It’s not every day I get to get this up-close and personal with the unrepentantly skittish and flighty western tiger swallowtail butterfly. In fact, it’s rare to see one land around our place, and never have I seen one linger  much less so readily tolerate such an intrusion. But this one did this morning by our garage, and while I was at first worried it might be injured, it soon dispelled my apprehensions by taking to the air and fluttering by.

This is at Beeps Fast Food, in Van Nuys, which I stumbled upon completely by accident a while back.  As is my want, I stopped in for lunch based solely on the calibre of that truly amazing sign. There are so many things to say about it!  I like the pink and turquoise (an altogether underused diner color scheme, if you ask me), I like (make that really like) that googie typeface, and I like (make that really really like) promises of large, thick malts and shakes.  And Beeps did not disappoint in the slightest:  inside there was more pink and turquoise and more retro lettering and an utterly scrumptious butterscotch shake.  And the cheeseburgers are really solid, too.  So obviously, you should go.

I’m curious to drive past this place at night because I want to know if they still light the sign, and if the lights are also in pink and turquoise.  The fabulousness extends down the entire side of the building, too:

Beeps Fast Food is at 16063 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, for all you milkshake aficionados out there.

Skirting the Cahuenga Pass on Outpost Drive (click for bigness)

Last night as I was returning home from a lovely meet up with some fellow bloggers, I realized it was just about time for the Bowl audience to be leaving. So, I made my way over to Outpost and started up the hill. I was delightfully surprised to find that most of the entire route has been repaved and is an exceptionally smooth ride. Previously, it was so bad that when I got a new car a few years ago, it took me many months to even subject it to the trek.

I do have a few other bypasses I like to take to get “over the hill” if I’m traveling at peak traffic times. The shortcuts don’t always guarantee getting to my destination any earlier, but I’d rather be moving than just sitting on a congested freeway or street.

Do you have a favorite shortcut or tip for circumventing traffic in this city? Leave it in the comments below.

JAGCHIK was spotted on Van Nuys & Burbank in Sherman Oaks earlier this afternoon. What errand was JAGCHIK running?

Let your creative writing skills go to work in the comments.

The Thirty-Eights used to call it the Old Fire House. Others also called the Los Angeles Plaza building home, as a hotel and saloon.

The year was 1920.

Photo from the USC Digital Library

Vulcan Mining Pit Mine scarring the landscape in Azusa Canyon.

Vulcan mining eventually won out and convinced a majority, not all of the Azusa city council, that it was a good idea to expand their mining efforts.  I wrote about it HERE a while back when only the city of Duarte seemed to be the only party interested in fighting the expansion to keep it out of environmentally sensitive Fish Canyon which is on its northern border.  The city of Duarte is now proceeding to litigate the expansion and have set aside some 700K to fund their battle and was prepared to do so alone.  In stepped several Azusans who agree no expansion and are prepared to fight as well.

Some Azusa city residents it turns out weren’t too happy with the expansion and are busy working on an initiative to not permit the expansion.  To get the anti-mining initiative passed they need signatures and funds for campaigning.  To that end they are holding a pot lock this weekend at Duarte’s Encanto Park and Historical Museum.

The potluck will take place at the Duarte Historical Museum located at 751 Encanto Parkway.  They are asking everyone to bring a potluck dish and a check book to help fund their battle to preserve Fish Canyon and the local environment.  It is set to start 3PM Saturday July 31, 2010.

This is a cause near and dear to me.  I hike the trails in and around that area.  There are ample other areas they can mine that won’t create dust hazards nor upset sensitive habitat like Fish Canyon.  This time of the year in particular the dust is awful.  The grit chokes plants not just near the mine, but in neighboring communities and is worse when the wind blows.  I urge you to take the few minutes while there to cross the Bike/Ped bridge and walk the trails and see the dust and debris interrupting the natural course of things along the San Gabriel River.

The front face of the building was alive with colors and stars that moved through the galaxies, then crazy patterns of colors. I stopped the car and got out.

Awestruck, I watched as the building was bathed in an array of sound and cool visuals. Some from Fantasia, some seemingly from other random visual art. This went on for 10 minutes or so and then ended. I walked over to the building, where there were trucks and booths set-up. This was a big production! The woman in charge told me it was a traveling exhibition from San Diego to San Francisco, that used various notable architectural buildings as canvas. It’s stunning. Called, “World of Color” it’s tied to the visual World of Color they are doing at the Disney Theme Parks.

If you want to see it, tonight, (Friday, July 30th) is the last night!!!!! It’s on from 9 til 11, so if you’re downtown or want a fun diversion to your night…. check it out.

Mahdavi pleaded “no contest” to felony hit and run charges and threw herself on the mercy of the court, instead of accepting the plea deal offered by the DA. Judge Fox gave her 90 days of community service, and 3 years of probation. Mahdavi will spend less time in community service – 720 hours – than Deliz spent in the hospital – 1176 hours.”

It’s kind of disgusting that the penalty for hitting someone and fleeing the scene of the crime is lighter than the punishment for hitting them in the first place. Filmmaker Rick Darge was on hand earlier this week and filmed the protest. He made this short film to document what went down.