An email alert went out on Wednesday cautioning Marina Del Rey residents to prepare for the outage by unplugging sensitive equipment, manually opening security gates and garage doors, notifying security companies, and renting backup power supplies amongst other measures.

The reason for the blackout is described as “Upgrade & maintenance” though no explanation was provided for why the day-long blackout is necessary.  Customers are advised to visit www.sce.com/outage or call (888) 759-6056 for more information.

After a sharp decline in installation costs, rooftop solar power has become a more cost effective and reliable alternative to grid-provided electricity for many property owners.  Learn more about solar energy options for residential, commercial, and multi-family properties and solar group discounts up to 33% through the LA County-wide Open Neighborhoods Community Solar program available through April 30, 2012.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON SCHEDULED MARINA DEL REY BLACKOUT

WHO:          Southern CA Edison
WHAT:        Planned Power Outage # 491561
WHEN:       Tuesday, Feb. 28, 8 am – 5 pm
WHY:           Upgrade & maintenance to vault located at:
                    14108 1/2 Tahiti Way
                    Marina del Rey, CA

WHERE:   * All buildings (residential & commercial) on Tahiti Way
                   * All buildings in Mariners Village
                   * Traffic & street lights at Admiralty & Tahiti Way
                   * Traffic & street lights at Admiralty & Palawan Way

For more info, visit http://sce.com/outage or call (888) 759-6056.

How to Prepare:
1. Visit http://sce.com/foodsafety for info on refrigerated food
2. Unplug sensitive electronic equipment (computers, TV)
3. Manually open security gates & garage doors
4. Notify any security companies that monitor your home or business
5. Business customers without a backup power supply should rent one, if needed
6. If you use a backup generator & haven’t registered the info with SCE, please let them know before the outage so their employees can be protected from electrical backfeed.

No related stories.

By Wednesday afternoon, it was 88 degrees in Chatsworth, 86 in Saugus and 80 at Long Beach Airport, the National Weather Service said.

In Orange County, Santa Ana topped out at 83 degrees and Yorba Linda reached 82 degrees. In the Inland Empire, Chino was 82 degrees and Lake Elsinore reached 84.

Farther north, Pismo Beach in San Luis Obispo County reported a high of 80 degrees, and Fillmore in Ventura County hit 85 degrees, according to the weather service.

The warm weather was the result of high pressure that is expected to linger into Friday. Cooler ocean breezes will blow across the region on Saturday and cause temperatures to drop, according to the weather service.

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— Robert J. Lopez

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Continue reading "Skylight Gardens Opening in Westwood" >

Much like its other locations spread throughout mostly the South Eastern part of the country, the SaMo and Century City restaurants will have a warm-wooded contemporary chainy feel as seen over right, plus a piano bar, a chef's table, two private dining rooms for Century City, and three private dining rooms in Santa Monica.
&#183Seasons 52 Moving into I Cugini Space in SaMo [~ELA~]

A.P.C. founder Jean Touitou really likes LA. The denim genius recently spoke with Interview magazine about the fifth anniversary of his West Hollywood store, and said: "[LA] is loud, it's true, but still there's a lot of people who care what we do, or other brands do. There are a lot of elegant people...there's a tradition of elegance in Los Angeles." Touitou also revealed his plans for a second West Coast location in Venice.

Of course, that can only mean Abbot Kinney. And while the interview doesn't make clear whether or not Touitou has decided on a space or when the store might open, it doesn't hurt to guess. Anyone have more info or thoughts about the where/when?
· A.P.C. and LA Are Going Strong Five Years Later [Interview via Los Angeles, I'm Yours]

Moon Juice

Moon Juice is the brainchild and baby of Amanda Chantal Bacon, and she has launched amid great fanfare.

The location is small and serene. The juices are delicious and there is a flavor for any taste, from Beet Aid, which has beet, lime & cucumber in it, to California Sun, which is a mixed citrus juice, to Goodness Greens, with kale, dandelion, parsley, spinach and celery.

Moon Juice will also sell their own concoction, known as Moon Milk, which is an almond milk base to which the customer can add what they like, choosing from a list of things like bee pollen, chocolate, date paste, and figs, among many others.

