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Volume 5, No. 25 SmithPublish.com
National Women’s History Month
Inside What’s Happening Around Town… 2 Government/Business ………..........3 School/Sports……..………………. .4 Asts & Entertainment………….…..5 Church/Real Estate………..…….…6 Tech/Automotive……………………8 Food & Restaurant…………………9 Special Section…..…………………10 Calendar of Events…………....…...16 Business Directory…………………17 How to Reach Us (888) 841-7779 Email: Lacnews@yahoo.com Submit your upcoming events and information FREE!
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March 15 – 31, 2011 lacnews@yahoo.com
Los Angeles and AEG push ahead on NFL stadium
Developer AEG, last week, advanced its plan to build a football stadium in downtown Los Angeles by formally launching an environmental review process. In a letter sent to Planning Director Michael LoGrande, a representative for Anschutz Entertainment Group said the company this week will submit a "notice of preparation" for its environmental impact statement. The notice will be published March 17, with a scoping meeting set for March 30 to establish the boundaries of the study. "The letter clearly and formally states AEG's plans to begin the procedure of producing a complete environmental impact report as part of the process to develop the L.A. Event Center and Farmers Field," AEG spokesman Michael Roth said. READ MORE
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Debra Bowen enters race to succeed Rep. Jane Harman The California secretary of state joins L.A. Councilwoman Janice Hahn and others in seeking to represent the heavily Democratic district that stretches from Venice into San Pedro. California Secretary of State Debra Bowen on Tuesday jumped into the race to succeed retiring Rep. Jane Harman of Venice, setting up what is expected to be a lively contest between two prominent Democratic women for the largely coastal congressional district. "This was not an easy decision," said Bowen, who in November was elected to a second four-year term as the state's top elections official. "I spent the past week discussing a potential run with my family and close friends, and thinking how I can best serve the public," she said in a statement announcing her candidacy. READ MORE
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CITY OF LOS ANGELES TO HOST NAACP 2011 CONFERENCE The NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, selected Los Angeles as the site of its annual conference, to be held July 23 - 28, 2011. “Over the past century, the NAACP has stood at the forefront of progress - crossing the longest bridges and overcoming the highest hurdles in the pursuit of social justice and the end of discrimination,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “Having such a distinguished and high-profile organization convene in our city for their 102nd anniversary speaks volumes to Los Angeles’ status as a premier convention city.” For more information, visit http://naacp-losangeles.org/events.htm
Angry residents of Bell vote on council recall BELL -- Voters went to the polls Tuesday with a chance to elect a group of reformers in a bluecollar Southern California community that became the face of municipal corruption in the country when officials were accused of paying themselves six-figure salaries while the city was going broke. A steady stream of voters lined up at four polling places in Bell to cast ballots for candidates for all five seats on the City Council. Four council members were targeted for recall, although one has resigned and two others aren't seeking re-election. All four have pleaded not guilty to dozens of fraud and other charges accusing city officials of looting the city of more than $5.5 million. Authorities say they drove Bell into as much as $4.5 million in debt in the process READ MORE
Mid City West Community Council One Vacancy on the MCWCC Board There is currently one vacancy on the Mid City West Community Council Board of Directors. This is among the 45 positions on the Board. (See the current Bylaws for a complete list of of Board positions, as described starting on page 2, Article II, Section 6.) The Board will likely be considering candidates for filling this position at the April 12th Board meeting. Candidates for vacant Board positions generally appear at that Board meeting and are given an opportunity to speak to the Board. Learn more, CLICK HERE
CAPE students creating virtual time capsules Eighth-graders at Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education are literally making history. The students and their teacher Camille Kavon are taking part in a K-12 Web Archiving Program sponsored by the Library of Congress, the Internet Archive and California Digital Library. The program is designed to encourage students to think about history by selecting sources for ongoing research use, effectively creating "time capsules" of what represents their current lives. "Things aren't being saved like they used to be because so much is being done in cyberspace," Kavon said. "So the Library of Congress came to a decision that we need to start archiving websites for posterity. They decided to give kids an opportunity to take part to get their perspective and to archive things that matter to them." Since September, Kavon's students have been identifying websites they believe reflect their culture and experience and have been archiving them as three separate collections: A Day in the Life of a Camarillo Teenager, A New Generation of Books and This is Our World. READ MORE
