Monthly Archives: December 2013

Entertainment, Mass Transit, San Gabriel Valley, Seasonal, Transportation

Thunderbirds plan rehearsal fly over Pasadena 8AM today

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I got the notice from a variety of sources.  All legit…The Air Force Thunderbirds will do a fly over the Rose Parade Route, Colorado Blvd in Pasadena this morning at 8AM.

For any of you thinking about attending the Rose Parade tomorrow the city has a nifty rules sheet online for you to follow.

My advice is simpler. Take the Gold Line to any of the stations and hoof it to the parade route.  Traffic in and out of Pasadena for the parade is horrific at best, gridlocked for hours, the Gold Line will make your life so much easier. The last time we did the parade when the kids were little it took us 2 hours go 5 miles from our parking space to home, seriously…Gold Line it and get off on the Del Mar, Memorial Park,  Lake, Allen or Sierra Madre Villa stops .

A full copy of the Pasadena Police Nixel alert after the jump. Continue reading Thunderbirds plan rehearsal fly over Pasadena 8AM today →

Driving, Holidays, Law, Law Enforcement, Mass Transit, Social issues, Transportation

Don’t say I never warned you – DUI arrests way up this year

1,520 DUI Arrests by LA County Policing Agencies Dec. 13-25

A couple of weeks ago I posted a warning that DUI check points were going to increase this year as the various local law enforcement agencies got Federal Grants to up enforcement.  Yikes…up over last year by 95 arrests.  AND New Years isn’t here yet.  Save yourself the hassle and HUGE expense and get a destignated driver, use AAA Tipsy Tow, call a taxi, use the UBER app, use METRO,  but don’t get behind the wheel as its not worth it.

In my corner of L.A, as well as the whole city there will be a huge increase in DUI Checkpoints starting this tonight through New Years.  The press releases with details after the jump.  Continue reading Don’t say I never warned you – DUI arrests way up this year →

Entertainment, Holidays, Seasonal, Which Side?

Santa Visits my ‘hood

http://youtu.be/sK38oQh4U3I

For as long as I can remember, MPD and MFD escort Santa in his gigantic sleigh, rolling code 3 of course, through our neighborhoods.  This is also done in El Segundo, Rancho and a few other neighborhoods around L.A.

Another wonderful tradition is neighborhoods that go all out with decorations for the holidays.  Hastings Ranch in Pasadena is my absolute favorite.  In spite of bumper to bumper traffic, its fun to wind your way up and down the streets admiring how each block has its own theme and is decorated over the top.

What’s your favorite neighborhood tradition?

Events, Hollywood, News, Politics, Social issues

Protest L.A. plan to ban feeding the homeless in public

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flyer for the protest march, click to embiggen

The movement is gathering momentum.  Some of the major local media has picked it up.  In short the Monday Night Mission is organizing the protest in response to discussions based on neighborhood proposals to ban feeding the homeless in Los Angeles.  In short a bunch of gentrifying NIMBY’s somehow think banning the feeding of the homeless will end the problem and remove them from their neighborhood.

Do contact your local council person and tell them to vote NO on this proposal.  Contact Mayor Garcetti as well and ask him to kill the discussion.

environment, Events, Politics, San Gabriel Valley, Social issues

Its just too Damn Big – Hahamonga dredging protest

Protest information flyer - click to embiggen

Somehow, somewhere, things have gotten out of hand in the Hahamonga Watershed area nestled below JPL and abutted by LaCanada and Altadena/Pasadena.  After many community meetings, a questional EIR and just plain upset folks it looks like the plan to completely dredge out and obliterate every living thing is moving forward.  An important natural recreation and wildlife spot will be lost if they move through with their plans.

Concerned citizens are being asked to gather on either side of the dam for a holding of the hands protest.  It will take place on Saturday 12/14/2013 at a11AM.  Full details on where to meet up is on the flyer you can click to embiggen.  There is a FB page with more information on the protest as well as the plans by L.A. County Public Works to dredge and expand.  MAP HERE

 

 

 

Food & Drink, The Valley

Pizza Rev comes to Burbank

Inside the Burbank location - click to embiggen

I checked out the Pizza Rev Burbank location last night in advance of  their Grand Opening set for Thursday, 12/12.  I liked it, a good honest pizza without having to pay an appendage for it.  My son who tagged along absolutely loves them and looks forward to the Pasadena location opening after the first of the year.

What hooked me and him is that the pies are wood fired artisnal thin crusts that you can load up how you want as you go down the assembly line.  At each station there is an attendant to load up what ingredients as thick or thin as you want before it all goes into the stone hearth, open fire wood oven.  This pizza cooks fast too…3 minutes.  Perfect crispy, charred in spots perfection.

