CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 17, 2008

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July 17, 2008

HOMES FOR SALE 1

HAWAII EXISTS IN LA! NEW INVENTORY. 11 HOMES AVAIL. Terrific Opportunity! PCH/Sunset. Up to 1,600 Sq. Ft. $179,000-1.1 million. Some completely remodeled, many upgrades. Ocean views, wood floors, new kitchens, sun deck, rec center w/ pool/spa/gym. Steps from the sand. Condo alternative. Agent, Michelle Bolotin, (310) 230-2438

REAL ESTATE BUYERS. 5 FREE TIPS you should listen to before making any offers. No obligation. Call 1 (800) 935-0445 x101. Prudential California Realty

TOUGH MARKET—LET’S WORK TOGETHER. Partial trade plus $ for your home up to $2,500,000 +/- Mendocino County. 5 bdrm, 3 bd, 4,000 sq ft +/- remodeled home. Office, DSL, 6 plus acres, exc. Water, perimeter fenced. Ezy 101 access, 2 hrs. S.F. $949K or ? Russ, (707) 489-0963, C-21 agent. Email rustytow@yahoo.com

HOMES WANTED 1b

WE BUY HOUSES, APTS & LAND! ALL CASH, AS-IS, FAST CLOSE. David, (310) 308-7887

UNFURNISHED HOMES 2a

EL MEDIO BLUFFS 3 bdrm, 2 ba, Cape Cod. Corner lot, charming. 1/2 blk walk to bluffs. $6,000/mo. Call Elizabeth, (310) 293-8999

ATTRACTIVE UNFURNISHED 3 bdrm, 1 ba, dining rm, garage near Village, fenced yard; no dogs, cat OK. $3,800/mo. Leave message, (818) 705-4400

OCEAN MOUNTAIN VIEW. 2 BD, 1½ BA, hardwood floors newly remodeled. Granite kitchen, new paint, 2 car garage, front and back, no pets. $3,600/mo. Negotiable. (310) 393-8971

STUDIO GUEST HOUSE, El Medio Bluffs (avail. 8/1/08). Full bath, walk-in closet, kitchenette, mtn views, quiet. $1,500/mo. (utilities included). (310) 230-1921

HIGHLANDS 3+2 HOME: Beautiful panoramic mtn w/ ocean views. Bright, airy, high ceilings, 2 decks, new paint, F/P, tile, ss appls, included. Lrg pvt clubhouse, olympic pool, tennis, gym, gardener incl. Available 8/1. $4,400/mo. Marty, (310) 459-2692

3 BDRM, 1 BA. $3,800/mo., utils incl. 2 car pking, close to village, schools, shops & beach. Pets OK. Appliances, W/D, D/W refridg. By appt. only. Eric, (310) 428-3364

PASEO MIRAMAR. Spectacular views! 3 BD, 2½ BA, 2 car garage, charming white-washed ranch house. Deck, pool, gardener, fruit trees. $6,800/mo. Available now. (310) 459-7819

HOUSE FOR RENT. House with view. 3 bdrms, 1.75 ba, 1,600 sq. ft., City of Los Angeles owned house at 15329 De Pauw Street, Pacific Palisades, offered to rent for $3,750 per month obo, with $4,000 deposit. Open house, July 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Applications at open house accepted with $45 deposit. For info call (213) 922-8542. CN80103 July 17, 2008

ATTRACTIVE 3 bdrm, 1.75 ba plus bonus room. El Medio bluffs area. Lrg mstr bdrm, fireplace, all appliances. Corner home with mountain view. Gardener included. Available approximately 8/20/08. $4,700/mo. Call (310) 454-1669

BEAUTIFUL SANTA MONICA CYN. Charming 2 bed 2 ba. Cottage in Upper S.M. Cyn. Walk to beach. $6,500/mo. Call (310) 266-4540

UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS 2c

PAC PAL APT w/ mtn vu. Unfurn upper 1 bdrm, 1 ba quiet bldg w/ pool. Light & airy. Laundry on-site. Hdwd flrs. 1 car prkg inclded. 1 yr min lease. Credit ck. Sm pet ok w/ dep. $1,795/mo. + $1,795 dep. Call Jay, (310) 200-0063 (shown by appt only.)

LOVELY AND BRIGHT. 2 bdrm, 1 ba, tile floors, frig, stove, d/w, laundry room, covered parking, close to Village. Great closets and storage. $1,980/mo., 1 yr lease. (310) 589-9195 x203

WANTED TO RENT 3b

LOCAL EMPLOYED male seeks guesthouse. Quiet, local references. Non-smoker, no pets. Call Palisadian-Post, (310) 454-1321

HOUSESHARE WANTED * New to area, this high school educator seeks a home to share or guesthouse accommodation. I am relocating from the Berkeley area and would like to reside where I work. I am a homeowner and am respectful of others’ property. Am up early and home late, organized and supportive. Ideally, my well-behaved dog will be welcomed. Looking forward to becoming a Pac Pal community member, with your help. I’ll be available to view living arrangements 7/10, 11, 12. Please contact me at (510) 734-3307, gracelate@gmail.com

OFFICE/STORE RENTALS 3c

PALISADES OFFICE suites available in the heart of the VILLAGE including: 1) Last remaining single office suite at $1,650 per month and 2) Office suites ranging in size from 700 sf to 2,400 sf, all with large windows with great natural light. Amazing views of the Santa Monica mountains, private balconies and restrooms. Building amenities include high speed T1 internet access, elevator and secured, underground parking. Call Brett at (310) 591-8789 or email brett@hp-cap.com

BEAUTIFUL, SINGLE OFFICE available for an individual. Located in the heart of Pacific Palisades. Includes free internet. Ready to move in at $1,250/mo. Call Liz, (310) 230-8335

VACATION RENTALS 3e

LOOKING FOR HOUSE/guesthouse, December 18th-December 26th. In/near Village. 2 bds, King pref, kitchen, ref’s, 2 adults, n/s. Please contact Hermine, (808) 875-4209 or herminehaha@yahoo.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 5

REALISTICALLY earn more money in the next year than the past 5 years combined. (800) 687-2735

ONLINE MONEY MACHINE * No selling. No inventory. Call today for free report. (800) 719-8268 ext. 23385 or visit www.NewOnlineMoneyMachine.com

INCOME INVESTMENTS 5a

R.E. INVESTOR $280,000 to complete construction needed. Guaranteed 18% interest share profits upon sale. No brokers, agents, or loan deals, secured by R.E. Leave message, (310) 454-0685

BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING 7b

BOOKKEEPER BY THE HOUR • Need help with getting your books in order? Help is near! Call Joanie, (310) 486-1055

BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING SERVICES for small to medium businesses. Excellent problem solver. Reasonable rates. Please call (310) 924-0323 or e-mail accurateaccounting@gmail.com

