|
|
 ... mingled with the Hollywood film crowd last night as Warren Beatty got a lifetime achievement award at AFI. Here's a (somewhat tart) note from Susan, one of our readers, who was at the event:
Maybe we have [his] nephew to thank for Clinton showing up at the AFI Life Achievement Award for Warren Beatty tonight -- those of us in the audience were surprised to see him. A frail but very sharp McGovern was there, so were Jerry Brown and a few others.
Besides of course, Jack and Dyan who raced over from the Lakers' loss. Faye Dunaway and Elaine May looked like they had the same doctor for cheek implants; makes you appreciate Diane Keaton's natural approach to aging gracefully.
More coverage -- actually about Warren -- from Anne Thompsons excellent "On Hollywood" blog, People, The Gossip Girls (where Hugh Hefner and his posse of blonds take center stage), USA Today, the ever-cranky Fox News (Hollywood Left-fest!) and of course, AP.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Getty Images
 If you've never been to see the Derby Dolls in downtown L.A., you can't say you know the city. Just finding your way to the events where the roller queens extraordinaire rule is an education. And when you get there, you've entered another world, as our roving reporter, Scott Gold, recently learned:
The crowd, in overalls and bustiers, some with purple hair, some with no hair at all, is feverish. It's so loud you can barely hear yourself drink. One woman is in a full Mardi Gras headdress; her date is wearing a Cookie Monster costume. The VIP section is cordoned off with yellow police tape.
The heroes here are all women. Their uniforms are ripped stockings and knee socks. Their names are Eva Destruction and Tara Armov. Their passion is roller derby, which -- long after being swept into the dustbin of kitsch, alongside Evel Knievel and that movie where Clint Eastwood is pals with an orangutan -- is back.
Go back more than once (guilty), and you'll find the people-watching as much a grabber as the action on the rink. Punked-out couples mingle with the retro crowd, meticulously dressed in a '50s homage with skinny jeans and muscle shirts for the men, and edgy little skirts and dresses Donna Reed might find familiar. (Well, except for the peek-a-boo Technicolor tattoos.)
More about the game and the Dolls in Scott's full story here. And while you're on the page, check out the slide show by Francine Orr.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times
 The creation of a 150-acre reef to anchor a forest of giant kelp is taking shape in San Clemente.
An interview with "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan in LAist.
Those reservoir balls the DWP dumped in Silver Lake might not be so safe after all, says Donna Barstow.
Dinner parties gone very, very wrong. Jacket Copy
MTA ridership just keeps going up. Bottleneck Blog
The Olsen twins incur the wrath of PETA. LA Unleashed
Kid fails driving test five times in one day -- video! YouTube via Fishbowl LA
Ride your bike to work in LA -- a how-to guide from LA MetBlogs.
Start planning for the L.A. Film Festival next week.
Compton will get a new skateboard park in September. Curbed LA
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Los Angeles Times
 Though no one's nailed down the cause of that catastrophic fire at Universal Studios, the reason it got out of hand is pretty clear: Water pressure at the site was so low, firefighters reported water streams of just 10 feet, laughably inadequate against the towering flames. Add in a failed sprinkler system and two city blocks of sets built from what amounts to kindling and you're looking at the disaster that was yesterday's blaze.
We've got lots of info: main story here (including the news the studio's re-opening to the public toay)... what, exactly, burned ... the yes-no-yes-no saga as studio heads couldn't decide whether or not to open the park ... some video, of course ... and news that despite the damage, cameras will still roll.
Meanwhile, there's actually other news out there:
Four of the weekend's five homicides are blamed on gangs.
Iconic fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent has died.
 With some prime tourist attractions now in cinders, maybe Universal should look into the gay marriage business. Ever since the state Supremes gave same-sex marriage the nod, all corners of the wedding industry have seen an uptick in business.
I'm sorry to report that the Dodgers lost to the Mets.
And if the long wait for the Lakers-Celtics match-up is getting to you, Kareem Abdul-Jabar's got lots to say about the 1985 Boston-L.A. series.
