Here’s how your TV viewing might have looked like 31 years ago, on the morning of New Year’s Day, 1977 — including USC facing off against Michigan in the Rose Bowl… and Michael Landon and Kelly Lange giving the play-by-play for the Tournament of Roses parade.
Hope everyone has a great 2009…
Yep, it’s been six years… and they’ve been awesome ones. (Below, where we made it all official — Union Station, Oct. 26, 2002.)
Freestyle Motorcross World Championships, a Filter concert and admission to the LA County Fair. Sounds like a cool way to spend Saturday, Sept. 27.
And how about doing it all for free? We’re giving out a prize pack, courtesy the fine folks at Fanscape, that includes:
A pair of tickets to FMX (Filter concert) and complimentary admission to the LA County Fair on September 27th, Two Action Sports Tour t-shirts, Two program guides and Two Maxell DHP-II Full Size Headphones.
Email us RIGHT NOW at the franklin_avenue at yahoo address, and tell us your favorite fall time activity to do in L.A. (besides the Fair, since obviously you’re game if you’re emailing us). You have until midnight… and then the Blogger Preschooler will choose a winner Thursday morning.
Details about this Saturday’s event:
The LG World Championships of Freestyle Motocross features the world’s top pro-riders battling it out in head-to-head competition for the 2008 World Championship title. With more than $100,000 in prize money at stake, all eyes will be on Nate Adams who will try to recapture the title that was taken from him last year by Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg. Athletes include X Games gold medal winners Mike Mason, Jeremy Lusk, and Mat Rebeaud.
Don’t miss your chance to see these amazing world-class athletes compete along with a musical performance from Filter.
Los Angeles County Fair, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768
Tickets for the LG World Championships of Freestyle Motocross and the Filter concert are on sale right now at the Pomona Fairplex Box Office, via all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, or by calling 213-480-3232 to charge by phone.
(Pic by the Militant Angeleno.)
Several years ago, back when we lived on Franklin Avenue, Maria and I used to frequent the steps of Franklin Hills — specifically, Radio Walk and Prospect Walk.
The Militant Angeleno recently found this map of the Franklin Hills staircases, and checked them out for himself:
Some of these 1920s-era steps get very little use in the early 21st century, as some of them were covered in fallen leaves and cast-off tree bark. And those that do use them probably only use them to walk their dogs, as random dog droppings can be found on the steps. But looking back, the Militant treated himself to an awe-inspiring view of the hils of western Silver Lake, accented by the sight of the moon and the swirling reddish-colored stratus clouds of the dusk hour.
The Militant deems the Franklin Hills another “hidden gem” of L.A. — and notes the “cute ladies” walking their dogs around the ‘hood.
I definitely appreciate it when there’s more sun in the evening, and actually don’t mind Daylight Saving Time for most of its run (although I’m not nearly as big of a fan as the Militant Angeleno).
But man, how tough has it been this week to wake up in the morning? Trying to open my blurry eyes and make coffee in the pitch black of 6 a.m. has been extra painful. And because I usually don’t leave the office until after 7:30 p.m., the extra daylight has been lost on me.
Eventually the sun will start staying out until after 8 p.m. and I’ll actually drive home in some light. Then my cheers will rival the Militant.
Anyone else having a hard time adjusting to this earlier DST?
Has it already been five years since we launched Franklin Avenue?!
The blog launched as part of my 2003 New Year’s resolution. I’d been meaning to start one for quite some time, and finally, at the start of 2003, made a goal of (a) Launching a blog and (b) talking KCSN into giving me a radio show. I’m still busy with both: Not a bad year for resolutions. (I haven’t been as strong with my weight loss resolution in 2008.)
Maria came up with the name “Franklin Avenue” — after the street we lived on at the time. On March 3, 2003, I finally signed up with Blogger — and we were off.
