Los Angeles Business Journal

When Caruso Sings ...

Rick Caruso is many things. Developer. Billionaire. Philanthropist. But he’s no Enrico Caruso.

Disney Success Bit of a Marvel

Charles Crumpley thinks the bold decisions from the Mouse House stand as good examples for pipsqueak managers.

Taking Bigger Role in Casa

When a non-profit that advocates for foster children lost its government funding, the group found a friend in Frank Addante.

Building Side Career in Show Biz

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Developer Andrew Meieran is plenty busy. He owns downtown L.A. nightclub the Edison and has undertaken the multiyear, multimillion-dollar redo of the nearby Clifton’s Cafeteria.

Too Many Dumbbells?

COMMENT

Charles Crumpley is pretty exercised about the city of Santa Monica’s proposal to make outdoor fitness classes pay big fees to the city.

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Hollywood Surprise

COMMENT

It’s a mighty tall order to accept the height of Millennium Hollywood’s proposed towers, Charles Crumpley writes.

License to Lease

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For those who don’t know commercial real estate, the license plate on Paul Sablock’s GMC Suburban doesn’t mean much. It reads 32FTCLR.

Higher Ed’s Expensive Lessons

Nobody seems able to bring down the higher cost of higher education, but Charles Crumpley has a thesis on how to make college affordable.

Pushing Pedals With His Mettle

Spinmeister by day, spinmeister by night.

Right Tools for Escaping Poverty

Charles Crumpley revives his praise for non-profit KickStart International’s business model, which lifts people out of poverty

Part-Time Biker Keeps It Together

A few months back, when Storage Mobility Inc. exec Ben Orze was visiting his family in Arizona, he decided to go out for a motorcycle ride.

Still Clicking With Penn State

Dick Lippin, founder and chairman-CEO of L.A.-based entertainment PR agency Lippin Group, said he owes a lot of his success to his alma mater, Penn State.

Jumping Through Hoops at Office

March Madness is spreading through offices everywhere and employment attorney Lonnie Giamela couldn’t be happier.

Lawyer Tunes Up Silver Lake Home

When entertainment attorney Jordan Bromley bought a house on Effie Street in Silver Lake in 2010, he realized that a half-dozen musicians he represented lived within a few blocks.

Y’All Wanna Buy a House?

Not only can Texas tout its low tax rates, but it now can brag that it has the most affordable house prices, Charles Crumpley writes.

Keeping It Briefs for Viral Video Success

Greg Fass at MeUndies knew he had to jump on the “Harlem Shake” fad as fast as possible.

See You in 15 Years?

L.A.’s business community has cause for optimism after last week’s mayoral primary results.

Ins and Outs of Meditation

Neal Baer has plenty of reasons to take a break and engage in some deep, balanced breathing.

Lawyer in Luxury Driver’s Seat

Tim Lappen is living the car lover’s dream.

A Way Out for California?

Charles Crumply digs the prospects the Monterey Shale oil formation could hold for California.

Making Play for Barbie’s Malibu Dream House

Josh Altman, a 33-year-old real estate broker to the stars and cast member of the Bravo reality TV series “Million Dollar Listing,” recently landed the ultimate celebrity client: Barbie.

Punishing a Principled Stand

Charles Crumpley sees the LAX chamber headed in the right direction on moving the airport’s runway.

Tax Opposition Crosses Aisle

Charles Crumpley wonders why DreamWorks Animation is a public company, and he congratulates a state tax panel – for angering Democrats and Republicans.

Tech Talk Plugs Into Political Arena

Startups Uncensored, Jason Nazar’s monthly coffee klatch, is normally a tech industry affair.

Two Thumbs Way Down

Movie industry critic Charles Crumpley would like to pull the red carpet out from under the Oscars.

Dress Rehearsal a Must for Costume Designer

Costume designer Luke Reichle has good, basic advice for his star clients as they get ready for awards shows: Lay out your outfit in advance. Preparation is the best way to avoid last-minute, red-carpet emergencies.

‘Shark’ Bite Tough to Swallow

COMMENT – Charles Crumpley is troubled that the producers of “Shark Tank” take a bite out of contestants.

You Can’t Keep a Good Car Down

Peter Mullin has had a lifelong enthusiasm for cars.

Sharpening the Cuts

California may feel the heat as other states cut taxes to lure businesses, Charles Crumpley writes.

Positive About Benefits of Positive Thinking

Public relations veteran Jackie Lapin went through a grueling stretch in 2006, working on intense publicity campaigns for clients including World Poker Tour, Mazda and Commerce Casino.

Leveling Off Multilevel Marketing

Charles Crumpley thinks it’s time that Herbalife Ltd. makes a healthy choice to abandon multilevel marketing.

Here for Not Only Beer

Aspiring brewery owner Dave Hodgins recently acquired some noteworthy fans.

Taking Different Road

Charles Crumpley believes building more roads should be driving the discussion over solutions to L.A. traffic.

Education Reconstruction

Gary Drake might not have a white beard or a sleigh, but he looks an awful lot like Santa Claus to one local school.

Breaking With Reality

Charles Crumpley is aghast that reality TV may not be so real

Different Strokes

As a veteran trial lawyer, Dan Stephenson has seen plenty of high-stakes competition in bet-the-company cases.

Emily Litella Had It Right

Charles Crumpley plans to pay no never mind to the steady stream of health scares.

Strike One for the Ports?

COMMENT: The strike at the port complex may be over, but Charles Crumpley thinks the real problems are just starting.

The strike at the port complex may be over, but Charles Crumpley thinks the real problems are just starting.

Making Friends

It’s not every day that a local business person gets to spend an hour with the president and the vice president in the White House, but that’s exactly what happened to Arnulfo “Arnold” Ventura.

Little Light in Los Angeles

COMMENT

L.A.’s lame Christmas decorations haven’t put much holiday cheer in Charles Crumpley

Sweating the Sweet Stuff

Dentists warn their patients not to eat too much Halloween candy. But this year, Dr. Vijay Patel of Claremont decided to put his money where his mouth is.

Looking for Disney Clues

They might not hand out Mickey Mouse ears at the front door, but there’s a touch of the Magic Kingdom in the Bel Air Bar & Grill.

Business Not as Usual

Charles Crumpley checks out the new way of doing business in Silicon Beach, and he finds it bracing but a little scary.

Getting Beyond Nowhere

Charles Crumpley revives a call for a citywide coalition to help L.A. reach its goals.

Diving Into Fear

Years ago, accountant Barbara Rosenbaum came up with a quote that she has lived by: “Facing fear leads to courage, strength and powerful choices.”

L.A.’s Got You Covered

Charles Crumpley isn’t too upset that the porn industry may be regulated out of town.

Networking by Numbers

An all-day forum this Friday in Santa Monica will bring together all kinds of business people – entrepreneurs, crowdfunding experts, investors – from 10 countries all over the world.

Weighty Contribution

Sonny Astani knew a run-down gym with little more than some rusted free weights was no place for National Football League hopefuls.

No-Bank Blues

The rapidly dwindling number of bank startups has Charles Crumpley feeling withdrawn.

Long-Distance Kosher

Nir Weinblut, one of the premier local kosher chefs, recently returned from a trip to Dubai, where he cooked meals for some of the region’s pre-eminent dignitaries.

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