Native Intelligence archive
for January 2014

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LA Sports Beat - January 31, 2014

Despite numerous injuries to Lakers players, Mike D'Antoni deserves criticism for his coaching job this season. Don't get too excited about Stan Kroenke's land purchase. And Petros Papadakis is worth listening to at a USC basketball game. Phil Wallace looks at those issues and more around the LA sports scene.

A little something to eat

Thumbnail image for al-martinez-photo.jpg Martinez riffs on a no-food diet: no meat, no sugar, no gluten, no caffeine, no fat, no nuts, no lactose, no alcohol and not a lot of anything else. We will become a world of tall, pencil-skinny people with small mouths and no stomachs.

La Brea Bakery Cafe opens

labrea-bakery-cafe-iris.jpg City Council President Herb Wesson, Councilman Tom LaBonge, and author and food critic Ruth Reichl were among those on hand.

'Homeless'

LAO__Lychkoff_gallery copy.jpg Take My Picture Gary Leonard is a regular Thursday feature at LA Observed.

The greatest concert Pete Seeger never gave

seeger-springsteen-inaug.jpg Of the hundreds of shows that I've seen through the decades, this is the one I'll never forget.

Passion for condors begets passionate condors*

Mace and primary condor wing feather 1-24-14.JPG Most people visit the San Diego Safari Park to gawk at exotic animals. Its California condors aren't exotic, but they are endangered, and they're fortunate to have a posse of professionals to help them procreate.

Blame Jerry Buss for the Lakers' woes; maybe Phil can save them

It's baffling that Jerry Buss made his son Jim the "Owner/GM" of the team, when he should have known better. Now that the Lakers are failing under Jim's leadership, it's time to transfer control of basketball operations to future brother-in-law Phil Jackson.

LA's sustainable city plan and a nomination for LADWP chief

mulroy.jpg The mayor's office unveiled its framework for a sustainable city plan last week to general approval from LA's environmental community. And could the mayor look to Las Vegas for a new leader at the LADWP?

The inertia of that Ridiculously Resilient Ridge

DecJanDailies.gif Grace Peng further examines the data behind the high pressure ridge sitting off North America and concludes "this is a severe event....could be a catastrophic disaster. It's time to prepare for the worst drought and wildfire season in California in my lifetime."

Only in LA: Hello? City Hall? Anyone home?

watchyourstep.jpg Steve Harvey's occasional column of Southern California observations.

UCLA basketball and me: drifting further apart

pauley-pavilion-front-600.jpg Once I was a big UCLA basketball fan. I'm still big, but the whole sport of college basketball has gotten small.

Lights, action, angst and acrimony

Thumbnail image for al-martinez-photo.jpg Martinez & Cinelli weigh in on the Oscar Choices: McConaughey or Dern? A male stripper with skinny white legs or an old man's million-dollar quest?

Velveteria

LAO__Velveteria copy.jpg Gary Leonard archive at LA Observed...

Reading 'American Pie' for fun

iris-live-read-lacma.jpg "While making this movie we did not think This is going to get us to LACMA one day," said director Chris Weitz. But it did.

On the nature of LA in 'Her' and a new 'Green room' at the bay aquarium

Her movie.jpg There's something missing from LA's future in best picture nominee "Her." And there's a new "Green room" at the Santa Monica Bay Aquarium honoring our past.

A light at the end of the dog house

Thumbnail image for al-martinez-photo.jpg Martinez takes a sort of near-death trip through Einstein Country with a little white dog that appears and disappears at will. A hound from Hell? A messenger from heaven? Nobody knows. It just sits there watching and waiting.

Whisky a Go Go

LAO__X@Whisky50tht.jpg Take My Picture Gary Leonard runs on Thursdays at LA Observed.

Greening the state budget and LADWP's cry for help

LADWP.jpg Governor Jerry Brown's 2014 budget proposal is good news for the environment. Meanwhile, are those cries for help we hear coming from LADWP headquarters?

Diane von Furstenberg gives LA a fashion happening

diane-vf-entrance-jg.jpg or an exhibition celebrating 40 years of her iconic wrap dress, New York fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg chose Los Angeles. "LA is very much pop culture and this dress is pop culture," she said Friday.