Moon Juice, 507 Rose Avenue, Venice, CA 90291

Image via Yelp

We've always loved Shiva Rose's style—from her retro-inspired getups to her pouty red lips to her 1950s Hollywood screen siren hair. She is definitely one who knows how to put herself together. Fresh on the heels of launching her new eco-holistic website The Local Rose, we caught up with Shiva herself and found out about her favorite vintage emporium, Gotta Have It in Venice.

"I have been going to Gotta Have It, Denise Portman's vintage store in Venice, for over 15 years. The prices are really reasonable and if you are willing to spend some time hunting through the merchandise, you will usually find a little gem. There are designer pieces mixed with some good old fashioned vintage as well. I have seen everything from beautiful Vivienne Westwood dresses to some fantastic hippy 1970s cotton pieces. This place really does have It!"

Photo Credit: Thinkstock.com

Full-service shops

Hours: Mon to Fri -10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

West L.A. Music supplies guitar equipment to top musicians around the world in all entertainment-based industries, including recording studios, film production facilities and composers. Here, you can fulfill your musical dreams with the store’s variety of guitar basics and paraphernalia including guitars (acoustic, electric, bass, classical), amplifiers, synthesizers, capos, polish, cases, picks, pickups, speaker cabinets, straps, strings and tuning gears.

Hours: Tues to Fri – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat to Mon – 10 a.m. 7 p.m.

Started by Herman Walecki in 1946 and managed by his son throughout the past four decades, Westwood Music Center is the exclusive dealer for Bill Asher, designer and builder of Asher Guitars and Lap Steels. The master craftsmanship behind Asher’s Ultra Tone T-Deluxe and S-Custom guitars, inspired by Leo Fender’s Telecaster and Stratocaster, and his Ben Harper signature Lap Steel is a sight that can make any musician drool. In addition, the guitar store holds auctions every weekend, where one instrument with legendary value is auctioned off to the public. Auctions include instruments owned and played by Dan Folgelberg, Steven Stills, Bernie Leadon and Kenny Burrell.

For vintage strumming

Hours: Tues to Sat – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Looking for a collector’s item won’t be hard to locate at Norman’s Rare Guitars.  Since the opening of its first shop in 1975, Norman’s Rare Guitars continues to hold a collection of hard-to-find vintage guitars, including Gibson, Fender, Rickenbacker, Martin, and Gretsch. Norman’s rare mixture of instruments has earned him credibility among collectors, musicians and many high profile musical artists and bands. Frequent Norman’s visitors have included Robert Pattinson, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty.

Hours: Tues to Sat – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In a quest for finding rare acoustic guitars, The Fretted Frog owner decided to ditch his frustrations of searching big box retailers and open his own alternative acoustic guitar store. The Fretted Frog is known for finding and selling hard-to-find guitar brands such as Boulder Creek, Cole Clark, Deering, Goodtime and Vega Banjos, George Lowden, Godin, Lag and Saga: Blueridge, Cigano and Gitane.

Related: Best Music Clubs In LA

Photo Credit: Thinkstock.com

Custom-made guitars

Hours: Available by phone Tues to Sat – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tomas Delgado exemplifies Candelas’ history of skill for handcrafting the most beautiful classical, mariachi and bajo sexto guitars in the world. Candelas Guitars have touched the magical fingers of world-class performers including Andres Segovia, Celedonio Romero, Jose Feliciano, Charo, Los Lobos, Jackson Browne, Quetzal and Ozomatli. Candelas Guitar Shop produces guitars with unmatched sounds, tones and quality at affordable prices.

Hours: By Appointment Only

Neely Custom Guitars utilizes exclusive customizing techniques to meet the high quality demands for both studio and stage instruments. Each style has its own balance of woods, strings, acoustics and electronics. Building and repairing guitars since 1974, David Neely has a unique understanding of how real musicians use their instruments on stage or in the studios. He uses this knowledge to make modifications and repairs with a personal attention to detail.