The Jazz Bakery Presents Jim Hall Quartet 80th Birthday Celebration March 26th – One set – 9:00pm, Venue: Musicians Institute Concert Center For more info…CLICK HERE
Mention Jim Hall to any guitarist and the reaction is universally one of acclaim and admiration. Jim and his Quartet featuring Greg Osby, Steve LaSpina, and Joey Baron are touring throughout 2011 in celebration of Jim’s 80th birthday (December 4, 2010). His live and recorded collaborations with Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Paul Desmond, and Ron Carter are legendary. In 2004, he was the first of the modern jazz guitar players to be named an NEA Jazz Master, the nation’s highest honor in jazz. Jim often features guests in his sets - previous guests include Bill Frisell, Chris Potter, Joe Lovano, Kenny Barron, Pat Metheny, and others. Jim Hall’s musical style has been in a state of continuous development throughout the course of his career—a career that to date has spanned more than six decades. But just as with advances in technology, medicine, and other fields, Jim’s evolutionary twists and turns in this last decade have been swift. With each new concert tour and recording (more than twenty new CDs since 1991) Jim reveals yet another facet of himself. Not only is Jim Hall one of the jazz world’s favorite guitarists, but he has also earned critical acclaim for his skills as a composer and arranger. The first formal recognition came in 1997, when Jim won the New York Jazz Critics Circle Award for Best Jazz Composer/Arranger. His pieces for string, brass, and vocal ensembles can be heard on his Textures and By Arrangement recordings. His original composition, “Quartet Plus Four,” a piece for jazz quartet augmented by the Zapolski string quartet, was debuted in Denmark during the concert and ceremony where he was awarded the coveted Jazzpar Prize, and later released on CD. READ MORE
Remembering Beloved Pastor Dr. Billy Ingram Updated Service Info: FRIDAY, MARCH 18th – 11:00 A.M. West Angeles Cathedral 3600 Crenshaw Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300 On Tuesday, March 8, 2011 many of those who knew Pastor Billy Ingram wrote the word “shalom” (which means peace) accompanied by “R.I.P” on his Facebook wall. Dr. Billy G. Ingram — a dignified man, who wore many hats well including pastor, activist, author, historian, Bible scholar, husband and father–passed away. Ingram died of a heart attack while asleep at his Los Angeles home. He was 58. As a pastor of nearly 40 years and founder of Maranatha Community Church, Dr. Ingram touched many lives from celebrities to ordinary people. The impact of his life is reflected in the following obituary: r. Ingram, founder/pastor of Maranatha Community Church in Los Angeles for 31 years, passed away suddenly on March 8, 2011 of a heart attack at home in his sleep. He was taken by paramedics to Kaiser Permanente on Cadillac Drive in Los Angeles where the doctors declared his passing. Pastor Billy, as he was fondly known, was 58 years old. READ MORE
Cash For Keys Squatters allegedly demand big bucks to move out of foreclosures Imagine if squatters moved into a foreclosed home in your neighborhood, then demanded cash or they wouldn't move out. Authorities say that's exactly what's happening in neighborhoods across Southern California. They call this "cash for keys," because they say, squatters won't hand over the keys to a foreclosed home and leave, until the bank that owns the home pays them cash. READ MORE
Warner Bros. to Start Facebook Movie Rentals? NOTE: TechCrunch seems to think this is not actually a partnership between Facebook and Warner Bros., but that the movie company has simply created an app, that happens to be a movie rental app. Warner Bros. will now offer movies for rent on Facebook, starting with Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" and will reportedly roll out more films in the coming months. "The Dark Knight" will rent for $3 or 30 Facebook credits, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Viewers who rent the film will be given 48 hours to watch it and still have full Facebook functionality. The 2008 film starring Christian Bale as Batman is considered a test for the Hollywood studio -- and its first attempt at direct-to-Facebook rentals. READ MORE