COMPUTER SERVICES 7c

MARIE’S MAC & PC OUTCALL • I CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE WITH: • Consultation on best hard/software for your needs • Setting up & configuring your system & applications • Teaching you how to use your Mac or PC • Upgrades: Mac OS & Windows • Internet: DSL, Wireless, E-mail, Remote Access • Key Applications: MS Office, Filemaker, Quicken • Contact Managers, Networking, File Sharing, Data backup • Palm, Visor, Digital Camera, Scanner, CD Burning • FRIENDLY & PROFESSIONAL — BEST RATES • (310) 262-5652

YOUR OWN TECH GURU * SET-UP, TUTORING, REPAIR, INTERNET. Problem-Free Computing, Guaranteed. Satisfying Clients Since 1992, If I Can’t Help, NO CHARGE! COMPUTER WORKS! Alan Perla (310) 455-2000

THE DETECHTIVES™ • PROFESSIONAL ON-SITE MAC SPECIALISTS. PATIENT, FRIENDLY AND AFFORDABLE. WE COVER ALL THINGS MAC • Consulting • Installation, Training and Repair for Beginners to Advanced Users • Data recovery • Networks • Wireless Internet & more • (310) 838-2254 • William Moorefield • www.thedetechtives.com

WEB SITES AND GRAPHIC DESIGN. Development for business. Photo editing, holiday cards. Contact Maggie, (310) 985-0959 or Maggie@maggiesweb.com

GARAGE, ESTATE SALE SERVICES 7f

PLANNING A GARAGE SALE? an estate sale? a moving sale? a yard sale? Call it what you like. But call us to do it for you. We do the work. Start to finish. • BARBARA DAWSON • Garage Sale Specialist • (310) 454-0359 • bmdawson@verizon.net • www.bmdawson.com • Furniture • Antiques • Collectibles • Junque • Reliable professionals • Local References

ORGANIZING SERVICES 7h

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER. Home/office/garage/ life! Clear your space, clear your mind. Get expert help w/ clutter, files, closets, garages, time mgmt, more. Clarify priorities/transform life! Sasha Lauren, (310) 927-0297. www.RemarkableTransformations.com

SOLAR/WIND ENERGY 7l

ALTERNATIVE ENGINEERING SOLAR • GO SOLAR • TAX INCENTIVES! Design & engineering solar/wind systems • Huge rebates • Financing available • Local Palisades contractor • Lic. #912279 • Call for free consultation: (877) 898-1948

DAYCARE CENTERS 8

PALISADES LEARN AND PLAY. Creative & nurturing Pre-K program. Crafts, music & educational curriculum. Openings for summer & fall, F/T or P/T. (310) 459-0920

NANNIES/BABYSITTERS 8a

VIP NANNY AGENCY • “Providing very important people with the very best nanny.” • Baby Nurses • Birthing Coaches • Housekeepers. (818) 907-1017, (310) 614-3646

BABYSITTER AVAILABLE Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. Local references. Own transportation. Call Lizeth, (310) 622-0635

DOMESTIC AGENCIES 9

NEVERLAND NANNIES & DOMESTICS. We assist local families in finding domestic professionals for their household needs. Caring nannies, doulas, nurses; attentive assistants, housekeepers, chefs & more. Please call at any time. (818) 888-9894, (818) 653-6999. www.NeverlandNannies.com

HOUSEKEEPERS 9a

“PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.” We make your home our business. Star sparkling cleaning services. In the community over 15 years. The best in housekeeping for the best price. Good references. Call Bertha, (323) 754-6873 & cell (213) 393-1419

HOUSEKEEPER, also some babysitting, local references, own transportation, very experienced and pleasant person. Avail Mon. thru Fri. Live-out. Call Elba, (310) 826-1253 or (cell) (310) 966-7244

HOUSEKEEPER AVAILABLE Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. Excellent references, experience. Has own transportation. Honest, hard working. Call Olga, (310) 207-8323 or (310) 968-1138 (cell)

HOUSEKEEPER/BABYSITTER. Available Monday-Friday. Good experience, honest, reliable. Excellent references. Call Rosalba, (323) 873-3255 anytime

HOUSEKEEPERS READY TO WORK Monday to Friday, own car, great references, experience. Call Jesica or Magdalena, (310) 650-4119 or (310) 894-1329

GARDENING, LANDSCAPING 11

PALISADES GARDENING • Full Gardening Service • Sprinkler Install • Tree Trim • Sodding/Seeding • Sprays, non-toxic • FREE 10” Flats, Pansies, Snap, Impatiens. (310) 568-0989

WATERFALLS & POND CONSTRUCTION: Water gardening. Japanese Koi fish. Filtration pond service, repair & maintenance. Free estimates. (310) 435-3843, cell (310) 390-1276. www.TheKingKoi.com

MOVING & HAULING 11b

HONEST MAN SERVICES. All jobs, big or small. Hauls it all. 14 foot truck. 20th year Westside. Delivery to 48 states. (310) 285-8688

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 12c

NEIGHBORHOOD THERAPIST: Caring, patient & local Palisades Psychotherapist available for help and insight into issues relating to your personal and interpersonal life. To make an appointment with Dr. Aunene Finger, Board Certified MFT, please call (310) 454-0855. www.neighborhoodtherapist.com. Lic. #37780

CARPET CLEANING 13b

MARIO’S CARPET CLEANING. Commercial, residents and apartments. 7 day service! Free estimate! Call (323) 939-9295 or (323) 839-7018

WINDOW WASHING 13h

HAVING A PARTY? SELLING some real estate, or just want to do some spring cleaning? Get those WINDOWS SHINING by calling No Streak Window Cleaning, where we offer fast friendly quality service you can count on! For a free estimate, call Marcus, (323) 632-7207. Lic. #122194-49, insured.

EXPERT WINDOW CLEANER • Experienced 21 yrs on Westside. Clean & detailed. Can also clean screens, mirrors, skylights & scrape paint off glass. Free estimates. Brian, (310) 289-5279

THE WINDOWS OF OZ. Got view? Extremely detailed interior/exterior glass and screen cleaning. Specializing in high ladder work. 10% new customer discount & next day service available. Owner operated. Free estimates. (310) 926-7626

AUTO DETAILING 13i

MARIO’S AUTO DETAILING. All hand wash and detail service. At your home or office. 897 S. Crenshaw Blvd. #11, L.A. Call (323) 939-9295 or (323) 839-7018

MISCELLANEOUS 13j

SUNSET HOUSE & CARPET CLEANING • Window washing • House cleaning • Carpet cleaning. Over 33 years experience. Call Barry at (818) 887-7150

PARTY ENTERTAINMENT 14e

AT HOME HAIR & MAKEUP PARTIES * Unique runway top model parties for kids, makeup lesson and consultation parties for adults. www.barbara-elizabeth.com

PET SERVICES/PET SITTING 14g

HAPPY PET • Dog Walking • Park Outings • Socialization • Insured. Connie, (310) 230-3829