As long as we're having a fire, why not a couple of earthquakes as well? Two small ones rattled through last night, one in the Salton Sea, the other in San Bernardino County.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photos: AP; Biggayweddings.com
 California-born and raised, extreme fighter Chuck Liddell takes time out to answer some questions.
JP: How did you feel right after you were injured? Were you pissed off about it?
Iceman: Very pissed. It was one of those things; a freak accident, but it was doing a drill. I was working with someone that I didn't usually work with. It wasn't his fault or anything but, it was just one of those things where it shouldn't have happened. It wasn't like we were live sparring or something crazy. Stuff happens when you are doing drills and goofing off and just working some little drills, trying not to work too hard. It was a light day and for it to happen that way it just kind of sucks.
JP: Do you think that Rashad Evans was a good match up for you?
Iceman: I thought it was a great match up. He's a wrestler that likes to try to move around and strike. But he's going to get caught.
JP: So you're looking forward to fighting him if they stick him in front of you again?
Iceman: Anytime, I'll fight him any time they want.
JP:
What's next for you right after your hamstring heals?
(more after the jump)
Iceman:
Hopefully I'm fighting. Whenever it heals and whenever its ready I'll start working on a fight. I'm hoping we'll be ready to go by September, if not there's November-December so, sometime this year I'll fight again.
JP:
Are there any fighters that you are a fan of personally?
Iceman:
Lots of them actually.
JP:
Which one stands out in your mind?
Iceman:
BJ Penn, Anderson Silva, Matt Hughes?
JP:
Now it's your job to beat the crap out of people for a living. How would you feel if somebody actually died at your hands?
Read on »
More remembrances of California's fallen soldiers:
Joshua Kynoch
 "I miss my husband with all of my heart. Our Daughter is now three years old and is a spitting image of her father. Not one day goes by that I don't miss him, but I am so proud of what he stood for, and what he was fighting for. He will be in my heart and the heart of all of his family and friends forever!! We miss you Josh. May you rest in peace in the heavens above."
Sarah Kynoch, posted May 26, 2008
Michael D. Martino
 "I was a neighbor of the Martino family when Michael was a young boy. He was always happy and did everything with his close family. They were great neighbors. I thank him for keeping our country the safe and strong nation that it is. May the Lord bless Michael, his parents, and his brother and sister."
Joel Drew, posted May 26, 2008
Juan de Dios Garcia-Arana
 "My utmost respect to you and yours...We share two similarities, we both came from Mexico, and were both Pathfinders. I know that your death is not in vain. And hope that non-hispanics will understand that we have as much love for this Great Nation as a U.S. Citizen....and in your case, maybe more....courage.....God Bless, hermano........and remember,"Find a Path...or make one"!!”
Alaim Salas, posted May 26, 2008
-- Veronique de Turenne
Here's a sampling of the remembrances posted by friends and family of California's fallen soldiers:
Peter W. Schmidt
 "Peter was the standout kid in a Sunday School class I taught. We would sometimes have Wednesday night Bible study class, and after study Peter would pull out the red, white and blue chips and a deck of cards and teach us how to play poker. For me, that's a perfect memory."
Bertrand Proust, posted May 25, 2008
Fernando S. Tamayo
 "There isn't a day that goes by since your passing that we do not think of you. Tears? I don't [think] we have any left in us. Our family has struggled since your loss, but we take solace in the memories that are [embedded] in us. Mom and Dad miss you so much as do I. You are always and forever will be in our hearts. Descansa en Paz, hermanito."
Alejandro Tamayo, posted May 25, 2008
Cesar O. Baez
 "There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of him.
He was a great corpsman that was dedicated to his job and family.
Rest in Peace my friend."
HMCS R. J. Lewis, posted May 26, 2008
-- Veronique de Turenne
Fathers, mothers and veterans talk about the sons buried at Riverside National Cemetery. "Every veteran, black, white, yellow, green, whatever they are, they are all family," says Richard Blackaby, a veteran who attends services at the Riverside cemetery, so that someone is there to honor the fallen.
Ready Jia-Rui Chong's story about Riverside National Cemetery here.