Review: With iPad 2, Apple one-ups itself With the original iPad, Apple brought an attractive, easy-to-use tablet computer to the masses at a reasonable price — a feat numerous companies are trying to top. With Friday's release of the iPad 2, Apple is pulling further ahead, with improvements that make an already excellent tablet even more enticing. It goes to show that when it comes to tablets, Apple refuses to be bested. The new iPad is skinnier, faster and slightly lighter. It comes with cameras for video chatting and snapping photos, while keeping the same prices, ranging from $499 to $829 depending on the configuration. Competitors such as Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. sell good tablets of their own, with many of the same features. Motorola's new Xoom even has a higher-resolution screen than the iPad. Still, nobody has been able to match the iPad's simplicity, innovation and style. READ MORE
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Harold & Belle’s Creole Restaurant This is the pinnacle of Creole dining in Los Angeles. Harold & Belle's is a fancy restaurant, with food to match. The red beans and the gumbo are superb. Bring your appetite too, because the portions are Gargantuan. The staff is beyond friendly, the food is wonderful, and you're guaranteed a great meal in this place that's served the Creole community of Los Angeles for many years. To experience Harold & Belle’s, CLICK HERE
Review from QueenKC at TripAdvisor.com Rating: Five Stars “I went to Harold and Belles for the second time and I loved it again. I ordered the red snapper dinner and it was great. My friends both ordered Crab scampi, one over pasta and the other over rice. I cannot wait to get back to have the crab scampi myself. It was delicious. It has very large chunks of crab and is very tasty. This isn't something for every day because it is a little pricey but is well worth it for the every now and then dinner spot. I have been telling everyone I know about it and I can’t wait to go again. Oh, they have champagne splits for just under $5 and it will make two champagne drinks ( with grenadine, chambord or pineapple juice) which is a really good deal.”
Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend for many of us. Here are 30 of Food & Wine's best fast recipes ever to help you make up for the lost hour, like these incredibly rich and creamy mini black-bottom cheesecakes that are made in muffin tins and take just 45 minutes to make.
Mini Black-Bottom Cheesecakes In these single-serving desserts from F&W’s Grace Parisi, the rich and creamy cheesecakes are baked atop a chocolate-wafer base. You don’t need any special equipment to make them—just a muffin tin and foil liners. CLICK HERE for recipe
Dialogue: Exclusive Interview with Battle: Los Angeles Badass Michelle Rodriguez By Robert B. DeSalvo, for Movies.com Has there ever been an actress who has played more tough characters that hold their own with the guys on-screen than Michelle Rodriguez? Ever since the 32-year-old actress made an impression in 2000's gritty Girlfight, she has consistently kicked ass in movies like The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil, S.W.A.T., BloodRayne, Avatar, Machete and many more. In Battle: Los Angeles, Rodriguez returns to her comfort zone as a tech sergeant who teams up with a Marines squad as aliens attack the City of Angels. We sat down with the tell-it-like-it-is actress as she chatted frankly about her niche in movies, how the definition of a strong woman has changed in cinema, what it's like reacting to green screens and what she thinks the MPAA would rate her. Movies.com: You kick ass in Battle: Los Angeles as Elena Santos like you do in all of your films. Do you feel like Hollywood's go-to tough girl in movies? Michelle Rodriguez: I made the bed, I'm just laying in it. It's all good—it's a comfortable bed. I don't have a problem with the place I made for myself. My main goal is female empowerment, and I think I've done 10 good years of it. There is a kind of looming anxiety about when is there going to be a strong woman in an action flick who exudes this kind of strength that isn't so masculine. Most of the action film writers are dudes, and I guess they don't really see or understand other types of feminine energy. Until they understand the different layers of being a strong woman and what she could possibly bring to the table that's exciting and fun to watch, it's going to be pretty much this one-dimensional tomboy. But she's pretty cool…I like her. Movies.com: All of the actors in Battle: Los Angeles were required to go to boot camp. Which actor was the toughest? Rodriguez: That's just wrong! You know what? Neil Brown Jr. was pretty awesome. I think it's because he has a black belt background. He's pretty insane with running the two miles flawlessly, the pushups, sit-ups and PT in the morning like nothing, as well as unloading about 20 clips a day. Sorry—clips are for girls' hair—I meant magazines. We also had to learn how to shoot a rocket launcher, but that doesn't mean we got to actually shoot it. I love the tactical training, and I looked forward to boot camp when I signed on for this role.