The dough is made daily.  The  4 sauces, red, white, bbq and olive oil are prepared from fresh ingredients.  They have several cheeses to choose from, the real deal buffalo mozzarella is the best I’ve had on a pie in years.  The remaining ingredients are all fresh prepped that day. They even include gourmet items such as sun dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts.  Best part is the pizza is a flat charge no matter how much of the goodies you load on top of it.

They also do salads from chopped romaine.  The saladas are built to order with whatever toppings you want.  This too is done for a flat fee regardless of how much you add to the salad. Continue reading Pizza Rev comes to Burbank →

Driving, Entertainment, LA, News, Transportation, West Side

Los Angeles as one of 6 host cities for 2015 Mustang Reveal

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http://youtu.be/7r0YL5NB5qU

Los Angeles is an important market for the Mustang, one of its biggest.  We were one of 6 host cities in the world to host a 2015 Mustang reveal.  Yes, world as the next generation Mustang will be a globlal car.  The other cities were Shanghai, Sydney, Barcelona, New York and Dearborn that held a reveal on December 5th.  The car is really nice looking, still every bit a Mustang with loads of design cues from the past layered onto a very modern body that holds many similarities with the newest Fords.

The Mustang Reveal in Los Angeles was a big deal.  It started with a big morning reveal then the car was shuffled off to the Hollywood Walk of Fame for its tire prints to be immortalized there.  I missed those two events because I simply have too much going on.  What I did make was the Venice Beach reveal and that was a lot more intimate and spectactular. Continue reading Los Angeles as one of 6 host cities for 2015 Mustang Reveal →

Law, People, Politics, Social issues

Protest over L.A. Ban on feeding the homeless set for 12/14

Monday Night Mission click to embiggen

Hat tip to Ed Padgett long time friend of blogging.la for this bit of news.  I can’t help but wonder if Scrooge taken over the hearts and minds of L.A. city council?  Recently the issued a ban on feeding the homeless. Yes, charities, people with big hearts and do-gooders in general will be banned from feeding the homeless even though their acts cost the city nothing.  A protest is planned at 4PM on 12/14 at the Intersections of

If we still gave a “Scrooge of the Year” award.

In related news, the courts aren’t taking to highly on the ban in living cars that the city put in place to placat those who complained it was more than a minor irritation in Venice.

Just a little idea.  One that maybe L.A City Council can wrap its warped little head around. Homelessness and the hungry aren’t going away soon. Rather than limit  or prohibit the charities and the like from helping the homeless and hungry they work with them to find a solution. Maybe centralized into the warming shelters in place and it wouldn’t cost us if they do the work.

A big lump of coal to each of them for hitting those in need below the belt this time of year.

Entertainment, Events, San Gabriel Valley, Seasonal, Theatre/Stage

A Christmas Carol at Sierra Madre Playhouse through 12/23

Sierra Madre Playhouse has got to be one of my favorite venues for plays.  Its a small theatre with a wonderfully warm setting.  Intimate even. This trailer is just a sample of the quality of work that they do there.   They are presenting A Christmas Carol now through December 23, 2013.  The play is on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays only.

This being a small venue it is advisable you buy your tickets online in advance of the showing you would like to see.  They do sell out fast.  Ticket prices are $25/28.  Online you do have the option of picking your seats.  You may order HERE.

Deets: Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 West Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, California 91024 (626) 355-4318 MAP HERE

Driving, Law, Law Enforcement, Social issues

LA Sheriff announces Holiday DUI Check Points

The Holidays are here and with all of our festivities comes drinking. Unfortunately not every one has a designated driver which often leads to tragedy.  L.A. County Sheriff has some DUI enforcement nights already set aside to help catch the drunks before they can cause an accident.  The  press release with important dates and locations after the jump. Continue reading LA Sheriff announces Holiday DUI Check Points →

Art, Downtown, Entertainment, Events, Photography

Snap to Grid show at L.A. Center for Digital Art deadline today

Snap to Grid show from the archives...click to embiggen

Yikes, I don’ know how I slept through this one, maybe it was Auto Show Frenzy of the last few weeks.  Regardless. The Snap To Grid show at LACDA has got to be my absolute favorite show.  Why?  Its a take all comers show that gives you a wonderful snapshot of where we are as artists and what we are doing right now with digital photography and digital art.  The stuff is amazing.

If you are interested in showing at this show all you have to do is fill out an registration form (you won’t be rejected) pay your $35 admission and upload your images.  Simple as that.  You register HERE.  You upload HERE.  The deadline is today to do so.

Some important information:

  • Show Dates: December 12, 2013-January 4, 2014
  • Deadline for entries: December 2, 2013
  • Opening Reception: December 12, 7-9pm, 7-9pm

L.A. Center for Digital Art, 104 East Fourth Street  Los Angeles, CA  90013