Recession Sale, Los Angeles, October 2008

Baby Boogaloo in Chinatown this Saturday

For more information, go to the Baby Boogaloo MySpace page

Update:I just learned that The Artform on Figueroa sponsors Baby Get Down every second Saturday of the month. It features music, dancing and art, and the November event will also feature a children's clothing trunk show. Wow, who knew that Chinatown had so many family events?

Fire at teh Broadway Trade Center! (Yesterday, yes I am a lazy poster)

I could smell the smoke on Seventh and Spring. I suppose I should have rushed on over to get dramatic shots of flames leaping from windows, etc, but I wanted to get to the bank before it closed. Journalistic instinct? I has none.

By the time I got there, everyone was all set up and the really dramatic stuff was all over. The focus seemed to be on the building next to the one with the mall, which is styled to look like the same building, and maybe it is the same building, as the strobes and klaxon were running full blast on both sides.

The clean-up crew going in with shovels and what looked like giant squeegies.

Of course, Los Angeles has an unusually good-looking and photogenic fire department. Why would one expect anything else?

Not everyone felt the need to evacuate.

Triangle Shirtwaist? What is that?

Of course, business as usual inside the BTC during the "emergency".

Meanwhile, on Broadway right in front of the aforementioned Shoppers Paradise, a movie crew was taking advantage of our beautiful traffic congestion and the evening's lovely gloom.

For all Downtown's a stage, and we are merely extras...

Update: Those timely kids over at Angelenic reported (on the actual day that it happened!) that the fire started on the ninth floor, and involved three floors total. Woot!

Gangsta! Gangsta! As seen on Spring st...

Seen today on Spring and Seventh:

Yo, yo, that Gangsta lifestyle is coming soon to your Xbox 360! Now anyone can enjoy a true and gritty urban experience from the comfort of their suburban den, Rumpus room, or parents basement. Grillz! Guns! Do-rags and hot chicks with rifles and cell phones! It's all about gang lifestyle!



BTW did I mention that 740 club got a paint job?

Flu shots are in!

The Flu shots are in! Hooray! Get it, get it before you get the flu!

My doctor wouldn't give me a flu shot today, because I have the flu.

He said I would have to wait until I feel better. Hooray!

Pumpkin Party in Grand Hope Park

Just wanted to get the word out again about the Halloween party in Grand Hope Park. It's taking place on Friday 10/31 from 6 to 9 pm and will feature a kiddie fashion show (with costumes designed by FIDM students), a pumpkin carving contest and food and games for kids. The party is free--just RSVP at DowntownLA.com. Kidlo and I will be participating in the fashion show, so see you then!

Foreclosure Alley

Not related to downtown, but had to share this anyway: KCET did a story on the foreclosure crisis in the Inland Empire. Absolutely heartbreaking.

Good Eats, Good Cause

Alex Stattinski of the Downtown Center BID asked me to get the word out about the Public Safety Appreciation Barbecue, taking place on Friday at 7+FIG @ Ernst & Young Plaza from 11 am to 2 pm. $7 gets you Morton's Prime Rib Sandwiches and California Pizza Kitchen pastas & salads (unless you're a public service employee, in which case your meal is free!). Proceeds go to the Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association. Bring your appetite and thank the folks in blue for keeping us safe.

The Green Arrow of DOOM!!

I wish I got a photo of this, but It was unexpected.

Yesterday eve, (5:53PM, yah I noted the time) my lovely wife and I were driving east on Washington, in the left-turn-only lane at Broadway... You know those "train coming" signs that light up to warn you not to cross the tracks when the Metro is coming? Well, the metro was coming, and not only did the warning light NOT light, but the left arrow came on directing me to turn left right into the oncoming train!

I suppose the light was green on Hill street, as the train pulled a panic stop which left it's ass end hanging out on to Broadway. There was also an eastbound, but it looked stopped a couple blocks down.

So, do these failures happen often? Anyone else been directed to their doom by a friendly green arrow recently? How about we junk the automatic lights in favor of one big permanently lit sign saying (in four languages) LOOK OUT FOR TRAINS!!!1!!

UPDATE: This was about 3/4 of a mile from where a Metro train hit a bus back on Sept. 19, less than two weeks earlier. No published reports (that google turned up in two minutes of searching) reported the cause, but I have to wonder if the bus was victim of the same... Green arrow of DOOM!!1!