Famed UCLA quarterback Cade McNown is trying his hand at the real estate game. McNown, who led the Bruins to 20 straight wins in the late 1990s and became UCLA’s all-time leader in passing, had a brief career in the NFL before hanging up his cleats in 2003.

Now, he’s part of the team at Thompson National Properties, a real estate investment and asset management firm based in Irvine.

It’s too bad McNown’s playing days are over UCLA could use him. The team lost its top two quarterbacks, Patrick Cowan and Ben Olson, to significant injuries during spring practice.

Little Beef at Steakhouse

Kathy Goodman and Carla Christofferson, co-owners of the Los Angeles Sparks, joined an elite group on April 24 when their caricatures were unveiled on the wall of the Palm restaurant.

The tradition of including drawings of celebrities and local luminaries who dine at the Palm started with the original restaurant in New York in the 1920s. Goodman said it was an honor to be among those on the wall of the chain’s outpost across the street from Staples Center, where the women’s basketball team plays.

“Carla and I both said we always look good as caricatures,” Goodman said. But she did have a beef with the steakhouse because of her placement on the wall. “We are not near any sports people,” she said. “We are above Pauly Shore, and we aren’t sure what to make of that.”

Off-Duty Mothers

With Mother’s Day coming up, the Coldwell Banker offices of the San Gabriel Valley did some counting and came up with eight mother-daughter or mother-son brokerage teams. One of the sons, John Fairbanks, said “it’s awesome” to be able to work with his mother, Christel Fairbanks.

But on the other hand, it can be difficult for the offspring to show their appreciation on Mother’s Day. It falls on a Sunday in spring a time when real estate agents like to hold open houses.

Instead of holding an open house, Fairbanks said of his mother, “I hope she is going to brunch with me.”

Art Break

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Los Angeles by exhibiting the works of 25 up-and-coming local artists. And Thomas Nolan, a partner at the law firm, is particularly grateful.

He said that looking at the pieces helps clear his mind after a long day of looking at dolls.

Nolan looks at dolls all day because he is gearing up to defend MGA Entertainment Inc. and the company’s saucy doll line Bratz in a hotly contested trial with Barbie maker Mattel Inc.

Staff reporter Alexa Hyland contributed to this column. Daniel Miller can be reached at

[email protected]

.