The cover of the September "Best High Schools" issue of Los Angeles magazine was singled out by Time as one of the year's ten best. Art director Joe Kimberling and illustrator Marian Bantjes generated the cover with a blue ballpoint pen. Says Time: "Modern and a bit retro at the same time. And it stops you in your tracks because, on a crowded newsstand or a coffee table, it is a complete non sequitur and a great visual pun."

Hope somebody cleaned up: Los Angeles is throwing its second annual holiday party for politicos, media types, friends of the magazine and invited others on Tuesday evening at the new Grammy Museum downtown. LA Weekly was there first on Saturday night for its 30th anniversary party.