Miscellaneous: November 2009 Archives

Last night, Culver City became the most recent California city to enact a ban on cat declawing, joining L.A., Berkeley and San Francisco, to name a few. With all the hullabaloo surrounding the bans, and many people wondering why policy-makers are spending their time on this, the question on everyone's mind is: what's the big deal? Is your kitteh really better off with or without his nails? And is it worth the mindpower and consideration of elected officials who inarguably have bigger fish to fry?

       

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We're always moving, moving, moving here in Los Angeles, and mostly in our vehicles. Here's a look at how we move, set to soothing music by Erik Satie, and shot around Silverlake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Griffith Park and downtown by Clark Vogeler. It's your moment of zen on a sunny day on LA's east side...and for the sake of the calm nature of this video, let's not re-hash the ages-old "what's east/what's west side" debate, mmmkay? Just enjoy.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) has changed it's recommendation for the onset and frequency of Pap smears for women. Until this week, medical guidelines have called for women to get annual Pap smears, which check for cervical cancer and other cervical and reproductive abnormalities, beginning no later than three years after becoming sexually active, or at age 21 (whichever comes first).

So that odd shaped flower-painted tower sticking up behind Beverly Hills High School is not some weird sculpture - it's actually an oil well. And there is one behind the Beverly Center as well. And at the Farmer's Market. And inside a building on Pico. And numerous others.

Jared Leto and hundreds of Midnight Ridazz bikers take over the streets of LA in the new 30 Seconds to Mars video, "Kings + Queens". We like watching as they head over the Sixth Street Bridge, through the Second Street Tunnel, around Hollywood and Highland, and finally hit the edge of the Santa Monica Pier as the Ridazz show off LA's unique and growing bike culture. We think it's pretty cool that they name each rider at the end too!

Early this morning as we were driving out of an Albertsons/Starbucks parking lot in Valencia, we spotted an animal pacing in a trailer in front of us. At first, we thought it was a horse or a pig. But noooo. Even before the coffee kicked in, we spotted the king of the jungle checking us out. So we snapped this photo. Even with all the wackiness that we've seen on LA's roads, this is the first time we've seen a lion.

Today's subject is Lizz Wasserman. Lizz is a Highland Park-based designer whose clothing line, popomomo uses organic and/or sustainable fabrics. Wassernan's line, which is produced, designed and sampled here in LA, is the antithesis of disposable fashion -- focusing only on producing unique and new designs.

The following post is from our advertiser, Focus Features. Pirate Radio is the newest ensemble comedy from filmmaker Richard Curtis (screenwriter of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, and writer/director of Love Actually). This high-spirited film tells the story of 8 DJs whose love affair with Rock n Roll changed the world forever. In the 1960s a group of rogue DJs, on a boat in the middle of the Northern Atlantic, played rock records and broke the law all for the love of music. The songs they played united and defined an entire generation and drove the British government crazy. The band of rebels is lead by The Count, played by Academy Award Winner Philip Seymour Hoffman. Pirate Radio also stars Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, and Tom Sturridge, and features an unbelievable selection of music including The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, Cream, and The Beach Boys, just to name a few. Pirate Radio in theatres now!

• Chicagoist occupied itself with Twilight and pillow fights.
• Seattlest reminded us that we don't watch Mariners baseball for the game, we watch it for the player-on-player bromance.
• Phillyist got personal this week, calling the man who stole a staffer's purse their official asshole of the week.

       

When you read something you like on LAist, we love it when you hit the "like" button, and we love it even more if you put your two cents' worth in the comments. Getting a dialog going with our readers and making sure we're giving you content you can use are top priorities for us. And if you really like what you see, why not Tweet it or post it to your Facebook? Share the love!

Tonight the entire fight world turns its attention to Las Vegas, the site of the highly anticipated fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. Last week, however, Pacquiao stood center stage in his adopted city of Los Angeles before a packed crowd of supporters at the Montalban Theater.

       

There are thousands of stories to tell in Los Angeles, but sometimes a picture says so much more. Thanks to our LAist Featured Photos Pool on Flickr, here are 7 moments worth taking a second look at.

       

Driving along Mulholland, you pass various overlooks where you can pull over on to the dirt, get out and take in the views. In all, the 55-mile Mulholland Scenic Parkway and Corridor has 18 official overlooks between the 101 Freeway and Kanan Road in the Agoura Hills area, but lucky for us, most can be found east of the 405 (see a map here).

Today’s subject are Brits-turned-Angelenos Rowly Dennis and Alex Pucell, founders of Los Angeles’ travelling art/furniture gallery event concept, Antfarm Social. A painter/actor and furniture designer respectively by trade, Antfarm Social is looking at the LA social scene as a canvas and using fresh takes on step-and-repeats, glassware, social scene and unique venues to get people enjoying and even buying modern conceptual art and furniture.

Last month we had the chance to talk to Bill, who has been signing his 700 page long NBA book in cities like Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego and of course, Boston. "LA signings are weird. They had the lowest turnout of any city," said Simmons over the phone when we spoke with him just days before hitting the road for his book tour. "I think it’s because there’s so many celebrities out here that I’m like Z-list. I’m on whatever list the guys from "The Ruins" are on. If I go to Providence or somewhere like that, it seems like a much bigger deal."

Friday was the first Los Angeles Cougar Convention - dedicated to younger men and the older women who appreciate them. The event was organized by the Society of Single Professionals, an educational group dedicated to spreading the word about younger men dating older women.

• Gothamist had a week of big stories unfold—Mayor Bloomberg narrowly won his controversial third term while the Yankees won their 27th World Series Championship (yes, suck it, Philly) and celebrated with a ticker tape parade.
• Seattlest talked about gay marriage, performing, and the sexiness of the Pacific Northwest with Rufus Wainwright.
• Bostonist saw a near death experience on the subway.

       

When you read something you like on LAist, we love it when you hit the "like" button, and we love it even more if you put your two cents' worth in the comments. Getting a dialog going with our readers and making sure we're giving you content you can use are top priorities for us. And if you really like what you see, why not Tweet it or post it to your Facebook? Share the love!

Any workout that can cut gym time in half is A-OK in my book. And one that is both short and sweet(ly productive) garners extra points for efficiency. The Power Plate, pictured above, is just such a fitness phenomenon. A flat board vibrates rapidly as you stand (or squat, or lunge) atop it, causing your muscles to engage in order to stabilize your body. By challenging the muscles with the vibrations, the workout is much more intense, and therefore, accomplishes more in less time.