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Vol 3. No. 6 Serving the Greater Los Feliz, Silver Lake & Hollywood Hills Area | Distribution 32,500 December 2007
Los Feliz Ledger2007 RewindBy Kimberly GomezLedger Contributing Writer
In 2007, the Los Feliz Led-ger covered everything from fires, flooding concerns, eth-nic tensions at a local middle school to changes and im-provements promised for the area. Here is a look at where things stand on a number of outstanding community con-cerns and issues:
ENVIRONMENTSilver Lake Meadow—Los Angeles City Council presi-dent Eric Garcetti said he’ll have a plan for the Silver Lake Meadow this month that ad-dresses neighborhood con-cerns. Currently, the city has proposed that six acres of the Silver Lake Reservoir—the so-called “Meadow”— be opened to the public during daylight hours. But some are opposed to opening the site, that has been closed to the public for over 60 years, saying doing so would attract crime, litter and drive out wildlife.
GRIFFITH PARKGriffith Park Fire Recov-ery—With a protective layer of hydro-mulching covering the nearly 1,000 acres scorched last spring by fire, the Dept. of Recreation and Parks hope erosion, due to rainfall, will be prevented from the park’s can-yons and slopes. Trails have been reopened since the hydro mulch application. Concrete barriers will also be installed along Vermont and Com-monwealth avenues to pro-tect structures from potential mudslides.
The Griffith Park Master Plan Working Group has ap-proved revisions of their last chapter on the master plan draft. Now it’s up to the city’s Dept. of Recreation and Parks to merge the revisions into a final document. Since 2005, the working group has been making recommendations on a city sponsored master plan intended to provide guidelines for the park for future gen-erations. The working group was formed after an outside consultant’s recommendations for the park’s master plan were poorly received by the com-munity. Although a target date
see 2007 Rewind page 6
By Marie CunninghamLedger Contributing Writer
LOS FELIZ—Whether stretched out in the shop’s front window
belly-up in the sun, or wan-dering the aisles in search of a scratch on the head from a cus-tomer, Lucy was a welcome fix-ture a Skylight Books.
Sadly, Lucy succumbed to feline lymphoma this No-vember.
Skylight Books General Manger Kerry Slattery adopt-ed Lucy from Catts & Doggs on Hyperion Avenue in 1996. But after bringing Lucy home, Slattery’s other cat was less than enthusiastic to have a new feline roommate and soon the two cats had to be kept in separate rooms.
Then Slatterly had a novel idea—why not bring Lucy to the bookshop?
“One day I was coming in on a Sunday and I thought ‘Oh let’s see what will happen if I
[ CHRISTMASES PAST ]
Parkland Under the Christmas Tree
By Diane KannerLedger Columnist
LOS FELIZ—Both of the
great parks of Los Feliz—Barn-sdall and Griffith—were gifts to the citizens of Los Angeles on Christmas Day. No employ-ees were actually present in the Recorder’s office or City Hall on the holidays, of course; it was, instead, a symbolic gesture on the part of both Col. Griffith J. Griffith (1850-1919) and Aline Barnsdall (1882-1946) to suggest that they were making Christmas gifts.
The Colonel, a Welsh-born immigrant whose bank-roll derived from mining in-vestments, made his bequest in 1896 to deed 3,015 acres of Rancho Los Feliz to the city.
He willed the city $700,000 in a trust for the upkeep of the park and for the construction of an observatory and Greek Theater. Over time, he gave more gifts of land. Also over time, the City for-mally designated the park in his name.
With Aline Barnsdall’s be-quest, dated Dec. 23rd, 1926, “Barnsdall” was specified by her as the parcel’s future name, although the Barnsdall name was to honor her deceased father Theodore, not herself. The Barnsdall fortune, like Griffith’s, derived from natu-ral resources. Theodore Barn-
see Parkland page 7
LOS FELIZ—Hazardous toys are still sold in stores across the country, according to the 22nd annual toy safety survey released recently by the Cali-fornia Public Interest Research Group (CALPRIG).
A representative from CALPPRIG and Dr. Ilene Claudius, an emergency room physician at Childrens Hospi-tal Los Angeles, said at a press conference recently, that parents should be on the watchout for toys with lead or with moveable parts that may pop off causing a choking hazard.
They also cautioned against toys with powerful tiny magnets that when ingested
together can attract each other causing bowel obstruction or a life-threatening perforation.
According to CALPRIG, a 22-month old boy died in 2006 from swallowing such magnets. Some of Mattel Toys, Inc.’s Barbie and Polly Pockets toys were recalled earlier this year for poorly designed mag-nets that can dislodge.
“Swallowing a magnet is not like swallowing a penny,” said CALPRIG’s Michael Russo. “Powerful magnets can wreak havoc inside the body.”
According to Russo, some toy makers, in a rush to meet holiday shopping demand, hire subcontractors to get their
Harmful Toys Still On the ShelvesBy Allison B. Cohen
products out the door quickly, sometimes bypassing impor-tant safety quality controls.
Toy makers can be very “competitive to get toys out for the holidays,” he said, “and the toys don’t get the testing they should have.”
According to the most re-cent data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), some 73,000 chil-dren under the age of 5, were seen at emergency rooms in 2005. During that year, 20 died from toy-related injuries.
CALPRIG’s full report is available at www.calpirg.org including a list of potentially harmful toys.
Santa’s on his way, hopefully, with safe toys. Samira Iqbal, 4, and Gregor Kauruma, 3, recently helped Childrens Hospital Los Angeles staff demonstrate unsafe toys. Hospital staff said often, during the rush to get toys on the shelves for the holiday season, toy makers sub-contract the manufacturing of products to other companies that don’t test the toys for safety adequately. Photo Credit: Allison B. Cohen
bring Lucy in for a few hours,’” Slatterly recalled. “She was so happy! She kept running up and down the stairs and sitting in people’s laps. I did that a couple more times and the last time she wouldn’t leave.”
Lucy’s sickness resulted in an outpouring of com-munity support. Skylight employees and local residents even held a bake sale in Oc-tober to help pay for Lucy’s veterinary expenses.
“I will miss Lucy’s calm-ing presence and beautiful energy,” Skylight Books em-ployee Courtney Hennessey said. “She radiated it.”
Skylight’s “Lucy” Dies
Los Feliz Ledger
Page 2 www.losfelizledger.com December 2007
A Word from the Publisher and Editor
Pick up the
Los Feliz Ledgerat dozens of locations:
LOS FELIZCitibank
1965 Hillhurst Avenue
House of Pies 1869 N. Vermont
Louise’s Trattoria 4500 Los Feliz Blvd.
Los Feliz Public Library 1874 Hillhurst Avenue
Los Feliz 3 Theaters 1822 N. Vermont
Newsstand Vermont and Melbourne
Palermo 1858 N. Vermont
Skylight Books 1818 N. Vermont
SILVER LAKECasita del Campo1920 Hyperion Ave
Michelangelo 1637 Silver Lake Boulevard
Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce 1724 W. Silver Lake Drive
FOUNDED 2005 Delievered the last Thursday of each month
to 32,500 homes and businesses in the Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Hollywood Hills
communities.
PUBLISHER/EDITORAllison B. Cohen
ADVERTISING SALES Olga Measures
GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUTTiffany Sims
OFFICE ASSISTANTGriffin O. Cohen
LABELER, STAMPER AND TEARSHEET MANAGER
Charles “Chunny” Cohen
Los Feliz Ledger
Story ideas, submissions,
advertising rates
& inquiries contact:
Allison Cohen
4459 Avocado St.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: 323-667-9897
Fax: 323-667-1816
www. losfelizledger.com
U p o n ref lection, the best thing I did
in 2007 was trade in my gas guzzling SUV for a Prius. Around the same time—about seven months ago—I also made a conscious choice to stop using plastic bags—or brown paper bags, for that matter—at grocery stores. Instead, I bought 10 reusable bags from Trader Joe’s in Silver Lake and have diligently kept them in the back of my Prius since for my weekly shopping excursion.
My new reusable bags are bigger and sturdier. No more groceries rolling around in the
back of my car! And no more “wrist burn” from the plastic bags while carrying in heavy loads of groceries.
It may not seem like a lot, but according to my own esti-mates, this simple act has saved an approximate 224 plastic bags from being produced at all and possibly ending up in a landfill, where they could sit for thousands of years.
It’s a small, minor change in my life but do the numbers and you can see how many plastic bags I could have been respon-sible for over my lifetime!
The city of San Francisco has recently banned such bags from large grocery stores. What are we waiting for?
I know that the commu-nity of Silver Lake is working hard to encourage its residents and businesses to make simi-lar changes. (See Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce presi-dent Cheryl Revkin’s editorial on page 26 to learn specifics.)
Most of all, it feels good that this generation is taking back control of its environment and returning to a simpler, more thoughtful, more respectable and ultimately more sustainable way of living.
Doesn’t coffee taste better out of a ceramic cup, rather than stryofoam?
Make it a resolution in 2008 to implement at least one minor change in your daily ac-tivities to help our world. Tell me about your changes at [email protected].
Happy Holidays to all!
Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com Page 3COMMUNITY NEWS
Tree Planting in Griffith Park
Los Angeles City Coun-cil President Eric Garcetti has announced a partnership be-tween the City of Los Angeles Dept. of Public Works (DPW) and Los Angeles-area Jiffy Lube franchisees to expand consumer access to approved recycling drop-off points for household batteries.
Collection containers will be available at 28 stores to help recycle the more than
900,000 household batteries that are improperly disposed of each year in Los Angeles, leaking chemicals that con-taminate our air, water and even our food.
More information and a complete list of participat-ing stores, including those in Glendale and Burbank, can be found at www.jiffylubela.com or by calling the DPW hotline at 1-800-98-TOXIC.
Garcetti and Jiffy Lube Team UpOn Battery Recycling
One hundred trees will be planted in Griffith Park on Sat. Dec. 1st, thanks to a grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the upper Merry-Go-Round parking lot at 4730 Crystal Springs Dr. at 8:30 a.m. for registration. An open-ing ceremony will kick off the day at 9 a.m.
The event is part of the “Great Clean Air Tree Planting Project” to plant 5,000 trees across South-ern California—the largest recorded single-day urban tree planting effort in Cali-fornia’s history.
Information is available at: www.unitedvoices.org.
SILVER LAKE—Renee Na-hum has retained her seat on the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council while candidate Jason Lyon has been disqualified for his at-large seat, according to a report issued Nov. 15th by the Dept. of Neighborhood Em-powerment in response to two challenges filed against the candidates during the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s board elections Sept. 29th.
The challenge against Na-hum—filed by Joel Stein, a challenger for the same region 7 seat—indicated that Nahum had allegedly campaigned ille-gally on polling grounds.
The report found that that claim could not be “proven beyond a reasonable doubt” and that Nahum had acted in
good faith—leaving the poll-ing area immediately when the question was raised if she was improperly campaigning.
The challenge against Lyon was that he used access to the SLNC e-mail database as an existing member of the SLNC board for campaign purposes.
According to the report, SLNC election committee chair Leanna Dickstein set up an e-mail account to receive all e-mails generated from the SLNC database as a control to ensure there was no improper use of the database for election purposes. The report states that shortly before the elec-tion, Dickstein received an email from Lyon encouraging
SLNC Election Results FinalizedAfter City Review of Two Challenges By Allison B. Cohen
see SLNC Election page 22
Preschool Shutdown Amid ControversyKimberly GomezLedger Contributing Writer
SILVER LAKE—Citing intense community pressure, Camelot Kids Preschool closed in mid-November pending the receipt of licenses necessary to run both its preschool and after-school care programs.
Parents, mainly who had children enrolled at the pre-school, have expressed anger at the scrutiny Camelot Kids has received over the licensing and other issues. They say the closure of the facility will leave 40 enrolled families without sufficient childcare.
“It’s very sad the com-munity is trying to get it shut down,” said parent Sandra Collier.
First established in an-other name in 1996 as an af-terschool program for Ivanhoe elementary school, Camelot Kids evolved over the years in name and function, adding a preschool in 2005.
This fall, Camelot Kids moved its preschool pro-gram across from Ivanhoe to 2880 Rowena Ave. and had hoped to keep its afterschool care program on the Ivanhoe campus.
But, according to Thuy Bui, Camelot Kids execu-tive director, things began to unravel when the afterschool program lost its lease at Ivan-hoe. The school wanted to use the space for an additional classroom.
Having lost the afterschool program space, Bui then de-cided to move that program to the new facility on Rowena.
Responding to a com-see Camelot Kids page 22
Lion’s Club Celebrates 80 YearsThe Griffith Park Lions Club recently celebrated 80 years of
service with a special dinner celebration at Burban’s Castaway restaurant.
The club was chartered on Dec. 19, 1927 with 20 members. The club, over the years, has contributed to local churches and schools and organizations such as the Boy Scouts.
This year, the club will hold its primary fundraising activ-ity—an Annual Pancake Breakfast—on May 3rd.
Page 4 www.losfelizledger.com December 2007
Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com Page 5COMMUNITY NEWS
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SILVER LAKE—Baller True Value Hardware has provided $1,500 in emergency pre-paredness equipment at cost, to be used to stock an emer-gency storage facility located in Southern Silver Lake.
The idea of an emergency storage facility was conceived by the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s Public Safety Com-mittee as a resource to have emergency equipment read-ily available in case of an earth-quake or some other disaster.
Funding for the stor-age facility was provided by the Silver Lake Neighbor-hood Council together with a grant from Los Angeles City Council president Eric Garcetti, also of the 13 local council district.
“Getting this storage facil-ity fully stocked with [Baller Hardware’s help] has been an important part of on going efforts by the Public Safety Committee in Silver Lake to make our community capable
of dealing with emergencies,” said Barb Dakin, SLNC pub-lic safety committee founder and co-chair.
Baller Hardware is owned by Craig Cowie, who has been a fixture in Silver Lake since 1959.
