Doesn’t seem to matter much at all that it’s the beginning of March. Our Los Angeles weather has been so spectacular even the snakes can’t be sure where we all are on the calendar.
This beautiful rattlesnake stopped traffic in both directions as it crossed the trail above the Griffith Observatory. I thought I’d share the video here (click the “full screen” arrows at lower right to view larger version):

Details.com’s February issue features Atwater Village as one of six hottest emerging neighborhoods:

(click on image to link to article)
As a new resident of Atwater Village I recognize and enjoy the uptick in interest. New shops and restaurants teeming with locals and visitors alike makes for a happy vibrancy. It should also be noted that all of my new neighbors have been so warm and friendly. Go Atwater!

It’s not enough that every Sunday we Atwater residents have easy access to our very own Farmers’ Market, but we’ve also just seen the opening of Atwater Village Farm at the corner of Larga on Glendale Boulevard. Their website is here and their blog makes me hungry!

And I don’t know much yet, but am excited to see Bon Vivant Market & Cafe open soon across the street!

I’m pretty confident that I never thought I’d be posting a nude photo of Jeff Goldblum on this blog, but there it is!
It’s possible to see the 1958 Vincent Price version of The Fly in all its campy glory on October 30th at LACMA.
But on October 12th why not also see the 25th anniversary screening of the horrifyingly touching 1986 Cronenberg-directed classic of the same name? It’s this Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles!
Jeff Goldblum gives a multi-layered performance as a scientist suffering the consequences of his experiment-gone-oh-so-very-wrong. Geena …

Before taking the kiddies out for their trick-or-treat adventures on Monday evening (October 31st), take yourselves out on Sunday before to any (or all) of six Vincent Price horror classics!
Beginning at 1:00P with The Pit and the Pendulum and continuing nearly through the witching hour with Witchfinder General (aka Conqueror Worm), all six films are FREE and no reservations are required!

The other films being screened in the day-long series are The Masque of the Red Death, House of Wax, The Tingler, and The Fly.
Instead of regurgitating all the specifics on …

Is it just at my house, or is everyone in Parkside neighborhoods experiencing an unusual level of squirrel activity over the past several weeks? I’m talking about more frantic than I can remember in years past.
There have been dozens of these energetic creatures scurrying around, hurtling from one branch to the next, from this roof to that, and so on. And the digging! They’re digging anywhere there’s dirt! Even if it’s in a pot. Or the mulchy material in the surrounding home’s rain gutters. …

Lightning. Rain. And gorgeous clouds.
Took a break from the tasks at hand yesterday for a bicycle ride that began southbound from Los Feliz into Elysian Park. It was dramatic to see the clouds winding up over downtown. Distantly, the rain appeared to fall in sheets from these unsettled formations and a quick bolt of nicely formed lightning lit the sky just beyond downtown’s skyline.
Fearing getting caught in a downpour, I scurried down Stadium Way to the L.A. River bike path northbound all the way to its …

Built in 1917 for its February 1918 opening, The Million Dollar Theater in downtown Los Angeles was the first “movie palace” built on the west coast of the United States. It was showman Sid Grauman’s very first movie house anywhere. (He would go on in the 1920s to build The Egyptian and The Chinese on Hollywood Boulevard, among others.).
At the time of its opening, this spectacular 2,345-seat venue was simply called Grauman’s Theatre and wouldn’t change its name to The Million Dollar until 1922. The theater was …

As mentioned in previous posts about food and dining out, I cannot claim to be a food expert; however, I’ve been around enough to recognize finely crafted flavors and high quality ingredients. Providence offers both these things in every single item they bring to the table.
Chef Michael Cimarusti of Spago — who after a distinguished career in New York and Paris — came to Los Angeles where he has treated diners to extraordinary dishes at Spago and Water Grill before venturing on his own to open Providence. To …

Ending up at Baracoa for dinner last weekend was a lucky mistake really. It was one of those “hungry now” to “let’s just park” to “hey, how ’bout this place?” moments. Located about a block to the west of another favorite restaurant, Canelé, Baracoa was the perfect choice. The food was terrific and the service was friendly. I assure you my next visits will not be a mistake!
From their website: Baracoa Cuban Cafe was established in 2002, and has been enjoying a small following and a …