Invisible L.A.

I have always been a lover of the Vietnamese soup called Pho’(pronounced “FUH”). I ate it when I was on a dating my husband at the time, who by the way is native Vietnamese. He taught me what to add as far as condiments and how to enjoy this wonderfully fragrant and tasty soup.

If I can’t make it to “Little Saigon”(Westminister), Alhambra or El Monte for this delicious soup. Than I go to local Pho’ restaurant near where I live. Pho 2000. They have several locations. The one I would frequent moved due to the high rise condos being built on Western and Wilshire. So I go to Pho’ 2000 other location which is on Vermont and 7th. It isn’t as busy as the Western and Wilshire location when it was opened. But nonetheless, is a good place to get a deceint bowl of your favorite type of Pho’.

Pho’ is a basic broth and noodle soup. One may have ox tail, steak or seafood as the meat of choice. When the bowl of soup arrives to you at the table, you smell the fragrance of the broth, meat, onions, anise seed, ginger and nuc mum(fish sauce). You may add some additional things that the waiter/waitress brings to your table. Usually, you may fresh sweet basil, green chile and bean sprouts. Some others may offer cilantro and thinely sliced onions as well. As far as condiments go, one may hoisen(a sweet thick soybean sauce), nuc mum(fish sauce) and siracha chili sauce. My favorite Pho’ is the Pho’ Tai, than the Pho’ Chicken, than the Oxtail.

I also do like ordering on ocassion the egg rolls with romaine lettuce and nuc mum dipping sauce.I also like ordering the “Bun Thit Nuong and Cha Gio”. Which is grilled pork chop, egg rolls and vermicilli noodles. For those who are crazy about coffee, I would recommend drinking the cafe’ su da. Which is the Vietnamese Iced Coffee. Patience is the key with this drink. It is recommended to order the coffee at the time of your pho’ order. By the time you are finished with the soup, the coffee would have finished dripping into you coffee cup from the Vietnamese coffee maker. At the bottom of the cup is a spoonful of condensed milk. Once you have the amount of coffee. Stir and add the coffee mixture to your glass of ice and stir again to get the full taste.

Having Pho’ is a wonderful dish to experience. If you ever get a chance to sample or eat some. Go for it. It is worth the taste and experience.

It is being said in the media that the writer’s strike maybe soon over. So that many of the more popular shows may actually end on their regular timeline, which is in May, 2008. So if you are a fan of Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, Lost as well others, may see the finale’s in the annual Television May Sweeps. You know, gotta get them ratings in to bring in more money/revenue from advertising from commercials. Gotta spread, the buck as well as the wealth. Ok so maybe some love.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been on strike since, November 5, 2007. The current strike of the 2007 -2008 season has been going on for 13 weeks and 4 days as of February 8, 2008. And it is estimated that the strike has cost the economy in the ball park figure of $1 Billion dollars to date. There are over 12,000 writers who have joined the strike. And as side note the WGA has contract negotiations every 3 years.

The last writers strike was in 1988. Lasting 21 weeks and 6 days. And costing the economy about $500 million dollars(about $870 million in 2007 money).

Once the strike has been settled, only a few shows will remain. Many of them either cancelled permanently or to be picked up next season. So many disappointments to many of the viewers of many television shows. A handful will be picked up for next season while others have either been axed or doom is looming over. Many of the shows have aired their remaining written shows that were written and filmed prior to the November 5, strike. Here is a list of shows that have a few remaining weeks to be seen before the end of the season.

The writers strike is against, Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents 397 American film and television producers. Some of the most influential companies out of the AMPTP are: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer(MGM), NBC Universal, News Corp/Fox, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, the Walt Disney Company, and Warner Brothers.

Of course one of the many reasons to the writers strike is the residuals due them from DVD sales. Some of the other reasons due to the strike is union jurisdiction over animation and reality tv show writers. And of course last, but not least compensation from usage of the writers work being used via the internet. Such as through Youtube or other such internet outlets.

The major part of the strike maybe resolved, but with a few strings still needing to be tied up on the smaller issues between the AMPTP and the WGA. So keep your fingers crossed that the WGA can get the 12,000+ writers back to work. And for all of America’s favorite shows to get back on the tube/tv.

