Larchmont Chronicle
presort standard u.s. postage
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south gate ca. permit no. 294
AUGUST 2010
vol. 47, no. 8 • delivered to the 76,439 readers in hancock park • windsor square • fremont place • park labrea • larchmont village • miracle mile
SECTION ONE
Women of Larchmont
Lunch trucks serve food and controversy in Mile Transportation Committee to consider options
Laura Foti Cohen
Karen Gilman
Jan Daley
d
2010 d
Myrna Robin Gintel
ANNUAL section. 15-30 BUNGALOW in court.
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ELECTION results for Greater Wilshire Council. 9 HISTORIC Society winners. 13 NEW METRO exec to tackle traffic. 14 'BOOKERS' read 'Tea.'
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TRUST keeps on giving to L.A. High. 32 CUPCAKES, summer reading at libraries. 34 iPHONE crisis fixed. 36
SECTION TWO Real Estate Home & Garden
By Suzan Filipek The aroma of barbecued meats brings out the lunchtime office crowd to the Spring Street Smoke House, one of many food trucks parked on Wilshire Blvd. in the Miracle Mile. A daily $50 fine in the limited parking zone is just part of doing business, says Smoke House operator Rick Klu. And business is good. “We’re a popular spot. You can smell [our food] from a mile away,” says Klu. Rebecca Baroukh picked up the barbecued brisket sandwich last month for a friend and got the Old School (spicy) hot wings for herself at another truck parked next door. Her favorite is the pastrami from
the Canter’s Deli truck. “But they’re not here today,” says the intern at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art across the street. Multi-story office buildings fill this stretch of the Mile, which has become a go-to lunch spot offering an abundance of gourmet fare, from Korean barbecue to Japanese and Brazilian. While the trucks have built a loyal fan base from area lunchtime crowds to those who follow their travels on Twitter, restaurants protest the trucks take away customers. Merchants claim they hog precious parking spaces, leave litter behind and don’t pay taxes or rent. See Lunch trucks p. 6
Salute Taste of Larchmont Aug. 23 Event aids Hope Net food pantries Every Sunday morning the line outside Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s food pantry numbers more than 100 men and women. During the week 15 other churches and temples provide food to those in need. The 18th annual Taste of Larchmont Village on Mon., Aug. 23 beginning at 6 p.m. will guarantee that these pantries continue. Guests will sample food and drinks from 13 venues including restaurants, pizza parlors, a Greek deli and wine shop mainly south of Beverly Blvd.
Entertainment includes the Jay Curtis jazz band. In 2009, Hope-Net provided nearly 1.7 million pounds of food to 254,000 persons, almost twice the amount given in 2008, said Hope-Net executive director Douglas Ferraro. About 100 volunteers help put on the Taste event, which includes a raffle. Top prize is $1,000 cash; others are a dinner for two each month for one year at L.A.-area restaurants, tickets and gift items.
aT GROUNdBREaKiNG were, from left, Kathleen Mulligan and Alysoun Higgins, Ridgewood-Wilton Place Assoc.; Vanion Beard, Robert Gutierrez and Sunny Ton, Dept. of Public Works.
Traffic islands add to safety, beauty of neighborhood Grass roots fundraising included garage sales By Laura Eversz Wilton Place neighbors joined Councilman Tom LaBonge and Los Angeles Public Works, Bureau of Street Services director William Robertson for a recent groundbreaking ceremony at Wilton Place and 2nd Street. Crews will build, expand and landscape two traffic tri-
Back to School Hit the books with our special section in the September issue. Advertising deadline is Fri., Aug. 13. Please call 323-462-2241, ext. 11.
On the Boulevard
Neighbors voice concerns over 15-story project
Glimpses by Jane
Forum at park La Brea
ART DECO landmarks on tour. 6 PETERSEN names new director. 7 REAL ESTATE sales.
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For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11
By Suzan Filipek Lynn Winter Gross was among about 50 people who attended a forum last month about a planned 300-unit complex on the Ross Dress For Less site at 6298 W. Third St. “I’m very concerned,” the Park La Brea resident said of the Casden Properties developSee Casden, p. 11
angles at 1st and 2nd streets near Wilton Place and Wilton Drive. The aim of the $389,000 project is to increase both pedestrian and vehicle traffic safety, increase disability access, identify the area as an historical neighborhood and beautify it by adding landscaping, said Kathleen Mulligan, president of the RidgewoodWilton Neighborhood Association. The project is the culmination of six years of fundraising efforts, including garage sales and block parties. See Traffic islands, p. 12
BROOKSidE throws a party. Flags of the world were on display at annual event. More photos on page 8, Sec. 2
Larchmontians are looking forward to August when they can really lay back and smell the roses. Seems July, usually a quiet time, had residents going in many directions. Later this month parents will be getting their college-age children settled in new schools. *** Rob Barnes told us at Peet’s Coffee his daughter Claire will be using her See BLVD., p. 35
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