Photo of the Day 


Holiday Fireworks, Manhattan Beach


Happy Holidays!!

Photo credit: Jeff Russell

"Urban Tumbleweed" Banned in L.A., Smog Still Allowed 
  
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to ban plastic grocery bags in unincorporated areas of L.A. County, affecting neighborhoods like Altadena, Valencia and Rowland Heights. The ban doesn't cover 88 other cities in L.A. County. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky called the plastic pollutants, "urban tumbleweeds."

   
...The ban, which will cover nearly 1.1 million residents countywide, is to the point: “No store shall provide to any customer a plastic carryout bag.” An exception would be made for plastic bags that are used to hold fruit, vegetables or raw meat in order to prevent contamination with other grocery items...


Isn't it interesting in a town with 4 million inhabitants and the highest per-capita car population in the world that we are considering a ban on plastic bags in rural areas of L.A. county? Guess we've gotta' start somewhere... 

Welcome Back, Conan

Voting in Hermosa Beach

Chil-LA-xin
  
Extended through the end of November, Burke Williams is offering a special on their signature massage. Present this coupon at the time of your appointment to receive a 50-minute massage for just $99.

Swedish Goodness

  

Real Swedish housewife, turned fitness guru, Anna Anka shot episode three of her new reality show, "I form med Anna Anka," at the Viceroy in Santa Monica last Thursday. The episode features the beautiful Lina, who lost 75 lbs. in EIGHT weeks. Watch the episode here on Nov. 2. 

Lina celebrates her new healthy lifestyle. 

Anna Anka at the Viceroy. Photo credit: L Edvinsson

Pier Ave. Gets a Facelift
  
The addition of a pedestrian "scramble" crosswalk completed the $4.3 million Pier Ave. beautification project - just in time for the holiday shopping season. According to the press release, the Avenue has been transformed "into a safer, more attractive and environmentally-friendly destination featuring palm trees, wider sidewalks, abundant seating and a storm drainage system to help clean up the ocean and conserve water." The upper Pier project was funded with federal stimulus money, grants and bonds.

A Train Bound for Nowhere


Well, this would have been nice: a train system with connector lines that actually goes somewhere - like to neighborhoods and up and down the coast - of Los Angeles. Add this to the long list of things this great city can't seem to get right.

Los Angeles Metro System pipedream, as conceptualized in the 1980s.

Grow Your Own Way


Great news for anyone too busy (lazy) to pick up their own groceries. Grow in Manhattan Beach now delivers to homes in the South Bay. (Sorry El Segundo, not you.)


Order by 8 p.m., and your groceries will arrive on your doorsetp in a blue cooler by 7 a.m. the next morning. Use coupon code "FB" for 10 percent off your first order. 
    
              
Grow
1830 N. Sepulveda, Manhattan Beach
Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am-8 pm. Sat, 8 am-8 pm. Sun, 8 am-6 pm
Phone: 310.545.2904  

L.A.'s Fashion Night Out

   
The stores on Rodeo Drive opened their doors for L.A.'s Fashion's Night Out on Sept. 10 - an annual event concocted by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour to amp up retail sales for the sagging consumer goods industry.
   
Rodeo was closed off to make room for foot traffic, food trucks and a ferris wheel was erected on the south end of the famous shopping strip. Chanel offered manicures, Lacoste hosted a Wii tennis tournament and several other stores offered free champagne and hors d'oeuvres while event-goers browsed the racks of high-fashion brands.

    
The only thing noticeably missing? People buying things. 

  
Photo credit: Stina Samolov

Thar She Blows


Several blue and fin whales were spotted off the coast of Palos Verdes this weekend. Residents who have lived in the area for years claim they've never seen anything like it. Photos below were shot by friends who live in San Pedro. Check out the video, shot by another observer, as well.

Photo credit: D. Bruno

Bison. It's What's For Dinner 


The line was 10 people deep at noon on a Saturday.  


"Have you got any more kidneys?" one customer asked.


"Nope, all gone," the vendor replied.


"What about liver?" 


"No, sorry. Sold out." 


Held at Charles H. Wilson Park (map)  2200 Crenshaw Blvd. (between Sepulveda Blvd. and Carson St.) on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Torrance Farmer's Market plays host to dozens of vendors selling everything from fruits and vegetables, cheese, salsa, nuts and just-baked cobblers. 


While there are booths aplenty, the focal point of the fair is none other than a small white stand near the far southwest corner of the parking lot. On this particular Saturday, the booth is staffed by Ken Lindner, the mild-mannered, passionate owner of Lindner Bison. 


Week after week, he consistently sells out of his grass-fed, sustainably farmed buffalo meat. 