PERSONAL TOUCH DOG WALKING/sitting service. Cats included. Pali resident over 25 yrs. Very reliable. Refs. available. If you want special care for your pet, please call me. Jacqui, (310) 454-0104, cell (310) 691-9893

PHOTOGRAPHY 14h

PROFESSIONAL HEAD SHOTS for all occasions by a professional photographer. Digital or film. Call Gayle Goodrich, (310) 230-8388 or (310) 502-6733

FITNESS INSTRUCTION 15a

HAVE FUN! GET FIT! NORDIC WALKING CLASSES. Certified Advanced Nordic walking instructor, Palisades resident teaches private/group classes in the Palisades. Weekends. (310) 266-4651

TUTORS 15e

KEEP STUDENTS INVOLVED in learning. Relaxed summer reading, writing, grammar & math, reinforcement & review. 30+ years teaching/tutoring experience. Call Gail, (310) 313-2530

SCIENCE & MATH TUTOR. All levels (elementary to college). Ph.D., MIT graduate, 30 years experience. Ed Kanegsberg, (310) 459-3614

MS. SCIENCE TUTOR. Ph.D., Experienced, Palisades resident. Tutor All Ages In Your Home. Marie, (310) 888-7145

PROFESSIONAL TUTOR. Stanford graduate (BA and MA, Class of 2000). Available for all subjects and test prep (SAT & ISEE). In-home tutoring at great rates. Call Jonathan, (310) 560-9134

CLEARLY MATH & MORE! Specializing in math & now offering chemistry & Spanish! Elementary thru college level. Test prep, algebra, trig, geom, calculus. Fun, caring, creative, individualized tutoring. Math anxiety. Call Jamie, (310) 459-4722

EXPERIENCED SPANISH TUTOR • All grade levels • Grammar • Conversational • SAT/AP • Children, adults • Great references. Noelle, (310) 273-3593, (310) 980-6071

CONCRETE, MASONRY, POOLS 16c

MASONRY, CONCRETE & POOL CONTRACTOR. 36 YEARS IN PACIFIC PALISADES. Custom masonry & concrete, stamped, driveways, pools, decks, patios, foundations, fireplace, drainage control, custom stone, block & brick, tile. Excellent local references. Lic. #309844. Bonded/insured/ workmen’s comp. Family owned & operated. MIKE HORUSICKY CONSTRUCTION, INC. (310) 454-4385 • www.horusicky.com

R.N.D. MASONRY & REPAIR. Brick, block, stone, concrete, stucco. No job too big or small. Free est. (310) 924-0959, (424) 298-7374

DOORS 16f

“DOOR WORKS” • Residential and commercial, door repairs, replacements. Handicap services, weatherstripping. Free est. Premium service. Lic. #917844. (310) 598-0467, (818) 346-7900

ELECTRICAL 16h

PALISADES ELECTRIC. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. All phases of electrical, new construction to service work. (310) 454-6994. Lic. #468437 Insured Professional Service

ELECTRICIAN HANDYMAN. Local service only. Lic. #775688. Please call (310) 454-6849 or (818) 317-8286

NEED ELECTRICAL WORK DONE? Call Dennis Frederick. 26 yrs experience. Lic. #728200. (310) 821-4248

FENCES, DECKS 16j

THE FENCE MAN. 14 years quality workmanship. Wood fences • Decks • Gates • Chainlink & overhang • Lic. #663238, bonded. (818) 706-1996

INDEPENDENT SERVICE CARLOS FENCE: Wood & Picket Fences • Chain Link • Iron & Gates • Deck & Patio Covers. Ask for Carlos, (310) 677-2737 or fax (310) 677-8650. Non-lic.

DECK REPAIR, SEALING & STAINING. Local resident, local clientele. 1 day service. Marty, (310) 459-2692

FLOOR CARE 16m

GREG GARBER’S HARDWOOD FLOORS SINCE 1979. Install, refinish. Fully insured. Local references (310) 230-4597 Lic. #455608

CENTURY HARDWOOD FLOOR • Refinishing, Installation, Repairs. Lic. #813778. www.centurycustomhardwoodfloorinc.com • centuryfloor@sbcglobal.net • (800) 608-6007 • (310) 276-6407

GOLDEN HARDWOOD FLOORS. Professional Installation and refinishing. National Wood Flooring Association member. License #732286. Plenty of local references. (877) 622-2200 • www.goldenhardwoodfloors.com

JEFF HRONEK, 39 YRS. RESIDENT. HARDWOOD FLOORS INC. • Sanding & Refinishing • Installations • Pre-finished • Unfinished • Lic. #608606. Bonded, Insured, Workers Comp. www.hronekhardwoodfloors.com (310) 475-1414

HANDYMAN 16o

HANDYMAN • HOOSHMAN • Most known name in the Palisades. Since 1975. Member Chamber of Commerce. Lic. #560299. Call for your free est. Local refs available. Hooshman, (310) 459-8009, 24 Hr.

LABOR OF LOVE carpentry, plumbing, tile, plaster, doors, windows, fencing & those special challenges. Work guaranteed. License #B767950. Ken at (310) 487-6464

LOCAL RESIDENT, LOCAL CLIENTELE. Make a list, call me. I specialize in repairing, replacing all those little nuisances. Not licensed; fully insured; always on time. 1 Call, 1 Guy: Marty, (310) 459-2692

GREENHOUSE Handyman & Home Maintenance. Major & Minor Home Repairs/Installations. Green Home Improvements & Retrofits. Termite/Moisture Damage Specialist. (800) 804-8810

WANT YOUR PROBLEM SOLVED? Would you like a fair price? Then call the Problem Solver. Lic. #113200. 27 yrs exp. (310) 337-9802, ask for Douglas

HANDYMAN. Painting exterior/interior, baseboard, water damage repair, drywall repair, tile. 18 yrs. Excellent service & experience. Free estimates. Non-lic. Call Fortino Matias, (310) 502-1168

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING 16p

SANTA MONICA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. INSTALLATION: New and old service and repairs. Lic. #324942 (310) 393-5686

PAINTING, PAPERHANGING 16r

PAUL HORST • Interior & Exterior • PAINTING • 54 YEARS OF SERVICE • Our reputation is your safeguard. License No. 186825 • (310) 454-4630 • Bonded & Insured

TILO MARTIN PAINTING. For A Professional Job Call (310) 230-0202. Refs. Lic. #715099

SQUIRE PAINTING CO. Interior and Exterior. License #405049. 25 years. Local Service. (310) 454-8266. www.squirepainting.com

ZARKO PRTINA PAINTING. Interior/Exterior. 35 years in service. License #637882. Call (310) 454-6604

PACIFIC PAINTING SINCE 1979 • Interior/Exterior Residential/Commercial • Custom painting • Wallpaper removal • Drywall repair • Bonded & Ins. Lic. #908913. (310) 954-7170

REMODELING 16v

KANAN CONSTRUCTION. References. BONDED • INSURED • St. Lic. #554451 • DANIEL J. KANAN, CONTRACTOR, (310) 451-3540 / (800) 585-4-DAN

