Native Intelligence

Observations on Los Angeles and beyond by LA Observed authors and invited guests
Occupy LAFerranoGetty viewBruce Lisker
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Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti

LAO__garcetti_mayor copy.jpg Gary Leonard's long-running series of Los Angeles photos appears on LA Observed on Thursdays.

I left LA for Chicago because ...

0103truck.jpg In "Leaving Las Vegas," Hollywood screenwriter Ben leaves LA ... and then he dies, which was sort of what he wanted. Who better than a Hollywood screenwriter to figure out that the easiest way to kill yourself is to leave LA?

Valley Girl at 30

coolidge-elvis-iris.jpg At LACMA on Thursday night, a packed and very excited audience, some dressed in 80's garb, watched a screening of "Valley Girl" as the the museum's Film Independent program celebrated the movie's 30th anniversary. "This film was well-researched and shot in Los Angeles. It is about our cultural history," director Martha Coolidge told the crowd.

Ricky Jay's tricks and treats

Ricky Jay-Kino Lorber.jpg Ricky Jay could conjure a taxi in the rain in the middle of a cornfield. A documentary film about the renowned illusionist doesn't explain how, and, really, would you want it any other way?

Happy Birthday Bill Rosendahl

LAO__Bill_Rosendahl copy.jpg Take My Picture Gary Leonard appears every Thursday at LA Observed.

Tell me a story ... or not

familycourtprotester5-5-10-13.jpg Why would you stand on a corner with a picket sign if you don't want people to hear your message?

A giant robot invades Brentwood

giant-robot-man-dog-iris.jpg He was greeting people good naturedly on Barrington Avenue just south of Sunset on Friday. The only name he wanted to give was Giant Robot.

A. Quincy Jones getting his due

aqj-St.-Michaels-drawing.jpg The first major museum retrospective of Jones' work comes later this month to the Hammer Museum. Jones was a seminal figure in late mid-century modern architecture and planning.

Education debate

LAO__whichwayLA.jpg Gary Leonard appears on Thursdays at LA Observed.

Size matters in Santa Monica*

SM-logo.png New vocabulary from a robust community meeting about development in Santa Monica: "facade-omy."

LA Sketchbook: Camarillo sign

CamarilloSign rgb.jpg The latest cartoon from Steve Greenberg.

Tower relocation

LAO__tower_relocation.jpg Take My Picture Gary Leonard appears weekly on Thursdays. Go inside to see the image bigger.

LA Sketchbook: Balancing books

BalancingBooks-la.jpg The latest cartoon from Steve Greenberg.
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Drive-by studio
tergo-driveby-wired.jpgLA photographer Johnny Tergo shoots his street scenes with a camera rigged to the passenger seat of his Chevy Silverado. More
Ghostly Dutchman
dutchman-crop1.jpgLA Opera puts on a "Flying Dutchman" without irrelevant whimsy, silly symbolism or egotistical re-writing. Donna Perlmutter
New LA ballet company
barak-instudio-jg.jpgChoreographer and dancer Melissa Barak has big plans for Los Angeles. Read more
Joffrey's 'Rite of Spring'
Le-Sacre-du-Printemps_Joann.jpgThe Joffrey Ballet's most famous reconstruction, "Rite of Spring," opened here in 1987. Donna Perlmutter gives her report on the return engagement, plus her observations of Midori, Meredith Monk and Helmuth Rilling. Native Intelligence
The Snake Can
snake-can-women.jpgIt's been hard to ignore the baggage that comes with aging, writes Iris Schneider at Native Intelligence. Good thing that "The Snake Can" is more about the friendships, loyalties, yearnings and fears that accompany us on life's journey. Story
Sneaky nudes
nude-ernie-holzman-cafe.jpgPhotographer Ernie Holzman snuck his model, Carly, into landmarks such as Union Station (and what looks to be Snug Harbor, above) for a series he calls "L.A. Backstory." Part of his own backstory is that the pictures help him fight his cancer. More at Los Angeles Magazine.
How the media missed Jenni Rivera
jenni-rivera-smile.jpgHalf a century after Ritchie Valens, the national and local media got caught unawares again by the death of a major LA talent. Read
Track 16 yields to the Expo Line
track-16-goodbye-kcrw.jpgA part of the Bergamot Station arts complex where many have attended arts and book events through the years had to go. Read.
Native Intelligence: Gatz
gatz-stage-iris.jpgIris Schneider sits through seven hours of Gatsby and tells you about her experience. (She loved it.)
Chasing Ice

ChasingIce_filmstill2_by_James_Balog-Extreme_Ice_Survey2.jpgFilm review by Iris Schneider at Native Intelligence. Read

Gallery
Night visions
TheClock-NightVision.jpg The midnight line outside LACMA's showing of "The Clock." More Night visions by Iris Schneider.
Bill Cunningham at work
Bill Cunningham working Getting to know the street photographer Bill Cunningham, after all these years.
Video gallery
City Ballet of Los Angeles
LA Observed goes behind the scenes at a ballet company housed in a Salvation Army center near downtown. Native Intelligence
California Design 1930-1965
Inside the preview day for a major exhibition.
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