-- Veronique de Turenne
Video: Sachi Cunningham / Los Angeles Times
During his few months in Iraq, Marine Cpl. Miguel Guzman of Norwalk earned a reputation as a dedicated and top-notch mechanic. This month, about half way through his tour of duty, the 21-year-old was killed along with three other Marines after a bomb struck their Humvee.
This morning, more than 300 relatives and friends gathered in Whittier to praise and mourn Guzman in English and Spanish during funeral services, reports The Times' Francisco Vara-Orta: A handful of Marines consoled Guzman's parents, Jose and Rosalba, handing them the flag draped over their son's casket and telling them in Spanish their son was awarded the Purple Heart.
While the family resisted breakdowns in crying during the funeral, both male and female relatives cried openly at the burial site, with Guzman's eldest brother, Jose Jr., kissing the casket and whispering "I love you" in Spanish.
Vara-Orta and Tony Perry are working on a full story.
-- Jesus Sanchez
Photo: Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times
Those two LAUSD honchos who did nothing when a student reported
she was sexually abused by a substitute teacher are back on the
job. That's right: They've been criminally charged, yet they're back at the school. Richard Winton and Howard Blume explain what on Earth is going on.
Why did Inglewood police shoot and kill an unarmed man on Sunday? The cops involved say they heard gunshots, but neither weapons nor bullets were found. Police search for reasons but the community demands answers. Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Hector Becerra have the story.
Game 5 of the series is tomorrow and Kobe says he'll be ready. To do what? Mike Bresnahan visits with the Lakers' injured MVP.
The UCLA snooping scandal -- still growing. Sixty-eight current and former workers, including four doctors, pried into medical records that were none of their business. Lawanda J. Jackson, the employee indicted by a grand jury last month, looked at 61 separate files, including those of celebs and her fellow employees. More details from Charles Ornstein.
LAX to Florida for $18? Great travel deals are out there, if you know where to look, says Peter Pae.
Visions of the Virgin Mary in the Mojave Desert, where the faithful
have headed for 20 years for Our Lady of the Rock gatherings. The
Catholic Church isn't thrilled, but attendees say they find solace. Paloma Esquivel makes a visit. (And a photo gallery -- Virgin Mary in a sandwich, anyone? -- here.)
Jimmy Fallon's going to take over for Conan when the time comes. Oh -- and a new "90210" series, a "Boston Legal" pickup, and a "Family Guy" spin-off. Matea Gold and Maria Elena Fernandez have details of NBC's fall lineup.
Fabulist James Frey ("A Million Little Pieces") writes a crummy novel. David Ulin has the review.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photos: Los Angeles Times
 Don't mess with moms - they lead a protest against The Governator's planned education cuts. LAT
Teens and Mother's Day in The Homeroom.
Train quarantined in Canada due to deadly mystery illness. AP via Daily Breeze
The New York Times, which seems to be under the impression the longboard is dead, says the sport of soul surfers is making a comeback. NYT
How about some soothing 15th century music for Mother's Day? Jouyassance
Worldwide protests against Scientology tomorrow by Anonymous. LAist
Just fyi, Saturday's also National Train Day. Not sure what that means, but their graphic sure is great.
 Lindsay Lohan's too high-maintenance to play a Manson girl in an indie film, says Nikki Finke.
Coldplay tours the U.S., plays San Jose twice, but skips L.A.? Los Anjealous
Keeping up with the greens. LALATimes
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Los Angeles Times
 So Rush Limbaugh called Antonio Villaraigosa "the shoeshine guy" and L.A.'s mayor turned the other cheek. Not so the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which came out with a vigorous protest. The group's president, John Trasviña, wrote a letter criticizing Limbaugh's swipe at the mayor, Rick Orlov reports in The Sausage Factory.
"The fact that your stated first impression of [Mayor Villaraigosa] was to consider him "a shoeshine boy" instead of the elected mayor of America's second-largest city speaks volumes about your view of America and the role or status of people who do not fit your preconceived notion of what an elected official should be," Trasviña wrote.
"Perhaps as our community continues to increase its presence as the teachers, lawyers, professionals and civic leaders that our country depends on, you will finally move beyond your outdated mindset which attempts to exclude an entire American population from being the leaders of this nation."