LABOR OF LOVE HOME REPAIR & REMODEL. Kitchens, bathrooms, cabinetry, tile, doors, windows, decks, etc. Work guar. Ken Bass, General Contractor. Lic. #B767950. (310) 487-6464

COMPLETE CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION • New/Spec Homes • Kit+bath remodeling • Additions • Quality work at reasonable rates guaranteed. Large & small projects welcomed. Lic. #751137. Michael Hoff Construction today, (424) 202-8619

HELP WANTED 17

DRIVERS: TEAMS EARN TOP DOLLAR plus great benefits. Solo drivers also needed for Western Regional. Werner Enterprises, (800) 346-2818 x123

FULL TIME RECEPTIONIST FOR BUSY PACIFIC PALISADES WEEKLY NEWSPAPER. Multi-task/self starter. Immediate opening. Variety of duties, classified ads, light bookkeeping. Dependable. Must have excellent phone & people skills. Bilingual helpful. Computer skills. Salary + benefits. Resume: Dept. C, P.O. Box 725, Pacific Palisades 90272, fax (310) 454-1078 or email: info@palipost.com.

NANNY NEEDED for 2 children, F/T Live-in/out $$$, flex days. Required: English, CDL and transportation, light housekeeping. Must have experience and references! (310) 344-1740

PART-TIME live-out housekeeper. Must speak English, references, drive, CDL, car. Call (310) 230-0330

AUTOS 18b

1999 FORD F250 Super Duty V10 Supercab Longbed, black w/ lumber rack & Weatherguard tool box. 265K miles. Great work truck! $7,500 OBO. Call John, (818) 621-0061

MUST SELL: 1980 Mercedes 300D. Runs great, looks great! New AC. One owner. $3,000. Call for details (310) 454-7595

FURNITURE 18c

FRENCH FARM TABLE, 6 ft, $2,000 (obo). Vintage oak library table, 4 ft, $800 (obo). (310) 454-8705

BELLINI NATURAL WOOD bunk beds, five drawer dresser with book/trophy shelf, three drawer desk with hutch and chair. Mint condition. $1,900 OBO. Call (310) 780-3748

GARAGE, ESTATE SALES 18d

BIG YARD SALE. Great miscellaneous household and décor. Men’s, teen’s clothing. 451 El Medio. Saturday, July 19. 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

GARAGE/MOVING SALE. This Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Antiques, vintage clothes, unique furniture, paintings, etc. 16650 Akron Street, Pacific Palisades.

36TH ANNUAL SALE: Antiques, collectibles, Indian baskets, jewelry, orientalia, collectors pottery and tools, yard décor, furniture, ethnic clothing, quilts, much more. July 19th-20th, 9:30 a.m. 5838 Bonsall Dr., Malibu (Zuma Cyn)

ESTATE SALE: Pacific Palisades. Fri.-Sat.-Sun., 7/18-7/20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 16645 Merivale Lane. Bienveneda North immediate left on Akron, right on Lachman to Merivale Lane left. Antiques, residential furn, accessories, artwork, new ping pong table and Auto Go #550 for mobility impaired, transportable, never used.

WANTED TO BUY 19

WANTED: Old tube guitar amplifiers, working or not. ‘50s, ‘60s, etc. Tommy, (310) 895-5057 • profeti2001@yahoo.com

‘Loco’ Motive

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July 17, 2008

‘Crying Macho Man’ Cartoonist Jose Cabrera Signs at Village Books and Comic-Con International