According to the Lindner web site, "studies show grassfed and grass-finished meat contains more betacarotine, a natural cancer fighter; more omega 3s, more CLA’s, more natural Vitamin E (rather than vitamin injections or artificial feed supplements). In addition, grassfed bison has less fat and cholesterol than it’s feedlot counterpart." The result is a taste similar to beef, but a little sweeter and a lot leaner. 


He's apparently on to something. Every week, customers come from miles around to get the choice selections. 


If you can't find the Lindner Bison booth - just look for the line. 
            

Laguna Me This


For a great day trip from L.A., head down to Laguna Beach. Explore the downtown area along South Coast Highway - home to art galleries, clothing boutiques, chocolate and cheese shops and some amazing restaurants with cliffside patios overlooking the Pacific. 
  
Shop at 11th Moon. This "casual elegance" boutique features lines that boast the "finest of natural materials." Two speciality lines can only be found here. 


Stop into K'ya Bistro to see and be seen and enjoy a sunset that will knock your socks off. If you're lucky, grab a table on the first-come-first-served patio upstairs. Order the Ahi Poke appetizer and the house speciality: a mojito. End your day with a short stroll to the beach and watch the sun disappear behind the cliffs into the ocean.
  
If you go:
K'ya Bistro

1287 South Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

11th Moon

1259 South Coast Highway

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

L.A. On the Cheap
  
Check out Big. City. Small. Wallet. Written by an L.A. Native who "loves a good deal," you'll find tips on where to catch a break on everything from music, to clothing to pet supplies.  

Once-free Manhattan Beach Park Re-opens, Punishes Families

   
Sand Dune Park in Manhattan Beach has been closed for one year. On August 2 it will re-open, and those visiting the park will have to reserve time and pay $1.00 to walk up and down the giant mound of sand. What's more, family usage will also be significantly restricted and children will be relegated to a small, designated section of the park. Further details are below. 

How can I make a reservation? Reservations can only be made online by visiting here.

How much will it cost?  As of this writing, it will cost $1.00 per usage, payable to park attendent prior to using the Dune.

What time slots will be available?  1. Monday - Friday: 8am; 9:30am; 11am; 3pm; 4:30pm; 6pm
2. Saturday: 8am; 9:30am, 11am
3. Sunday: closed to adult recreation, however children free all day

How many slots will be available per time period?  Even though city staff has reported the Dune and parking area could support 50, only 20 will be allowed per period.

How will reservation system actually work?  1. After confirmed reservation, user will need to print out entry ticket and bring to Dune along with a photoID
2. Users will not be allowed to leave the enclosed area once entered (e.g. to alternate between stairs and dune)

Family Usage:  1. Family Play Area: Children under 5 that are accompanied by their parents are allowed to play on the Dune in a designated area marked by cones. Not sure if this will be allowed during adult reservation periods.
2. Youth Area: Children between 6-12 will be able to play in a designated area. Not sure if allowed during adult reservation periods. Also, adults more than likely will not be allowed to join their children of this age group.
3. Neither area will require a reservation.
4. Sunday will be restricted to youth and child use all day

Feedback  
Please email the City Council with any constructive thoughts or suggestions.

A Street Cafe of Desire

Ate at Street last night. Easily one of the best meals I've had in L.A. in the 10 years I've lived here. Co-founded by chefs Susan Feniger and Kajsa Alger, this restaurant is - first of all ALWAYS packed - but more importantly, it's a breath of fresh air. 

The concept is inspired: base the menu on food from all over the world served by street vendors. Simple, delicious, diverse dishes absolutely bursting with flavor. We loved the Kaya Toast - toasted bread with coconut jam, served with a fried egg and a dark soy drizzle. Oh. My. God.  The Thai Rice Noodles tasted - no joke - like noodles I had in Koh Lanta, Thailand (a little less spicy), but delicious nonetheless - the perfect blend of peppers, thai basil and mint. The drink menu is creative and fresh juices, like cantaloupe and honeydew, add a cool twist to some of the elixirs.

Oh, and Street's committed to being green too - only sustainable fish and organic coffee are served. That goes for much of their wine and beer too. Due to their recycling and composting efforts, the restaurant produces only three percent pure waste. Their handsoap is even recycled from kitchen grease, somehow reformulated so you can lavarse sus manos using an intriguingly pungent, yet clean-smelling gel. 

The piece de resistance? Warm fleece blankets for those chilly nights. We cozied up to the firepit on the patio and felt miles away from the whirring traffic just outside on Highland Ave. 

Street

742 N Highland

Los Angeles, just above Melrose 

323.203.0500

  

Kaya Toast!