A bit derivative, what with Don Imus calling a reporter from the NYT "the cleaning lady." Seriously, what's this thing conservative pundits have with manual labor?
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Los Angeles Times
 Another win for nature lovers as the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council buys the 192 acres that complete the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. Daily Breeze
Ryan Seacrest in talks to replace Larry King? Fishbowl LA says yes. No word yet on who gets custody of all those suspenders.
Campaign signs for a candidate for Superior Court judge are breaking city laws, says Will Campbell at LA Metblogs.
Former Pasadena City College prez (and current state senator) Jack Scott has been named chancellor of states community colleges. CoCoTimes
A book about a penguin family with two dads tops the American Library Assn.'s most challenged book list. Again. Details from Nick Owchar in our fab litblog, Jacket Copy
The head of Mexico's federal police, who had taken on the war against the nation's drug cartels, was gunned down today. Mean Streets
The Salvage Fashion show - getting creative with recyclables. LA Taco
You don't want to mess with moms who are this mad about the state's education budget. The Homeroom
Retreat to a simpler time with lawn bowling in Redlands. SB Sun
--Veronique de Turenne
Photos: AP, LA Times
Love the Cinerama Dome? How about the gorgeous movie palace that is the El Capitan Theatre? They're still standing thanks in large part to Robert Nudelman, the impassioned preservationist who died on Tuesday. Valerie J. Nelson writes about Nudelman's life:
"There probably isn't a single historic building or development project
in Hollywood that Mr. Nudelman didn't have a part in," Offenhauser said
in a statement.
Nudelman began his activism in 1978 by fighting to save MGM's old
Lot 2 in Culver City, a 10-acre site that included sets from the films
"Gone With the Wind" and "King Kong."
The effort failed but Nudelman dedicated the rest of his life to the
preservation of Hollywood history and landmarks -- with mixed success.
In 1990, he helped persuade Disney to spend $6 million to restore
the El Capitan to its original splendor. A hard-fought attempt to
prevent the Hollywood Bowl's acoustic shell from being demolished was
lost; a new shell debuted in 2004.
As recently as last month, Nudelman, who was president of the Hollywood Heritage Museum, was fighting against "supergraphics", enormous advertisements in the outsides of buildings. (LA Independent)
You can read the rest of the Times' Nudelman obituary here. And here's a mention in City Councilman Eric Garcetti's blog,
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Los Angeles Times
 Irvine Robbins opened his first ice cream shop in Glendale in 1945. He died yesterday of complications related to old age. More details about the man who, along with his brother-in-law and partner, Burton Baskin, went on to create the Baskin Robbins empire, from Valerie J. Nelson:
When the Dodgers came to Los Angeles in 1958, they were greeted with Baseball Nut, complete with raspberries for the umpires. Lunar Cheesecake was launched the day after man landed on the moon in 1969. At the height of Beatlemania in 1964, a reporter asked Robbins what flavor would salute the Fab Four; Baskin-Robbins had yet to invent one, but Robbins replied, "Uh, Beatle Nut, of course" and had it in stores in five days.
He delighted in inventing new flavors and naming them, including Plum Nuts (plums, vanilla and walnuts), ChaChaCha (cherry chocolate chip), or his personal favorite, Jamoca Almond Fudge. By the time he retired in 1978, the company was selling some 20 million gallons of ice cream a year in more than 2,000 stores around the world.
The son of a dairyman, Robbins grew up scooping cones in his family's Tacoma, Wash., ice cream store for customers who always seemed to be having a good time. He recalled that he often "finished a day's work happy" and wanted that same feeling when he started his own business.
Read more in Valerie's story here.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: AP
 How's Joe Torre adjusting to L.A. and the Dodgers? He's off the pages of screaming N.Y. tabs, in Walter Alston's old office. Oh, and the Dodgers are winning. Helene Elliott visits with the ex-New Yorker.
He doesn't need a big office to feed his ego. He's sure of who he is and is gradually becoming more comfortable as he settles into his new surroundings.
"Looking at the Dodgers' history and growing up with them in Brooklyn, I was just curious if managing could be fun again," he said.
"It's been fun so far."
