For the best works around

By: Deena Nissley

Hollywood: Hollywood Bowl
LA Philharmonic Orchestra presented by Vince Gill
Three-peat: Catch the show on July 2nd, 3rd or 4th.
Fri-Sun 7:30p; fireworks to follow. Hollywood Bowl (323-850-2000). Tickets $21 and up here.

Redondo Beach: Red, White, and Blue Lagoon
Come early to snag seats for the best view next to the lagoon. Stay late to dance to live music by two local bands.
Kid-tastic: All day long there are fun events for kids (free admission for kids 3 and under).
Sun 2-10:30p, fireworks at 9p. 200 Portofino Way. $22 and up for lagoon seating here.

Echo Park: Dodger Stadium
If one night of fireworks isn’t enough, buy a ticket to Monday’s Dodgers-Marlins game to enjoy the post-game pyrotechnics.
Field seats: There’s no bad seat in the house since you’ll be seeing the show from the grass.
Mon 6:10p. Dodger Stadium. (323-224-1500). $12 and up here.

San Fernando: San Fernando Recreation Park
A family-friendly show (no smoking, no drinking), with mariachi masters and a pyromusical blowout in English and Spanish.
Classic cars: They’ll be on display all day, with a trophy ceremony at 2p.
10a-11p; fireworks at 9p. 208 Park Ave. (818-898-1290). Free.

Anaheim: Disneyland
Disney knows how to put on a show, and their fireworks never disappoint. The best view is from in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
Double Dose: After the finale, head to the river in Frontierland for more pyrotechnics.
Sun 8a-midnight; fireworks at 9:30p. Disneyland (714-781-4565). $72 and up here.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Deena Nissley

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Tony Stark showin’ off

By: Deena Nissely

Next weekend, the LA Convention Center will fill up with next-gen electric cars. There will be high-tech gear with more than 175 exhibitors displaying all sorts of interesting machines.

Dwell magazine curated the exhibitors according to their ethos for clean lines. Outfit your entire home in modish style, from Kohler’s latest kitchen fixtures to family furniture, even a Marmol Radziner prefab. (And of course, it’s all state-of-the-art green, too.)

Outside of the venue you have the chance to tour rarely seen east and westside homes. These architectural landmarks are a big draw; check out the Stahl House designed by Pierre Koenig in 1960, made an icon by famous photographer Julius Shulman.

Dwell on Design
Fri-Sun, June 25-27
LA Convention Center
1201 S. Figueroa St., Downtown
dwellondesign.com

Tickets: $30-$40; home tours, $85.
Nearby: Corkbar; Rivera; WP24

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Deena Nissley

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Amestoy Estates Residents

By: Michelle Tepper

If you have an extra ream of paper please donate it to Encino Elementary School, located at 16941 Addison Street, Encino CA 91316. LAUSD is not supplying enough paper to the schools and we are in need of copy paper for next year. Thank you so much for your donations. Please email Michelle Tepper at michelle.tepper@sothebysrealty.com with questions. Thanks again!

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Michelle Tepper

Get choked up !

By: Deena Nissley

See 100 helmets customized by big-name artists at The Vader Project next week, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back.

Street-art aficionados and Jedi enthusiasts alike will rush next Friday’s opening-night party to spot Dark Side headgear by Shag (that’s his Sith Lord as evil tiki god above), Gary Baseman, and Paul Frank.

Or stop in the following week, during the only West Coast showcase before every item goes to auction in Philly.

Pre-order one of the massive limited-edition catalogues ($40) and stop by next Saturday to have 20 of the participating artists sign your copy.

Sure, you’ll probably have to stand in line, but the payoff’s better than The Phantom Menace.

The Vader Project
Saturday, June 12th thru Sunday, June 20th
Noon-6p viewing hours
6812 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood
thevaderproject.com

Opening night gala: Fri June 11, 6-10p.
Catalog signing: Sat June 12, 2p.
Nearby: Cube; Hatfield’s; The Tar Pit

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Deena Nissley

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Ensure your teen buckles up every trip, whether driving or riding.

By: Tina Stern

Ensure your teen buckles up every trip, whether driving or riding.
Law or no law limit the number of passengers they are allowed to transport.
(With every added passenger the crash risk of your young driver increases significantly)
Restrict the use of any type of cell phone and discuss the dangers of other distractions.
Encourage them to go to www.oprah.com and sign up for a no texting contract. It’s a great program and gaining huge support.

