Elvis Cracks Up
In Hollywood, Elvis Presley ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog. Or at least that’s how he’s being treated, according to a group of Hollywood activists.
Back in December 1996, the Hollywood Project Area Committee a group of community activists complained that Presley’s star on the Walk of Fame had been badly damaged from years of weathering, subway construction and fans chipping off small pieces of the star. The star is located near the heavily visited corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.
After the complaints were publicized, Elvis’ star was reinstalled with new terrazzo. But now, according to the Hollywood PAC, subway construction by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has caused cracking and crumbling of the new terrazzo.
On Hollywood PAC’s March 2 meeting agenda was a “motion to note with dismay” the crumbling of the Elvis star, citing the star’s condition as “tangible proof that Hollywood Boulevard continues to sink.”
Always in Touch
When pagers, voice mail, e-mail, home answering machines, cellular phones and car phones are simply not enough to keep in touch, Angelenos can now turn to Pockettalk, a portable answering machine.
Guaranteed to kill the old excuse “I didn’t get your message,” Pockettalk is a wireless answering machine small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Simply press a button and hear the message. For true junkies, messages left on home or office answering machines can be forwarded to Pockettalk.
A spokesman for Conxus, the South Carolina company behind the gadget, said he expects business to be strong in L.A.
“People out there are addicted to both their cars and their messages,” he said. “This is the perfect combination.”
All Wet?
Restaurateur Gabriella Rossi seems to be trying to milk as much mileage as she can out of that pesky global weather phenomenon.
First, she chose El Ni & #324;o as the name for her new Santa Monica restaurant.
Second, perhaps trying to create a bit of lore around the restaurant, Rossi said that the season’s first actual El Ni & #324;o-driven rains to hit L.A. happened on Jan. 24, the very day her restaurant opened.
Local newspapers state that the L.A. precipitation level on Jan. 24 was 0.00 inches.
Atypical Dining Spot
The county Health Department has come down hard on restaurants around the region for vermin infestations and contaminated utensils. If only they could all be like Office Depot.
The Miracle Mile store has a big fat “A” grade posted in its window. And the only food the store sells are bulk packages of office snacks like candies, popcorn, coffee and huge tins of cookies.
“This guy was really overzealous,” store manager Brad Lebowsky said of the inspector who came by recently. “He said it was part of the procedure.”
But far be it from Lebowsky to argue. “I said, ‘It’s not an F, so why not (post it)?’ ”
He said the posting has prompted several customers to ask if Office Depot is opening a cafeteria.
Health department spokeswoman Sharon Wanglin said the county is inspecting absolutely every place that sells food, even video stores.