Ok. It is now 8:00 AM (PST). Indeed it is Super Tuesday. That’s right. C’mon Angelenos come on out and vote and let your voice be heard. There are plenty of state propositions to vote on as well as voting to narrow down which Presidential candidate you want on your parties ticket in the November General elections. The voting booths will remain open until 8:00 PM tonight.

So how are you going to vote? Who are going to vote for? Do you know about any of the current presidential candidates and what they stand for? Do you know about any of the propositions and measures? So get out and research. Than go to your designated polling place and vote.

You may also find out which Presidential Candidates were certified to be on the current 2008 California Primaries at the California Gov page for elections.

You may find a list of the current propositons at California’s Voter Guide. There are 7 Propositions which are 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96 and 97.

Proposition 91: Transportation Funds

Proposition 92: Funding, Governance, Fees For Community Colleges

Proposition 93: Term Limits For Legislators In Office

Proposition 94 - Proposition 97: Amendment To Indian Gaming Compact
Proposition S (Los Angeles)

If you need to find out where your polling place is to vote in Los Angeles, you may visit LA Vote.
Or call the following phone numbers to find out. (800) 815-2666 (Local Callers Only) or (562) 466-1310

Guò nián! which means to Celebrate The New Year in Chinese. Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! means Happy New Years in Vietnamese

It is 2008 and the year of the rat. And the world is gearing up for this wonderful celebration of life and family. All the way from Los Angeles, to China, Vietnam, Korea, San Fransico. and to New York City.

Lately we have been going to the celebrations in Los Angeles due to travel and convience because of where we live. Chinatown businesses in Los Angeles pretty much closes down 1 - 3 days prior to the celebration to adhere to some of the New Years traditions. So roughly from Thursday and Friday of February 7th to the 8th many of the business will be closed. And the celebrations pick up on the morning of February 9th.

Chinatown in Los Angeles has a parade on February 9th, 2008. Get your seat early. There will be huge crowds. At times exceeding over 100,000 people plus. Be sure when the dragons pass you during the parade that they pass directly in front of you. You will be more blessed with luck during the year. And for the children, be mindful, and respect your parents and other adults and wish them a happy and prosperous New Year. There are many red envelopes to be had. The children will find money in the envelopes. Usually one will find anywhere between a nickel up to no more than $4.00. You are considered real lucky if you receive an envelope with $8.00(for its homophone for “wealth”). Sometimes they will find chocolate coins in the envelopes as well.

Prior to the parade you may want to enjoy some of the traditional Chinese and Vietnamese styled restaurants with more of the authentic foods. Not really much of the American-Asian fusion food one would eat outside such enclaved cities. All are wonderful in taste and variety. I always enjoy the traditional bowl of Vietnamese soup called Pho’. One of the many pho’ restaurants I frequent is on Broadway by the name of Pho’ 79. Order the simpliest soup called Pho’ Tai. It is pretty much a steak and noodle soup dish. One may top the soup with bean sprout, basil, hoisen sauce, nuc mum(fish sauce) and a green chile or two.

You may want to do a walking tour of the many shops that have great deals on textiles, art, clothing, toys and food at reasonable prices. You may also be surprised of the many Asian and American galleries spotted throughout Chinatown. It is also rumored that a few Hollywood stars have bought lofts in the area as well. I hear that Quentin Tarantino may be one of them. You know the producer/director/writer of such films as Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and From Dusk to Dawn.

If you are unsure what Chinese Zodiac(Horoscope) you fall under, you may find out your animal sign here. Your sign will come every 12 years. If you would like to know more about the legend of the 12 signs, you may read more about it at Chinese Zodiac Page.

Indeed things are heating up in the current United States 2008 Presidential elections. The Republican and Democratic Debates have come to Southern California. The Republican Debate will be held Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. And the Democratic debate will be held Thursday, January  31, 2008 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California. Both debates will be aired roughly around 6 PM (PST). You may view the debates on CNN. I am also sure that a few of the debates will be aired on local television stations across American as well. Check your local listings. The debates are co-sponsored by Politico.com, The Los Angeles Times and the Reagan Library.