It’s a “Man, Man, Man, Man’s World,” sang James Brown. But Jose Cabrera’s weekly Web comic is a mad, mad, mad, mad world wherein the Godfather of Soul might get beat down by the Beatles.
Non sequiturs run rampant in the strange-bedfellows universe of “Crying Macho Man.”
With its satirical pastiche of celebrities, politicians, and original characters, “Crying Macho Man” resembles an edgy hybrid of MAD magazine, “Saturday Night Live” and “SCTV.” In one strip, Prince phones Fidel Castro to get his guitar back. In other strips, a grizzly bear argues with his physician, and Count Dracula meets his match in the exasperatingly perky Mindy the Telemarketer. CMM is the type of strip in which, post-Katrina, President Bush tries to get a refund on the Louisiana Purchase from French prime minister Jacques Chirac because it’s got a leak in it.
“Humor comics are back,” says the upbeat Cabrera, 38, whose CMM is a departure in a sea of superhero comics. “I’m trying to break the mold of an industry that needs a funny lift!”
The Playa del Rey resident signs his second CMM collection, “You So Loco,” on Thursday, July 31 at Village Books on Swarthmore.
[Full disclosure: this reporter, also a cartoonist, wrote the foreword for “You So Loco.”]
This may not be your Village People’s “Macho Man,” yet “Crying Macho Man” is just as multicultural.
No one is spared from the Dominican-American cartoonist’s exacting pen: Anglo-Saxons, African-Americans, Asians, Jews, everyone gets it––especially Cabrera’s fellow Latin contingent. The independent cartoonist’s creations include Fry Cook Chef, Gay Cheapskate, and Cleveland, a paraplegic detective sending up generations of aggressively quirky investigators from “Columbo” to “Monk” and “House.”
Politically incorrect, yes––and yet CMM is not exactly mean-spirited…sort of like the way Don Rickles heckles an audience member, then leaves him with a smile and a “God bless ya!” With CMM, it’s all in good fun, poking at our foibles and stereotypes, exclaiming: “We’re all in this soup together, folks!”
“He’s just a nice optimistic person,” says cartoonist Keith Knight of Cabrera, “which to me is such the opposite of other cartoonists. Plus, the references he makes are so spot on, whether it’s Prince or Martin Luther King or ‘Sanford and Son.’”
As the societal observer behind the long-running alternative weekly staple “The K Chronicles” and the new syndicated strip “The Knight Life,” Knight knows first-hand what a balancing act producing a politically charged strip can be. Cabrera achieves it, he says.
“You can wind up preaching and whining, and those are two places where you don’t really want to go,” Knight says. “You don’t want to be just depressing and that’s easy, especially [with recent politics].”
CMM flirts with topical humor, but not in a way that would quickly render a “Doonesbury” dated. Cabrera is less interested in the minutiae of current events and more interested in holding a mirror to the hypocrisies of the powerful and the shallowness of our culture. By underscoring such buffoonery, he cuts across party lines.
Only in CMM will you find Bush phoning his homeboy Chuck D. of Public Enemy, or running gags about Charlie Rose, a talk-show personality on PBS, losing his marbles mid-interview. Cabrera thrives on such contradictions.
Cabrera’s penchant for strange bedfellows goes back to the Dominican/Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of his youth in New York’s Washington Heights, where he grew up with his six siblings. As a 1970’s child, he inherited a cousin’s Marvel Comics collection, while soaking up “Popeye” cartoons and “Astro Boy” dubbed in Spanish. MAD proved influential, as did one film: “Superman.” Eight-year-old Cabrera identified with the 1978 blockbuster. “I don’t want to be in Washington Heights and poor! I want to fly out of here!” he recalls thinking at the time.
Drawing helped Cabrera get through childhood. The first chance he had, Cabrera made like Snake Plissken and escaped from New York by enrolling in the Maryland Institute College of Art. He later earned six figures as a graphic designer and art director at big advertising firms, including Grey and Saatchi & Saatchi.
In 1999, Cabrera relocated to L.A. to work for Inc-Cubate. By the time the online firm succumbed to the dot.com bust of 2000, Cabrera had abandoned advertising and its fat paychecks. Disillusioned, he left what he deemed a soul-crushing atmosphere, despising “the competitiveness, the pettiness, the way the bosses pitted people against each other,” and enrolled at Loyola Marymount University, where Cabrera met his wife, Naomi Tucker, while studying art therapy. They married in 2005, and both work today as therapists.
Tucker has been supportive of Cabrera’s comics journey, albeit reluctantly at first. But it was male model Fabio that we have to thank for CMM. In 2004, after spending a year emulating Harvey Pekar’s serious autobiographical work, Cabrera found his funny bone as a cartoonist after his brother-in-law exposed him to a CD called “Fabio After Dark.”
“It was Fabio giving romance advice,” Cabrera says. “We thought it was ridiculous. I took it and basically re-drew it. And that was my first ‘Crying Macho Man’ piece.”
After several failed title ideas––“A Paro D,” “Oxymoron” ––the phrase “Crying Macho Man” popped into his head and “I had a tingle, like Spider-Man,” he says.
CMM became the vehicle for Cabrera’s weekly dose of online satire. In 2006, he collected the strips in “Prime Cut,” his first trade paperback, and debuted his book at San Francisco’s Alternative Press Expo, discovering a rapid, rabid following for his work.
Beyond San Diego Comic-Con (see sidebar), the Hollywood star-handsome Cabrera is looking forward to his appearance locally, as he has a Pacific Palisades connection: his wife’s family hails from here.
Naomi Tucker’s grandfather, Bill Huntington, was active with the Palisades’ Chamber of Commerce and ran Huntington Realty.
Although Tucker grew up in Iowa, she spent every summer in town.
“My favorite memories include attending Fourth of July parades with my grandma [Jane Huntington]. The view from my grandparents’ house up on McKendree, playing in the ocean, and visiting my Aunt Mary [Huntington, still a Highlands resident] for lunch at the Bel-Air Bay Club,” Tucker says.
As Cabrera’s wife, she has a front row seat to his creative process.
“Jose is driven to create,” she says. “He wakes up early, makes coffee, and sits and draws. His laughing sometimes wakes me up. It gives him joy… and an audience!”
In addition to famous personalities, Cabrera mines humor from the therapy profession and from the corporate world of his past: social worker by day, self-published cartoonist by night, and that’s how he likes it. He’s probably the only guy in town who throws shrink ‘n’ ink parties. Again, strange bedfellows.
Criticism comes with the territory when your satire is as extreme and provocative as Cabrera’s. A woman e-mailed him from Germany to scold him over a strip critical of Governor Schwarzenegger’s policies which, in a reference to his father’s Nazi-sympathizer past, linked the native Austrian to Hitler. At first, such reprisals made Cabrera flinch, “then it hit me. They were writing about me.”
While Cabrera uses shock value to rattle the complacent, he uses it sparingly. By employing racist idioms, he exposes racism. In celebrating classism, he mocks it.
“I’m railing against the comfort that people have with the way things are,” he says. “I’m putting things that are uncomfortable in their face.
“You can’t live in a bubble. This is me putting my hair down,” surmises the bald cartoonist, in yet another apparent contradiction.
“I’m proud of what he’s done,” says Cabrera’s wife. “He cracks himself up all the time, so it makes sense that he would share the wealth!

PaliHi Pool Groundbreaking August 1

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July 16, 2008

Rose Gilbert’s Last-Minute $900,000 Donation Seals the Contract

The Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center, supported by a $2 million donation from teacher Rose Gilbert, will be built on the corner of Temescal Canyon Road and Bowdoin Street, featuring a deep ten-lane competition pool and a shallow two-lane teaching pool. Rendering: Courtesy Maggie Nance

Legendary English teacher Rose Gilbert donated another $900,000 for the Palisades Charter High School’s state-of-the-art aquatic center on Tuesday. At the board of director’s meeting, Gilbert presented the board with a cardboard check, and said, ‘I’m the God fairy who came in the middle of the night, so put on your swimsuits.’ Gilbert, 89, had already donated $1.1 million for the center, which will be named after her late daughter and swimmer, Maggie Gilbert. Her latest contribution brings the total amount the school has raised to about $2.6 million. The board of directors had agreed earlier that the school would not break ground until 75 percent of the funds were in the bank. The estimated cost of the aquatic center is $3.5 million. The high school has received four bids from pool contractors for the project and two of those bids are in the $3.5-million price range, said Gregory Wood, chief business officer. ‘Thanks to Rose’s $900,000, we are really in the position to move forward,’ Wood told the board on Tuesday. Gilbert had only one stipulation for her donation ‘ she wanted a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, August 1. ‘My birthday is August 2, and I wanted it before my 90th birthday,’ Gilbert said. ‘I have never written a check that big, but I feel like I am doing it for Maggie and for every kid at PaliHi.’ Gilbert said she envisions the pool being used for physical education classes, and she hopes there will be a requirement that all students have to learn to swim in order to graduate from high school. The PaliHi pool committee’s goal was to secure 75 percent of the money and host a groundbreaking ceremony in August, said Jeanne Goldsmith, whose consulting firm was hired to fundraise. Before receiving Gilbert’s latest donation, the committee had about $1.6 million raised and was searching for ways to fill the gap to meet the August deadline. ‘Rose has done a lot to make this happen,’ Goldsmith said. ‘She is an amazing woman.’ The board voted unanimously to give the pool committee the authority to select a pool contractor. To honor Gilbert’s request, a groundbreaking ceremony will be held on August 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the high school. The aquatic center will be built at the corner of Temescal Canyon Road and Bowdoin Street, replacing the outdoor handball and basketball courts. The main 10-lane pool and adjoining two-lane lap pool will be available for water polo games, water aerobics, diving, swimming lessons, lap swimmers and more. The center should be complete in summer or fall of 2009. PaliHi still needs another $900,000 to complete the project. Wood said that if necessary, the school could easily secure a loan for that amount. By renting the facility to swim teams and aquatic groups outside school hours, the pool should generate about $540,000 in annual revenue. He expects the pool will cost about $370,000 to operate and the remaining $170,000 could be used to pay off the loan. Goldsmith said she doesn’t plan to slow fundraising efforts. A group of PaliHi students in a marketing club are promoting the pool. They and other supporters have hosted neighborhood parties and more are planned. Supporters have also raised $15,000 by spending two hours on the phone seeking donations and plan to raise more money through phone solicitations. Board member Eileen Savage, who is also on the pool committee, wrote in a letter to the Palisadian-Post that the pool will be available for community use daily for about two hours before school starts (5:30-7:30 a.m.) and six hours after school ends at 3 p.m. ‘ The pool will also be open on the weekends and most holidays (closed on national holidays) and during summer vacation. Since PaliHi will be contracting with groups such as swim clubs and water polo clubs, the school will post updates quarterly on lane availability for community members, Savage said. ‘Our goal is to meet the needs of as many community members as possible, while ensuring that our students benefit from aquatics as part of their regular PE curriculum and that we have facilities that support the school’s athletic programs,’ Savage wrote.

