Odds and Ends 174

Wednesday June 23, 2010.
Time: 4:55 PM
Party: Mark and Terry Wells
Place: Denny's Restaurant's door.
Occurance: As we strolled into the new Denny's I found just two guests, both sitting at a booth, in the entire dining area.
Terri and I were the third and fourth customers at 5:00 PM.
By the time we left, at about 5:25 PM, the 'huge mass of humanity', O.K., the family of four and one added couple were sitting at booths and the rest of the place was empty.
10 Customers at 5:00 PM on a weekday.
Ouch!
___________________________________________
The lower half of the front windows at Amalfitano Bakery have a frosted look with etched-appearing on two of the pieces of glass.
There will be a very small area inside the Bakery where a few folks can sit and enjoy the fair, there.
I still don't have an opening date to post.
__________________________________________
It's a coyote. It's natural. It's nature.
Get a llama and be done with it.
I feel the llama would arrive sooner if Councilwoman Hahn was offered a photo op with it as it joins the herd of goats and sheep.

What A Wonderful Sign

Hold on to your car keys, walking shoes, sweet tooth, and aroma senses, the Bakery hasn't opened yet!

But seeing the sign up for the first time brought happiness to Terri and I and we both stated we wanted to share the news with everyone.

I wish Mr. Anthony Amalfitano, his family, and all the employees of the new bakery, the best of openings and a strong and healthy life in the new location on Western Avenue at Trudie Drive.

Amalfitano Bakery is the last of the eateries I have been writing about for the longest time, to finally open.

I don't know an opening date for the new establishment. I hope to provide that news to the widest readership possible, when I learn the date.

I have no clue yet what my first 'treat' will be. After growing up eating delights from Ramona's Polly Ann's, Joseph's, and other bakeries in our community, picking a favorite treat I will allow myself to have is going to be a problem.

Carrot Cake? Chocolate Chip Cookies? (Now remember everyone, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE THAT CONTAINS NUTS!), One of the many bread products Ramona's was famous for? A brownie? (I can consider a brownie with nuts not being too foul)

I guess I'll have to decide once I gaze at the full display of great things.

As for my eating plan, I will make all the necessary changes that should allow me to have at least a small portion of anything I desire. Since I am closing in on a 70 pound weight loss, so far, I feel I am entitled to splurge, especially since Terri and I have waited so long to wake up to the smell of fresh bread baking only a small number of yards from our bedroom window.

Odds and Ends 173

For many folks, the cloud of selling off whatever entitlements Ponte Vista at San Pedro receives will be sold off rather than having the development constructed by a single development team as told to us, during "The Bob Years".
It seems we may be watching something somewhat similar unfold with "The Marymount Plan" and its initiative that would allow the constructions of two residence halls on the Palos Verdes Drive East campus and restrict, using a municipal code if approved by voters on November 2, 2010 that would essentially strip city government oversight of the bulk of their responsibility and rights to monitor, comment, and enforce elements of The Marymount Plan, both during the construction, implementation, and school operation, into the future.
As Bob Bisno was probably considering selling off the entitlements to others rather than actually developing Ponte Vista, so too may Dr. Michael Brophy, Marymount's President and other supporters of The Marymount Plan be considering the use of 'forward selling' of the rights and operations of all potential on-campus and off-campus college-owned student housing.
Dr. Brophy and others may also wish to forward sell all rights related to any or all public and private events and ventures to an entity that would manage, produce, administer, and market things like concerts, band camps, sporting events, and other things on the Marymount Campus.
Forward selling of residence halls operations and the administration and management of events and non-academic activities at Marymount could find a huge financial windfall coming to Marymount with very large checks that could conceivably, pay for the entire expansion plan, with more large donations from well-healed supporters.
I have offered some facts, assertions, and other opinions on my www.eastrpv.blogspot.com blog.
___________________________________________
Along with the possibility of on-campus housing at Marymount College, no one living anywhere near Western Avenue and Palos Verdes Drive North should expect or consider that Marymount would abandon and/or sell their 300+ student off-campus housing site called Palos Verdes North, which is located between Western Avenue and Five Points, on Palos Verdes Drive North.
It is also not currently know and doubtful that Marymount would close and sell off its Pacific Heights student housing building near 24Th and Cabrillo, in San Pedro.
Naturally, Marymount could reap even more income by selling off that property. But representatives of Marymount have claimed, several times, that they would close down that site and they have not kept their word about that, repeatedly.
__________________________________________
So, there MAY be coyotes searching for meals at Ponte Vista. Isn't that something that is natural?
I do like the idea of placing at least one llama on the site to protect the goats and sheep.
There was a period of time, while my sister and her family lived where we now live, that she wanted a llama in the back yard to increase her 'zoo' which included two goats, cats, a dog, ducks, and a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig which had the waddle of the house and slept in her own 'bed' in the master bedroom.
__________________________________________
I hope you are sitting down as you read this: The fencing surrounding the construction site along Western Avenue near Avenida Aprenda, is still up! I bet you were thinking I was going to write that it had been removed.
__________________________________________
By the next "Odds and Ends" post, it will officially be summer.
Have a wonderful, peaceful, and happy summer!