Candidates dropping out like flys after some heavy losses in Florida. It is expected that Former New York City Mayor to drop out and not participate in tonights Republican debate. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards has dropped out and will not particpate in Thursday nights Democratic debate. There are some political analysits are saying that quite possibly that Romney will win the Republican debate and I think it will be a toss up between Clinton and Obama for the Democratic debate.

From what I see, that the following candidates will participate in the Republican Debate will be:

Senator John McCain

Representative Ron Paul

Mitt Romney

Mike Huckabee

For the Democratic Debate:

Senator Hillary Clinton

Mike Gravel

Barack Obama

I know that many of the presidential candidates even have Myspace profiles. Anything to get their faces and agenda’s out to the younger votes. Something to the effect of what Rock The Vote did in the 1990’s which helped register over 2 million voters. Rock The Vote organization was organized in 1990 in Los Angeles. Another way to reach out to the public and the younger vote is to implent questions from voters who post them on Youtube. You may find the Rebulican Debate page as well as the page for the Democratic Debate page at YouTube.

The final outcome of who be the final two candidates to battle it out for the November 2008 Presidential elections will be decided at the Parties Conventions. The Democratic Convention will take place in Denver, Colorado from August 25- 28, 2008. The Republican Convention will take place in Saint Paul, Minnesota, September 1 -4, 2008.

The California Primaries will take place on Tuesday, February 5, 2008.

Barack Obama is holding a town meeting at Los Angeles Trade Tech meeting(LATT) on Thursday, January 31, 2008. Doors open at 8:00 AM in the morning and is by personal invite only. My first thought about the town meeting being at LATT was about an racial profilling incident that happened late last year(Fall - 2007) on campus. A LATT student caught the incident on his cell phone and taped it. LATT Racial Profiling. But I am sure that is not the main reason that Barack Obama is having a town meeting there other than to answer questions in a Los Angeles community area.

I know in many major cities across America have enclaves, or better know as “little towns”.  Such as in Los Angeles.  Here are but a few Los Angeles enclaves.  All are wonderful for their unique cultures, foods, festivals and contributions to the Los Angeles community.

Chinatown
Little Armenia
Little Tokyo
Koreatown
Thai Town
Little Ethopia
Little Manila
Jewish - Beverlywood
Little Persia
Little Italy - Which is now Chinatown. Yes odd I know.

I know in Los Angeles we have many of these inner cities as well. Such as East Los Angeles - Echo Park and City Terrace, West Los Angeles, South Central Los Angeles - Leimert Park and Watts as well as Hollywood. Many of them make up small businesses and have great restaurants, and annual festivals highlighting their country of orgin and its cultures.

Now you probably wonder why I would mention Los Angeles enclaves. Well I am sure you do realise the diversity of the “Little Town’s”. And this is one of the many things I enjoy about the Los Angeles community. The best of many countries being brought to one community is a difinite highlight of living or visting such large cities. This is not counting the many districts as well in Los Angeles. Los Angeles also has a financial district, clothing district, jewelry district, toy district as well as a few other districts. So you can do one of two things, visit all the “little enclaves” or shop in the many districts, or do both, your choice. Los Angeles is a must definite visit for a vast cultural and shopping experience.

As of January 22, 2008 the nominations for the Oscars were annouced. The Oscars have been home to the Kodak Theater which is located at Highland and Vine in Hollywood. Not only are the Oscars broadcasted there, so is the Ameican Idol finals.

The Kodak is a 3,600 seat theater. The Kodak also is centrally located within a shopping mall and movie thearter. It also sits comfortably on top of L.A’s mass transit, the red line subway. One of the subways major stops is the Highland/Vine - Kodak Theater Stop. Prepping the theater is done about a week ahead of the broadcast. So many fans and tourists can watch as the set up begins. Including seeing the full size statueets of Oscars lined along the red carpet walkway of the theater. Yes viewing this Hollywood history is free prior to the broadcast. Or you can attempt to be a spectator on the night of the Oscars in hopes to catch a glimpse of your favorite actor and or actress via the street in front of the theater.

The Oscars have been broadcasted from the theater since 2002. Previously they were broadcasted from the Shrine Auditorium located across from the USC campus on Jefferson and Hoover in Los Angeles. The Oscars were originally at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood on May 1, 1929. The Roosevelt Hotel is one block west of the Kodak.