Council Joins Street Furniture Fight

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July 16, 2008

L.A. City officials and CBS/Decaux have proposed placing public-amenity kiosks (PAKs) in Pacific Palisades as part of a 20-year contract. PAKs are freestanding three-sided or two-sided structures, which have one or two advertising panels and a panel for a local vicinity map, community poster or public-service announcement. This PAK is located on Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. Photo: Courtesy CBS/Decaux

Wanting to prevent the City of Los Angeles from installing street furniture displaying advertising in the Village and on Sunset Boulevard, the Pacific Palisades Community Council voted unanimously last Thursday to pay for legal research. The Council agreed to join the Brentwood Community Council and neighborhood associations in Century City and Westwood, which have hired attorney Beverly Grossman Palmer to discuss strategies for how to legally battle street furniture. The Council voted to contribute $5,000 toward the legal research. Another Palisades organization, P.R.I.D.E, donated $1,000 to the Council for the cause. Brentwood Community Council Chair Wendy-Sue Rosen had asked the Council to contribute to their efforts at the previous Council meeting on June 26. Council Vice Chair Susan Nash, an attorney, will represent the Council during the meetings with Palmer. ‘I think we need to fight this vigorously,’ Council member Mike Stryer said. ‘I think we need to be strong.’ The City and CBS/Decaux signed an agreement in 2001 to install 3,350 bus shelters, newsstands, public toilets and kiosks displaying advertising (mostly of upcoming movies) citywide in the next 20 years. The city receives a guaranteed share of the total profit (about $150 million) from the advertising revenue and uses the money for beautification projects. On Thursday, Guillermo Gonzalez, CBS/Decaux director of street furniture operations, told the Council that his company would like to place a bus shelter on the corner of Via de la Paz and Sunset and two public-amenity kiosks (PAKs), one at Sunset and Castellammare and the other at Sunset and Pacific Coast Highway. ‘We have to be in the [Village],’ Gonzalez said. ‘Some people are for the bus shelters because people take the bus, especially with high gas prices. Some people don’t see any use for the PAKs, so we are willing to take a couple outside the downtown area.’ PAKs are freestanding three-sided or two-sided structures, which have one or two advertising panels and a panel for a local vicinity map, community poster or public-service announcement. Council Chair Richard G. Cohen informed Gonzalez that the Council is concerned that the contract between the city and CBS/Decaux violates the city’s General Plan. Beverly Palmer, an attorney with Strumwasser & Woocher, found that the contract violates the city’s General Plan, which protects scenic highways (such as Sunset Boulevard) and scenic corridors (San Vicente) from advertising signs, as well as Brentwood and Pacific Palisades Specific Plans, which have signage restrictions. ‘We embrace the Specific Plan, and we think it protects our Village and Sunset,’ Cohen said. Lance M. Oishi, L.A. Department of Public Works contract administrator of the coordinated street furniture program, said City Attorney’s Office reviewed the city’s plans and determined that the Specific Plans restrict signage on private property but not on the public right-away. Therefore, the Department of Public Works can decide how sidewalks are used. ‘We recognize that people don’t agree with that,’ Oishi said. ‘But that is where I sit to facilitate the contract.’ Cohen asked if CBS/Decaux would consider locations outside the Specific Plan area, since the Council does not want the proposed bus shelter on the corner of Via de la Paz and Sunset. ‘Your position is that you get to do what you want to,’ Cohen said. ‘But if you want to be friends, we ask that you respect the intent of the Specific Plan. We would like the opportunity to find alternative sites that don’t violate our principles.’ In response, Gonzalez said, ‘We need a bus shelter in the heart of the Village. That’s our position.’ Cohen then asked whether CBS/Decaux would agree in writing to not install any more street-furniture items in the Palisades if the Council agreed to install a bus shelter and two PAKs. Gonzalez replied that he would speak to his boss about the possibility. The Council decided to search for alternative sites that might satisfy CBS/Decaux and the community. To install the street furniture, the contract stipulates that the City Council, Bureau of Street Services and CBS/Decaux can propose sites, Oishi said. Community outreach is done and residents can suggest alternatives to the proposed sites, which will be considered. Each City Council member then decides whether to sign off on the proposed sites for his or her district. In the future, there is a possibility that if a City Council member doesn’t approve enough locations in his or her district to comply with the contract, the entire City Council could vote on where those items will be placed, Oishi said. ‘It’s a proposal that has been discussed,’ he said. ‘It may or may not happen.’ Oishi continued that the city would like to install the street furniture soon in order to start receiving the monetary benefits. Although the money is divided evenly among the Council districts, the furniture is not distributed equally. The street furniture is issued to districts on the basis of need, the city’s obligation under the contract and revenue requirements for the program. Districts 11 and 5 (Westwood, Century City and Sherman Oaks) are expected to install the majority of the street furniture. The City is behind on complying with the contract because of community opposition, Oishi said. The idea was to install all of the street furniture within the first two to five years of the contract, so there would be 15 to 18 years to generate advertising revenue. So far, CBS/Decaux has paid the city about $18 million, but if the city had rolled out the street furniture on schedule, it would have received about $32 million to date, according to a letter from the Office of the City Attorney. ‘We have done our due diligence; this is the third time we’ve come to these meetings, ‘ Oishi said of working with communities to find preferable locations. ‘There is a sense of urgency. We need to move forward to make this program successful.’