Two monsters, six nymphos and a coyote

Thumbnail image for al-martinez-photo.jpg Martinez taps into his 3-year-old granddaughter's story-telling genius, puts it together with another weird, er, unusual story and emerges with next year's number one best-seller on the New York Times lists. Writers, read on and learn.

The Hayworth Theatre

LAO__Godot copy.jpg Take My Picture Gary Leonard is a regular Thursday feature of LA Observed.

Lakers Basketball: Let them tank!

dantoni-kobe-espn-grab-thumb-300x211-16907.jpg As the Lakers continue to struggle, it's time recognize reality. The Lakers will have to get worse this season in order to get better.

Ace Hotel opens on DTLA's Broadway

ace-hotel-front-iris.jpg The Ace Hotel opened officially today in the building on Broadway that houses the old United Artists theatre. Iris Schneider took some photos before the opening day.

Short order artist

painted-cafe.jpg The pop-up installation at 9th and Broadway only looks like a fast food restaurant. The whole thing is made of cardboard — it's like a Caine's Arcade for adults. Place your order and see what happens.

That Ridiculously Resilient Ridge keeping California dry

peng-6.jpg LA Observed's newest contributor puts her science training to work on the latest SoCal weather anomaly to get its own catchphrase.

A sober look at the environment in 2014

jc-mg-200-names.jpg After an idyllic holiday week of beautiful beach weather at the end of December and New Year's festivities, we'd like to think that 2014 could be a great year for the environment. But after getting back to work, here's a more sober look at what we'd like to see--and what we predict will actually happen.

A view from the alley

3rd St Promenade alley2 1-3-14.jpg Body parts are visible from the alley of Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, but it's not what you think.

Vin Scully, Grand Marshal

LAO__Vin_RoseParade copy.jpg Take My Picture Gary Leonard is a regular Thursday feature of LA Observed.
KCET control room
kcet-rehearsal-control.jpgA peek inside the TV station's Burbank studios.
Whitt's Wood Yard
whitts-wood-yard.jpgElon Musk wants to drill here at Pico and Sepulveda.
BCAM
bcam-stairs.jpgThe Broad Contemporary Art Museum at LACMA.
David Hockney at LACMA
hockney-arrives-lacma.jpgThe artist arrives to open his latest exhibit.
Mountain lion family
mountain-lion-family-martinez.jpgFrom Robert Martinez's trail cam in the San Gabriels.
The power of 'pluribus' plays
Allegiance-9-(1).jpgDon Shirley on theater in LA
Macy's winds down
mannequin-graveyard-macys.jpgThe store in Westside Pavilion has closed down.
Streetscape: Westwood
westwood-sky-lao.jpgWestwood Boulevard looking north and a little bit skyward.
Streetscape: East LA
la-luz-del-mundo.jpg Iglesia La Luz del Mundo, East 1st Street.
Sign from LA's past
loves-bbq-valley-relics.jpg Sign from an old Love's BBQ restaurant at the Valley Relics Museum in Chatsworth.
Visiting her old ballet costumes
melissa-barak-cost-iris.jpg Melissa Barak at LACMA Chagall exhibit with the artist's memorable designs.
Engine Co. 17
engine-co-17-side.jpg Inside the long-closed Arts District fire station on Santa Fe Avenue.
Wilshire Grand Center lobby
wilshire-grand-lobby-wall.jpg Visitors check out the wall-mounted sculpture by artist Do Ho Suh.
Barnsdall Park
barnsdall-park-trees.jpg Under the trees.
Inside Hollyhock House
hollyhock-columns.jpgPhoto taking was allowed for one weekend. So we did.
Streetscape: Lincoln Heights
el-milagro-market.jpgProductos Mexicanos at El Milagro Market on Avenue 18.
June 6, 1968
rfk-hearse-wide-lapl.jpgThe body of Robert F. Kennedy leaves Good Samaritan hospital. More pics
Streetscape: DTLA
spring-street-bike-lane.jpgSpring Street bike lane.
Palm weeds of Santa Susana
santa-susana-palm-weeds.jpgOak trees, sandstone ridges and fan palms? Ugh. More
Streetscape: West LA
405-at-smblvd.jpg405 North at Santa Monica Boulevard.
Hills turning brown
grman1.jpgThe hills above Gorman.
Arcana Books
arcana-books.jpgIn the Helms Bakery complex in Culver City.
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