I normally display the flag on days that harken to our country’s past: Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Labor Day…

Today I’m proudly flying it for our country’s future.

This photo was snapped by Alan earlier today, and spotted outside of his polling place. Looks like this person picked the winners and, at least where I’m standing tonight a lot of people can’t see how those two could work together. But think about it for a moment, one thing the Obama campaign was really good at doing was reaching out to and inspiring people who might not have voted in the past – record voter turn out confirms that. However it’s a mistake to think that anyone who supports Obama is a social liberal, many of the folks who see where the country is headed financially and want a new direction could be very conservative (true conservatives are disgusted by what’s been going on in the white house for the last 8 years) and those are the same people who might be firm supporters of Prop 8. These are gut reaction voteres who will read “eliminate same sex marriage” and think “eliminate gays” and click yes. It’s kind of a double edged sword if you look at it like that, but unfortunately it’s more disappointing than shocking.

I’ve been “liveblogging” election day at NBC Los Angeles. Indeed, this is shameless self-promotion, but if you get a chance, check it out.

Tonite I’m at the Century Plaza Hotel, site of a large Obama party. All day long here Obamaniacs have been phonebanking, including Donald Sutherland, Ryan Philipe, and Eric Garcetti, phoning undecideds in other states trying to ensure they go and vote.

Two people I know were given provisional ballots today when their polling places couldn’t find their names on the logs. Both of them had received their information, including sample ballot (with polling place listed), in the mail and fortunately both had that information with them. They both are (understandably) a bit concerned about whether or not their votes will get counted and why they weren’t listed (one is in West LA and the other in Sylmar, so whatever the issue is, it seems to be city-wide). I was a bit worried I might encounter the same thing since I moved a little over a month ago to my new place, but I was listed. There was, however, a snafu at the polling place when a woman came to vote and there was already a signature by her name (it appeared to be someone else’s signature, but whose they couldn’t determine). What about y’all? Witness any disturbing screw ups today as we tried to exercise our right/privilege/obligation to vote?

(Click to make the excellent 1877 Thomas Nast drawing bigger.)

Has this happened to anyone else? What gives here?

Things in Marina del Rey tend to take place at a laid back, civilized, even sleepy, pace. Unlike Mack’s experience in Silver Lake, today’s voting in the Marina was no exception. Although I have vote by mail status, I showed up at my local polling place, a nearby apartment complex, to cast my ballot and feel like I was part of the process.

Voting Marina style, after the jump

Claro's Simple window display facing busy Huntington Drive in Arcadia

For years I’ve heard about “a little Italian market in Arcadia”.  I never bothered to seek it out as I could get what I needed at an Toni’s or Pinocchio’s in Burbank.  Not seeking Claro’s out earlier was a mistake I quickly learned today.  Just getting out of the car I realized Claro’s Italian Market was going to be good.  I wish I had not put  off tracking Claro’s down as it is more of a market with a nice deli instead of the other way around.  The imported foodstuffs alone is worth the visit.

I can’t imagine where else in LA you can find a better selection of olive oils, tomato, cheese, polenta and who knows what else Italian, fobby or otherwise than here.  I was impressed.  The prices were good to outright cheap compared to regular chain stores in the area.   I’m about to be a regular there and can’t wait to sample even more of the fresh stuff as well as all the cheeses.

Details: Claro’s Italian Market. 19 1/2 E Huntington Dr, Arcadia CA 91006 626-446-0275

Turns out they have 5 stores total.  Locations and more info on their web site.  More pics and a little bit more on my finds today.  Read the rest of this entry →

Not the cake you eat, the CAKE you shop at!

Get a jump on the holidays – she’s got amazing one-of-a-kind jewelry, accessories, and some really great handbags.

SATURDAY NOV 8th
10am – 6pm
SUNDAY Nov 9th
11am – 5pm

Holiday notecards up to 70% off
VINTAGE rummage boxes starting at $5
All HIGHWAY & ELSPETH HANDBAGS 20% off

CAKE
4649 Russell Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90027
in the heart of Los Feliz, just off Vermont
next to FRED 62
323-644-5699

The crowd at the Atwater Masonic Lodge, Silver Lake, 7 a.m.

This was the scene at 7 a.m. in Silver Lake – fully 100 people lined up, and I’ll predict it’s gonna get heavier as more people hit the polls and wade through the huge number of ballot issues (and judgeships!) – in addition to deciding who gets to lead the United States out of the war, divisive politics and economic disaster we’ve been suffering.

If for some reason you’re registered and still on the fence about voting, please, for the love of our future as a nation as well as our general health, well-being and sanity in the Republic of California and county and city of Los Angeles, GET YOUR ASS OUT THERE AND VOTE.

What’s the scene like at your polling place today? Post a comment below.

The Washington Post reports that The California GOP has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission regarding Barack Obama’s trip to visit his dying grandmother. As you know, it was also announced today that Obama’s grandmother has passed away.

The Republicans argued that, because Obama did not campaign during the quick journey to Hawaii, it should not have been a campaign expense.

That sound you just heard was probably your lunch, making its return trip.

Or perhaps, better to say, if you’d like a big “Thank You” for voting, many places around town will honor your civic duty and your “I Voted” sticker with freebies and discounts tomorrow. 

