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Pershing Square's Downtown on Ice Opens 2009-2010 Season
Members of the Los Angeles Ice Theater perform at the opening of the 2009-2010 Downtown on Ice season at Pershing Square. Photo by Eric Richardson. The first of Downtown's two outdoor ice rinks had its official opening this morning, as Pershing Square's Downtown on Ice returned for its 12th season. The ice is open seven days a week through January 18, 2010. An hour on the 70 foot by 50 foot sheet of ice is $6, plus $2 for skate rental. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilwoman Jan Perry joined Recreation and Parks General Manager John Kirk Murki in commemorating the opening. Both Villaraigosa and Murki made comments that seemed to be aimed at Downtown's other ice rink, the LA Kings Holiday Ice at L.A. Live. The Mayor noted that the Pershing Square was the city's largest outdoor rink, while Mukri made a point of emphasizing that it was also the cheapest. The L.A. Live rink opens December 3, with one hour of skating running $10 (including rental). While early reports backed up the Mayor's size comparison, L.A. Live's website now says the rink will be the same size as the one at Pershing. Hours for the Pershing Square rink are 12pm to 10pm, Monday through Thursday, and 10am to 10pm Friday through Sunday. Special holiday hours from December 18 to January 10 will have the rink open from 10am to 10pm every day. On Thanksgiving, the rink will open at 2pm. More information, including a schedule of live entertainment, can be found on the Pershing Square website. By Eric Richardson. Categories: Cities and places
Closing Bell: Last Outdoor Flea of the Season!
Categories: Cities and places
We'll leave the light off for ya': Melvin Mark, Russell lead BOMA Office Energy Showdown winners
Participation saw a nearly 30 percent increase in the number of participants from the previous year and added nearly four million square-feet of office space to the friendly competition. Winners were chosen from among 32 properties, representing over 11 million square-feet of office real estate. Challenged to assess their buildings’ energy performance, all participants demonstrated market leadership in quantifying their energy use and establishing baseline data that can be used to track future gains in operating efficiency. The Grand Prize winner, which receives the “Power Broker” trophy for a property, team, or company achieving an outstanding accomplishment in all-around energy performance was the Melvin Mark Companies, a commercial real estate broker. Melvin Mark's portfolio includes the Sunset Center at Tanasbourne as well as the Columbia Square (pictured above) and Crown Plaza buildings downtown. Three projects were also singled out for demonstrating the highest energy performance ratings. 1st Place went to the 200 Market Building, managed by the Russell Development Company. 2nd Place was the Gus Solomon Courthouse, managed by the General Services Administration (which probably uses little energy by virtue of being largely empty), and 3rd Place went to the Kruse Woods V project, managed by Shorenstein.
If they'd needed to break the tie, I'd have disqualified Liberty Centre for spelling "Centre" like Canadians. That said, Liberty Centre is also noteworthy in that it was originally to be a design by internationally renowned architect Cesar Pelli, before ultimately being designed by Portland's GBD Architects. Design afficionados (or "designistas", as developer Dennis Wilde has called them) may snicker that many of these buildings are visually unattractive or, in some cases, located in some far-off suburban office park surrounded by surface parking lots. I mean, you never hear someone say, "Have you seen that Kruse Woods V office building in Lake Oswego? What a gorgeous work of architecture! What is that, Koolhaas? Piano, Meier?" But energy efficiency is one of the biggest movements of our time, and part of a regional effort to reduce the need for coal-fired power plants by cutting our power addiction. What some of these projects lack in looks or location, they admirably atone for by being as efficient as they can be. Categories: Cities and places
A Dolphin Visits, but Doesn't Wait Around for the PoliceA police spokesman said the dolphin was apparently headed to sea, being tracked by air and water by the police.
Categories: Cities and places
Housing Authority Extends Deadline for Registering DogsThe ban has angered many tenants, and animal welfare groups found that more than 100 residents had taken their dogs to animal shelters because they feared losing their apartments for having a prohibited or unregistered dog.
Categories: Cities and places
Gold Line Extension: Gold Line Eastside Extension to Speed Up
Categories: Cities and places
Curbed Poll: "Modern Architectural Statement" In Eagle RockTaking a page from our sister site Racked LA, we're asking you to look at this home and vote on whether you like or dislike it—your choices are 'That's Rather Lovely!,' 'So close,' 'I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'That's Rather Hideous!' We're not quite sure what to make of this "modern architectural statement" in the hills in Eagle Rock. The three-bedroom, three-bath was built in 2000 and according to the listing, "the space is filled with sleek lines and prominent angles meant to stir the light within its walls." What does that even mean? The listing also notes there are additional offices and work spaces "that blur the lines between home space, work space and art space." The listing keeps laying it on rather thick: "Look beneath the surface and the quality of its craftsmanship is evident in the custom materials and the details of its construction." The last sale price (pre-construction) was $185,000 back in 1995. Today's asking price: $849,000. Listing is here. Our polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser. Categories: Cities and places
PriceChopper: Wolf's Lair Returns To MLS - With Major Cut
We squealed like a 13-year-old girl when we saw that Wolf's Lair is back on the market. When the eight-bedroom, six-bath replica Norman castle (with bonus Lautner-designed guest house, secret tunnels AND space to house your pet monkeys) first went on the market in June 2008 it had a hefty price tag of $7.5 million. Later that summer, the price was reduced to $5.99 million. And now it's back, after a year's absence from the MLS. Oh, how we've missed you, Wolfie. According to the listing, the property sits on three acres, "has been home to cinematic royalty, barons of business & even a fairy tale or two," and features coffered ceilings, turrets, gable windows, linenfold paneling, and stenciled beams. Newest asking price: $4.695 million. Categories: Cities and places
Who Wants the Vikings?: A handful of NFL teams...