You have to put your foot down a lot of the times, or the male perspective of what a woman should be will be the perspective that the world sees women in. –Michelle Rodriguez Movies.com: As an actress who works with a lot of CG characters, how do you learn to react to green screens and enemies that might not be visible to you while shooting? Rodriguez: What's amazing about my luck with sci-fi films is, in Avatar, I was human and got to be on the most amazing sets. It's not a stretch of the imagination, and in Battle: Los Angeles, [director] Jonathan Liebesman was so adamant about it being realistic that we would constantly have to stop shooting, special effects would have to beef up explosions and the amount of smoke and ash falling on the ground, and the amount of dead bodies made up of extras lying on the ground in 110-degree weather in Louisiana. The cars were so destroyed not even a pound would want them! Even in the dissection of the alien, Jonathan was adamant about there being lights, moving parts, guts, and tons of K-Y gooey jelly. The cinematographer—whom I called Superman—would get in the most obscure positions with the actors and shoot like one of us. It was like being in a reality TV show—the green screens were more in the background. Movies.com: You play a tech sergeant who must earn the Marines' respect in Battle: Los Angeles. As a woman working in Hollywood, do you feel like you've had to prove yourself in business largely controlled by men? Rodriguez: Not necessarily prove myself, but more express myself. You have to put your foot down a lot of the times, or the male perspective of what a woman should be will be the perspective that the world sees women in. In the action movie realm, which is where I'm prominent, it's tough because there's this idea that if a woman is in a movie, she has to f**k somebody or she's got to be somebody's partner. Somebody's got to be sticking it, or what's the purpose of having her there? This idea has taken many years to dismiss. My generation has had to deal with the brunt of it. I'm sure the generation before mine opened doors that made me able to make movies and they felt it worse, but it has been hardcore. I do a lot of action movies and I always have to say no to the sex scenes and have scenes cut off because you make the dude look weak if you're kicking so much ass. That's not the case anymore, but it's taken a long time to get there. I think I put a stamp on that thing. Movies.com: Did you put your foot down in Machete when your character, Luz, is about to have sex with Danny Trejo?
You know Robert [Rodriguez] is wild and crazy. I said, "I ain't making out with him and I'm not taking off my top." Robert is cool like that. I would be open to playing Luz again.�
Rodriguez: Yes. You know Robert [Rodriguez] is wild and crazy. I said, "I ain't making out with him and I'm not taking off my top." Robert is cool like that. I would be open to playing Luz again. Movies.com: You returned in the final season of Lost as Ana Lucia to wrap up your character's storyline. How do you feel about how the writers ended the series in a type of purgatory? Rodriguez: You know, the limbo thing is kind of cool. My techie side was like, "C'mon, they're talking about other dimensions. Can we get more scientific?" But the limbo thing is alright, I guess. Movies.com: If you never got your breakout role in Girlfight, what do you think you might be doing for work? Rodriguez: Writing. That's what I got into the business for initially—maybe for a magazine or maybe for a screenplay or books. Movies.com: Would you ever like to write and direct strong roles for women? Rodriguez: That's the goal that I am already starting. I'm 50 pages into the first one. Movies.com: Think about your day-to-day routine. If the MPAA had to assign you a rating, what would it be and why? Rodriguez: [Laughs] Yeah, they would rate me R. I'm very free and that may involve nudity, harsh language, a lot of music and sometimes sex and drugs. It's all good.
Affronti Courtyard & Winebar 235 Healdsburg Ave. #105 Healdsburg, CA 95448 www.affrontihealdsburg.com 707-431-1113
Girl Talk Lounge Salon 180 Beauty Lounge 684 S. La Brea Ave. (at Wilshire) th Sunday, March 27 3:30pm -6:30pm
Girls ages 12 – 18yrs. Let’s talk Boys, Love, Careers, School, Health, etc. Please join us for a night of empowerment Games, Food, Prizes & More… Recite you poetry
1st Ever Leimert Park Independent Music Video Showcase Saturday March 26, 2011 4343 Leimert Los Angeles, CA 90008
Video Screenings. Panel Discussion. Music. Featuring 4 Independent Music Video Directors & live performances
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL WEST REGIONAL Thursday, Mar 24, 2011 - Saturday, Mar 26,
2011 Honda Center
Hang Out With Ray Drawn @ The Cellar Sunday, March 20 · 7:30pm - 10:00pm The Cellar 201 East Broadway Long Beach, CA
“Comedy Has Never Looked This Good!”
