Archive for December, 2013
Council votes brings historic status to Johnie’s Coffee Shop
It’s official. One of the finest examples of Googie architectural style is in our own backyard: Johnie’s Coffee Shop, at Wilshire Blvd. and Fairfax Ave. The L.A. Conservancy nominated the 50’s diner for a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and the City Council approved the honor last month for the bright red-and-blue building. The historic designation protects […]
Elevators at Park La Brea need upgrading, residents say
Park La Brea is under “gentle pressure” by residents and City Hall to upgrade and repair its elevators… soon. City Fire Dept. paramedics have responded 41 times to rescue people stuck in broken elevators the past year. Make that 43, as a few more people were pried out from elevators last month, said Jon Neustadter, […]
Larchmont goes green with solar-powered trash bins
They are amazing, according to an informal survey of five solar-powered trash cans and two recycling bins that debuted on Larchmont Blvd. last month. Eventually a total of 15 trash and three recycling bins are planned for the $60,000 program paid for by Councilman Tom LaBonge’s office. “I’m proud of them,” says Julie Johnson. […]
Vernetti dream comes true on Larchmont
Steve and Joanna Vernetti had been eating at Girasole since they moved to the neighborhood 10 years ago. Steve, who has a background in the food industry, dreamed that one day he might own the restaurant. The opportunity came true recently when Sonia Tolot decided to step down. Sonia, widow of the restaurant founder/owner Ermanno […]
Pilot Mitchell Flint used Olympics as ruse to help Israelis fight
It took a lot of bravery and one tiny white lie, but eventually a local fighter pilot was able to serve his two beloved countries during wartime. Mitchell Flint, Hancock Park, was born in Kansas City, Mo. in 1923. He learned to fly on the Kansas airfields and registered for the U.S. Navy at age […]