“We’ve always tried to give back to the community as a way of thanking them for supporting us,” said Cowie. “It was an easy way to help out.”
For more information about the Silver Lake Public Safety Committee, contact Barb Dakin at (213) 413-4221 or via email at: [email protected]
Presentation to Craig Cowie (standing, fourth from right), owner of Baller True Value Hardware, is made by Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Public Safety Committee Co-Chair, Barbara Dakin, and Los Angeles Battalion 2 Fire Chief Gerry Malais. In attendance were Ryan Carpio (standing, right), Field Deputy to Councilman Garcetti, (also standing l to r) Van De Shields, Scott Feinerman, Public Safety Committee Co-Chair, SLNC Co-Chairs Doug Dickstein and Cherie Miller, (kneeling l to r) Pat Tashma, Gary Nacua and Cynthia Berne. All serve on the SLNC Public Safety Committee. Those with vests are trained CERT members. Photo credit: Michael Locke
Baller Hardware Helps Stock Silver Lake Emergency Facility
Los Feliz Ledger
Page 6 www.losfelizledger.com December 2007COMMUNITY NEWS
hasn’t been set, Vickie Israel, Asst. General Manager of the Dept. of Recreation and Parks said when the document is fi-nalized it will be made avail-able for public review.
HOUSINGHillhurst Square/Derby Nightclub: A slow-down in residential properties sales has stalled at least one of the area’s proposed developments. The build-ing that currently houses the Derby Nightclub and Louise’s Trattoria at 4500 Los Feliz Blvd.—and that was once owned by Hollywood icon Cecille B. Demille—is still on the market having been reduced to $15 million from its original $20 million asking price last spring.
Adler Realty Investments, owners of the property since 2004, had proposed to demolish the existing structure to build a five-story mixed-use condomin-ium/retail complex, but is cur-rently not moving forward with development plans.
“At the moment we’ve got tenants so it’s not an ur-gency,” said Rick Gable of Adler Realty.
RENOVATIONS AND CONSTUCTIONHyperion Bridge Renova-tion: Renovation for the Hy-perion Bridge, that will snarl traffic between Silver Lake and Atwater Village for two years, has been delayed until 2009 due to the addition of proj-ect enhancements suggested by the community in public hearings. The city is proposing to seismically strengthen, im-prove and restore the historic and cultural landmark and its connectors—the Glendale Blvd. bridge and the Waverly Drive bridge—to its original 1929 appearance. A draft of the project will be available to the public in January.
Vermont Triangle Project:The project—which will re-landscape and beautify the intersection of Vermont and Prospect avenues at Hollywood Blvd.—received city-council approval in October and is set to begin construction in Janu-ary. A grove of sycamore trees and light fixtures matching those in nearby Barnsdall Art Park designed by Frank Lloyd Wright will be featured.
Parking Structure on Vermont Avenue:A proposed parking structure on Vermont Ave. on post office property has been set back due to staffing changes at the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), overseers of the project. “It would be great addition to he neighborhood,” said Kip Rudd of CRA.
Adult Community Center:The opening of the much-an-ticipated Adult Community Center in Griffith Park to serve seniors from the com-munities of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village and Echo Park, East Hollywood, has been stalled by construc-tion delays but Silver Lake Senor Club president, Steph-anie Vendig, is hopeful that doors will open in the early part of 2008.
The 5,700 sq ft. facility will offer fitness classes, a nutrition program, a library and com-puter lab and classes operated by LAUSD’s Hollywood Adult School, Los Angeles Dept. of Recreation and Parks and Osher Life Learning Institute.
Autry National Center Expansion: The public comment period for the Autry National Center’s Ex-pansion draft Environmental Impact Report—which iden-tifies the project and evaluates its impact, as well as analyzes alternatives—has now closed. The city is expected to release the final EIR in the beginning of January. A final city deci-sion on the EIR is expected in the spring. An open house is set for Sat., Jan. 26th from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. which will offer a glimpse of expansion and renovation plans.
SCHOOLSLos Feliz Charter School for the Arts, began its sec-ond year expanding enroll-ment to teach a project-based arts curriculum to kinder-garten through second grade levels. A theater arts program in partnership with CalArts is a new feature that has been added to the program. Plans to move the school from its current West Hollywood lo-cation are in the works.
“Span School”: A trend of declining enrollment in area public schools has contrib-uted to the district’s decision to abandon the proposed 6th through 12th grade “span” school originally conceived to help relieve overcrowding at Thomas Starr King Middle School and John Marshall High School.
“The span school is an unfunded projected and not needed for the board’s current goals,” said Tom Calhoun, LAUSD central region devel-opment manager.
6th Grade Back to Elementary School?:
According to LAUSD’s Tom Calhoun, a $1.8 billion dollar shortfall has forced the district to utilize other options to relieve area over- crowding. Moving 6th grade back to lo-cal public elementary schools
2007 Rewind from page 1
LOS FELIZ—Los Angeles City councilmember Tom LaBonge has announced that starting in late November, a DASH shuttle service will be available in Los Feliz to and from the Griffith Observatory.
The DASH line will con-nect riders from the Metro Red Line station on Sunset Boulevard, then go north on Hillhurst Avenue, west on Los Feliz Boulevard and north again on Vermont Av-
enue to the Observatory with a dozen stops in-between including one at the Greek Theatre.
The service, which was instituted at the request of La-Bonge’s office, is available on weekends only and will oper-ate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
DASH Now to the Observatory
see 2007 Rewind page 23
Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com Page 7COMMUNITY NEWS
www.ggpnc.org
...is a board of 19 of your
neighbors who have been
organized as an advisory body to
the City of Los Angeles. The
purpose of the GGPNC is to
participate as an advisory body on
city services of concern to you.
The mission of the GGPNC is to
promote citizen participation in
government at all levels by
encouraging citizens to advise
City government. Now start
advising. That’s how you helped
us Save the Derby!!
WE ARE YOU!
WHO ARE WE?
Greater Griffith ParkNeighborhood Council...
COMMITTEE COMMENTS
Planning, Zoning & Historic Preservation
Parks, River & Open Space
Neighborhood Improvement
Education Committee
Did you know…
The concessionaire, Wolfgang Puck, has filed a letter withdrawing its application for a zoningvariance allowing the sale and service of alcoholic beverages under the concession agreementat the Observatory. The Central Area Planning Commission acknowledged the withdrawal at itshearing on November 13.
The dream of the DREAM AGAIN mural became reality in October 2007 when King graduateBrandon Tu's winning design was painted on the west wall of the Myra Avenue underpass. Ledby King animation teacher Kirk Palayan, with guidance from Metro Gallery artist Heng Leng,about 30 King students participated in the beautification project.
This committee is currently looking at projects that schools within the area need financialassistance to complete. The next meeting for this committee is scheduled for Thursday, January17, 2008 - 7pm LILA School, 4155 Russell Avenue. Please contact Dr. Sarah Napier for moreinformation. E-MAIL: [email protected]
Garden Apartment Buildings… The board has taken action to oppose any developmentinvolving the demolition of these gracious buildings. (1801-1817 New Hampshire 22-unit) Theowner/proposed developer presented a rendering of a proposed 34-unit condominiumdevelopment. The committee urged the new owner to seriously consider preservation of theproperty and consider converting the units to condominiums and pledged GGPNC’s assistancein obtaining needed variances and the like to effect the preservation and conversion.
To find out more about any of your councils activities just go to the website and check out our
calendar. And as always all meetings are open to the public… …this means you!
Quimby Fees are monies contributed by developers of new real estate projects. Thesecontributions are made according to law. The money is to be used to purchase new parkland.This committee discussed a report on $77 million in unspent Quimby fees. Public interest andpossible oversight were explored. Any thoughts from the community?
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The city of Los Ange-les honored Los Globos N i g h t c l u b owner Juan Ribot at a cer-
emony held recently at Taix Restaurant in Echo Park.
Ribot has a long record of distinguished public service in financially supporting the Silver Lake Community Po-lice Service Center on Sunset Boulevard. Opened in 1994, the center was managed for 13 years by Silver Lake residents Joe and Rose Radogna until their retirement in September 2007. Although the center no longer has an assigned officer, it is still used as a “stop-in” cen-ter for the Los Angeles Police Dept. offering officers a place to follow-up on their reports and for them to take a break before their next assignment.
“Sustaining the center would not have been pos-sible without the financial as-sistance that Juan Ribot has provided,” said Rose Radogna. “His contributions have made our community—particularly the area around Sunset and Silver Lake Boulevard where the center is located – a better place to live.
[ SILVER LAKE CORRESPONDENT ]
Los Globos Nightclub Owner Juan Ribot HonoredBy Michael LockeSilver Lake Correspondent
Juan Ribot honored. photo by Michael Locke
sdall began explorations for oil in Pennsylvania in the mid 19th century, and continued in Oklahoma and California, drilling off Santa Barbara and near Newhall. While Barn-sdall Oil eventually was ab-sorbed by one of the major oil corporations, Barnsdall, Okla-homa remains as a reminder of its influence.
The Griffith gift giving cer-emony took place at City Hall. Griffith invited the leading businessmen of the city to at-tend. In the crowd was William Mead, who would purchase hundreds of acres of land from Griffith—land adjacent to the park—and begin the subdivid-ing of the Los Feliz hills.
The Dec. 17th, 1896 Los Angeles Daily Times reported that Griffith had several mo-tives. One, “the hope that it might induce other wealthy men to make similar gifts” was spoken in the same breath in which Griffith admitted that he was “tired of paying taxes upon the property and had concluded to let the city have it.”
Barnsdall’s motives were suspect in some quarters for she had first made the offer of a gift of land and her home three years earlier. As an account in a “special bulletin” of the Bet-ter America Federation reported on March 27th, 1931, Barnsdall “hatched the idea” because it
would “give her $1 million for herself and $1 million for the radical cause.” The organization proclaimed that the “cleverly en-gineered scheme of the wealthy subversive” was unworthy of public use because Barnsdall had specified that “no monu-ment to war heroes or war shall be placed in said park.” When Barnsdall made the offer in 1926, she eliminated the clause and instead specified that the only monuments allowed would be to recognize artists or art.
Nonetheless, the city be-came the proprietor of her residence, Hollyhock House, and its aura would continue to grow, year after year, as the reputation of its architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, grew.
In 1927, Barnsdall was the guest of honor at a din-ner given by the Los Feliz Im-provement Association at the Breakfast Club and the festivi-ties were broadcast over radio station KFWB. Miss Barns-dall spoke, announcing that she would underwrite art and music education by the “Dal-croze Eurythmics method” for children. “She will sponsor the program for ten years at a cost of 25 cents a child,” LFIA minutes reveal.
The Barnsdall and Griffith gifts forever changed the ap-pearance of our community, and the generosity of Barns-dall and Griffith will be diffi-cult to match.
Parkland from page 1
Los Feliz Ledger
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[ FITNESS ]
Pounds of Fun Without Gaining Weight
By Nancy J. KrankLedger Columnist
The holidays are upon us!
Here are some tips that will lessen the pressures they bring and will keep the scale weigh-ing in your favor!
Exercise daily no matter your schedule. Twenty minutes a day is realistic. Split the time and do 10 minutes in the morn-ing and during the afternoon, consider another type of exer-cise that gets your heart pump-ing—like walking or biking.
Keep a food log. Find 10 minutes at the end of your day to write down your consump-tion. Use the 80/20 rule. Watch what you eat 80% of the time. For the other 20%, enjoy that delectable you’ve been avoiding.
Watch your alcohol. Have a glass of water in between drinks. By doing so, you will consume fewer calories. Keep in mind that you would have to jog for 40 minutes to work off a 6 oz cup of Egg Nog (343 calories).
Don’t self-medicate with food. During the stressful sea-son, food can be comfort tool of choice. Instead of reaching for more food when you are feeling blue, call a friend, go for a walk or pamper yourself by reading or enjoy a long bath.
Remember, the holidays are to enjoy friends and family. Don’t put unrealistic weight loss goals and expectations on yourself. If you eat healthy most of the time and indulge in moderation, you will find yourself being able to have a great holiday without the guilt that comes with overeating.
Nancy Krank is an ACE-Cer-tified Personal Fitness Trainer. She has been training clients for 24 years. Contact Nancy at [email protected].
Fear is in the air these days—the war, the economy, global warming, disease pan-demics, the fall of the Ameri-can Empire—and basically, the end of the world. From foreign policy to personal choices, our habitual responses are often fear-based.
Fear motivates. Fear cre-ates the threat of terrorism. Without it, terrorists would be out of a job, because no one would be terrified. What spurs the financial markets? The in-surance industry? Applying for kindergarten? Fear.
The stress of constant anx-iety is bad for us in every way. It creates a cascade of hormone reactions that eventually cre-ate discomfort and disease. Even scary movies can be det-rimental to people who are al-ready stressed. The body reacts the same way to manufactured panic as it does to real panic.
How can we stop react-ing with fear? The same way
we would step back from any negative emotion—by under-standing that we have a choice. Fear and worry are emotional misperceptions. Anxiety is an over-reaction to reality—not reality itself. If we observe that there are other possible re-sponses, other choices, we can quickly let go of fear.
We energize what we focus on. When we allow ourselves fearful reactions to the news, we amplify the fear around us. It’s common knowledge that animals can sense fear. We hu-mans can sense it too. We just tend to identify it as our own fear, rather than our resonance with collective fear.
Take responsibility for de-creasing global fear. Refuse to resonate with it. Next time you feel anxious or worried, try this self-healing technique. Visualize a “delete” button, anywhere on your spine. Hit delete, and feel the fear dissipate. You’ll be do-ing the world a favor!
Elma Mayer, MA, is a Certi-fied Practitioner and Teacher of The Yuen Method of Chinese Energetics. www.nowhealing.com (323)309-7687.