Democrats Fete Political Courage Winners

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July 16, 2008

Honoree Phil Donahue, the former talk show host and co-producer of the feature documentary,”Body of War,” showed excerpts from the film at Sunday’s banquet.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, *Staff Photographer*

Five political and social activists were honored at the third annual Anne Froehlich Awards Dinner for Political Courage on Sunday at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. Hosted by the Pacific Palisades Democratic Club, the event drew a crowd of more than 300 (at $135 per person), despite its mid-summer timing, and celebrated the spirit of Anne Froehlich, who was one of the club’s founders and for over 50 years was its president, treasurer and matchless volunteer until her death in 2005. The first Froehlich dinner honored Daniel Ellsberg and Ron Kovic, who joined the festivities Sunday, and the 2007 awards went to Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson. This year, Anna Burger, a top-ranking officer at Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation’s largest and fastest growing union, introduced the first honoree, Robert Greenwald. ‘He’s a great filmmaker and a great agitator, who uses his creativity to take on important political battles,’ said Burger, who’s the first chair of America’s newest labor federation, Change to Win. ‘My grandfather was a union organizer,’ Greenwald told the audience, ‘and one of the highlights of my young life was going with him to Union Square to listen to people give political speeches.’ Greenwald’s films have addressed numerous social issues and include ‘Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers,’ ‘Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices,’ and ‘Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism.’ Through Brave New Films, he also uses the ‘quick strike capability’ of the Internet to produce video campaigns that are viewed by millions of viewers in a short span of time (e.g., ‘The Real Rudy,’ ‘Fox Attacks Obama,’ ‘The REAL McCain’). ‘An amazing revolution is going on,’ Greenwald said, thanks to the Internet. ‘We had a paid team of editors, producers and researchers working incredibly hard for six or seven weeks on the McCain video, but then we reached almost three million people in just four weeks’without having to buy one second of TV advertising, because people like you are sending it forward.’ Noting that ‘this ability to reach people and motivate them without a gatekeeper in the way”and without having to buy a cable network”is a whole new world,’ Greenwald challenged the progressive Democrats in his audience to capitalize on the Web revolution. ‘There’s no excuse not to do something, to get involved and take action to bring about the social change we want.’ Congresswoman Maxine Waters, one of the most vocal opponents against going to war in Iraq, introduced the next two honorees, Betty and Stanley Sheinbaum of Brentwood, who have toiled decades as political and social activists. ‘Betty and Stanley are two of the kindest, most generous and most caring human beings I have ever known,’ said Waters, who noted that they have given their home, resources and leadership to countless organizations over the years, while ‘calling people to task’ on various political and humanitarian campaigns. Betty, 88, delivered an inspiring, heartfelt speech that will be published in next week’s Palisadian-Post. Her husband, also 88 this year, spoke into a microphone at his seat and commented, ‘It is clearly happening, very rapidly, that the Democrats are on their way back. It’s very heartening to me that this is happening, and let’s keep going!’ Dinner co-chair Alice Lynn introduced the final three award-winners: former talk-show host Phil Donahue and filmmaker Ellen Spiro, who co-produced this year’s critically acclaimed documentary ‘Body of War,’ and Tomas Young (in absentia), whose story is told in the film. His mother, Cathy Smith, spoke on his behalf.

Residents Hope Speed Humps Will Curb Speeding on Akron

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July 16, 2008

Residents living on Akron Street have long been upset and frustrated by the many cars speeding along that curvy, hilly connector road between Bienveneda Avenue and Lachman Lane. In the past year, for example, more than 10 parked cars have been scraped or had their side mirrors damaged, and numerous pets have been injured or killed by careless drivers, according to a neighborhood survey. Akron’s posted speed limit of 25 mph is hardly a deterrent, neighbors told the Palisadian-Post. Hoping to slow traffic, residents of the 69 homes that line the street have tried for years to have speed humps installed, but had always been rejected’until this spring, when they achieved a partial victory. A petition for a speed hump on upper Akron between Chattanooga and Lachman Lane was approved on May 5. Residents received a letter stating, ‘As you know, this location was earlier investigated for excessive speeding, and speed humps were recommended as the appropriate traffic measure.’ L.A. Principal Transportation Engineer Glen Ogura has confirmed that a speed hump will be installed on upper Akron by the end of July. Dan Urbach, who lives on lower Akron between Chattanooga and Bienveneda, has applied for a speed hump on that portion of the road. ‘We have his application and we are in the process of doing a study,’ Ogura said. Once the study is completed and if it confirms that the requirements for a speed hump are met, the next step is to have at least 75 percent of the residents sign the petition. The upper-Akron petition garnered 83 percent support. The process to acquired the first speed hump started in February 2007 when Akron residents Andrea and Roger Barton wrote to Department of Transportation Engineer Mohammad H. Blorfroshan, ‘This will be our neighborhood’s third attempt for requesting speed humps on this street,’ the Bartons wrote. ‘Last year the city recognized the speed problem and installed a stop sign on the corner of Akron and Chattanooga, but unfortunately, drivers continue to drive at unsafe speeds past our homes before arriving at the stop sign, which is rarely acknowledged. ‘The speeding problem is very serious. Two dogs were hit and killed yesterday, I was very close to being hit by an SUV while crossing the street with my two-year-old son.’ The couple concluded the letter, ‘Please help us keep our children, neighbors and pets from becoming fatalities. It’s only a matter of time and we would hate to have to reference all three requests in court if anything were to happen.’ Other neighbors recounted their traffic stories: ‘A blue Volkswagen was speeding up Akron and hit a six-month old retriever. They didn’t stop,’ said Katherine Orlinsky. ‘Our car has been in the body shop twice. Everybody has a story.’ ‘People honk at us when we’re trying to back out of our driveways,’ said Diane Braverman, and Gloria Kim commented: ‘My biggest fear is someone is going to take the curve [between Chattanooga and Bienveneda] too fast and hit my boys’ bedroom, which is next to the front yard.’ Hal Schwabe, a retired LAPD officer, told of a drunken driver who recently was speeding on Akron, hit and totaled a Prius, then drove off. Schwabe got into his car and followed him to Lachman Lane, where the driver had hit a truck and wall. The male got out of his car, accompanied by his young son, and said, ‘It’s not my car, I wasn’t driving,’ and started to leave. Schwabe told him he had to stay and the man punched him in the face. The man was subsequently subdued and arrested.

Merchants Group Eyes Events To Promote Local Shopping

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July 16, 2008

More than 20 local business owners attended a second merchants meeting at the Chamber of Commerce office on July 8 to discuss events that could promote shopping in Pacific Palisades. ‘We had a nice turnout of enthusiastic merchants,’ said Roy Robbins, owner of the gift and stationery store on Swarthmore. All of the town’s merchants were invited and need not belong to the Chamber to attend these ongoing meetings. Many of the merchants wanted to know how this group’s function differs from SHOPP, which also promotes local shopping. Marni Diamond, former co-owner of Spanky Lane on Via de la Paz, started SHOPP (Shop Pacific Palisades) early this year. ‘Marni is raising awareness to encourage people to shop locally,’ Robbins said. ‘We’re all about giving residents a reason to stay in town when they shop. The two groups are working in tandem.’ ‘Our goal is to come up with about a half-dozen events or campaigns to entice customers to keep shopping in the Village,’ explained Denise Martinez, owner of Boca, a woman’s clothing store on Swarthmore. ‘The Chamber felt that the timing was right to resurrect an effective merchants group,’ Robbins said. ‘Everyone recognizes that the economy is tough.’ ‘This is a way to create camaraderie and promote events,’ Martinez said. ‘We are also more powerful as a group,’ Robbins said. The first promotion will be a coupon card that features a one-time, 20-percent-off-any-item discount at about 40 participating stores. The card should reach Palisades homes in early August. The merchants also discussed plans to make holiday shopping in the Palisades more enticing. They hope to open the season the day after Thanksgiving with a tax-free day, free parking, and evening hours. Participating merchants will decorate their store windows, with customers asked to vote for their favorite. On December 5, there will be a holiday stroll, like the one on Montana Avenue; the following Friday, Santa will come to town during the annual Ho!Ho!Ho! The merchants will meet again in August. Robbins and Martinez are looking for people who are willing to get involved and work on committees. People who have an idea for a shopping promotion can e-mail info@palisadeschamber.com.

