Invisible L.A.

Hey, gang, I just put my 15 year old on the plane in Burbank this afternoon and *whew!*, life resumes it’s normal pace again and I can (finally) get back to blogging.

Meanwhile, over the last few weeks, I have been busy taking some great cellflix that I will be sharing with you over the next few days.

Right now, though, I want to give you something to “chew” in (no pun intended), a short (and growing!) list of cool websites that give you the scoop on what you need to know in Los Angeles. Please feel free to add to this list in the comments section.

1. Apartment Therapy L.A. everything you need to know about decorating your space, great stores, great suggestions, great finds, all in the LA style. I never knew I cared so much, but I am an addict now!

2. BargainsLA.comas they call themselves: The Premiere Bargain Hunting, Bargain Shopping & Sample Sales Guide to the Los Angeles Area!

I found this site through Apartment Therapy LA. You can sign up for Suzanne’s bargain tips on everything from bargain shopping for furniture, electronics, pet supplies and more! This is a treasure trove of information for the bargain hunter.

3. Daily Candy LA wanna know what’s hip, what’s happening, what’s hot? Sign up for this daily tip and you will be THERE! (along with the 150K+ others who are on the list). Whether you are a service, have a product or a storefront, one small mention in Daily Candy, and you are ‘in like Flynn’. (note the old Hollywood reference)

4. Chowhound’s LA message board leave the restaurant reviews to the reviewers and check out what the real people are saying about the chow in your neck of the woods.

5. Metroblogging Los Angeles– a sort of portal of a variety of L.A. bloggers. Most of them seem to be hip 20-somethings, but I met Heather from heathervescent last summer at the BlogHer conference in San Jose, drinking bright purple-rimmed ‘Yahootinis’ by the pool, so I feel a warmth for her blogging. Check it out, it’s an interesting look at what is happening from many different perspectives. ok, so maybe not so different, but in different voices for sure.

(hey, speaking of BlogHer, the blogging conference that had over 700 WOMEN in attendance last year, will be having it’s business version in NYC in March and yours truly is thinking of showing up. My dad will be out of town and so I would have his delightful 32nd floor apartment all to myself. yes.)

see you on the freeway

The ban on new medical marijuana dispensaries is invalid ruled a Superior Court judge on Monday. The ruling blocks Los Angeles’ efforts to close medical marijuana stores. The Superior Court judge also ordered an injunction against enforcing the ban against Green Oasis, a dispensary in Playa Vista on Jefferson Boulevard just west of the 405 Freeway. In a complaint, it was alleged by a narcotics officer that the medical marijuana Continue reading

There is no downturn in high-end Los Angeles real estate. L.A.’s affluent neighborhoods where the money is such as Brentwood and Westwood and costal Laguna and Newport Beach are up substantially this year.

Here is how some Los Angeles neighborhoods are doing:

Gong Xi Fa Cai! which means to Celebrate The New Year in Chinese. Chuc Mung Nam Moi! 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 Continue reading

I have to say that since I moved to the L.A. area in 2000, Burbank Airport, a.k.a. Bob Hope Airport (BUR), has been my hub of choice. I beg friends to choose that as their arrival point and leave from there whenever I can.

My daughter lives with her dad up in the Bay Area and visits me once a month, so I consider myself Continue reading

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 Continue reading

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 Continue reading

Eight Miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles is the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Rose Parade is traditionally done every year on New Years Day. The Rose Parade started January 1, 1890. Following the parade is the Rose Bowl football game. The Rose Bowl football game started January 1, 1923. Many of the local television stations will carry the Rose Parade live and Continue reading

Everyone likes fun on the beach and to enjoy a vacation at the seashore. The ocean makes you feel relaxed, rejuvenated and calm. And what better spot can there be to escape than Venice Beach. Venice Beach is located between Santa Monica and Marina del Rey. 2 miles from the Santa Monica Pier, 5 miles from Hollywood, 7 miles from Los Angeles International Airport, 10 miles from Downtown Los Angeles Continue reading

So I am off to see the real “Queen of Soul”, Aretha Franklin in concert tonight at the newly built Nokia Center. Which is located across the street from the Staples center where the LA Lakers, Sparks and Kings play their home games at. The Nokia Center now sits on the lot where the Summer X-Games use to be played at.

I am so psyched and ready for Continue reading