Mayor Bob Foster is expected to say more this morning about his $570 million plans to rebuild streets, sidewalks and alleys–plus the more bureaucratic-sounding storm water management systems–but already we know more than we did about what’s in store.
In this morning’s Press-Telegram, Paul Eakins reports on a 102-page streets audit City Auditor Laura Doud released [...]

The giant black bandages are starting to come off one of Long Beach’s most eminent remaining buildings–the Gothic 1929 Villa Riviera, at Alamitos Avenue and Ocean Boulevard–which means its exterior restoration is progressing.
How nicely it’s progressing is … not very nicely at all, according to the Press-Telegram’s Joe Segura, who reports that, under all those [...]

Press-Telegram gargoyles.
No, seriously. There are some stories in today’s P-T which you might read–J.K. Rowling in Los Angeles (yeah), killing wild cats at the port, Kevin Butler on Long Beach teachers’ contract talks. But somehow I got stuck on the Steven Georges photo of the Villa Riviera gargoyles. It’s shiny. And pretty. And shiny.

Long Beach’s best art is right in front of you

VILLA RIVIERA by DANIEL DEBOOM
The most stunning, exciting, and effective piece of visual art in Long Beach today is at the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Shoreline Drive. Draped in black, a blank space rich with possibility, it will frighten, enchant, and roil within you thoughts [...]

PHOTO by DANIEL DEBOOM
Tues | July 24 Have you seen the Villa Riviera lately? You really must.
Wed | July 25 The Amgen Tour of California announces Long Beach won’t be part of its 2008 race course. The city hosted the tour’s climax this year, and I think we all remember where we were when the [...]