Ponte Vista APARTMENTS?????

On June 8, 2009, a video was produced by Arnold Imaging showing a 3 minute and 5 second animation of what the Ponte Vista "Apartments" might look like.

Here is the text from the following URL: www.arnoldimaging.com/?=1080,

"Challenge:
The developers of a 1,395 units apartment development in 'Las' Angeles needed a way to illustrate the design of their development to local neighborhood groups so they could receive their planning approvals.

Our Solution:
Create a video that shows the improvements to the streets and the architectural design of the buildings."

It is important to note that the video was placed in the 'Portfolio' section of the Web site and that was just over one year ago and may have absolutely nothing to do with whatever current plans are afoot by the new development team.

It is also important to note that there is no way on this or any other planet that 1,395 'apartments' would ever be approved, allowed, or tolerated on the 61.53 acre Ponte Vista at San Pedro site.

The animation illustrates what many of us have seen in previous drawings and other types of illustrations with Ponte Vista, even during "The Bob Years".

Apartment complexes with either rental or leased units have a much higher turn around rate than condos or SFRs do and with Western Avenue as the sole ingress and egress road at Ponte Vista, I is not reasonable to expect that the L.A. City Council would ever allow such a large 'apartment' development there.

Seaport Luxury Homes, the former condo project that actually opened as a lease-project has 136-units and I don't believe all the units have been leased or rented out as of today.

While the animation looks somewhat impressive, I think it amounts to much ado about nothing. But even something as trivial as this little bit provides some information many of us haven't seen with the project.

Odds and Ends 172

The morning sun brings light to the plastic cover-less front windows of Amalfitano's Bakery where passersby can see the new display cases clearly, under plastic sheeting.
It looks like the sign may be almost ready for placement. I found no notice when the new business will open in Rancho Palos Verdes.
____________________________________________
The promises, promises to remove the fencing around the still-under-never ending-construction site along Western at Avenida Aprenda. Iguess by the time that site is finally fence-less new fencing will be placed where the Clearwater Program's giant hole will be dug for the tunneling machine, dirt extraction, and tunnel construction. That may be in 2012 or 2013.
____________________________________________
Here is a blatant plug for all to see "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" the musical, opening tonight at 8:00 PM at the Warner Grand Theatre, in San Pedro.
I built the set in my backyard before it was transported to the theatre.
You can find information and tickets by visiting www.therelevantstage.com
__________________________________________
Although I voted for Janice Hahn to win the primary, it may not be such a bad thing that she now can continue to be the 15Th District Councilperson for the remainder of her last term, I feel.
Los Angeles residents won't have to have tax funds used to pay for a special election to replace her on the City Council should she have won the primary and gone on to win the general election.
We can also probably count on her to continue to call for a reasonable, realistic, responsible, and respectful outcome for Ponte Vista at San Pedro as she is now probably too familiar with all the issues and factions related to the 'sometimes proposed' condominium development.
__________________________________________
My high horse continues to eat its oats and comment that he continues to feel strongly that up to 831 dwelling units should be built at Ponte Vista.
That figure remains as a dwelling unit equivalent to The Garden's 1,100-units where residents of those units have both Western Avenue and North Gaffey Street as main ingress and egress roads while Ponte Vista will only have Western Avenue.
_________________________________________

Odds and Ends 171

Terri and I ate at Pavich's Brick Oven 'Pizzafe' or 'Pizzaeria' depending on whether you believe the outside signage or the menu.

