No LA Observed on KCRW this afternoon — I had to take the day off. Purely by coincidence, I will be on KPCC's "Off-Ramp" tomorrow at noon, beginning an occasional series of chats with host John Rabe from the scene of historical spots in the San Fernando Valley. And why not? There's also segments on the closing of Wilshire Boulevard mariachi palace La Fonda, on that piano at UCLA signed by the great composers of the 20th century, and on Joe Torre and Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler.

Add KCRW: I fixed down below that the Washington Post bureau aide who left is not going to NPR, as the Post thinks, but to Warren Olney's programs "Which Way, L.A.?" and "To the Point" at KCRW.