Los Angeles Community News Business & Service Directory Submit your listing for $200 per year : Listing in 24 digital editions, linked to website of your choice, listing included in www.smithpublish.com business directory, blog/comment about your business once per month. Submit your listing TODAY!
ACCOUNTANT Deen & Company CPAs -Accounting Mr. Charles A. Deen 3113 Reid Ave. Culver City, CA 90232 Phone: (310)559-1875 David E. Lazarus C.P.A. -Accounting Mr. David E. Lazarus 10801 National Blvd. Suite 350 Los Angeles, CA 90064 Phone: (310)474-5108 Web site: WWW.DLAZARUSCPA.COM Cristobal & Company -Accounting Ms. Violeta D. Cristobal CPA 11620 Wilshre Blvd. Suite 850 Los Angeles, CA 90025 Phone: (310)477-1066 Web site: www.cristobalcpa.com Gem Financial Group -Accounting Ms. Ana Karime Duenas 4102 East Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90066 Phone: (310)591-4542 Web site: www.GemFinancialGroup.com Weiss Accountancy -- Accounting Mr. Steve Post 16217 Kittridge St. Van Nuys, CA 91406 Phone: (818)997-7712 Web site: www.weissac.com
AUTOMOTIVE Crown Coachworks Auto Body & Paint -- Automotive/Body Repair & Paint Mr. Eyal Dunkel 2122 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025 Phone: (310)575-0700 Web site: www.crowncoachworks.com Piper's Body Shop -Automotive/Body Repair & Paint Mr. Hugh Piper, Owner 3568 Overland Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90034 Phone: (310)836-1740 Westside Transmission & Automotive Inc. -Automotive/Transmissions Mr. Jack DeBasc, Owner 2050 Cotner Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90025 Phone: (310)473-2235 Web site: www.transmission.com
BEAUTY Beauty Bus Foundation -- NonProfit Ms. Jaclyn Rosenson 11301 Olympic Blvd. Suite 303 Los Angeles, CA 90064 Phone: (310)287-1272 Web site: www.BeautyBus.org Naked Cosmetics -Beauty/Makeup/Semi-Permanent Mr. Jimmy Walker 15030 Ventura Blvd. Suite 19-788 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 Phone: (310)684-3838 Makeup & Go! -- Beauty Consultant/Makeup Artist Ms. Lori Sale 13038 San Vicente Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049 Phone: (310)451-6253 Web site: www.makeupandgo.net Noushin Hair Design/Novo Salon - Beauty Salon Ms. Noushin R. Kamkar 605 Colorado Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310)562-0354 LaDuree Hair Salon LLC -- Beauty Salon Mr. Rayn Paul Gonzalez 2277 Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 Phone: (310)474-5860 Web site: www.LaDureeHairSalon.com
Christopher Hill Salon -- Beauty Salon Mr. Tim Byk 142 S. Barrington Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90049 Phone: (310)476-4466 Web site: www.ChristopherHillSalon.com Edge Salon -- Beauty Salon Ms. Tia Ledoski 1900 Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025 Phone: (310)481-2007 SUPERCUTS (Westwood) -Beauty Salon Manager 1650 Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024 Phone: (310)470-1558
EDUCATION Poseidon School Inc. -School/Special Education Ms. Joanne D. Saliba 11811 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 Phone: (310)477-1268 Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education -- Non-Profit Mr. Keith Lawrence 8885 Venice Blvd. #203 Los Angeles, CA 90034 Phone: (310)287-3700 Web site: www.MaryPickford.com Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes -- Education Ms. Tracy-Lyn Forney 1554 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #201 Los Angeles, CA 90025 Phone: (310)481-2293 Web site: www.lindamoodbell.com Pepperdine University/ Graduate School of Education & Psychology -- School Ms. Margaret Weber 6100 Center Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90045 Phone: (310)568-5615
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