[ BEING WHOLE ]
Delete FearBy Elma MayerLedger Columinst
Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com Page 9HEALTH & FAMILY
[ FAMILY MATTERS ]
A Holiday Wish: Take Care of Yourself & Take Time for OthersBy Kathy A. McDonald / Ledger Columnist
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My dad had an emergen-cy, quadruple by-pass opera-tion the week before Christ-mas last year. Our worries were whether he would “con-vert,” not to another religion, but in medical jargon whether his heart would return to a normal rhythm. It did and he was able to leave the hospital just before the holiday. We ex-changed gifts in his room at an extended care facility. Al-though stressful, the best gift of all last year was that my dad was OK.
This year one of my dear friends is in the midst of treatment for breast cancer. I’m sure most who read this know someone who’s had to face this disease, which comes with a terrible learn-ing curve for each patient. Today’s healthcare system demands that patients must educate and advocate for themselves. Finding a pain medication for my dad post-surgery, one that would help him sleep most of the night, was way more difficult than it should have been. My friend has to decide which kind of chemotherapy, or not, makes sense for her.
So I’m reminding all par-
ents, of every age, to make sure they are up-to-date on their check-ups and for women, mammograms. I know some-times it’s easier to avoid the annual visit but there’s no de-nying how essential it can be. My dad discovered his heart condition through a stress test
he almost put off. Two friends have detected malignant lumps via self-breast exams; two oth-ers were diagnosed after an-nual mammograms.
Fighting and recovering from a life threatening illness takes both strength of charac-ter and support from family and friends. My friend’s blog movingly confirms this: “No talisman, no amount of flow-ers, cookies, chicken soup can possibly touch the wealth I feel from all the care of friends and family. I am blessed so many times over that I’ve lost count,”
she writes. Her daughter returned
home from college to be with her. “Just having a momen-tary cuddle with her, she said, watching “The Lady From Shanghai”—was spec-tacularly healing. Should make us all realize that we
shouldn’t wait for sickness or crisis to take those moments in our lives.”
My holiday wishes to all this year: make time, even if it’s just a few minutes, to en-joy your children and see what wonderful people they’ve be-come. And, please take care of yourself because children, even adult ones, want you home for the holidays.
Bikram Yoga Silverlake Hosts 2nd Annual Toy DriveSILVER LAKE—Bikram Yoga SilverLake is hosting it’s 2nd annual toy drive, through Dec. 18th. Those dropping off a new toy—unwrapped and in original packaging—will receive 10% off a monthly un-limited program or 15% off a three-month unlimited or an-nual class package.
Toys will be donated to seriously injured children at
Rancho Los Amigos Hos-pital. Toys such as board games, puzzles, dolls and stuffed animals are preferred as many of the children re-ceiving the gifts have limited mobility.
According to Birkam Yoga Silver Lake owner, Nicole Go-golak, no purchase is neces-sary and all in the community is encouraged to donate.
Love, Desire & Attachment Workshop, Dec. 1st
The topic of creating sta-ble, loving and fulfilling re-lationships by understanding why relationships fail, will be discussed Dec. 1st, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Philo-sophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Blvd.
The workshop will be led by British-born Buddhist nun Gen Kelsang Dao, resident teacher of Khandakapala Buddhist Center. $60. In-formation: (323) 223-0610 or www.meditateinla.org
I’m reminding all parents, of every age, to make sure they are up-to-date on their
check-ups and for women, mammograms. I know sometimes it’s
easier to avoid the annual visit but there’s no denying how essential it can be.
Los Feliz Ledger
Page 10 www.losfelizledger.com December 2007SCHOOL NEWS
[ MICHELTORENA STREET SCHOOL ]
By Ana Gomez
M i c h e l -torena stu-dents love the annual Mu-sic Box Steps Day. It’s a
childrens’ film festival honor-ing actors Laurel & Hardy and is held at Laurel & Hardy Park on Vendome across the street from the famous steps where they filmed a short film called “The Music Box.”
The founder of the festi-val, Vince Brooks, first intro-duced all the activities held that day and then talked about the history of the film. The movie played two times at different hours.
There were several per-formers who entertained the audience. One was a magician, Reno Goodale. There was also music played by Charlie Cox. And the best performance of all was by the hilarious actors who played Laurel & Hardy for the day.
Micheltorena student Max Tacuchi and his friends went up the steps to make sure there were 133, but wouldn’t say how many they there were exactly.
[ LOS FELIZ CHARTER FOR THE ARTS ]
1st Graders Explore “Neighborhood”by Alyssa Gonzales, 1st Grade Teacher
At the Los Feliz Charter for the Arts, 1st graders have been studying the concept of neighborhoods.
Students first collected in-formation to answer the ques-tion: What do we already know about neighborhoods? They “zoomed” in on the sights and sounds of the neighborhoods around them through panto-mime, paintings and play.
Then, to compare and contrast similarities and differ-ences among neighborhoods, students examined four art prints. Teachers then asked: What shapes do you see in the painting? What time of day do you think it is? In what ways does this painting remind you of our school neighborhood?
Students then came up with a class definition of a neighborhood. Finally, each of the four 1st grade classes showed their learning by creat-ing a 3-by-6-foot paper class-room neighborhood collage.
LFCSA will have a school tour for prospective families on Jan. 16th. For information: (323) 656-2810.
St. Brendan School will hold its 3rd Annual Christmas Fair Fri., Dec. 7th from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the school playground at 238 South Manhattan Place.
The event offers Advent and Christmas gift selections, gourmet baked goods from
a variety of Christmas tradi-tions around the world, craft tables with talented artists to assist children in making their own gifts and a special under $10 gift table to fit students’ Christmas shopping budgets.
On hand will be ceramic wares and delectable, flavored
olive oils made by the monks of St Andrew’s Abby, includ-ing a wide selection of hand-made ornaments depicting popular hobbies and widely-held careers.
Children can also make their own gifts for family and friends, including painting and decorating paper star lanterns, making Victorian Christ-mas cones, designing original wooden ornaments, creating jewelry, constructing button wreaths as well as assembling promise coupon booklets.
All are invited to bring an unwrapped toy for a boy or girl between the ages of 4 and 12 and leave it at the Toy Drive table. Gifts will be distributed to needy families at special Christmas parties hosted by St. Brendan Parish for the resi-dents at Alexandria House and families of Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood.
The Christmas Fair is also the last chance to purchase tickets for the annual St. Bren-dan Hawaiian Raffle which awards three prizes, includ-ing a one week trip to Hawaii. Winners will be announced at the end of the Fair, however, winners need not be present.
Additionally, holiday greenery, such as poinsettias, mixed green wreaths, and ce-
3rd Annual St. Brendan Christmas Fair Features Gifts & Activities
see St. Brendan page 11
Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com Page 11SCHOOL NEWS
Grades PK – 12thLA County & State Science Fair ChampionsNational Debate ChampionsLA County Mock Trial ChampionsMarine Biology Program and LabGold Key Scholastic Art & Writing AwardsCongressional Art Competition 1st, 2nd & 3rd PlaceChampionship AthleticsNational Champions in Cheerleading, Dance and Hip Hop
Visitation Day WednesdaysDecember 5th & 19th see website for details
2911 San Fernando RoadLos Angeles, CA 90065(323) 344-4330 ext 123www.ribetacademy.com
Become a Championat Ribét AcademyCollege Preparatory School
Sunday, December 2, 2007, between 1 and 3:30 p.m., Flintridge Prep will hold its Open House, allowing your family to meet Flintridge Prep’s students, faculty, and coaches as you visit our campus. The Headmaster will speak and answer ques-tions in the auditorium at 1:15 and 2:30. No reservations are required.
With an average Upper School class size of 14 to a room, 9% of last year’s graduates attending Princeton, Stanford and Yale and 16% of this year’s senior class designated National Merit Semi-Finalists for their performance on the PSAT, Flintridge Prep presents one of the strongest academic pro�les in the state, year after year. Flintridge Prep is equally committed to a school experience that values the human develop-ment of the adolescent in an increasingly complex and competitive world.
Flintridge Preparatory School
Admissions Open House
December 2, 20071-3:30 p.m.
4543 Crown Avenue La Cañada, CA 91011
818.790.1178
CoeducationalGrades 7-12
December is a busy month at Immaculate Heart, starting with two valuable opportuni-ties for prospective students to visit the campus and learn more about us.
Save the date for the an-nual Immaculate Heart High School Open House on Sun-day, Dec. 2nd, starting at 1 p.m. Parents and their daugh-ters are welcomed to tour the school grounds and learn more about our academic program. A week later, on Sunday, Dec. 9th, those interested in attending the Immaculate Heart Middle School are invited to discover the school’s offerings at its open house, beginning at 1 p.m.
Yet another very impor-tant date is Sat., Dec. 8th, when students interested in at-tending the high school should consider taking the school’s early admission and merit scholarship exam. Testing be-gins at 8:30 a.m. on campus. A second admissions test will be offered on January 26th.
As our school enters the winter sports season, IHHS looks back at the success of its fall season. Hard-working athletes in volleyball and cross country earned many success-es. Most exciting of all, the JV Cross Country team remained the Sunshine League champi-ons for the third straight year! We are now looking forward
to basketball and soccer.Immaculate Heart’s com-
munity outreach recently bene-fited families associated with the Blythe Street Community. Our Thanksgiving drive collected food items so that families could enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving Day meal together.
With the holidays upon us, the voices of IH’s talented young women will be heard singing in Choral Christmas concerts on campus. Students are also look-ing forward to an elegant eve-ning with the upcoming Winter Formal. Finally, classmates will come together once more to enjoy an entertaining program of songs and skits for a festive finish before our well-earned Christmas break.
dar and Douglas fir mixed garlands will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit the school’s technology program. Wreaths, garland and poinset-tias can be ordered in advance and picked up the day of the event. Delivery of greenery and poinsettias is available within 20 miles of the school for a $10 fee.
For event information call (323) 467-6566. For preor-dering Christmas greenery, call (323) 938-3536 or [email protected].
[ IHHS ]
Open House & More Planned for December By Lauren Aleman ’10 and Heidi Slojewski ’10
St. Brendan from page 10
Los Feliz Ledger
Page 12 www.losfelizledger.com December 2007SCHOOL NEWS
• • • • ••
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-
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St. James’ Episcopal School
Admissions Applications DueJanuary 11, 2008
A Day School in the Heart of Los Angeles
625 S. St. Andrews PlaceLos Angeles, CA [email protected]
Please call 213-382-2315 for more information.
1968 200840YEARS
LOS FELIZ—After learning she won a $5,000 classroom make-over, high school art teacher Dorothy Lee still can’t believe she is a candidate to win the ultimate prize—a $25,000 classroom makeover.
Thanks to a classroom photo and an essay written and submitted by Lee to the EXPO Classroom Make-over Contest describing how
her classroom was in need of a makeover, she is one of four semifinalists to receive a $5,000 classroom overhaul. Now, Lee’s classroom is quali-fied to win the grand prize, a $25,000 classroom makeover, complete with the latest in learning technology and col-orful classroom tools.
In her essay, Lee described how the classroom was in need
of a makeover due to poor conditions and limited space for the 720 students that come into the room every year.
“How wonderful, this is so exciting,” said Lee. “This will be such a great classroom im-provement for our students!”
Area residents and sup-porters are encouraged to vote for Lee to win the big prize online at www.expo-classroommakeover.com un-til Dec. 3rd.
The Web site features a picture of Lee’s classroom alongside her winning essay.
EXPO has teamed up with celebrity carpenter/author Paige Hemmis of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and Dana Truby, executive editor of Scholastic Instructor magazine for the 2007 EXPO Classroom Makeover Con-test—a national campaign that aims to enhance class-rooms across the country.
Marshall Teacher In Running for $25,000 Classroom Makeover
Memories for the Making This Holiday Season
Here’s the Los Feliz Led-ger’s picks for ways to create memories this holiday season:
Los Feliz 3rd Annual Holiday Festival
Kicking off at the library with a tree lighting, this fes-tive gathering features trolley and double decker bus rides with a free shuttle also avail-able. Local stores will stay open late. Holiday carolers and a children’s choir will also spread the good cheer.
Dec 1st, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hillhurst Avenue, Hollywood Blvd. and Vermont Avenue.
LADWP 12th Annual Holiday Light Festival
View beautiful light displays that showcase the uniqueness of Los Angeles in this once a year event. Walk the route or drive. Through Dec. 30th, 5 – 10 p.m., 4730 Crystal Springs Dr., L.A. 90027 www.dwplightfestival.com.
Silver Lake Independent Jewish Community Center’s 5th Annual Festival of Lights
Fun for everyone, this event has all the trimmings: food, live music, activities for kids and a gift bazaar. Admission is $5. Kids under 5 are free.
Dec. 8th, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., 1110 Bates Ave. JCC Parking
Lot, entrance on Effie. (323) 663-2255. More information: www.sijcc.net
48th Annual L.A. Holiday Celebration at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Staged at the gorgeous Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Music Center, this Christmas Eve program honors differ-ent cultures holiday tradi-tions through music, song and dance. Community and professional choirs, music en-sembles, folk and traditional artists, and dance companies perform. The program will be broadcast live on KCET.
Dec. 24th, 3 – 9 p.m., doors open at 2:30 p.m. Seat-ing is first come, first served.
Attendance and parking are free with no reservations or tickets necessary. 135 N. Grand Avenue, L.A.
Las Posadas on Olvera Street
In the oldest part of Los Angeles, a procession of sing-ers, musicians and community members go from house to house mimicking the plight of Mary and Joseph in Beth-lehem.
Dec. 16th through 24th. Entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m. The candlelit procession is from 7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Information: (213) 625-5045.
Tournament of Roses ParadeRing in the New Year
watching this centuries’ old flower adorned parade. The 2008 theme is “Passport to the World’s Celebration.”
see Memories page 22
St. Casimir SchoolHosts Christmas Pageant
FRANKLIN HILLS—St. Casi-mir School will host a silent auction and annual Christmas pageant on Dec. 20th, starting at 3 p.m., on the school’s cam-pus at 2714 St. George St.