Shopping the Black Market

Located in L.A.'s "Little Osaka," between Olympic and Santa Monica, Black Market is a funky boutique with a trendy, eclectic mix of clothing, shoes and accessories for men and women. There's a range of "skater to chic" tongue-in-cheek designs from brands such as Laugh. Cry. Repeat by AZFN, Bobi, Modern Amusement and RVCA. Prices range from $20 on the sale rack to upwards of $200 for bold, bright silk dresses. 

California Girls


Summer's in full swing... Solstice Tournament, Manhattan Beach - complete with bikini-clad go-go dancers... On the beach. Naturally.
  

The Rise of the "Manhattan Village Machines"


For years (and as recently as yesterday), my husband has joked that a Lexus RX 330 comes standard issue with a home purchase in Manhattan Beach. The only requirement: it must be beige.


As Audi devotees, this commercial absolutely spoke to us. Talk about targeted advertising. (I would bet this was filmed during lunchtime in the Metroplex on a Tuesday.)

World Cup Madness


Packed house at The Village Idiot on Melrose. Team U.S.A.!








-- Post From My iPhone

Fast and Furious 
  
What's less-appealing about sand boarding Cerro Negro: the smell of sulfur gases as you careen uncontrollably downhill on dirty, jagged volcanic rock and ash; or the almost-certain road rash you'll achieve after a heinous toe-turn-gone-awry?

I'm all for adventure, but seriously - what's next, bungee jumping into a volcanic crater - molten lava just inches below, as you dangle helplessly by your ankles? I've seen what happens to those who mess with volcanoes, and it ain't purty.

Mac Love

Great news for those too lazy to pull themselves away from their super-sleek, powerful computers to actually socialize. There's a new dating site - exclusively for Mac users, launching in June 2010. According to Apple, "Cupidtino is a beautiful new dating site created for fans of Apple products by fans of Apple products! Why? Diehard Mac & Apple fans often have a lot in common – personalities, creative professions, a similar sense of style and aesthetics, taste, and of course a love for technology..." and a fear of physical contact with actual human beings. (Okay, I added that last bit.)    

This comes hot on the heels of the NYU study which notes, unprompted, Apple was listed as the No. 1 brand among Gen Yers, alongside Chanel and BMW. 

Have fun with that dating pool. 

Nu au Plateau de Sculpteur Busts $100 Million Mark


Picasso's "Nu au Plateau de Sculpteur," a painting that was created in a single day in March 1932, broke the world record for the price of a single work of art. The piece fetched $106.5 million at Christie's in an auction that lasted eight minutes and six seconds. 


In March, the New York Times reported that the painting was expected to sell for "more than $80 million" and experts expected it to break the $100 million mark. Picasso did not disappoint, proving 37 years after his death, he's still the man. 

Sunny Side Up


Southern California lifeguard towers are getting a much-needed face lift. Through the Portrait of Hope project "Lifeguard Tower Transformation" program kids and adults will be involved in hand-painting vivid, stand-out designs on form-fitting art panels that will be installed on the 4-sided towers and their roof tops – enveloping the towers. The public art exhibition will strikingly transform the signature beaches to paint lifeguard towers, their railings and other sun-faded surfaces along 31 miles of Los Angeles County coastline. Read more here...

Please Be Seated


How cool is this? Ballena Technologies 3D sports venue visualization. According to the web site: Ballena Technologies creates realistic seating visuals to improve the online ticketing experience by familiarizing potential customers with a facility, creating excitement, sales and customer satisfaction. Seats3D is currently used on facility websites including Live Nation, NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, NHL, NCAA, and NASCAR. 
  

It's like SeatGuru, for stadiums.

Trendspotting. Ew.


HARO, an organization that links reporters to various sources for articles, recently posted the following reporter request: 


"Looking for doctors or ER techs who have had patients come in with iPhones or Blackberries (or Droids) stuck... "inside of them." Apparently, this is a growing trend, as more and more ER's around the country are reporting this - Apparently the term is "Fexting." I need to speak to doctors or ER techs familiar with this practice - Why do people do it? How dangerous is it? Does it ruin the phone? Please stay on topic, and only pitch if you have relevant information."


Who are these people? 


Someone needs to tell Urban Dictionary to update their rather benign definition of term "fexting." Or those shoving phones into body orifices should get a new name for it -- something like "PH*cking." 


Use in a sentence (present tense): 
"AT&T service ph*cks millions of iPhone users everyday."


(Past tense) 
This dude is severely ph*cked.
  

Fiji: Just a Hop, Skip and a Jump From L.A. (Really)

   

It’s not often when something that seems too good to be true really is. In the case of a recent layover, it was. 

With an itinerary that originally included only Australia and Indonesia, I inquired with American Airlines to see if it would be possible to “stop over” someplace interesting en route to Australia from Los Angeles. Not only was it possible, it would require no additional miles to book it.