First, we saw no 'brick' oven cooking any pizza. There is a large ceramic tile-covered oven that may be fired by natural gas and it the tile could be shielding the bricks from view.
The restaurant was very clean and customers could observe the preparation and baking operations by friendly workers.
Our cashier was correct-handed and I appreciate owners of businesses providing jobs for some of most oppressed people on the planet.
It appears that Pavich's Manager is fluent in Croatian, as I expected and she could be related to Mr. Pavich by marriage of by birth.
I really liked the price for my 12" 'personal' Italian sausage pizza. It is the type of pizza I use to judge the various fabulous restaurants in our community that serve pizzas. My pizza was just $6.99 plus tax.
Terri said her 'personal' vegetarian pizza was the best in town and probably this galaxy. Her pizza was $10.02 and it was more than filled with great vegetables.
I prefer the more expensive and smaller Italian sausage pizza from Z-Pizza on Western in the Albertson's shopping area.
Both restaurants serve very thin crust pizzas and that is the best for folks with diabetes and who are trying to lose weight.
The problem with having a 12" 'personal' pizza, I found, was that I ate five pieces in Pavich's because it was so good and I finished the rest of the slices several hours later.
Big mistake on my part. I hadn't had more than one piece of pizza in over three months. I guess I overdid the overenjoyment.
The menu at Pavich's offers pizzas on the obverse and three choices for entrees, sandwiches, and sides on the reverse.
Because Terri and I consider the original Pavich's Pizza near 22nd and Alma, we were very pleased with the quality at the new site. The tastes of the cheese and sauce was familiar and very enjoyable.
The menu states "Salad Menu Coming Soon" and I hope the salads come sooner than later.
Of Saladish, Pavich's, Asaka Grill Express, and Denny's, I prefer those four new restaurants in that order.
I hope to find much sooner than rather later, where I can place Amalfitano's Bakery in the order.
___________________________________________

I again wish to share my appreciation and gratitude to Ms. Elise Swanson for allowing my friend Angela 'Romee' Romero access to the streets and the less-than-wildlife at Ponte Vista.
Angela's photos on her www.sanpedrobxb.com San Pedro Block by Block blog were wonderful and her post was informative.
__________________________________________
I will probably write a post when I get time about the potential ramifications of the recently passed Resolutions concerning Marymount College.
But for now I am volunteering at Miraleste I.S. Library, working on the set for "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and trying to get on board with the T.S.A.

Odds and Ends 170

I hope that readers of this blog who are registered voters in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes take a visit to my East R.P.V. blog at: www.eastrpv.blogspot.com and read about Marymount College and their Plan that would have voters step over their own elected City Council members and vote to approve what the City Council members already approved, plus on campus student housing and the potential to restrict government oversight of The Marymount Plan's activities and construction.

I have many posts dealing with my reasons for opposing residence halls on Marymount's campus at the top of Palos Verdes Drive East where it rounds a large curve and above the infamous switchbacks.

It is not that I don't feel on campus housing at most Colleges and Universities is bad at all. It is the location and student makeup of Marymount that requires me to oppose on campus student housing for safety reasons.

___________________________________________

Ms. Elise Swanson will begin another term as a board member of the San Pedro Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

This means she will stay on, probably as Vice President, of the new company and team being assembled to resume building plans for Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

I think this is a good thing. Ms. Swanson certainly knows a great deal about Ponte Vista and she can offer to the new team opinions and histories about what has been happening and how to approach OUR community in much better ways than were observed during "The Bob Years".

__________________________________________

The construction going on at Amalfitano's Bakery continues to have fits of on again, off again, work going on.

We say more kitchen parts going into the new bakery. The windows are still mostly covered with paper or plastic. One can peer in and see some display cabinets near the front.

Although I am long past being able to buy lots of goodies and eat them at one setting, I will do my best to enjoy one cookie per visit but not more than two visits per week.

I can still eat cake. Tiny and I mean tiny pieces are all that I allow myself.

_________________________________________

After being inspired by a member of the Rudderless Steering Committee of R Neighborhoods Are 1 as I watched his amazing weight loss and exercise choices, I finally went ahead and made the change I have needed to make for a couple of decades.

Now, when I take up pen and keyboard to do battle with over development, I do it with a little more than 61 pounds less of me. Just think of the new energy I can put to dealing with any plans that are as outrageous as ones offered by a now bankrupt over developer.

________________________________________

I do expect that when the new team finally emerges do offer 'new' plans for Ponte Vista at San Pedro, the 1,395-unit number that was last considered will be the beginning point for future discussions and plans.

That is still far too many units for my support and it is quite a few too many to the most ardent supporters of keeping the current zoning at Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

I am not holding my breath waiting until the new team makes a move, and neither should you.

It still may take more months, but I think something is coming, because......

________________________________________

New building is underway at 360 in Hawthorne, Ca.

360 was an ambitious construction project that was started on portions of the old Los Angeles Air Force Base on the south side of El Segundo Blvd, a few years ago.

After two buildings of condos were completed and units there were being offered for sale, all sales stopped and the entire site went into a dormant state.

The two or more completed sat silent and empty almost in the middle of a very large area that was fenced off and closed to all.

Recently however, I noticed new construction at 360 on the corner of El Segundo and Aviation Blvds.

New multi-story housing units are framed and it appears that 360 is building again.