Refreshments will be available for $5 before the pageant and during the silent auction. Food was donated for the event by Daphne’s Greek Restaurant, Pizza Hut, Crispy Crust Pizza and more area res-taurants.
Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com LIFESTYLES Page 13
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If you are looking for al-ternative healing practitio-ners, the Silver Lake Health & Wellness Association is the place to start.
Founded three years ago by Wanda Jewell, a local psy-chotherapist, the association is a multi-disciplinary group of healers who strive to provide physical and emotional well-ness and high quality care for the community.
Jewell, a solo practitioner, had been telling herself for years that she “should meet the alternative healthcare pro-viders in the neighborhood,” but, she never made the time.
Finally, in October of 2004, she wondered: “why not get them all together?”
Cheryl Revkin, a Silver Lake chiropractor and presi-dent of the Silver Lake Cham-ber of Commerce offered to help. Thirty people showed up at the first meeting.
The group now has 50 members and meets month-ly. There are bodyworkers (massage, yoga, rolfers); en-ergy healers (Reiki, crystals, biofeedback); equine assist-ed learning and coaching; feldenkrais; nutritionists; pilates; acupuncturists; chi-ropractors; feng shui and nu-merous psychotherapists (see page 25 for a Silver Lake Well-ness Co-Op ad). While most members are non-traditional healers, there is one medical
doctor (who provides “holis-tic medical care on a sliding scale”) and one Free Clinic, whose motto is, “healthcare is a right, not a privilege.” To become a member, you must be certified in your field and work locally.
Rachel Pray, a horse pro-fessional who works in At-water Village, offers clients equine assisted learning and psychotherapy.
“As a newcomer to Los Angeles … I found commu-nity, acceptance and support at the association. Wanda was enthusiastic about my work, even though I was the only member to provide services with horses,” said Pray.
Linda Ferrero, a licensed massage therapist agrees.
“I was in a car accident in July and found …that the asso-ciation provided such a net of support for me – everything I needed health-wise, plus rides, assistance and social support,” she said.
Revkin stated that the association “has provided a wealth of local…resources I can count on for professional referrals to patients.”
And finally from Jewell: “If I’m puzzled about a client, I get six opinions from others in the group.”
Jewell believes the associa-tion will continue to grow and become an increasingly vibrant community presence.
[ FOCUS ON THE ADVERTISER ]
Silver Lake Health & Wellness AssociationBy Laura J. Weinstock / Ledger Contributing Writer
Silver Lake JCC to Host Festival of Lights, December 8th
SILVER LAKE—The Silver Lake Jewish Community Cen-ter will host their annual “Fes-tival of Lights” Sat., Dec. 8th
GRIFFITH PARK—The 2008 Griffith Observatory color cal-endar—with images by world famous photographers Julius Shulman and Juergen Nogai—is available to purchase online and at local Southern Califor-nia museums and bookstores.
The calendar captures interior and exterior views of Griffith Observatory’s award-winning renovation and ex-hibit program. Each view is a separate work of art suitable for framing and presented in an 11-by-14-inch format with high-resolution offset lithog-raphy and a satin coating. Signed copies of the calendar are also available online at www.FriendsOfTheObserva-tory.com.
Friends Of The Obser-vatory (FOTO), the support group for the Griffith Ob-servatory, commissioned the calendar to raise funds for the landmark which reopened last year after major renovations. Proceeds from the calendar go to Friends Of The Observato-ry to continue to support pro-grams at Griffith Observatory. The calendar is available at the Griffith Observatory, at www.FriendsOf TheObservatory.com, the Los Angeles County Museum, the Los Angeles Li-brary and the Pasadena His-tory museum and at the fol-lowing bookstores: Dutton’s, Vroman’s, Tashcen/Beverly Hills and Hennessey + Ingalls in Santa Monica.
2008 Observatory Calendar Available
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the center parking lot at 1110 Bates Ave.
On hand for this year’s event will be food— homemade Latkes, veg-gie chili, hot dogs and lots of baked goods—and ac-tivity booths like tattoos, crown and wand decorating and “Seven Minutes in Hot
Wheel Heaven.” Participants can also have
a photo taken of their family for holiday gift giving.
There will also be a gift bazaar where local shops and artists will sell products. For each sale, 20% will be donated to the JCC school.
Admission is $5 per per-son. Kids under 5 are free.
Ribet Academy to Present“A Dickens of a Christmas”
Performing arts elementary, middle and high school students from Ribét Academy’s will present “A Dickens of a Christmas,” Thurs. Dec. 6th, at 7:15 p.m. at the Ribet Gymnasium.
For information: (323) 344-4330 or www.ribetacademy.com. 2911 San Fernando Road.
Los Feliz Ledger
www.losfelizledger.com December 2007LIFESTYLESPage 14
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[ ECHO PARK CORRESPONDENT ]
A “Very Short” Holiday SeasonBy Sean Paul Mahoney Echo Park Correspondent
Mayra Baligad is a Silver Lake girl.
She moved to the area, from the Philippines, at 2, at-tended local public schools—from Micheltorena to Mar-shall—and her parents still live on the street she grew up on. Her own home is just a couple miles away.
As a long-time resident, Baligad has seen a lot of change.
“I think [Silver Lake] is more community-based now. People know each other,” she said, “[And] there are a lot of families here, which I really like.”
It’s a good thing, too, since Baligad is in the business of selling toys.
Chances are, if you’ve vis-ited Monkeyhouse Toys on Silver Lake Boulevard you’ve met her. Baligad is the store-owner and founder of a unique fusion between toy store and art gallery.
Monkeyhouse is Baligad’s first business venture. In fact, she never imagined she’d own a business until her son, Max, was born four years ago. Moth-erhood inspired her to find an alternative to the 9 to 5 grind. Before Max, she had a 7 year stint as toy buyer for the Santa Monica toy store Imagine.
But not just any toys. Baligad wanted to offer her customers something they wouldn’t find at Toys R Us and she felt Silver Lake was the perfect place to do it.
“People just get this stuff here,” she said. “They appreci-ate non-commercial things.”
Non-commercial means Monkeyhouse stocks wooden toys based on Keith Haring designs, huge connectable liz-ards inspired by M.C. Escher, designer toys by artists like Joe Ledbetter, and lots of Urban Vinyl, the new rage with toy collectors and kids alike.
Where does the art gallery come in?
“I love toys. I love art,” she said. “It just kind of all fell to-gether.” Baligad never expect-ed the art to take off the way it has but she’s thrilled it’s been such a success.
“I’m really happy to be able to showcase a lot of up and coming artists,” she said, adding that her shows are al-ways open to young artists as well as adults.
Baligad is looking for-ward to showcasing a few of these young artists in her up-coming handmade plush and doll show: “Welcome to Dol-lywood,” opening Dec. 1st and running through the end of the month.
“Kids see the artwork in the store and think ‘I could do that,’” Baligad said. And many of them do.
[ PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ]
Monkeyhouses’ Mayra BaligadBy Colleen Paeff / Ledger Contributing Writer
With high temperatures and locals decked out in
flip-flops and sunglasses, it is hardly, as the song suggests, be-ginning to feel a lot like Christ-mas. Honestly, it’s beginning to feel a lot like August—and shorts weather. Nevertheless, I’ve hunted down some holiday festivities that may help you get into the spirit.
First up is Black Market At Black Maria: Skip The Mall at the Black Maria Gal-lery (3137 Glendale Blvd.) on display until Jan. 5th. The show, which features over 20 artists, takes a tongue-in-cheek ap-proach to the consumerism so frequently associated with the season. Paintings are displayed on clothing hangers and in shoeboxes encouraging patrons to shop for art like they would
clothing. While at Black Ma-ria, make sure you check out the gallery store next door. It’s filled with unique gifts made by local artists.
Speaking of unique, the Annual Pet Photos with Santa fundraiser for the Echo Park Animal Alliance, Dec. 1 & 2, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Echo Park Pottery Studio (1850 Echo Park Avenue) is a fun alternative to the tradi-
see Echo Park page 22
Monkeyhouse’s Mayra Baligad.
Photo credit: Echopark.net
Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com Su Casa REAL ESTATE Page A
visit us online at : Californiamoves.com
1917 Hillhurst Avenue • Los Angeles CA 90027 • Office: (323) 665-5841 • Fax: (323) 666-4955
©2007, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT, Incorporated. Coldwell Banker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by the seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.
617 S. IRVING BLVD, HANCOCK PARK $2,995,000This 1923 Mediterranean-revival home is the sole home next-door to Los Angeles's official mayoral residence. Last sold in the 1970s, the home retains its original character. High ceilings, heavy cornice moldings, a coffered ceiling in the dining room, original tile in the baths and a novel, 1930s-era "cocktail room". MBR en suite with office/nursery. Family BRs have pvt terraces.
RICHARD STANLEY 323-906-2417
5915 CANYON DRIVE, HHE $1,199,0001924 Mediterranean in Bronson Canyon thoroughly updated with sleek designer amenities. Exterior is reminiscent of architect Irving Gill's simplified volumes and arches. Inside, the deep autumn tones and polished wood surfaces recall the Orient Express, yet the whole is updated with today's tastes and needs. Newer systems include central HVAC, seismic retrofitting and much more. Flat, grassy garden is just right for kids or pets. Quiet, pvt.
RICHARD STANLEY 323-906-2417
5252 LOS GRANDES WAY, LOS FELIZ $1,799,000Sleek Palm Springs-style Architectural on one of the highest streets in the Los Feliz Estates. 3BR, 3BA, family room, sun room. Downtown to ocean vu. Atrium living room under hi pleated roof. Very light and bright throughout. Great MBR suite with Roman tub, double dressing/vanity areas.
RICHARD STANLEY 323-906-2417
4455 LOS FELIZ BLVD #507, LOS FELIZ $539,000�Great corner unit in Los Feliz Towers with view of Downtown and city lights. S.W. exposure . Two parking spaces. Great balcony, 9' ceilings, floor to ceiling glass. 1 bed + den area + 1 Bath. Pool, gym and saunas. Full service building with doormen.
DON BRUNS 323 906-2422
2280 PANORAMA TERRACE, SILVER LAKE $1,195,000Romantic Silver Lake Spanish Revival with beautiful courtyard entry. This 3 bedroom, 1.75 bath home features a large step-down living room with original Clay Craft tile fireplace, lots of light, and beautiful hardwood floors and woodwork throughout. The back yard offers loads of privacy with wonderful views, covered patio, large grassy area, and a separate dining area with an outdoor blue river rock gas fireplace. Come and enjoy this Silver Lake gem.
GISELE PLOUFFE 323-906-2468
357 MARIE AVE, HIGHLAND PARK $499,000�Very private retreat located behind tall wooden fence features landscaped yard, winding path down to charming cottage-style home. Beautiful refinished wood floor in the living room, new tile floor in the main bath, new flooring in master bedroom that leads to a deck and lower living area. Separate bed and bath on lower level and separate laundry room. Downtown views and tree top views make this home a special oasis in the city.
NATALIE CARTER 323-377-3405
792 TERRACE 49, MT.WASHINGTON $439,000�Located in the Mount Washington neighborhood, this cozy home has an attached garage, a lush backyard with tree top views, and a newer roof. Two bedrooms, a laundry room inside the house, and new carpet make this a home that you could move right into or upgrade and add some extra pizzazz. Truly a sweet home in a neighborhood where homes typically sell for much more money!
NATALIE CARTER 323-377-3405
401 CUMBERLAND ROAD, GLENDALE $2,275,000 Featured in Glendale's annual Tour of Homes as one of the best designed and finished properties, this spectacular Mediterranean estate is located on a private corner lot, with a strong emphasis on entertaining and family living. Lush tropical grounds include a large pool & several hundred sq ft of roof top decking.
ROBERT RODRIGUEZ 323-210-2388
4411 CLAYTON AVENUE, LOS FELIZ $699,000First time on the market in 30 years, this California bungalow with Craftsman inspiration is the cosmetic fixer you've been looking for. Located in the heart of the Los Feliz Village and just blocks from the Sunset Junction, this 2 bed/1.5 bath includes hardwood floors, high ceilings, and an open manicured backyard. Large lot, zoned R2. Bring your creativity, designer, and/or architect and give this home a fresh look.
GINA ISAAC 323-829-8009
2156 PRINCETON AVENUE, ECHO PARK $895,000Late Mid-century feel, first time ever on market, trust sale, perched on the hill with fabulous views. Extra spacious rooms. 5 bedroom, 3 baths family room and den, great work at home space. Large rear yard all waiting for the personal touches.3
LORI RAMIREZ 323-665-5841
1321 BATES AVENUE, LOS FELIZ $597,000Cute as a button character cottages set behind a white picket fence on a large, tree-shaded lot close to Sunset Junction & Los Feliz Village. Front house is a 2+1 w/ a wrap-around front porch & a bonus space looking out to the rear yard that works quite well as an office. The back house is set to the rear of the property, allowing for maximum separation. a detached gar completes the picture. Needs some TLC, but newer plumbing & roof on front house.ISAAC FAST/JOHN ABREU 323-210-1434/323-210-2392
4621-4629 MAUBERT AVENUE, LOS FELIZ $4,900,000Two lots; over 19,000 sq.ft. of R4 land. Suitable for building 38 to 50 residential units. Within 250 ft. of the Sunset/Vermont metro station.
VAHAN SAROIANS 323-497-6655CLAUDIA HIPOLITO 323-697-2360
Los Feliz Ledger
www.losfelizledger.com December 2007Su Casa REAL ESTATEPage B
[ REAL ESTATE ]
Double-Ending:Why Real Estate Agency Laws Need an UpdateBy Richard Stanley / Ledger ColumnistBOB’S ROOTER
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When I began my career in the 1980s, the real estate business was relatively unregu-lated. Amazingly, at that time, buyers did not have exclusive representatives. All brokers and their agents were “sub-agents” of the sellers. Because of a lack of understanding of real estate jargon and roles, the California legislature enacted an agency law disclosure in the late 1980s. This law remains
in effect, and is essentially un-changed.