‘Chaperone:’ Drowsy and Funny! Theater Review

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July 16, 2008

Visit the shabby apartment of a Broadway musical lover and escape into his vivid imagination, where glamorous starlets and handsome young men spring out of the refrigerator and the pullout bed to act out their outrageous love story.
The musical “The Drowsy Chaperone,” playing through July 20 at the Ahmanson Theatre in downtown, first premiered at the theater in 2005 and went on to become a Broadway hit and winner of five Tony awards.
Jonathan Crombie, who plays a fanatic musical fan (Man in Chair), tells the audience that he likes to listen to his favorite cast album, a 1928 fictitious hit, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” whenever he feels blue. He informs the audience that the ’20s was a time when “All the world was a party — for the wealthy anyway.”
Just as the album begins to play on the turntable, the apartment turns into a stage, where Broadway starlet Janet Van De Graaff plans to give up show business to marry a man she just met. On her wedding day, all havoc breaks lose as her producer, a Latin lover, and some gangsters try to break off the wedding to keep her in the biz.
Clever one-liners and puns written by Don McKellar and Bob Martin (who debuted the Man in the Chair role) abound, such as when a gangster disguised as a pastry chef asks, “Do I make myself perfectly éclair?”
Crombie, in a tattered sweater and with unkempt hair, wins over the audience with his performance as the pitiful, yet lovable musical nut. He has every line of the musical memorized and dances along with the actors and actresses, while commenting on the clichés of 1920’s musicals. When the producer (Cliff Bemis) bellows, “Oh, Lord in Heaven” as he contemplates how to stop the wedding, Crombie says, “Now, that was a little overplayed.”
Occasionally, the musical is interrupted when the phone rings or the record sticks, causing the singers to repeat the same lyrics or lines. At one point, the landlord (Chuck Rea) comes inside the apartment to fix a power outage, oblivious to all the Broadway actors and actresses.
Lead actor Mark Ledbetter, as the All-American bridegroom, steals the stage with an impressive tap-dancing performance to shake his pre-wedding jitters. He and his best man (Richard Vida) dance until their feet literally smoke while singing Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison’s witty lyrics “rhythm make ’dem cold feets trot down the aisle.”
Equally impressive, lead actress Andrea Chamberlain as Van de Graaff whisks around the stage, singing “I don’t wanna show off no more,” while diving through hoops, serenading a snake out of a basket, and escaping from a straitjacket, Houdini style.
Actress Nancy Opel portrays the Drowsy Chaperone, a theatrically over-the-top drunk stumbling around the stage. Her character’s task is to make sure Van de Graaff doesn’t see the bridegroom before the wedding ceremony, but she’s too busy refilling her glass. When Van de Graaff asks her if she has ever considered marriage, she says, “I only drink for pleasure, not out of necessity.”
The most comedic singing performance belongs to actor James Moye as the Latin lover, Adolpho. Adolpho tries to seduce the Drowsy Chaperone, whom he has mistaken for the bride, with a song that extols his own big ego. “The lovely ladies always cheer Adolpho,” he croons, filling the theater with his big voice and nearly losing the interest of the very lady he is trying to attract.
Be prepared to leave the theater with your cheek muscles hurting from laughing so much. It’s no wonder the show, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle and Drama Desk awards for best musical.
Tickets range from $30 to $90. The theater is located at 135 N. Grand Ave., at Temple Street.
Information: www.centertheatregroup.org or call CTG Audience Services at (213) 628-2772.

Stevens Ross Captures Local Landscapes in Vibrant Photos

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July 16, 2008

By ALYSSA BRICKLIN
Palisadian-Post Intern

The walls of Café Vida are covered with sunsets, magnificent skies, and colorful trees. These photographs are the work of Stevens Ross, a long-time Palisadian resident and PaliHi graduate.
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Ross has lived the majority of his life in the Palisades. He is the manager at the local Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and a freelance photographer. Ross began dabbling in photography in junior high. He took classes at Paul Revere and built a darkroom under his stairs where he developed his own photos. Now Ross uses a digital camera, and uploads the images to a Web site called Shutterfly, where he displays his photographic catalogue. Landscapes and sunsets are his main subjects.
While photography has up to this point been a hobby for Ross, recently he has broken into the professional aspect of the art. This began when he put some photos up at the Coffee Bean on Antioch Street, and they started to sell. His next move was to put his name on the list to get Café Vida to display his work. After over a year of waiting, a dozen of Ross’s 11” x 14” prints now decorate the local café’s walls.
Ross carries his camera everywhere, and shoots whatever catches his eye. He advises any aspiring photographer to do the same. “You never know what interesting things you will see,” he explains to the Palisadian-Post. Ross’s photos are mostly local scenery, shot at the Palisades bluffs and on mountain trails. Eventually, he hopes to travel to locations such as Colorado specifically to shoot scenery.
Ross underexposes his photographs in order to highlight color contrasts. He likes to keep his work “organic”. He does not use PhotoShop; his goal is to capture and present nature in its purity. “Everyone is in such a rush these days. No one ever stops and looks up at the trees or what’s around them,” Ross says.
The vibrant images Ross captures draw attention to the natural world, which is often forgotten and taken for granted. He will continue to show them at exhibits and art festivals.
Ross’s photography has been on display in Café Vida for two months and will remain on the walls until the end of July. Visit the café at 15317 Antioch St. to view Ross’s work.

Playoffs End for PPBA Squads

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July 16, 2008

Holden Thomas was a key contributor for Palisades' Mustang Division all-stars throughout the district playoffs last week. — Holden Thomas was a key contributor for Palisades’ Mustang Division all-stars throughout the district playoffs last week.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, *Staff Photographer*

None of the Palisades Pony Baseball Association’s three all-star teams reached the sectionals this season. Palisades’ Pinto Division squad, coached by Mike Bennett, won its first two games in last week’s District 1 playoffs, beating Redondo/Sunset 8-3 and Lynwood, 8-5, but losing its last two to East Long Beach and host Lynwood. In the Mustang Division, Palisades played on its home fields at the Palisades Recreation Center’s Field of Dreams. Coach Mike DeSantis led his team to a 12-7 victory in its first game against Redondo, but Palisades lost its next game to Cheviot Hills and was eliminated by East Long Beach, 11-10 last Wednesday. The Bronco Division all-stars, coached by Bill Elder, also failed to reach the second postseason round. After beating Lynwood, 6-5, Pali suffered losses to host East Long Beach and Torrance.