Categories: Cities and places
Regulation Ends Freewheeling Era for PedicabsUnder the new rules, the tricycles must be insured and inspected for safety; headlights, seat belts, and hydraulic brakes are all required. Drivers must be licensed; prices must be clearly displayed.
Categories: Cities and places
PUSH: Tool Lending Library Opens TomorrowThe PUSH (People United for Sustainable Housing) Tool Lending Library is set to open at 389 Massachusetts Avenue at 9AM tomorrow morning, and from the look of the weather forcast, this will be a good weekend to finish up any undone projects in and around the house.PUSH says they have every tool a borrower could want, including pole diggers, and all for free with a $5 yearly fee and a PUSH membership. Borrowers must also show 2 forms of ID when taking out tools.Library hours will be on Saturdays from 9AM to 1PM and Wednesdays from 6 to 9PM. PUSH is dedicated to adding to their library with the proceeds of each $5 sign-up, so the more borrowers, the more tools they'll buy, making them a much needed one-stop supplier of hardware on Buffalo's West Side. ...
Buffalo Rising
http://www.buffalorising.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=2
Categories: Cities and places
Traffic : Traffic Solutions: Councilman Studying Elevated Podcar System
While admitting it's a "pie in the sky" idea and only in the exploratory phase, City Councilman Paul Koretz is looking into an above-ground personalized rapid transit system for the city. This summer, he formed a small task force to study the system, which is currently being used at Heathrow's Airport, and consists of pods traveling on a track. "We’re talking either a track or hanging maglev, essentially units that fit 2-4 people, and you program in your destination," said Koretz, describing the idea yesterday at a Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum luncheon at the Wilshire Grand. "[The pods] just take you to your destination, and there’s no stopping, except when you arrive at your location.” Yes, listening to him speak blew our minds, so this morning we called up Marty Taft, who is heading up the three-person task force (which sounds fairly casual in a nature). "From the valley, along the 405, all the way to the LAX, that would be the first backbone route," said Taft, a former engineer for Aerojet Electrosystems. "And then there would be loops alongside that would allow people from places like Century City to use it." Koretz said that if he could get approvals for a pilot line, he probably seek to make Sherman Oaks to Westwood to Century City the direction of the pilot program. And the councilman seemed prepared to accept that this proposal may never happen. “I am at least studying it," he said. "Whether it comes to fruition, it’s way too early in the process.” Such technology has been considered in Los Angeles on previous occasions, and an April 2, 1972 Los Angeles Times story covered a similar proposal (excerpt and old-timey photos after the jump.)
'Based on the “corridor concept” of the Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD), with service radiating from a downtown “hub” to a peripheral area, one monorail line begins in the Lawndale-International Airport area and loops through Los Angeles then back near the Harbor Freeway to the Lawndale terminus. Cars travel one way in loops. Along the elevated rail are stations increasing in number to the Wilshire District and downtown Los Angeles. Traveling on the rail are small four to six passenger square, buglike cars which are the heart of the concept." Los Angeles city officials who have seen the Aerospace system in early stages were impressed by several points. A ‘personal” system, they say, appeals to the well-known independence of the Los Angeles driver who has refused, at least to date, to take buses or trains to his bosom. They also point out that a personal system, where the passengers travel alone or with friends or family is far safer than, for instance, the New York subway system where muggings and robbery on the trains are common.”
· Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) or Personal Automated Transport (PAT) Quicklinks [Official Site] Categories: Cities and places
Development Watch: 575 5th Avenue Coming Along
Categories: Cities and places
Student Charged in Fire at Stuyvesant HighNine small blazes have been in the last week during school hours in trash cans, stairwells and paper towel dispensers. A junior was arrested in connection with one on Thursday, and officials are investigation whether he is connected to the others.
Categories: Cities and places
StreetLevel: South, New 5th Avenue Bar, Opens
Categories: Cities and places
What Neon Tommy got wrong re: WeeklyQuite a bit, according to the LA Weekly. Start with the Neon Tommy story's claim that the Weekly had just six full time editorial staffers: It left out music editor...