First, the law defines ter-minology. “Agent” means the brokerage to most people, a company headed by a person with a broker’s license. An agent may have “sub-agents of the agent”— what most people call realtors, or persons with real estate licenses who must work under the supervision of a broker—a function that has blurred in recent years.
Second, the agency law defined the roles agents (bro-kerages) may play in represent-ing the public. An agent may represent a seller exclusively, a
buyer exclusively or both par-ties in what is called a “dual agency.” The law further states that a prescribed form, the Disclosure Regarding Real Estate Agency Relationships, must be signed by parties rep-resented by agents. The un-derlying statute, in its entirety, is attached to this disclosure.
So what’s the problem? Dual agency. Done fairly and ethically, dual agency can
work well for both “sides” of a transaction. Usually dual agency occurs when two real-tors within one brokerage each represent one side of a transac-tion. But problems arise when more than one offer is on the table and one of the offers is from the listing brokerage. Obvious incentives exist—or may appear to exist—to steer the seller toward selecting the in-house offer. Situations get even murkier when one realtor represents both the buyer and the seller in a transaction.
How can one realtor ne-gotiate the highest sale price for the seller, while at the same
time negotiating the lowest purchase price for the buyer? Further, how can one realtor serve two masters during the escrow—a time that can be contentious?
Abuses abound—especial-ly during times, such as now, when business is lean and real-tor integrity can tarnish. Some realtors deliberately withhold listings from the Multiple List-ing Service to allow them time to hold a Sunday open house. This way, they have a better chance of “double-ending” the deal (representing both seller and buyer) before competition from other realtors’ clients ar-rives. They also have a chance to “poach” another realtor’s client, who may wonder why they weren’t apprised of the new listing.
What can be done? To protect the interests of the par-ties from predatory realtors, urge state representatives to ban dual agency as it pertains to single realtor, simultaneous representation of both sides in a real estate transaction. Many states already have such laws. California needs to catch up.
If you are a buyer or a seller, ask a prospective realtor how many times in the past year they have had double-ended deals. If they answer affirmatively—and more than once or twice—run.
Ask about a brokerage’s procedures regarding the su-pervision of multiple offers and double-ended deals. If the procedures do not seem highly protective of your interests, move onto another realtor and brokerage.
Usually dual agency occurs when two realtors
within one brokerage each represent one side
of a transaction. But problems arise when more
than one offer is on the table and one of the of-
fers is from the listing brokerage.
Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com Su Casa REAL ESTATE Page C
[ SELECT HOME SALES DECEMBER 2007 ]
90026 Condominimums 1832 N ALVARADO ST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $545,000
90026 Single Family Homes
1530 N EASTERLY TER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,495,000
1742 REDCLIFF ST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,085,000
823 N DILLON ST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .769,000
742 ROBINSON ST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .668,000
3322 BERKELEY AVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .535,000
1843 SANTA YNEZ ST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .490,000
90027 Single Family Homes 2408 NOTTINGHAM AVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,350,000
3809 AMESBURY RD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000,000
2031 N ALEXANDRIA AVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,630,000
2307 WAYNE AVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,529,000
2000 MAYVIEW DR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .820,000
90039 Single Family Homes 2152 PANORAMA TER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,300,000
2236 ALLESANDRO ST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .499,000
2378 LANDA ST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465,000
4511 BRUNSWICK AVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .415,000
90068 Condominimums
1900 VINE ST 311. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $470,000
90068 Single Family Homes
6158 MULHOLLAND HWY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000,000
6389 QUEBEC DR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,935,000
3400 N KNOLL DR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,800,000
5555 GREEN OAK DR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,230,000
5866 CANYON CV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,190,000
3132 OAKCREST DR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,085,000
2225 HOLLY DR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .988,000
3159 ELLINGTON DR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .987,000
2351 CANYON DR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .925,000
1900 VINE ST 311. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .470,000
Sales are from the previous month. Source: Great American Real Estate Solutions
[ANGLES ON ARCHITECTURE]
Bungalow Style
By Karen Numme and Laura Massino Smith
One of our goals is to pro-vide Los Feliz Ledger readers with an understanding of various American architectural styles and help to answer the question: “What style is my home?”
The most misunder-stood, and one of the most prolific of California styles, is the Bungalow style. It re-f lects many Architectural
styles, which explains the confusion over its definition. As authors Robert Winter and Alexander Vertikoff have noted in their book Ameri-can Bungalow Style there are dozens of variations on the bungalow form including,
Craftsman Bungalow, Cali-fornia Bungalow and Chi-cago Bungalow.
The word “bungalow” comes from the Indian word “bangla,” which in the 19th century referred to houses, built in the Bengal style. Brit-ish colonial officers adopted this style to build their sum-mer retreats. These houses were one story with tile or thatched roofs and wide, cov-ered verandas. The association was created early on that these were small houses for a tempo-rary retreat.
The main idea of the bungalow was to cluster the kitchen, dining area, bed-rooms and bathroom around a central living area. The style is also distinguished with some combination of the following: low-pitched roofs, gabled or hipped, deep eaves with ex-posed rafters, decorative knee braces, an open floor plan, 1 or 1 1/2 stories—occasion-ally two—built-in cabine-try, beamed ceilings, simple wainscoting, large fireplaces (often with built-in cabinetry, shelves, or benches on either side) and large and covered front porches.
One reason for the suc-cess of the Bungalow style was a backlash of the Indus-trial Age. The desire among many Americans was to own their own home and have a
small garden. The Bungalow provided the solution. Most of all, the Bungalow style had populist appeal was af-fordable and promoted easy livability and charm.
West Coast Bungalows of the 20’s.Photo source: Dover Publication
Karen Numme, holds the title of Master of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and is a realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Los Feliz. www.karennumme.com
Laura Massino Smith holds a Master of Architectural History degree and is an Architectural Historian. She is also the direc-tor of Architecture Tours L.A. www.architecturetoursla.com
www.losfelizledger.com December 2007Su Casa REAL ESTATEPage D
©2007 NRT Incorporated. Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. is Owned and Operated by NRT LLC. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark. Farm of Jas de Bouffan, used with permission. Sotheby’s International Realty does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the property provided by the seller or obtained from public records or other sources.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BROKERAGES I SOTHEBYSHOMES.COM/SOCAL I USE THE WEB NUMBERS PROVIDED TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ON A PROPERTY THROUGH OUR WEBSITE
LOS FELIZ 1801 NORTH HILLHURST AVENUE T 323.665.1700
BEVERLY HILLS I BRENTWOOD I HOLLYWOOD BEACH I LOS ALAMOS I LOS OLIVOS I MALIBU I MONTECITO
PACIFIC PALISADES I PASADENA I SANTA BARBARA I SANTA MONICA I SANTA YNEZ I SUNSET STRIP I WESTLAKE VILLAGE
VIEW HOME WITH POOL: Los Feliz. Diamond in the rough. 2bd/1.5ba. home with views. Mid-century with yard and pool. Central ac/heat. Needs your TLC. $899,000WEB: 0283179 Allen Levoff 213.999.6564
CHARACTER COTTAGE: Silver Lake. Updated Cottage w/ hdwd flrs, fplc, stainless appliances, high ceilings. French drs lead to lrg deck & grassy backyd. $699,000WEB: 0283158 Megan MacLeod 323.665.1700
2608 LAKE VIEW AVE: Silver Lake. 2bd/1.5 ba Spanish vu home. Wd flrs, DR, wood beam ceilings & bonus room for office. For pics: www.2608lakeview.com $749,000WEB: 028315 Tim Hartley 310.770.5168
1930’S TRAD W/SEP STUDIO: Atwater. Cute 1930s Courtyd 2bd/1ba Traditionl w/lg unfinished sep studio. Hdwd flrs, orig tiled kit &ba. www.4153brunswickave.com $625,000WEB: 028316 Rick Yohon 323.671.2356
3232 TERZILLA PL: Glassell Park. Two spacious bedrms, two bathrms, and a generous living room w/ expansive mountain vus. Large backyd for seclusion. $629,000WEB: 0283128 Tim Hartley 323.671.2331
OASIS IN THE CITY: Los Feliz. Amazing writers retreat. Large 1bd/2ba gated cottage with hdwd flrs, A/C, Views, Frplc, & great indoor/outdoor flow. $625,000WEB: 0283101 Michael Rasky 323.804.8041
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Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com SENIOR MOMENTS
Call 866-905-2266 or visit www.belmontvillage.com to order your free guide to Assisted Living.
RCFE Lic. 197603515, 197603848, 197605090, 198204246 © 2007 BelmontCorp
Burbank(818) 972-2405
Encino (818) 788-8870
Hollywood Hills(323) 874-7711
Rancho Palos Verdes(310) 377-9977
Opening Summer 2009Westwood
(310) 475-7501
Choose Belmont Village for Memory Support
We all have occasional difficulty remembering things. When it persists in a loved one, it could be the sign of Mild Cognitive Impairment, or MCI. Belmont’s Circle of Friends™ tackles the effects of MCI through a daily program of exercises and activities for our residents. These group “workouts” help to maintain mental alertness, are fun to do, and they work. Our residents and families report a renewed enjoyment for life and improved well-being. If you’re concerned about MCI in a friend or loved one, ask us how our Circle of Friends memory enrichment program can help.
Choose Circle of Friends• Structured exercises and activities tailored for residents’ abilities • Physical and mental “workouts” for a balanced approach to cognitive fitness
• Dedicated program coordinator and specially trained staff
• Designed specifically for MCI by a leading gerontologist
• Seven-day support
Silver Lake Senior Club Calendar
Ad sponsored by Sunset Hall
Programs for Free-Thinking Seniors! To learn more about our current calendar of classes, concerts and cultural events, visit www.sunsethall.org. For information: Wendy Caputo (323) 962-5277
[ SENIOR MOMENTS ]
Write it DownBy Stephanie Vendig / Ledger Columnist
Page 15
Recently, I saw the docu-mentary feature film, “Steal a Pencil for Me.” It is a story about survival within the concentration camps during World War II. An unmarried couple, as part of the mass deportation of Holland’s Jews, ended up in the same camps. They began a rela-tionship with love letters se-cretly written and delivered within the camps, enabling them to endure the horrible circumstances around them.
In the film, their daugh-ter exclaims that her parents never discussed their fate. As an adult, she found the letters in their house, and started to ask questions. She later published the letters. It is familiar story.
Parents who have gone through traumatic or un-pleasant circumstances often feel that sharing those expe-riences with their children would burden their well be-ing. One must “move on” or “put the bad parts of life be-hind you.” So, children grow up knowing little about how
their parents managed their lives from childhood through adulthood. Yet, for children, knowing about their parents’ lives, can give clues to their own history.
The story was familiar to me, because my husband’s fam-
ily were also victims of the Ho-locaust and had a horrific story. As my husband grew up, the experience had emotional over-tones, so he avoided the subject. I had to go to his mother to find out what had happened. His mother in her older years wanted to share, because the bad experi-ences (1934 – 1946) shattered her life and aspirations; and at the same time, out of the bad experiences came some good things that would never have been otherwise. We kept telling
my mother-in-law to “Write it down.” She finally did.
The impact of all this was that when my husband be-came sick with a terminal ill-ness, it was a catalyst to write down his story so that his chil-dren would know more about him than what he could share verbally.
Now that my husband is gone, we have a binder of knowledge of a very special person. My oldest son recently started a new college program
in psychology, so it is now his turn to reflect on his life through writing assignments, and he can use his father’s binder as an aid for his self-discovery.
Writing it down or talking to a recorder validates what you have been through. How accurate or how embellished is not the issue. It is what you feel; it is your view of the world, no one can censor you. It can be a legacy. But most of all, it benefits you because you
survived, or you learned some-thing about life.
You may be a self-starter, but many get encouragement from being part of group who will support writing endeavors without judgment. This writ-ing down is a fixture in Adult Education Classes throughout
California under the title, Life Story Writing. There is an on-going class at the Silver Lake Recreation Center dedicated to this purpose. And when the Griffith Park Adult Com-munity Center opens (hope-fully in January) that class will be there.
Now that my husband is gone, we have a binder of knowledge of a very special person. My oldest
son recently started a new college program in psychology, so it is now his turn to reflect on his life through writing assignments, and he can use his father’s binder as an aid for his self-discovery.
General Meeting: Wed., Dec. 19th,1 p.m., Annual Gourmet Potluck, Home of Bea Gold, 2206 Micheltorena St. Call (323) 660-0106 for directions and information.
Trips
Thursday, Dec. 13th, Trip to Palm Springs, $10 (lunch not included) 9 am to 7 pm, Palm Springs Follies Optional ($45, 1:30-4:30)
Call Doris Slater at (323) 667- 1879 or Jeanne Phipps at (323) 664-2681 for more information on trips.
December Classes
Winter Vacation December 24 – January 4, 2008
All classes will take place at the Silver Lake Recreation Center. When Griffith Park Adult Community Center opens, some classes will move to the new site.
Mondays: Tai Chi, 9:30-11:30, Gym, free • Life Story Writing, 12:30-3:30, freeTuesday: Strength Training, 1:00 – 3:00, free Wednesdays: Yoga and Stretching, 9:30 – 12:00, freeThursday: Line Dancing, 10:00 – 11:15, $12/3 sessions or $5/sessionFridays: Yoga with Susan Quon 9:30 – 11:30, $4/session Tai Chi with Susan Quon 11:30 – 12:30, $2/session starting 9/21 Craft Workshop, 11:00 – 1:00, free • Painting 1:00 – 3:00, free Aerobics to Latin Dance Rhythms, 2:30 – 4:30, free
Widows and Widowers Group, December 14thCall Bob Friedman at (323) 662-9686 or [email protected] for information
For Information on the Silver Lake Senior Club, call Stephanie Vendig at (323) 667-3043, or e-mail at [email protected] or call Jeanne Phipps at (323) 664-2681.