Jennifer Geisman is a freelance writer and faithful beauty junkie living in Los Angeles. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

Free admission. Advance registration required. More details at www.openmarvista.net/climatereality

"A ROUSING DOCUMENTARY"..."FUEL" is about making a difference, Tickell's enthusiasm and encouragement left me inspired rather than discouraged, empowered with practical knowledge in how I can make a difference as a consumer, as a voter and as an inhabitant of the planet.
- Sean Axmaker, SEATTLE POST INTELLINGENCER

"SWEEPING AND EXHILARATING"...Tickell's passionate film goes beyond great storytelling; it rings out like a bell that stirs consciousness and makes individual action suddenly seem consequential.
- Caroline Libresco, THE SUNDANCE INSITUTE

"IMPRESSIVELY COMPREHENSIVE"..."FUEL" is a vital, superbly assembled documentary that presents an insightful overview of America's troubled relationship with oil and how alternative and sustainable energies can reduce our country's -- and the world's -- addictive dependence on fossil fuels."
- Gary Goldstein, LOS ANGELES TIMES

CULVER CITY (CBS) — A group of Whitney Houston fans gathered in Culver City Sunday night to celebrate her life, sing her songs and mourn her passing.

CBS2 and KCAL9 reporter Rachel Kim was there for all the hoopla and the love. And she reports, organizers of the event were also saying thank you to Houston, for her unheralded and largely-quiet but constant support.

The fans included Sabrina Johnson, a former Houston back-up singer, and a 12-year-old Mimi Sledge, who wasn’t even alive when Whitney Houston first soared on the pop charts 30 years ago. No matter, they were all united in their appreciation for all things Whitney.

As Kim reported, “Whitney Houston may be gone but her songs will live on.”

Said Johnson, “I felt like I lost a sister, a mentor, a friend. She taught me to really hone my craft as a musician, to take what I was doing seriously and to realize what I had was not my own, it was a gift God had given me.”

Sledge also talked about Houston and her spirituality. “I like all of her songs. She had a really beautiful spirit. She was a woman of God and she loved God.”

The celebration of Houston’s life was part of a gospel concert to help raise money for the Kierrah Foundation — they’re a support group for young women who are aging-out of the foster care system.

Mimi is one of those girls.

Foundation founder Brandy Sanders tells Kim that Houston was an unabashed supporter of the group. “Whitney was such a big part of all out lives. We love her. We know she would’ve supported an event like this and we want to honor her for that tonight.”

Kim reports the group — young and old — sang their hearts out in appreciation and rose to their feet on more than one occasion to mourn not only the passing of a legend, but the loss of someone who lent her heart to their cause.

According to Los Angeles Fire Station 23, a house fire broke out in the 1400 block of Marquette Street at 1:28 a.m. Saturday in Pacific Palisades.

Fire stations 69 and 23 responded.

Firefighters told Patch that when the crews arrived at the house, it had heavy smoke and fire.

The family told firefighters they had used the fireplace for the first time earlier Friday evening and then they heard the sprinkler go off downstairs at about 1:15 a.m.

Fire Station 23 reported the chimney fire spread into the floors and walls on the first floor. When crews arrived, it had burned through the second floor as well.

Firefighters had a hard time fighting the fire and had to open wall and floors to catch it, according to Fire Station 23. Crews also had to perform "extensive salvage" to protect furniture, as well as the families' personal belongings.

No one was hurt in the blaze and the family of five escaped without injury, according to Fire Station 23.

WESTWOOD (CBS) — About 850 students danced the night away as part of a marathon aimed at raising funds for pediatric AIDS research.

The two-day dance marathon — an annual event on the campus — is hosted by the student-run Pediatric Aids Coalition.

“Our dancers commit themselves to staying on their feet and dancing for 26 hours straight without sitting down,” Ben White of the UCLA Pediatric AIDS Coalition told CBS2 ‘s Joy Benedict.

Within the past decade, the group has raised over $2.15 million to benefit four organizations in the fight against pediatric HIV and AIDS.

Those organizations include the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, One Heartland, Project Kindle, and the UCLA AIDS Institute.

According to White, the Pediatric AIDS Coalition is the largest student-run philanthropy on the West Coast.

Last year, they raised over $410,000.

Per a fun write-up on Beverly Hills Patch, the ambitious senior was one of a dozen pool reporters accredited to cover the LA arrival of POTUS this past Wednesday. He tells Patch contributor Laurie Lande, who herself once reported for the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, how it all came about:

Schwartz called the White House press office at least monthly with interview requests and repeatedly phoned since early February when he learned the President was visiting Los Angeles… “I was added to the White House [press] email blast after several requests.”

continued…

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