm of idiocy. And everyone's to blame. Where would we be right now without Prop 13, without that 2/3rds requirement to pass a budget, without term limits, without our crazy proposition system, and without Gov. Schwarzenegger?

Probably in a state that hadn't gone belly up. But we'll never know.

Meanwhile, here are the other write-in votes you added:

The Wednesday Poll: Who Caused California's Economic Collapse?

Your Favorite Airport: Burbank's Bob Hope

And I was just there on Saturday, flying out here to New York. Indeed, the Airport Formerly Known As Burbank is by far the easiest for us -- drop me off, and I'm already at the gate moments later. Plus, those non-stop JetBlue flights to the East Coast are pretty economical.

The Burbank Airport lacks a lot of amenities -- the only coffee to be found is "Tully." But the convenience makes up for it. Plus, I kind of like its old-school charm. Walking up the steps to the plane, I always think of that famous shot of the Beatles climbing off their plane at JFK. And although it's kinda weird to have an outdoor baggage carousel, it's pretty close to the curb for easy pickup.

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

Your Favorite Coffee Chain: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf squeaked by Starbucks to win our poll for best coffee chain found in Los Angeles. I'm a bit surprised by the results here. Not necessarily the Coffee Bean win -- it's a hometown chain, and it's generally well-liked (especially thanks to those signature Ice Blendeds).

But given how uncool it is these days to admit you patronize Big Brother Starbucks, I'm a tad surprised that Starbucks nearly took the competition. I figured Peet's would come in second; I was also glad to see Swork perform decently, especially since it's not truly a chain. Then there's McDonalds -- which inspired this poll, given its new push into the coffee space. Turns out not many folks are "lovin' it."

The Wednesday Poll: The Coffee Wars

As the OC Register's Fast Food Maven wrote, McDonald's takes an ambitious stab at the coffee marketplace starting this week. Setting its sights on Starbucks, McDonald's was also emboldened by a positive Consumer Reports review for its drip coffee a few years ago. Now it wants to go after the high-priced drinks as well, opening "McCafes" at McDonald's locations all over Southern California.

Will it work? Or does McDonald's coffee taste too much like swill? It's your turn to vote. And if your favorite chain isn't there, add it to the list:

Yes, You'd Like to See the Century Plaza Hotel Saved

It wasn't even close. We asked you last week whether Century City's endangered Century Plaza Hotel was worth saving, and 77% of you said yes. This fight is just beginning.