Los Feliz Ledger
www.losfelizledger.com December 2007Page 16
[ A DOG’S LIFE ]
Holiday Hazards: Foods That Are Toxic To DogsBy Jennifer Clark / Ledger Columnist
[ THE GOOD LIFE ]
Consider Books on BoozeThis HolidayBy Chris RubinWine and Spirits Columnist
A version of this story has previously been published in the Los Feliz Ledger.
Think twice before you share your holiday treats with Fido.
Chocolate can be lethal if consumed by dogs. It con-tains both theobromine and caffeine, dangerous chemical agents. The darker the choco-late, the more potential for harm. Once ingested, dogs may exhibit restlessness, hy-peractivity, vomiting, rapid irregular heartbeat, diarrhea and muscle tremors.
Grapes, a healthy dessert alternative for humans, can also pose a threat. Some ex-perts speculate the pesticides used while growing on the vine are the harmful agent. Grapes and raisins can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and renal failure in dogs.
Onions and garlic also pose a controversial threat. Garlic, for humans, is thought to boost the immune system. But the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says to avoid giving
your dog onions and garlic in cooked or raw form as it con-tains thiosulphate which can cause anemia.
If you are cooking fresh baked breads this holiday sea-son, ensure your canine com-panion doesn’t lay a paw on the unbaked yeast dough. If ingested, it continues to rise in the gastrointestinal tract, which can potentially lead to a blockage or rupture.
If your dog eats something on the list, stay calm, monitor the dog for signs of distress and after evaluation, contact your veterinarian. If you do need to take your dog to the hospital, most likely vomiting will be induced to get the item out of the dog’s stomach and activated charcoal may be ad-ministered in order to delay or prevent the absorption of the ingested food.
One last hazard: avoid kiss-ing your dog under the mistle-toe, those berries are poisonous.
ASPCA poison control hotline (888) 426-4435, www.aspca.org. National Animal Poison Control Center (900) 680-0000.
Many give gifts of wine and spirits over the winter hol-idays. I often do. That’s never a bad idea—as long as the recip-ient enjoys that kind of thing and isn’t presently attempting sobriety. But consider another approach to this topic if you’ve given one too many chardon-nays or single malts in years past: books on booze.
Esquire columnist and former college professor Da-vid Wondrich takes a cerebral approach to the history of the cocktail—which he labels “the first legitimate American cu-linary art”—in IMBIBE!, fo-cusing on legendary bartender “Professor” Jerry Thomas.
Among the first true mix-ologists, Thomas was a color-ful, bejeweled character and Wondrich charts the history of modern beverages through his life. The book includes 100 original recipes plus 20 more inspired by Thomas from pres-ent-day bartenders. He also tells you how to shake a mean drink at home.
Dan Dunn writes about drinking for the Metro papers
around the country, and he brings a jaundiced eye—and perhaps more—to his first book, Nobody Likes A Quitter: The Loaded Life Of An Outlaw Booze Writer. I have tippled and traveled with Dunn, and I know that at least some of these stories have some con-
nection to the truth. As they say on television, do not try this at home.
Anyone who enjoys these books would probably enjoy a good drink, too, so here are a couple of unusual bottles.
Vérité is the work of Pierre Seillan, a top French wine-maker toiling in Sonoma. He produces three bottles—La Joie, La Muse and Le Désir—each emulating a different re-gion in Bordeaux. Le Désir,
for example, goes heavy on the merlot à la Pomerol.
Chivas Regal 25 Year Old ($300) marks a return to the label’s origins, when the blend debuted in 1909. The prod-uct was so successful and cre-ated such a surge in interest in Scotch that sufficiently old bar-rels of the stuff were in short supply and younger whiskies were used. Smooth and bal-anced with a long finish, this long-aged whisky should sat-isfy even those who typically drink only single malts.
For something exotic,
how about a bottle of rum from Maui? Somebody had to figure out what to do with all that sugarcane, and Maui Rum (http://haleakaladistill-ers.com) is one of the answers. Look for Gold, Platinum and Dark bottles ($20), as well as Braddah Kimoh’s Da [end]Bomb, which is nearly 80% alcohol, roughly double the usual amount. Again, not for amateurs.
Echo Park has changed. The arrival of 15 Restaurant solidifies it.
In the space that once housed a Salvadoran pupu-seria, 15 recently opened on Echo Park Ave. It’s a sleek spot with comfy leather high back chairs, black and white photos of musicians decorating the subdued beige walls and flat screen TVs playing the Food Network.
“It sure doesn’t seem like we’re in Echo Park,” said our din-ing companion, which is both the good and the bad news.
Early diners can take ad-vantage of the $15 at 15 deal, offered from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The three-course menu in-cludes a choice of several appe-tizers, many of the entrees on the regular menu and a des-sert. Get there soon before the owners come to their senses or have to change the name of the restaurant.
Dishes are standard up-scale American comfort fare like mac ‘n cheese, short ribs with sour cream mashed po-tatoes or a Kobe beef burg-er with gorgonzola cheese. Friendly, competent service is a big step up from the ar-ea’s usual slacker standards. Menu selections rotate, al-though the short ribs and burger and vegetarian choic-es are always available.
We start with two salads: roasted beet salad with seared
LIFESTYLES
goat cheese makes an attrac-tive presentation, while an overly-large plate of lettuce, feta cheese and sautéed mush-rooms shows that the kitchen seems to lean a little too heav-ily on fungal flavors.
Main courses are well-prepared, if not ground-breaking—grilled salmon ($16) is showered with micro greens on a bed of white bean puree and a hearty portion of pork loin ($16) is served two ways: pear compote tries unsuccessfully to moisten an overcooked tenderloin, while a grilled piece is nicely charred and tender.
Vegetarians can choose from a grilled vegetable tower, cheese tortellini, risotto and appetizers including roasted garlic and fennel mushroom hash.
Many are happy just to have a real restaurant in Echo Park, but it would be nice if 15 reflected its neighborhood more vividly. The Pottery Barn-esque décor and stan-dard menu don’t offer a hint of the area’s Bohemian past or present. Maybe 15 just needs to grow into the ‘hood.
Restaurant 151320 Echo Park Ave.(213) 481-0454
Pat Saperstein blogs about L.A. restaurants at EatingLA.com
Restaurant 15 Classes Up Echo ParkBy Pat Saperstein / Ledger Restaurant Critic
Send the
Los Feliz Ledgeryour letters or story ideas to:
Esquire columnist and former college professor
David Wondrich takes a cerebral approach to the
history of the cocktail—which he labels “the first
legitimate American culinary art”—in IMBIBE!,
focusing on legendary bartender “Professor”
Jerry Thomas.
Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com
vietnamese cuisineindochine
vien
Page 17
Guitarist, composer and producer Michael Brook, best known for his work with U2 and his contributions to the soundtrack of An Inconvenient Truth and Into The Wild, will perform at UCLA’s Royce Hall Dec. 15th with Armenian mu-sic legend Djivan Gasparyan.
Brook’s solo work – in-cluding Cobalt Blue and Hy-brid – is far from conventional rock and could better labeled soundscapes as he meticulous-ly crafts aural environments.
But Brook, a Canadian who has made his home in the Hollywood Hills for nearly 15 years, also has a fondness for “world” music, and has played with and produced albums by top musicians from around the globe, including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, U. Srinivas and Gasparyan, the acknowl-edged master of the duduk, an ancient double reed instru-ment invariably described as “mournful.”
For Brook, who grew up in Toronto where he played in lo-cal bands including Martha & The Muffins, the connection to world music came through The Beatles. “That was the in-troduction for a lot of people,” Brook said. “Sitar, drones, or-namentation… it affected my guitar playing.”
And Brook finds some of the same elements in Armenian music. “It’s very much like the beginning part of Indian piec-es,” Brook explained. “Gentle, ornamented melodies, very ex-pressive, with a drone.”
Brook and Gasparyan, who lives in Armenia but spends part of each year with in Los Angeles, first worked to-gether on Black Rock in 1998. They later recorded a more traditional album together, and are now at work on the as yet untitled follow up to Black Rock before returning again to traditional Armenian music for their next joint effort.
The UCLA show will show old and new material, with a traditional set by Gasparyan. Brook will play electric guitar and backing musicians will in-clude a duduk quartet, a string quartet (led by Brook’s wife, violinist Julie Rogers), bass, drums and keyboards.
While the new album won’t be completed in time for the concert, Brook hopes to give away sampler CDs at the concert, and both Brook’s and Gasparyan’s other recordings will be available for purchase.
To purchase tickets: www.uclalive.org.
Local Michael Brook Performs at UCLA, Dec. 15thBy Chris Rubin
Ledger Contributing Writer
LIFESTYLES
Los Feliz Ledger
www.losfelizledger.com December 2007
THE TALKS
WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL GARDEN
Join us for FREE quarterly talks with the experts at Valley Crest. Talks run approximately 60 minutes. Parking at Walt Disney Concert Hall is $8 (up to 3hrs.) with event validation.
HOLIDAY GARDEN GIFTS
Page 18
While most theater offer-ings are geared to adults, pro-ductions specially formatted for children insure the devel-opment of audiences for future productions.
Exposing children to live theater is important because without this exposure many kids believe that performance is limited to television or the movies.
Here in the Los Feliz-Hollywood area, we have several fine companies that gear their productions to children under the age of 10. The Nine O‚Clock Play-ers at the Assistance League of Southern California has been producing plays for children for over 75 years. The current offering, “Alice” with music
and lyrics by Carol Weiss, is a new take on Lewis Carroll’s classic. Although the large cast of performers in this pro-duction are not professionals,
their performances reach pro-fessional standards.
Excitement was high at the production I attended. The audience was briefed on proper behavior at the theater, and for the most part, was enthusiastic and even better behaved than at some adult theaters I’ve at-tended.
The two acts were crammed with fun songs and imaginative antics. Alice, portrayed by Christina Do-ren, encountered many of the legendary characters of the classic tale including a multi-legged caterpillar, a white rab-bit and the Queen of Hearts. The kids were thrilled by the theatricality of the production as when Alice disappeared into a huge chair and turned up in
Wonderland. When she ask the audience if she should follow Rabbit down the rabbit hole, the kids shouted “Yes!”
This is a full out production with elabo-rate costumes and in-novative sets. Each year approximately 17,000 local kids are intro-duced to the theater at these productions.
Audience partici-pation is the focus of the current production of “Cinderella” at the Storybook Theatre at Theatre West in Holly-wood. This is an equity production with a cast
of four professional actors. Storybook Theatre is the
brainchild of Barbara Mal-lory who plays Cinderella’s stepmother in this production.
She is also the play’s producer. Mallory, a veteran actress with credits in film, television and stage, is an accomplished ac-tress who has appeared in such diverse roles as Heidi, Squeaky Fromme in Helter Skelter and in Growing Up Brady.
This production was writ-ten by Lloyd J. Schwarts, a prolific writer of TV and film—notably Brady Bunch and Gilligan’s Island. The mu-sical numbers were written by composer Michael Paul.
The diverse audience of children are invited to join in as extras in the production, and most enthusiastically do. They helped Prince Charm-ing deliver invitations to his ball and danced at the party. When invited, a crowd of little girls rushed on stage to try on Cinderella’s glass slipper.
Prince Charming, played by Paul Denniston who has ap-peared in “Desperate House-wives” and “Viva Laughlin,” was particularly entrancing as was a most unusual Fairy Godmother played by Mary Garripoli.
If you have kids, grand-kids or friends with little ones, think about taking them to these local theater offerings. You’ll find the ex-perience fun and enlighten-ing, and your young ones will learn that theater is re-ally live, not canned and only on a screen.
Nine O‚Clock Players, “Al-ice” plays through Dec. 2nd at the Walter Lantz Theatre, 1367 North St. Andrews Place, Hollywood. “Aladdin” plays from Feb. 24th through April 12. Tickets are $12. (323) 469-1970.
“Cinderella” at the Story Book Theatre plays through March 19th, Saturdays at 1 p.m. Free parking. The-atre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West in Hollywood. Tickets are $12 adults; $10 children. Reservations (818) 761-2203.
[THEATER REVIEW]
Children’s Plays Introduces the Joys of Live Theater By Marilyn Tower Oliver Ledger Theater Critic
Laura Marion and Paul Denniston in “Cinder-ella” at Theatre West. Photo credit: Paul Denniston
“Quimby” Fees for Parks Not AvailableFor Los Feliz or Silver LakeBy Paria KooklanLedger Contributing Writer
Los Feliz and Silver Lake are not expected to benefit from the collection of Quimby fees, city officials said at a communi-ty meeting on Nov. 14th.
N a m e d for the state l e g i s l a t i on that estab-lished them, Quimby fees are fees paid to the city by real estate developers in order to create parks and green spaces for the surrounding community. They can only be used for the building and improvement of parks and green spaces located within two miles of the devel-opment. Thus, the more devel-
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
opment there is in an area, the more funds are generated for parkland.
Quimby funds are only triggered by subdivisions and certain types of zoning chang-es, and thus are not generated by every project. They are also levied in proportion to the size of the project.
“Unfortunately, the urban infill taking place in Silver Lake and Los Feliz is all small-er projects that either don’t
trigger Qui-mby, or just don’t gener-ate a lot if they do,” said Mike Shull of the Dept. of Recreat ion and Parks. “So I don’t think we’re
expecting to get any money in from the area.”