A lot has changed in our lives since we first started: Home ownership, and of course, the appearance of the Blogger Toddler, for starters. In the meantime, Maria scored a Grammy nomination and I whored it up constantly on TV. We also somehow managed to review more than 160 restaurants (although, considering the ones we never got around to reviewing, that number should be 200 by now).
There was also the wake for the Ambassador Hotel; two all-day urban hikes down Wilshire and Pico; two “Amazing Race” style battles around Los Angeles; and a eating gathering at P.E. Cole’s.
You helped us name the Blogger Toddler; you also hopefully made a fortune by placing money on the BT’s unprecedented 12 consecutive correct picks. (Sadly, he’s since retired, going out with a perfect record.)
To celebrate, as Maria hinted last week, we’re dusting off the Race… but with a twist. This time, we’re inviting L.A. bloggers — and we’re putting together the teams. More details will be announced shortly, including a firm date — but it will likely be the final Saturday of April.
Interested in either competing, or in helping out with the behind-the-scenes fun (we need people to help plan and execute challenges!)? Email us at franklin_avenue@yahoo.com.
… now, it’s time to delurk. To celebrate our fifth anniversary, we want to hear from you. Who are you? How did you first stumble across Franklin Avenue? What makes you come back? Do you blog as well?
Thanks for reading these past five years… plenty more to come!
1. Thank You: Some long overdue thank yous are in order to our readers who have sent us stuff. First off to Derek Powell, thanks for pushing us into Wi-Fi territory by giving us your extra router. Honestly, your box sat there for a month as we stared at each other waiting for the other to blink and finally, Mike saved the day and connected everything. Secondly, thanks to someone from 90039 — Atwater Village, I believe — for sending us a CD of “Christmas Music That Doesn’t Suck.” Love the tracks.
2. Elvis and Our MacBook: We recently purchased a MacBook — secure in our timing that Apple wouldn’t put out a new version, since they just announced the release of MacBook Air. So imagine our dismay when the computer giant released new editions of the MacBook and MacBook Pro two days ago. We love Apple, but have a long history of buying their products shortly before a new model comes out. Elvis, manager of the Grove Apple Store, restored our faith when he let us come in and exchange our model for the newest one. We had to pay a 10% re-stocking fee, but it all evened out in the end, as we got a faster computer with more space.
3. Franklin Avenue Turns Five: March marks the fifth anniversary of Franklin Avenue and we are planning something big. Something along the lines of a certain race. You interested? Stay tuned for more announcements.
1. Thank You: Some long overdue thank yous are in order to our readers who have sent us stuff. First off to Derek Powell, thanks for pushing us into Wi-Fi territory by giving us your extra router. Honestly, your box sat there for a month as we stared at each other waiting for the other to blink and finally, Mike saved the day and connected everything. Secondly, thanks to someone from 90039 — Atwater Village, I believe — for sending us a CD of “Christmas Music That Doesn’t Suck.” Love the tracks.
2. Elvis and Our MacBook: We recently purchased a MacBook — secure in our timing that Apple wouldn’t put out a new version, since they just announced the release of MacBook Air. So imagine our dismay when the computer giant released new editions of the MacBook and MacBook Pro two days ago. We love Apple, but have a long history of buying their products shortly before a new model comes out. Elvis, manager of the Grove Apple Store, restored our faith when he let us come in and exchange our model for the newest one. We had to pay a 10% re-stocking fee, but it all evened out in the end, as we got a faster computer with more space.
3. Franklin Avenue Turns Five: March marks the fifth anniversary of Franklin Avenue and we are planning something big. Something along the lines of a certain race. You interested? Stay tuned for more announcements.
THE HOUSE: Still standing.
BEDROOM LIGHTS: Fuse switched back on. Not electrocuted.
DIET: Day three. Starving.
PRIMARY: Probably Obama. But possibly Ralph Wiggum.
AMAZING RACE: Formerly for the Goths. Now, Grandpa and son. (Would have gone for father/daughter, but his critical ways bother me.)
CITRUS: Lime.
YO GABBA GABBA: Brobee.