Be a good role model and show your teen that you follow safe driving rules too.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Tina Stern

The average annual tax bill for affected homeowners will fall between $1,500 and $1,800

By: Tim McLaughlin

After reviewing, 405,000 homes, LA County Assessor Rober Quon said the average tax bill should drop this year.

For single-family homes, the average value reduction was $162,000, amounting to an average property tax savings of $1,800, Quon said. For condos, the average reduction was $133,000, or an average savings of $1,500. The lower assessed values will be reflected on the property tax bills sent out in October.

William Roberts, director of the San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center at California State University, Northridge, said the reduction in property taxes is going to help many homeowners.

“It’s been a real struggle and a lot of people have lost their homes,” Roberts said. “This may give some people the ability to stay in homes where they have had difficulty making the payments.”

But in this case, what’s good for homeowners is definitely not good for a county government struggling for new revenue.The assessed value of properties in the county is expected to drop 2.3 percent this year – compared to just a .05 percent dip last year, Quon said. The drop, the largest in recent history, will further reduce the county’s property tax revenues, which have already fallen by $132 million in the last two years.

Go here for more info

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Tim Mclaughlin

Puppets and music on the freeway?

By: Deena Nissley

We all spend so much time on the traffic-choked freeways, each day inching closer to mania…

Sooner or later, things were bound to get weird.

Here’s what happened—you’re stuck on the 405, hungry for some excitement. You notice a white pickup truck up ahead, no more unusual than any other truck in the sea of brake lights. Or so it seems.

But once you get closer, you start seeing some motion in the back. Some melancholy performance. It’s… puppets. They seem to be upset about their lack of control in this gridlock. (Even puppets hate traffic.)

And… there’s a soundtrack. Just tune your radio to the frequency listed on the truck and you’ll hear it. Suddenly, you’re not just marking time, you’re taking in some avant-garde theater. (It’s like a drive-in, but with actual driving.)

And if you’re really into mobile theater, you can even follow Superclogger on Twitter, thus enabling you to careen through traffic to chase this down.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Deena Nissley

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Go Blue

By: Deena Nissley

Historically, you’ve fought brutal traffic, crowds, cruelty and heartache just to get to a game at Staples. To say nothing of your attempts to get to Nokia to see Justin Bieber.

But now you can just come on down from a covert new rooftop lounge, fully equipped with poolside martinis and massages…

Welcome to the serene splendor of Blue, now open at the Ritz-Carlton in the LA Live complex.

In short, this isn’t the place for a wild, forget-your-name blowout. It’s a hidden spot 26 floors above it all for your next unapologetically lazy retreat… and if that happens to be followed by a Lakers game, so be it.

Mark off your territory by the pool (cabanas will be installed next month), summon dumplings and Umami Cocktails from WP24 downstairs, and if you’re still stressed-out, the nimble masseuses at the just-opened spa will join you poolside for a rubdown anytime you like.

You’ll need a room at the hotel to enjoy this—it’s only open for Ritz guests—which just means you’ve got room service and a bed awaiting you after the game.

Sure beats the 110.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Deena Nissley

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How many times have you looked back on life and wished that you had started investing earlier?

By: Tina Stern

Talk to your children or grandchildren about the value of saving money for specific purposes. Simple lesson: if you want something, you have to save your money for it.
Once they’ve learned to save to achieve their goals, it’s time to teach them how to earn money through interest accumulation. Learning the benefits of compound interest will help to encourage them to invest their money in income producing instruments.

It’s important to stay involved with them as they learn to build a secure financial future. Most children consider a parent or grandparent a primary source of financial information.

Be a good role model by demonstrating good financial habits yourself.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Tina Stern

The reason for cloudy tap water…

By: Tim Maclaughlin

Ok, we’ve all had that bashful, unsure moment before we take the first sip of super cloudy water. Is the water dirty? Should I really be drinking this? Well, I recently learned that cloudy tap water, which I’ve been experiencing in Studio City as of late, is actually a natural phenomenon. Turns out, the cold water within DWP’s underground pipe holds undissolved air. Usually, the colder the water, the more air within the water. And, when the water is under pressure, it holds even more air.

Due to the recent run off from the Sierra’s, the water this time of year is all snow melt, making the water exceedingly cold. When that water finally makes it into your warm home, the air begins to escape in the form of those bubbles, which causes the cloudiness in the liquid.

You may see the cloudiness fluctuate depending on weather – unusually warm days may increase the bubbles. I always see this phenomenon in places like Mammoth during the summer.

The main thing to remember is that the bubbles are natural and are not an indicator of unhealthy drinking water.

Stay thirsty my friends.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Tim Mclaughlin