Here are some of the following nominations for certain catergories

Best Picture

Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Best Director

Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men
Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton
Jason Reitman - Juno
Julian Schnabel - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Actor

George Clooney - Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp - Sweeney Todd
Tommy Lee Jones - In the Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen - Eastern Promises

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie - Away from Her
Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose (La môme)
Laura Linney - The Savages
Ellen Page - Juno

Best Supporting Actor

Casey Affleck - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson’s War
Hal Holbrook - Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton

Best Supporting Actress

Cate Blanchett - I’m Not There
Ruby Dee - American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan - Atonement
Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton

Best Original Screenplay

Diablo Cody - Juno
Nancy Oliver - Lars and the Real Girl
Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton
Brad Bird - Ratatouille
Tamara Jenkins - The Savages

Best Adapted Screenplay

Christopher Hampton - Atonement
Sarah Polley - Away from Her
Ronald Harwood - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

On January 22, 2008(same day the 2008 Oscars were annoucned) the 2005 Oscar nominated Best Actor, Heath Ledger died in his SoHo, New York apartment. Results of his death are unknown pending an autopsy. May are hearts go out to Heath Ledgers family.

Salma Hayek and Vanessa Williams joined the opening celebration of the Sergio Rossi boutique on Melrose Place. The Italian luxury shoes and accessories brand, Sergio Rossi opened its 1,500 sq. ft. store with a dinner at Bastide co-hosted by Sergio Rossi Creative Director Edmundo Castillo and Salma Hayek on January 16, 2008.

Other guests included Mia Maestro, Ana Ortiz, Giannina Facio, Eva Chow, celebrity florist Eric Buterbaugh, and celebrity stylists Elizabeth Stewart and Rachel Zoe. Teri Weinberg of NBC and writer Marc Abrams were also in attendance.

Sergio Rossi at 8424 Melrose Place, West Hollywood. (323) 944-0864. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

CBS studios at Beverly and Fairfax has a great history as well. The studios was built in 1952 on the famous Gilmore stadium where the professional “Hollywood Stars” baseball team would play. Such great baseball stars that played were like, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and Billy Martin. The team was owned by such big stars such as George Burns, Greacie Allen, Gary Cooper, William Powell, Bing Crosby and Cecille B. DeMille. But back to more history, one of many shows that were taped at the Beverly/Fairfax were the Carol Burnett show, The Sonny and Cher, The Ed Sullivan Show(where the Beatles made they did their first US show).

I have been into the CBS Studios several times for several shows. It is a great experience to view live TV shows. I have seen such shows for free such as “The Price is Right” with Bob Barker, The Hollywood Squares and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. And if you are a big soap opera fan of “The Young And The Restless” and “The Bold and The Beautiful” you may get a peek at a few of the stars going and out or just hanging out in the back for small time chatter.

All the tickets are free to get to see the shows. There are several ways to get free tickets. One way is to drive to the CBS studios on Beverly and Fairfax and walk to the ticket window. The ticket window is open 5 days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM. You pick the show, the date and what time(several shows do several tapings per day). Another way to get free tickets is of course to do a search via the net, there are many services out there that you can order tickets from. Or you can call directly to the studios, which is: 1 - 323 - 575 - 2458. And if you are a local of the Los Angeles area, many studios hire temporary agencies or firms to hire what many call in the industry as “Audience Paticipants”. Yes indeed they do get paid. You may not know who they are in the audience because one of the rules is they can not tell others they are there to fill seats and to get paid.

If you want to see a listing of the television shows that are not affected by the 2007 - 2008 writers strike. Here is the listing as of January 21, 2008. Reports are coming in that some studios are actually closing in on deals with the writers union. Many believe the strike will relatively end at the end of January 2008. Here is some information about CBS television show dress code, parking, arrival time and attending the show.

Kiefer Sutherland will soon take off his orange jumpsuit. He has spent the last 48 days locked up and will get out of Glendale City Jail Monday morning. “He’ll be let out the front door just like everyone else,” according to Officer John Balian.

Kiefer was in jail for his second DUI conviction and for violating probation, The 24 star spent his birthday, Christmas and New Year’s at the Los Angeles-Glendale Jail.

Actor Gary Collins is also in the Glendale Jail for DUI but his cell is in another area.