UPDATE (11/4):  I just read in Daily Variety via the AP that Starbucks is giving a way a tall brewed coffee to anyone who asks and Ben and Jerry’s is giving away free scoops from 5-8pm!

Big thanks to Thrillist for this list.

Krispy Kreme will offer a free star spangled donut to all who come in with their sticker.

OBurger will give you free organic fries or cookies with the purchase of a burger.

If you feel the need for a drink tomorrow night (whether in celebration or just sheer relief that November 4th has finally come) Colorado Wine Company (in Pasadena) will offer 50% of selected reds and whites.

Amoeba Music will be handing out $2 gift certificates.

Tart Restaurant is offering free desserts for all comers with their I Voted stickers. They are also offering discounted drinks and a special election night menu.

Chrisophe Salon wants you to look good no matter what the outcome. They are giving 50% off gift-certificates and on the spot services.

Get your vote on early to get this deal: If you need to gird your loins in the middle of the day, Pink Taco is offering a free well-shot of tequila and three free pink tacos at lunch.

At Pitfire Pizza you can choose between either an “Edison Ale” or a McCain/Obama specialty soda. They have a special election night menu and are having a drawing to win a pair of “Vote Shoes” by Tom’s Shoes.

At the O’Neill flagship store in Anaheim (I know I know, not LA, but I’m including LA-adjacent in this post…) you can get 25% of most clothes in the store.

Ask your local favorite retailer if they are doing anything to say “thanks for voting”!

As distracted as I was in my search for the ultimate Ricky Ricardo costume last week, I overlooked an e-mail from the Studio City Neighborhood Council regarding NBC’s proposed development over the Universal City Red Line subway station. It is a call by Communities United for Smart Growth to hold a town hall meeting about the project.

Once upon a time, there was a lovely green park with cottages at its edge. Birds sang, dogs romped, lovers swooned & children played.

The fable goes on to list the ways in which these things shall be destroyed. By towers, digital billboards, and construction dirt. It boasts that “local champions” Tom LaBonge and Zev Yaroslavksy warned us of the imminent danger to birds, dogs, lovers, and children, but that we did not listen.

So, Communities United for Smart Growth is holding a town hall meeting to re-write the fable. How can we ignore the needs of rompers and swooners?

SCNC Town Hall Meeting
East Valley High School
5525 Vineland
North Hollywood 91601
6-8pm Wednesday
November 12, 2008

Kristin Bedford, she of Kristin’s List, the LA culture guide, put her site on hold for the month preceding Election Day and volunteered to work for the Obama campaign at the United Democratic Headquarters field office in Pasadena.

I recently paid a visit to the headquarters, where Bedford is the neighborhood leader program coordinator. Even two weeks before the election, the place was a beehive of activity. Between phone calls and a flurry of co-workers consulting with her, she managed to take a moment to tell us what’s going on as Election Day approaches.

“The Pasadena Democratic Headquarters is organizing a gigantic get-out-the-vote  operation which requires tons of volunteers,” she said.

The office has been humming along for months but as the Nov. 4th approaches, and as donations to the Obama campaign have far surpassed his opponent’s, the Lake Ave. operations have kicked into high gear.  With a river of money still flowing into the campaign’s coffers, Obama’s voter outreach effort has surpassed any previous such efforts.

“It is massive,” says Bedford. “Folks can do phone banking, put door hangers on local door knobs which tell people the location of their polling place, help direct headquarters traffic, put out food– essentially help with everything.

“I’ll be working seven days a week through Election Day. We are going to win this one.”

And after her “political sabbatical?”

“I promise that post-November 4th, Kristin’s List will be chock-full of lively cultural events!”

In light of a very enlightening, bipartisan ballot initiative review party I attended last night, it seems important this morning to remind people that the language of Proposition 8 can be a little confusing. So read carefully and make sure you’re voting the way you want to vote. A “Yes” vote on on Proposition 8 eliminates the right of same sex couples to marry. A “No” vote preserves the existing California constitution and the existing right for same sex couples to marry. Write yourself a cheat sheet or fill out your sample ballot and take it to the voting booth with you tomorrow so you don’t have to try to remember which vote means what when it’s time to actually cast it.

That said, I hope you’re all voting against Prop 8, and if you are you should know that while the current polling shows it being defeated 49% against to 44% for, polling of people who have already cast votes via absentee ballot or early voting shows that more than 50% of them voted Yes. That means Prop 8 will pass unless all of you No voters actually go out and vote. So, if you’re really against Prop 8, make sure you get your ass out to vote early today [PDF link], or to the polls tomorrow, and take the time to call your friends and family to make sure they’re doing the same. Hell, I’m sure some of you have an elderly grandparent or carless mom that could use a lift to the polls tomorrow. And if you’re one of those people that’s not bothering to vote because you figure Obama’s got CA in the bag, please leave your address in the comments so I can come over to your house and kick you square in the babymaker.

Prop 8 aside, any other ballot initiatives that have people scratching their heads? I’m guessing that more than a few of you are going to say “Prop 11.”

ADDENDUM: Ophelia Chong of KCET’s 404 City blog was also in attendance last night, and here’s her summary.

Gutted and sawn

“Great, the junkies are at it again, digging for those tasty sellable morsels of copper wire. Only now they have a frickin’ concrete saw.”

Then I skated a little farther and saw a different vault situation (after the jump) … Read the rest of this entry →