One 10-hour red-eye flight later - feeling rested and excited for this "bonus" portion of our vacation - my husband and I arrived on Viti Levu, the largest island in the Republic of Fiji.

We took a 30-minute shuttle from the airport to Port Denarau and caught the Yasawa Flyer (phone +679 675 0499, www.awesomefiji.com), a very efficient ferry service that transports passengers to various destinations throughout the Yasawa Islands. Our standard cabin cost about US$67 for the one-way trip.

After four-plus hours of sailing, we reached our destination, the island of Yaqeta.

Paradise Found

Yaqeta is home to one resort only, Navutu Stars (phone 00679 6640553,   www.navutustarsfiji.com). Founded by Italian sisters Giovanna and Maddalena and Maddalena’s husband, Manfredi, the hotel features nine bungalows, or bures, all within steps of the transparent blue, warm waters of the South Pacific. Accommodations range from US$325 to $555.

The resort is nestled in a protected lagoon and is an easy 15- to 20-minute walk from the neighboring village, Vuaki.

Giovanna explained that the family’s original intent was to open a property in Australia, but the weather was so bad at the time of her sister’s initial trip in 2003 that she went to Fiji instead.

Little did she know that a seemingly routine journey on the local ferry service would seal her fate. While aboard the Yasawa Flyer, Maddalena met the chief from a neighboring island, who offered to introduce her and her sister to the Yaqeta chief who, they were told, might be interested in speaking with them about their idea.

“In Fiji, locals own 90% of real estate; therefore, we lease the land from them,” Giovanna said. “The village structure is still very much intact, so it’s important to respect that and go through the proper channels.”

In order to break ground on the hotel, the founders had to seek final approval from the Yaqeta village chief, who was ill at the time, so, while still living in Rome, they worked with the entire village to gain approval for the plans.

After many meetings, some political red tape, negotiations and minor construction delays, Navutu Stars officially opened its doors in December 2005.

Miles From Anywhere

For four days in June ’08 we enjoyed the fruits of the founders’ labor, a little alcove of paradise. Navutu Stars operates in harmony with the local village and customs. The resort employs an all-Fijian staff. They are friendly and helpful and possess an unwavering attention to detail.

The bures are private and romantic and the grounds pristine. The panorama around the resort is a display of untouched, natural beauty, with no development visible on any of the other islands.

The hotel’s fresh, organic menu with an Italian flair was creative and delicious. Our favorite meal was the lobster spaghetti followed by a crêpe with tiramisu ice cream, chocolate and fresh whipped cream.  We also enjoyed local cuisine at a lovo feast, where the food is wrapped and cooked under native leaves and buried underground to steam for hours.

Adrenaline Rush

Feeling the need for adventure (and exercise), we decided to do something a bit more challenging than imbibing a “Sunia Special” at the bar — worth every calorie, I might add. We opted for a shark dive (US$61-$85).

Divemaster Nicko and his team from the family-operated Dive Yasawa Lagoon dive center (phone 679 6662648, www.diveyasawalagoon.com), the latest addition to the Coralview Resort, a popular backpacker destination on the nearby island of Tavewa, have impressively “trained” the local fish to expect the feast that they present each Saturday and Wednesday.

It worked like this: about a mile off the coast, a gaggle of divers descended 60 feet to the depths of the sea to watch as barracuda, tuna and, yes, sharks appeared from the shadows to nosh happily on the easy prey — no, not the divers but - the chum that was lowered in giant bins and poured out along the ocean floor. After spotting a lemon shark at least 10 feet long a mere 40 feet away, my ascent to the surface didn’t come soon enough.

Coming Up for Air

We spent the rest of our time at Navutu Stars doing more relaxing activities. We snorkeled in front of our bure and right off the shore of Vuaki among amazing coral reefs, home to stingrays, giant clams, sea cucumbers, clownfish and anemones. We kayaked around atolls to explore barely inhabited nearby isles, hiked to the top of Yaqeta to watch the sun sink into the golden Pacific, and woke early each morning to greet it again from the hotel’s watchtower.

On Sunday we were invited to Vuaki by Kikao, one of the locals, to witness a local church service. (Note: it is taboo to show up to a village uninvited, and it is customary to offer money or a gift to the chief when you do visit.) As we walked through the village, a chorus of lilting voices from the three area parishes filled the air. Afterward, smiling, giggling children greeted us and held our hands. The showed us their homes and invited us to play.

After our fourth day in Yaqeta, we begrudgingly said good-bye to Giovanna, her dogs Mia and Tofu, the village of Vuaki and the wonderful hotel staff. As the locals strummed a guitar and sang a traditional Fijian song to bid us farewell, we promised we'd be back.