Shull said the areas re-ceiving the largest amounts of Quimby funds include West L.A., the San Fernando Valley and Downtown.
see Quimby fees page 22
“Unfortunately, the urban
infill taking place in Silver
Lake and Los Feliz is all small-
er projects that either don’t
trigger Quimby, or just don’t
generate a lot if they do…”
– Mike Shull of the Dept. of
Recreation and Parks
Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com SENIOR MOMENTS Page 19
For more information visit jonmeasures.com
Currently showing at
Black Maria Gallery - Atwater VillageUnder the Table - Atwater VillageTruxtop - Silver Lake The Hive - Downtown LAConcrete Walls - Mid-Wilshire
jonmeasures
1818 N Vermont Ave (next to the Los Feliz Cinema)
323.660.1175open daily 10am - 10pm
www.skylightbooks.com order any book in print 24 hours a day
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[ DECEMBER 2007 EVENTS CALENDAR ]
Edited by Debru Petrov
Art Events
“Picturing the People.” A collection of over 135 objects and photographs of and by Indigenous peoples. Through Jan. 27th. Autry National Center4700 Western Heritage Way. Information:(323) 667-2000. www.autrynationalcenter.org
Black Maria Gallery presents its annual group exhibition of gallery artists. 3137 Glendale Blvd., Through Jan. 2008. Information: (323) 660-9393 www.blackmariagallery.com
Little Bird Gallery presents artists Harvest Henderson in her mixed media exhibition of “We are all in this together,” and the paintings of Scott Wayne Indiana in his “The Sun is Moving” exhibit. 3195 Glendale Blvd. Through Dec. 5th. (323) 662-1092. www.littlebirdgallery.com
Metro Gallery showcases the “Living Room” featuring a green holiday art and design show by eight diverse artists. 1835 Hyperion Ave., through Jan. 5th. (323) 663-2787. www.metrogallery.org
Clubs
Book Club, Atwater Village Library, Dec. 11th, 1:00 p.m. 3379 Glendale Blvd.(323) 664-1358
Scrabble Club, Atwater Village Library,Dec. 22; 1:00 p.m.Bring your own boards and tiles.3379 Glendale Blvd.(323) 664-1358
Los Angeles Breakfast ClubWednesday mornings, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.Friendship Auditorium, 3201 Riverside Dr.Public welcome.
Book Club, Los Feliz Library Dec. 8th, 11:00 a.m.1874 Hillhurst Ave.(323) 661-4188
Scrabble Club, Los Feliz LibraryDecember 8th, 1:00 p.m.Bring your own boards and tiles.1874 Hillhurst Ave.(323) 661-4188
Films
Saturday Double Features at the Autry National Center: Song of the Saddle, music and musical acts of Gene Autry films The Big Show (1936) and Blue Canadian Rockies (1952). Special guests: Karla Buhlman, Vice-President of Autry Entertainment, and the twentieth-century west curator Micheal Duchemin. Dec. 8th, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.Sat., Dec. 22nd, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m: Gene Autry and Native Americans The Last Round-Up (1947) and The Cowboy and the Indians (1949). Free with museum admission. 4700 Western Heritage WayInformation: (323) 667-2000. www.autrynationalcenter.org
Holiday Events
Supper with Santa at the Los Angeles Zoo. Enjoy a holiday buffet, a specialcrafts workshop with Mrs. Claus and photo opportunities with jolly old St. Nick.Reservations required.
Dec. 1st & 2nd; 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.5333 Zoo Drive. For information: (323) 644-4200www.lazoo.org
Atwater Village’s 15th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, Thurs., Dec. 6th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Wells Fargo parking lot, 3250 Glendale Blvd.
The Friends of Atwater Library will sponsor the annual holiday gift sale. Proceeds benefit the Atwater Village Branch Library. Dec. 1st; 10:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Atwater Village Branch Library, 3379 Glendale Blvd. Information: (323) 664-1358.
Reindeer Romp. Celebrate the holiday seasonwith Santa and his reindeers. Crafts, keeper talks, special guests appearances, includes after hours entertainment. Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardensthrough Jan. 8th. 5333 Zoo Drive. (323) 644-4200www.lazoo.org
Undesigned, studio/boutique by Carol Young is hosting a holiday party and donation drivefor the homeless. Blankets, books and new toiletries are requested. Items will be given to PATH (People Assisting the Homeless). Dec. 1st; Noon to 6:00 p.m.1953 1/2 Hillhurst Ave. (323) 663-0088www.undesigned.com
The Music Center in downtown, holiday celebration. Free and open to the public. Dec. 21st, 6:30p.m. to 8 p.m. Music Center Plaza, 135 N. Grand AvenueInformation: (213) 972-3660www.musiccenter.org
Holiday Party and Benefit for Glendale Police K9 Unit, Dec. 14th, 6:00 p.m. to 9 p.m., FastFrame of Glendale, 112 N. Brand Blvd. Free. Entertainment and food. Opportunity tickets for great merchandise and Official K9 merchandise sales will directly benefit the K9 unit through the Glendale Police Foundation. Meet one of the K9’s and their handler. Information: (818) 545-0044 www.fastframeofglendale.com
Winter Zoo Camp, Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Camp features crafts, games,activities and tours for ages 4 through 9. Dec. 17th through 21st; 8:00 a.m to 12 noon. Reservations required. 5333 Zoo Drive, (323) 644-4200. www.lazoo.org
Politics
Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood CouncilDec. 18th, 7:00 p.m., Los Feliz Community Police Center, www.ggpnc.orgSilver Lake Neighborhood CouncilDec. 11th, 7:00 p.m., 1511 Micheltorena St.Micheltorena Street Elementary Schoolwww.SilverLakeNC.org
Lectures & Learning
Free Computer Classes for SeniorsLearn to navigate the Internet.Dec. 11th, 3:00p.m., Los Feliz Library, 1874 Hillhurst Ave. Information: (323) 661-4188
Los Angeles Astronomical Society and the Los Angeles
Sidewalk Astronomers invites all to come take a closer look at celestial bodies using a variety of telescopes and meet with amateur astronomers.Dec. 22nd 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Griffith Observatory, 2800 East Observatory Rd. (213) 473-0800. www.griffithobservatory.org
Sports
City of Angels Half Marathon, Dec. 2nd, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Travel Town, 4730 Crystal Springs Dr. Information: (323) 913-4688
Theatre
Media City Ballet presents the full-length classical holiday storybook version of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcraker.” Dec. 8th; 2:30p.m.December 9th; 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Alex Theatre216 N. Brand Blvd. Glendale. Information: (818) 243-2539.
Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale,” presented by A Noise Within Theatre Company. Dec. 5th thru 7th at 8:00 p.m. and Dec. 8th, at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
J.M. Barrie’s “Dear Brutus,” also performed by A Noise Within Theatre. Dec. 13th and 14th; 8:00 p.m.; Dec. 15th; 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; Dec. 16th; 2:00 p.m. 234 South Brand Blvd., Glendale. Ticket information: (818) 240-0910 extension #1.
Silver Lake Children’s Theatre presents two one acts: “Turbulence,” written by Olivia Russin and Broderick Miller. Directed by Ellie Bensinger. “Dumb White Crackers,” written and directed by Broderick Miller. Performances: Dec. 1st and 2nd; 7:00 p.m.; Dec. 7th; 7:00 p.m. The Knightsbridge Theatre, 1944 Riverside Dr. Tickets and information: (323) 634-2594. silverlakechildrenstheatre.org
“Picturing the People” at the Autry National Center. Frank A. Rinehart, Photograph of Pete Mitchell (Ponca), 1898. Braun Research Library, Autry National Center.
Los Feliz Ledger
www.losfelizledger.com December 2007Page 20
Good Samaritan Hospital Named AmongAmerica’s 50 Best Hospitals for 2007
1225 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017
HealthGrades®, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings company, has given Good Samaritan Hospital its highest honor based on consistent, outstanding clinical performance. Good Samaritan Hospital is ranked as a Distinguished Hospital, and has been five years in a row…a tribute to the outstanding physicians, employees and volunteers who make Good Samaritan Hospital the BEST!
Good Samaritan Hospital was ranked among the top hospitals in the nation in several specialty areas evaluated by HealthGrades, including:
• Cardiac Care • Pulmonary Medicine • Gastrointestinal (GI) Care• Orthopedic Surgery • Stroke Care • Women’s Health Care• Critical Care
What This Means To YouThe finest healthcare in the country is available to you, right here in Los Angeles – at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Want To Learn More?
CALL US AT 1-800-GS-CARES (1-800-472-2737):• Physician Referral and information on Health Plans that contract
with Good Samaritan Hospital• Or visit our website at www.goodsam.org
07-GSH-002 GoodBestAd.4.0.qxp 6/18/07 4:02 PM Page 1
The GGPNC is looking for a few good can-
didates who have a spiritual or religious connection to the community and who are will-ing to devote time to reaching out to our diverse religious communities to share their view point with the council. We have an opening on our GGPNC Board of Directors for a designated (appointed) Board member.
The deadline to apply for this position is Feb. 4th with the application to be received by that date at our post of-fice box at: GGPNC, P. O. Box 27003, Los Angeles, CA 90027-0003.
The Rules & Elections Committee will meet the week of Feb. 11th to sort the applications and make a rec-ommendation to the Execu-tive Committee and to the full Board, which will make the appointment at their meeting on the evening of Feb. 19th.
If you are interested in serving your neighborhood by
agreeing to attend GGPNC Board meetings and share the results of your outreach with the Board before it makes de-cisions which may affect our stakeholders in the religious communities in the Greater Griffith Park neighborhoods, WE NEED YOU!
For more information, visit the GGPNC website at www.ggpnc.org.
Do you want to help your community?
Who we really want is a person who is willing to de-vote a little time each month to outreach to the religious community in our area and then who can share their col-lective point of view with the GGPNC Board before we make decisions which may impact those parts of our neighborhood. Give it a chance! Do some good for your community.
To keep on top of these and other issues go to the web site of your neighborhood council at www.ggpnc.org fre-quently.
[ GGPNC ]
Are You Spiritual and Sociable?By Charley M. Mims, PresidentGreater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council
[GREETINGS FROM TOM]
Griffith Park Adult Community CenterSet for a January OpeningBy Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge
The New Year will bring a great improvement to our community with the new Griffith Park Adult Commu-nity Center that is set to open in January.
We’ve waited a long time for this new gathering place for residents of Los Feliz, Sil-ver Lake, Atwater Village, the Franklin Hills and Greater Griffith Park.
And if you didn’t notice, it’s not called a “senior” center but an adult center. The differ-ence is that we are beginning to address the expanding baby boom population of 50 years and over—I’m in this group too!—which in a few short years will be the largest seg-ment of our population.
The new center will improve and build upon the programs currently being held at the un-der-sized Silver Lake Recreation Center, which will continue to have programs exclusively for seniors who wish to stay locally in the Silver Lake area.
For those who wish to try the new center, the director is
Mark Wilson and he’s devised a great line-up of activities for participants including arts and crafts, classes by LAUSD instructors, guest lectures, computer training, exercise class and, because Mark’s an amateur magician, even magic classes too!
Two great activists, Stepha-nie Vendig and Bea Gold, have been instrumental in helping Wilson and the Dept. of Rec-reation and Parks to come up with potentially-popular and fun things to do. Already, the pre-planning meetings have at-
tracted as many as 100 people to take input from them about what they’d think would attract the greatest number of partici-pants. The hours are still not set but the intention is to be open five days a week, morning to late afternoon.
It’ll be a very happy day when we cut the ribbon. I’ve looked forward to this occa-sion for nearly two years since we first suggested the idea of repurposing the Griffith Ob-servatory Satellite trailers for this use. I thank many of you for your support and involve-ment, as well as my Council colleague Eric Garcetti, Dept. of Recreation and Parks gen-eral manager Jon Kirk Mukri and his staff.
Let’s continue to enjoy and love the great City of Los Angeles!
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com Page 21
Los Feliz Ledger
www.losfelizledger.com December 2007Page 22
tional portraits of smiling fami-lies decked out in Christmas tree sweaters. Pictures of my dog striking a pose with Santa might just be the perfect things to slip into my holiday cards. Plus it benefits a good cause.
2007 Echo Park Holi-day Parade on Dec. 8th 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Sunset Blvd & Echo Park Avenue). Although a “Seventh Heaven” cast mem-ber sighting is unlikely, the pa-rade promises plenty of classic cars, local musicians and fes-tive decorations.
Echo Park from page 14
Curbside viewing is available on a first come first serve basis. For grandstand seating contact Sharp Seating Company at (626) 795-4171. Jan. 1, 2008, 8 – 11 a.m. Ellis Street & Orange Grove, continuing north on Or-ange Grove, east on Colorado Blvd. to Sierra Madre Blvd., then north on Sierra Madre Blvd. to Paloma. Holiday Ho-tline (877) 793-9911; Visitors’ Info (626) 449-ROSE.
HOLIDAY HOT SPOTSTam O’Shanter
Carolers croon to dinner patrons at this Scottish, Tudor cottage inspired restaurant.
2980 Los Feliz Blvd. In-formation: (866) 456-0364
Downtown on IceIce skate in an urban set-
ting at L.A.’s official rink. Daily through Jan. 21st, 2008. Pershing Square, 530 South Olive St. Information: (213) 847-4970
GIFTSBlack Market at Black Maria
Get creative with this year’s gift giving by skipping the mall and visit this art exhi-bition/retail shopping experi-ence featuring established and emerging artists.
Through Jan. 5th, 2008. Black Maria Gallery, 3137 Glendale Blvd. (323) 660-9393. Information: www.blackmariagallery.com
Memories from page 12
Sundays9:30 a.m. Church School for all ages
10:45 a.m. Festival Worship with Choir & Holy Communion
WILSHIRE CHRISTIAN CHURCH(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
Monday-Friday8:45 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Project
Literacy: Free ESLClasses 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Sanctuary
open for Prayer and Meditation
REMEMBER THESE SPECIAL DATES
University of Edinburgh,
Senior Minister
8:00 a.m. Hope Net Outreach to Homeless
© L
C 12
07
Glory to God in the Highest
You're Invited! to Experience
Take the Red Line and “Follow the Chimes to Wilshire & Normandie”
Also on December 8th is the annual “Shop Echo Park-Holiday Night” from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. This multi-store extravaganza is a must for fans of boutiques like Sirens & Sailors, Lux De Ville and The Kids Are Alright.