He was reminded how enjoyable it is when the New York Mets visited Dodger Stadium on Monday. With them came a troop of reporters with familiar faces and eager questions about Torre's exit from the New York Yankees and cross-country migration.
They asked him whether managing here is different than in New York, where his every move was second-guessed a million times a day on every subway line and any phone call could signal a tirade from owner George Steinbrenner.
More on the adjustments and challenges of moving to L.A., and why he'll never go native, in Helene's full Torre story.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times
With movies, eateries and great indie shopping (OK, some chains too) Westwood Village is ready to make a comeback, says Martha Groves.
Enjoy that $3.90 gas while you can -- prices at the pump will continue to climb. Ronald D. White explains.
On another painful topic -- how low will real estate go? Sit down before you click.
Turns out officials knew about sex abuse allegations against Steve Rooney, months before they transferred the assistant principal to a middle school in Watts. Richard Winton and Howard Blume have the details.
The takeover fight between Yahoo and Microsoft is over -- who won? Google. Our staffers explain the outcome.
Another bookstore -- Libraria Martinez in Santa Ana -- is in trouble. Tony Barboza visits and finds the place could have just six months to live.
Mark Heisler has two words for you today: Kobe Bryant. And after that, a great story and lots of pix, and
then even more pix.
Gemperle Enterprises, a Turlock, Calif., farming outfit, faces charges of cruelty and abuse after animal rights activists release troubling videos. Full story from Eric Bailey.
There's a worldwide epidemic of manhole cover theft and Long Beach,
with 50 of the giant metal lids stolen in the last eight months, is the
latest target. Yes, dear readers, it's a Bob Pool story.
--Veronique de Turenne
Photos: Los Angeles Times
 A thinner blue line, thanks to the LAPD dietician. Daily Breeze
Did the OC Reg fire a columnist on her honeymoon? Asked and answered at Fishbowl LA.
First impressions of Americana at Grand. Franklin Avenue
Santa Monica High wins the Science Bowl. LADN
Interested in education? We've got it all in The Homeroom.
Pay hikes possible for Long beach firefighters. Long Beach P-T
Going to high school -- online. SGV Trib
That photo? It's Cam Correa and his girlfriend, Margaret Stewart, dancing at a Cinco de Mayo celebration in downtown L.A. last night.
An injured surfer girl surfs again. OC Reg
--Veronique de Turenne
Photo: Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times
 Before the hoi polloi crowd into the grand opening of Rick Caruso's grandiose retail project, Americana at Brand, L.A.'s elite had a party of its own, held on the parking lot roof. Our own Cara Mia DiMassa was there.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former L.A. Mayor Jim Hahn, at least three L.A. City Council members and L.A.'s top cop, Bill Bratton, joined 2,000 other guests and VIPs. Wolfgang Puck fed the crowd filet mignon with wild mushroom-leek tortelloni and grand marnier souffle.
The Four Tops and the Temptations performed together, Natalie Cole sang, and so did Tony Benett. Jay Leno was the emcee. Oh - and did we mention the fireworks?
All about Rick Caruso's lavish shindig in Cara's full story.
-- Veronique de Turenne
 A big fight over the flag in the little town of Montrose. Scott Gold gets to the heart of things.
An airline passengers rights measure gets the nod from the state assembly. As one legislator said, "This is a time when we need to spank the airlines." The line forms to the right. Nancy Vogel has the full story.
Another Cal State teacher gets the boot for refusing to sign the state's loyalty oath, which dates back to 1952, the era of the Red Scare. Today, the oath keeps some religious faiths, like Quakers (ooo, scary!) from working in the schools. Richard C. Paddock has the details.
So Bill Plaschke answers his phone and hears this: "Hello Bill? This is Vin Scully." OMG. It's about the retirement talk, of course, which seeped into a Scully speech this week. There is mulling, but there's also good news. Check out Plaschke's column, where he tells all. (And btw, Dodgers won their sixth in a row.)
May Day -- smaller and more peaceful than last year. Check our coverage -- pix and stories and one-the-street videos here and | |
... mingled with the Hollywood film crowd last night as Warren Beatty got a lifetime achievement award at AFI. Here's a (somewhat tart) note from Susan, one of our readers, who was at the event:
