Silver Lake: John Marshall High School's new football field

After 78 years John Marshall High School gets a regulation-sized football field today complete with electronic scoreboard, a Mission-style pergola entrance, newish stands (looks like they just moved and rehabbed the old ones) and poles for lights (but no lights). Surrounding the astro-turf field will be one those nice cushy running tracks; for the dedication and homecoming game tonight it's asphalt. Go Barristers! Tour with Councilmember Tom LaBonge @ 4p.m. Dedication at 5 p.m. Varsity football game (no lights!) is at 6 p.m.

*Updated: Football Hall of Famer Mike Haynes (center) was on hand along with council member Tom LaBonge and various LAUSD officials to dedicate the new field. Still to come: boys/girls bathrooms, a proper concession stand, a long jump and the synthetic running track. Marshall won both games on the new field! The kids were all super-excited and really energized.

Silver Lake: Library to open Nov. 16

Exterior Silver Lake Library

15th Annual Music Box Steps Day this Saturday 10/17/09

An event that melds movie history and Silver Lake's public most famous 133-step staircase is this weekend. From council member Eric Garcetti: The Silver Lake Improvement Association will present the 15th Annual Music Box Steps Day on Saturday, October 17. SLIA, which founded the annual event, will also be celebrating its 20th anniversary. The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Arts and Culture Committee is an event co-sponsor. Come join the fun from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Laurel and Hardy Park (between 923 and 935 Vendome Street). There will be free food, Laurel and Hardy look-alikes, live entertainment, a raffle, and a screening of the 1932 Oscar-winning short, The Music Box.

The master of California light: Wayne Thiebaud at Pasadena Museum of California Art

Vibrant and still painting every day, Wayne Thiebaud is one of California's best painters. A 70-year career retrospective of his drawings and paintings just opened at the Pasadena Museum of California Art that includes early student work to recent beach and seascapes. A professor at U.C. Davis for more than 40 years, Thiebaud was patient when answering questions regarding his techniques and work habits. Some paintings take 10 years, others a day, he revealed. He and his wife divide their time between Davis and a studio on San Francisco's Portrero Hill. His colorful cityscapes are a mix of real and imagined San Francisco--several large canvases that capture the city's crazy angles are included in the exhibition. His more well known works elevate the ordinary--cupcakes, bakery cases, fruit--to almost monumental status. All without irony, contends exhibition organizer Dr. Steven Nash. The exhibition runs through January 31, 2010. Don't miss it!

Wayne Thiebaud, Two Kneeling Figures, 1966, oil on canvas, Collection of Paul LeBaron Thiebaud, © Wayne Thiebaud/
Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

Silver Lake: Fixies take over the streets.

Notice anything about the bike riders passing you lately? More than likely they are riding a fixie (see above) a snazzy fixed gear and usually no brake bike popularized by SF bike messengers, now the bike-du-jour. The teenage boys I know are fixated on them; if you saw Saturday night's Crank Mob fly by, you probably saw hundreds. My son's came via the Internet from Bikes Direct. We're already good customers of Safety Cycle since these bikes seem to require TLC.

Fourth Frogtown Artwalk this Saturday 9/19

Fourth edition of the Frogtown ArtWalk is this Saturday. More than 30 artists participate with dozens of open studios. Great combo of local art (images above are from 2008) and tacos (let's hope the taco lady and table returns to RAC Design Build). The boundaries of Elysian Valley (Frogtown) are the 2 freeway to the north, the 110 freeway to the south, the Los Angeles River to the east, and the 5 freeway to the west. The studios will be open from 5-10 PM. There's free street parking but I've ridden my bike in past years as the L.A. River bike path is one of Frogtown's borders. Party and music are at NOMAD at 1839 Blake Ave.

Vintage view of Atwater: Postcard of Hyperion Bridge c. 1937

Postcard of Hyperion Bridge c. 1937

August was a busy month--with assignments (see links) and two trips out of town. First trip was Santa Barbara

where I tend to visit the same places: La Super Rica (who can resist those al pastor tacos) and several really great thrift stores.

Found this c. 1937 postcard of a vintage view of the Hyperion Bridge at State St.'s Antique Alley.

Check out the Red Car on its way to Glendale. Notice the absence of 5 freeway or Glendale office towers.

The river has a somewhat natural state--none of those gruesome cement embankments.

The Red Car bridge trestles are still there today.