Categories: Cities and places
What's Your Favorite Chicken Soup?Flavorful, vibrant and, of course, soothing chicken soups can be found all over the city.
Categories: Cities and places
Gabe Klein Chat: Bike Share Expansion, 15th, Parking and Wilson BridgeHere are the questions and responses from the live chat with DDOT Director Gabe Klein that had to do with cycling (and there were quite a few). Gabe Klein's responses are in blue. As a commuting cyclist, I am delighted with the southbound bike lane on 15th St. Marking the northbound lane for cyclists’ and motorists’ joint use does not make cycling any safer northbound. I propose that the dedicated cyclists’ line on the west side of 15th be marked for bicycle traffic in both directions, perhaps with a line down the middle and signs warning that it is a two-way bike path. At the abrupt end of the bikeway at Massachusetts, it would be useful to have signs directing cyclists onward and to warn motorists to watch for bicycles. Thank you Marie for your thoughts. We are evaluating the cycle track on an ongoing basis and are adding leading pedestrian intervals and other improvements. We will send your comment to the cycling team I've read that DC will be expanding its bike sharing program, but will not be using Clear Channel's SmartBike system. Is this true? If so, do you know what bike sharing system will be used? And, will the two systems be compatible with each other? Lastly, when will this expansion take place? We are looking to expand bikesharing in the Spring of 2010. More precise details will be announced in the coming weeks. We hope to make this a push into bikesharing being a "transit-system" The [bike] route from DC to the Wilson Bridge is circuitous and hilly. What is DDOT doing to make a better connection? Thanks for your comments. I am going to need to talk to our Bike Group as I am not sure I understand who's jurisdiction this broad expanse belongs to. Thanks a bunch for spending some time with us today. Can you provide us with an update on when we can expect to see a more robust bike sharing system implemented in DC May 2010! Is there a plan for a bike station at the new does bldg? something like union station. We are right now assessing more bike stations around the city using a modular design, that would be focused around transit of course, and large employment centers. [Comment From bikerchic: ] Is anyone looking into adding more bike racks throughout the city? Not the fancy Union Station ones, but just simple ones that I can lock my bike to? There seems to be a great shortage that leads people to locking bikes to trees, etc First off, I like your screen name. I agree with you, and we are having a problem keeping up with bike parking (which is great). We are installing 1000 per year, plus the BID's are installing them. We are also working on tree box/bike rack combos, and are looking at ways to use old meter poles for racks, and are requiring bike parking in all new developments in public space. What are the prospects for physically protected bike lanes on radial roads with heavy bike traffic (and many, many speeding cars)? Very good prospects... send us your requests It's great that DDOT is focusing on bike and
pedestrian initiatives throughout the city, along with improvements in
driving conditions. The problem, as I see it, is a lack of enforcement
on the part of MPD. Stand on any corner downtown and you'll see
drivers, bikers and pedestrians doing crazy, dangerous things but it's
rare you'll see any enforcement from MPD. We have been working closely with MPD Traffic
Division, and the targeted enforcement seems to be having an impact on
driver respect at unsignalized pedestrian crossings. We have also
empowered our own Traffic Control Officers to write tickets for these
offenses. Chief Lanier definitely gets it. There are a lot of
priorities for them, but they have really stepped it up in their
partnership with DDOT. Can your provide an update on the met branch trail? We are making dramatic progress actually. The second segment is under active construction, and working on a permitting issue on the third segment. We will put out weekly updates on the website going fwd: http://www.metbranchtrail.com There was also an ongoing poll of what users would like to see DC focus on, with bike and pedestrian projects doing very well. Public Transit ( 38% ) Bike & Pedestrian Programs ( 29% ) Traffic Congestion ( 5% ) Road & Bridge Construction ( 5% ) Tree Planting & Maintenance ( 24% ) Categories: Cities and places
PriceChopper: Schindler How House Back On The Market - With Major Reduction
The fire sale on pedigreed architecture continues unabated. Is Lautner's Elrod House too flashy for you? Frank Lloyd Wright La Miniatura too small? Then maybe Schindler's How House is more to your liking. The gem in the MAK Center's recent architecture tour, the meticulously restored 1925 house first went on the market in September 2008 for almost $5 million. Owned by preservationist Michael LaFetra and declared a Historic Cultural Monument, the house suffered a serious pricechop in June to $4 million. After failing to sell, the house was delisted in September, but it's back and quite frankly, we think priced to sell. Given the cost of the home and the extensive renovation (the redwood had suffered from termite damage, there was water damage and LaFetra also removed the asbestos), the asking price is likely close to what LaFetra has spent on the house. New asking price: $2.795 million. Categories: Cities and places
PriceChopper: Schindler How House Back On The Market - With Major ReductionClick the image above to view the full photogallery. The fire sale on pedigreed architecture continues unabated. Is Lautner's Elrod House too flashy for you? Frank Lloyd Wright La Miniatura too small? Then maybe Schindler's How House is more to...
Marissa Gluck
34.1009 -118.255
Categories: Cities and places
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