Meanwhile, at the Legion of Doom

Things that would happen if The Legion of Doom merged with the Swiss Family Robinson:

1. Cheetah makes the Robinson boys into men.

2. Mother Robinson sews Solomon Grundy a new pair of pants.

3. They combine to build this sweet house..

The first time I came across this place, I half expected to see Julie Andrews sweeping the front porch surrounded by little cartoon bluebirds. Turns out, that song ain't so very far from wrong. It was designed and built over a 24-year period by former Disney animator Lawrence Joseph and became a Historical-Cultural Monument in 1996.

Years later, Elijah Wood and Sean Astin would move into the neighborhood.

Lawrence and Martha Joseph Residence & Apartments
Dunn Dr. south of Venice Blvd.
Culver City

Chairs of Palms, Election Day Edition

Just in time for (and in celebration of) the end of the interminable election season, I bring you this piece of fine wicker seating.

Now you may be asking yourself...

"Self...what does this chair, fine as it may be, have to do with the elections?"

Well you see, this chair has a nearly presidential lineage. Once upon a time, it posed for a lovely prom photo with future First Lady Michelle (Robinson) Obama. 

As you can see, both have aged wonderfully.

By the way, please take a few minutes out of your Tuesday to vote.

Vote for someone.

Vote against something.

Just vote. Please. 

We Don't Need Another Hero

Yours truly has been quite busy. I've become the intrepid reporter. Mostly sampling high school football stadium snack bar cuisine. But it has given me more reason to be out and about during the day. After all you can never have too much vitamin D.

Well, actually you can. And it can cause all kinds of nasty symptoms. But it's pretty hard to do...like drinking coffee with a fork. But I digress...

Just a couple of days ago I was out on Driveabout, which can be either:

a.) The Los Angeles equivalent of Walkabout.

b.) A clever way to say I got lost trying to get somewhere else.

You decide.

Regardless, I turned a corner and came upon this.

Thinking I had perhaps stumbled upon a secret entrance to Thunderdome, I googled it (and the strange spaceship looking building that calls itself Samitaur) shortly after I got home. Turns out, it's the Samitaur Tower and is going to be an integral feature to one of the stops on the Expo Line.  It's also an event board, art show and performance space all shaped like a stack of stainless steel overstuffed Oreos. 

Since my mad prattlings can't possibly equate to the creator's vision of the tower, I'll shut up and let you read all about it now. SPOILER ALERT: There's no Thunderdome.

Samitaur Tower

Corner of Hayden Ave. & National Blvd.

Culver City