Starting at Sunset and Rosemont and trickling down to Alvarado, the event features bands, food, art, and discounts from some the neighborhoods best shopping destinations.
Whatever you celebrate, do it locally, do it joyfully, and if need be, do it in shorts.
“These are the areas where big developments are taking place—high-rises and large subdivisions,” he said.
Shull said city officials have asked the state legislature to allow for more equitable distribution of Quimby fees. In the meantime, however, areas like Silver Lake and Los Feliz will have to go without.
“That doesn’t mean there won’t be other city funds for this area,” Shull said.
City officials also an-nounced at the same commu-nity meeting that the hydro-mulching of burned areas at Griffith Park is complete. The process was undertaken this fall to minimize the risk of post-fire mudslides. The city has also finished cleaning out the park’s storm drains in preparation for the rainy season, and will soon begin installing temporary concrete barriers called K-rails above Vermont avenue and on several other streets.
A series of debris fences—which act like nets to prevent sediment from flowing out of the park and into surround-ing neighborhoods—will be installed within the next few months, officials said.
the recipient of the e-mail to vote for him.
Lyon contended he re-ceived Dickstein’s email ad-dress through another e-mail database, but according to the report, he was not able to pro-vide clear evidence of that.
Lyon was involved in a similar circumstance in 2005 accused of allegedly using the neighborhood council’s data-base for campaigning. At that time, however, there were no election procedures in place re-garding the use of the council’s database for campaigning. After that election, the board created a rule prohibiting the use of its database by candidates.
A total of 516 ballots were cast in the election, out of nearly 70,000 potential voters.
With the findings, the neighborhood council results are now official: District 1, Scott Crawford; District 2, Tenaya Wallace; District 3, Andrea Marquez; District 4, Rusty Millar; District 5, Spencer Strauss; District 6, Kim Jones; District 7, Renee Nahum. Additionally, four at-large candidates were elected: Courtney Blackburn, Paul Neuman, Janet Cunningham and Joanna Paden.
SLNC Election from page 3
plaint, California state social services cited Camelot Kids for operating the after school program component at the new site without a license. Ac-cording to Bui, the after school care program was licensed while on the Ivanhoe campus, but needed to be re-licensed for the new location.
The preschool addition-ally was pending licensing at the new site.
It was then that former Camelot Kids board member, Brad Fontanesi said he began
checking into the background of the organization and its director. While doing so, he said, he discovered the orga-nization had always lacked a preschool license, even while at the Ivanhoe location, non-profit tax forms not having been filed since 2002, and, particularly distressing to Fon-tanesi that Bui, the center’s di-rector, wasn’t a doctor as she had claimed.
Bui maintains she has re-ceived a medical degree from the University of Southern California, but has not passed the medical boards. She said embarrassment over not hav-ing passed has kept her from being truthful about her qualifications.
In a letter from the USC Keck School of Medicine, how-ever, officials said they have no records that Bui has attended or graduated with a medical degree from the institution.
A medical degree is not a necessary qualification to be a school director.
But current Camelot Kids board member Barry Isaacson, said the board is as much at fault for not exercising proper oversight.
“She needed to dot all the I’s and cross the T’s but this is not about an individ-ual breaching the trust of her community,” he said.
Isaacson said an inde-pendent party is conducting a thorough forensic audit, “to establish that there have been no improprieties.”
Camelot Kids from page 3
Quimby fees from page 18
Los Feliz Ledger
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com Page 23
Copyright ©2007 PuzzleJunction.com
Los Feliz Ledger Dec. 2007 Crossword PuzzleJunction.com
Solution on next page
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captain 32 Tackle box item 33 Aid and ___ 35 Narc’s org.
is an alternative currently be-ing explored by the LAUSD.
According to Maureen Diekman, LAUSD Director of School Services, some elemen-tary schools are being consid-ered for such a reconfiguration but only at the school’s request. No schools in the Los Feliz or Silver Lake areas have made such a request, said Diekman.
Ethnic Tensions at King Middle School: Last May, an altercation—fu-eled by ethnic tensions—be-tween students at Thomas Starr King Middle School cre-ated a “security lock-down” on campus and kept some fami-lies from sending children to school for days for fear of their
2007 Rewind from page 6 safety. Anti-bullying and anti-bias training provided by the district for teachers and staff along with on-going student peer mediation group have helped to relieve tensions.
Taylor Yard School: A recent court ruling will lead the way for the LAUSD to purchase, by eminent domain, a 23-acre site in Glassell Park for a new high school. Dis-trict officials said the school is scheduled to open in 2011 and will serve 2,500 students. The new school will mean that John Marshall High School can return to a single, tradi-tional calendar in adherence to a California class action settlement requiring all state schools do so by 2012.
Answers to Crossword Puzzle on page 26
Café Stella: Partners Francois Renaud and Gareth Kantner have plans for the very French bistro Café Stella and also for a new Echo Park restaurant, Artisan. Café Stel-la is now 10 years old, and is expanding into a second din-ing room, with construction beginning next month.
Kanter says the menu will concentrate on local farmers and products and add more shellfish and seafood platters as well as charcuterie made in-house.
Later next year, the part-ners will start work on the rustic Artisan in the Jen-sen Recreation Center build-ing on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park. The restaurant will have an Italian and French peasant influence, said Kantner, with a wood oven, a spit for roasting pigs and birds, and family style
pasta dishes. Décor touches will include wooden chande-liers and plank flooring for a Spartan monastery feeling.
Mes Amis has opened on Ver-mont Avenue in the Tiger Lily restaurant space. Mes Amis features lots of patio seating for a Parisian sidewalk cafe feel, as well as comfy padded booths in the dining room. Menu items include escargots, bouillabaisse, duck confit can-nelloni and rack of lamb with polenta. At lunch, there’s sal-ade Nicoise, pizzas and sand-wiches including traditional pan bagnat. The children’s menu includes a grilled Nutel-la sandwich.
Cobras and Matadors has added a wine bar called Sgt. Recruiter, next to its Holly-wood Blvd. dining room.
[ RESTAURANT NEWS ]
By Pat Saperstein / Ledger Food Critic
see Restaurant News page 24
Los Feliz Ledger
www.losfelizledger.com December 2007Page 24
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The Edendale Grill has re-vamped its menu with a larger bar menu including fish and chips and a sausage grinder sandwich. New cocktails are also shaking at the Mixville Bar. Small plates are $5 each during happy hour, 5 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Chi Dynasty: Chi Dynasty, which has closed its original location, hopes to move to its new space at 1813 Hillhurst Ave. in the Los Feliz Plaza in December. The phone number remains (323) 667-3388 and delivery will be available at the new location.
LaMill Coffee Boutique will open soon on Silver Lake
Blvd. serving coffees and teas as well as desserts from Prov-idence pastry chef Adrian Vasquez.
Little Dom’s on Hillhurst is slated to open in December, offering casual Italian-influ-enced breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a deli counter for takeout.
Hyperion’s Soy Café will expand to a second Atwater location with a larger Viet-namese menu featuring noo-dles and lots of vegetarian choices.
Reservoir: Reservoir on Sil-ver Lake Blvd. is still under construction, but owner Glo-ria Felix hopes to open in the spring. The restaurant will have a “California rustic” menu. Felix says the emphasis will be on seasonal, local foods, in-cluding braised shortribs and rustic pizzas. In addition to a patio and sidewalk seating, a small bar will seat eight, with wine and artisan beers served. Reservoir will be open for din-ner and weekend brunch.
Two Boots Pizza from New York is slated to open next to
the Echo nightclub in Echo Park sometime in 2008.
Barbrix—a wine bar and restaurant—is under con-struction on Hyperion across from Baller Hardware. The extensive build out will like-ly take it to late 2008. For-mer La Terza proprietor and Campanile manager Claudio Blotta will be in charge along with his wife, actress Adria Tennor.
Pat Saperstein blogs about L.A. restaurants at EatingLA.com
Restaurant News from page 23
Los Feliz Ledger
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Los Feliz Ledger
www.losfelizledger.com December 2007Page 26 OPEN MIKE / EDITORIAL
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[ OPEN MIKE ]
The “Greening” of Silver LakeBy Cheryl Revkin
It’s a given, we’re all con-cerned about the environ-ment.
The Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce is taking an ac-tive role in the community to support businesses and resi-dents that are motivated to do what they can on a local level.
We’ve created a green committee with a growing number of hardworking com-mittee members, headed by Meg Dickler Taylor (Large Marge Sustainables) and Ben Lemon (Financial Advisor). Our goals include: a DASH for Silver Lake, a commercial and residential food recycling program, zero waste at our Farmer’s Market, eliminating styrofoam at our restaurants, a campaign to get everyone to bring your own cup and re-us-able shopping bag, decreasing our storm water run-off pollu-tion, reduce, reuse and recycle more!
We are also creating a green page on the Chamber website (www.silverlakechamber.com) that will present resources to help you accomplish your personal and our community goals. We will have guidelines that businesses might adopt to help accomplish green goals. We are also developing an in-centive program for businesses if they opt to participate in a green certification program.
We are an innovative community with a tradition of activism. We need everyone to step up to the plate and do their part. Here’s an example: your favorite restaurant may hesitate to spend the extra money to stock a new com-postable take-out container unless you recognize them and patronize them for doing so.
Take some time to think and act. Contact us with your ideas. Join us to help implement them. Green Silver Lake.
Cheryl Revkin is a chiropractor in Silver Lake and the president of the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce.
In October, the Los Fe-liz community gathered in Griffith Park to pay tribute to those who fought the May 8th fire and to celebrate the spirit of recovery embodied by a Symphony In The Glen performance of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony.
Throughout our first 14 years, our concerts have occa-sionally coincided with global events reaching far beyond the bounds of Griffith Park. Since 2001 our annual Grandpar-ents Day concert has twice fallen on 9/11. On October 7th, 2001, fighting began in
Afghanistan. On that day we presented an all-Leonard Ber-nstein program. Although this concert had been planned six months earlier, it nevertheless proved momentous that day, especially with the destruction of the Twin Towers so fresh in our hearts and minds. In-deed, with the opening notes of “New York, New York,” Leonard Bernstein—“Len-ny”—spoke to us all.
In planning our Oct. 14th “Out of the Ashes” concert, however, we faced a unique challenge: providing healing through music for a commu-nity that had recently experi-enced not a global event, but an actual terrifying, up-close episode; the stuff only night-mares are made of: the May 8th fire.
From the very first mo-ment Symphony in the Glen Managing Director, Barbara Ferris, and I discussed this concert there was no doubt in my mind as to its content. I knew it could be nothing less than the Eroica. Beethoven—the man and his music—is a
force of nature. He wrote: “How happy I am to be able to walk among the shrubs, the trees, the woods, the grass and the rocks. For the woods, the trees and the rocks give man the resonance he needs.”
How could he have pos-sibly known that, more than 200 years after he said those words, his Eroica Symphony would provide the resonance we all urgently needed? In its own mystical and majestic way, the symphony’s move-ments provide insights to the past, present and future of the
park—from fire, to devasta-tion, to gradual re-growth and eventual recovery.
It was an honor and privi-lege for the Symphony In The Glen Orchestra to perform this masterpiece—at the Old Zoo, for the Griffith Park communi-ty, and most of all, for the park recovery. Our special thanks go to the great people at the Dept. of Recreation and Parks, Coun-cilmember Tom LaBonge, the LFIA, GGPNC and a host of others for helping us make this concert possible—but especially to the members of our audience. For me as a conductor, it was touching to look out and see the sea of faces, remarkably diverse, from up the street and across the city, all there to share love and concern for our great park.
Finally, for those who were unable to attend the concert, I highly recommend an hour of contemplation—at the Old Zoo, under a tree and a CD of the Eroica Symphony.Arthur B. Rubinstein is the founder and music director of Symphony In The Glen Free Concerts.
[ OPEN MIKE ]
Earth, Wind, Fire and Water… and BeethovenArthur B. Rubinstein
Solution - Crossword Dec. 2007
M E E T I N T O A R I DA R C H B L O O M C O T EG A L A E L A T E R A I N
S A N T A S H E L P E R SE T T A S E R A
O T I S T O G I V EA L A A C I D S E D I TH U B R E C E I V E E V AA R E S K A R E N S A LB E T T E R E T A S
A G E S C O N SD E C O R A T E A T R E E
P E R K A C O R N T E A LE L S E T R E N T I D L ET I E D E A S E E S S E
Answers to Crossword Puzzle from page 23
Send the
Los Feliz Ledgeryour letters or story ideas to:
In planning our Oct. 14th “Out of the Ashes” concert,
however, we faced a unique challenge: providing
healing through music for a community that had re-
cently experienced not a global event, but an actual
terrifying, up-close episode; the stuff only night-
mares are made of: the May 8th fire.
December 2007 www.losfelizledger.com Page 27
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3839 CARNAVON WAY $2,088,000Euro traditional with views. Living room with truss ceiling & windows. Kitchen with island & Breakfast room. Large upstairs loft. 3 bedrooms and baths. Den to patio and sparkling pool.
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3230 DESCANSO DR. $799,000Updated Spanish Duplex, steps from Sunset Junction shops & cafes. A 2bed/1ba unit feels like a single family home, a 1bed/1ba unit generates great income. Excellent investor or owner occupant opportunity. Both units to be delivered vacant.
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1442 KELLAM AVE $1,499,000Priceless 1888 East Lake Victorian in historic Angelino Heights. Orig. woodwork, pocket doors, upgraded systems. Stunning foyer, living rm, dining, den, library. 4BR + 5.5 Ba+maids. Mills Act in place. www.aboutLAhotproperties.com
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www.losfelizledger.com December 2007Page 28
2114 India Street Silver Lake $599,000Nicely renovated duplex on a quiet Silver Lake street. Each unit with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. Newly remodeled kitchens and baths. Some view. Large yard. Two car garage with direct access into lower unit.
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