This could portend a sooner than unexpected reemergence of plans for Ponte Vista.

But as I wrote a little up on this post, don't hold your breath.

Odds and Ends 169

Work is now progressing towards the opening of Amalfitano's Bakery! Yippee!

It's the last that will open of the five eateries I have been watching for months and months being constructed along Western Avenue.

The other four seem to have now settled in after their openings. We eat at Saladish more often than Denny's, Asaka Grill Express, or Pavich's Brick Oven Pizzafe.

____________________________________________

Now the real fight begins against The Marymount Plan for many of us.

The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council will finally vote to approve the two required Resolutions that will allow The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project to receive the necessary pre-permit approvals.

The Project is different than The Marymount Plan only in a very few, but major areas:

The Plan, if voted in by voters in November, after the expected qualification on that ballot, would have two residence halls for 255 students and staff, adopt an ordinance that allows Marymount and their Plan to supersede many municipal codes, and now provide a concrete center median barrier along the long uphill and downhill curve around the campus along Palos Verdes Drive East.

If The Marymount Plan is adopted by voters, the closest Paramedic Squad to that campus, the Eastview and La Rambla areas is at L.A. County Fire Station 6, in Lomita. That squad must pass by the Ponte Vista site to get to the Eastview and La Rambla neighborhoods when they are not perform emergency duties in Lomita, parts of Rolling Hills Estates, Miraleste, and the Marymount area.

Increased numbers of people living on The Hill, especially at Marymount has been cited in the Environmental Impact Report for The Project as being a potential liability to achieving the best response time for a Paramedic Squad from any area of L.A. County.

Station 83 in Miraleste and Station 53 on Palos Verdes Drive South near Abalone Cove have a certified Paramedic on their engines 24/7 but that is really does not provide the better coverage that a Paramedic Squad can provide. We need another Paramedic Squad placed at the Miraleste or P.V. Drive South Station, but there are no funds for that.

____________________________________________

Odds and Ends 168-1/3

I don't like driving south along Western and since I have Via Colinita to Miraleste Drive/9th Street, I rarely head south past Trudie/Capitol.

It looks like Pavich's Brick Oven "Pizzafe" has been open for a few weeks and that is wonderful!

One can purchase some very interesting pizzas and there is a Croatian type pizza that has been a hit for several years at the other location.

I saw some seating from the roadway and I think I will take Terri and check it out and have a slice of pizza and a salad.

I will offer my opinion on this blog and my East R.P.V. blog.

I will also check to see if I can learn the status for Amalfitano's Bakery and when it might open.

Sadly or happily, I don't eat much of anything that comes from a bakery any longer and so far about 60 pounds of fat loss on my short frame would find the far-too-much remaining fat none to pleased with my eating baked goods made primarily of wheat.

Odds and Ends 168

OK, I'm late again. I am building the set for the musical "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" which will open on June 11 at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.

The production is from The Relevant Stage Theatre Company where I am currently the carpenter in residence.

____________________________________________

I have heard through sources that the folks who own the Ponte Vista site are creating a whole new team to once again, get the project moving.

My sources opine that the new team will take up where the old team left off with a plan for the 1,395 condos considered by the former development team, last year.

The consideration continues that the new team will work to get entitlement approved for the site and then attempt to form a partnership with another development company or try to sell the land, with the entitlements, and cut the losses that continue to mount.

____________________________________________

I did see the door open at the site of Amalfitano's Bakery but there was still paper on the door and it is nowhere near open.

____________________________________________

The Staff Report and Resolutions drawn up for Rancho Palos Verdes City Council voting on the Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project is available for download or viewing at the city's Web site: www.rpv.com.

The report is 258 pages long.

The report does not seem to include the costs to taxpayers for the proposed ballot measure Marymount is floating.

Odds and Ends 167

I usually publish this post at 12:01 AM Friday mornings. I didn't today.

____________________________________________

This week finally saw normality arrive in the parking lots for Denny's and Asaka Grill Express.

Still, there is no sushi on the Grill's menu.

I have a new scanner and I am practicing my procrastination skills at hooking it up which I need to do so I can scan the inside of Asaka's menu and post it here. Perhaps by Monday morning I will finally get around to hooking the new H.P. up.

____________________________________________

I've got nothing new to report dealing with Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

____________________________________________

I think I will publish some bits from the Traffic and Parking Section of The Marymount

College Facilities Expansion Project, now completely approved of by the Rancho Palos Verdes

City Council.

Whether anything actually get built on Marymount's Palos Verdes Drive East campus is another story.

The other story is whether Marymount will accept The Project's approvals and try to move forward if their ballot measure does not pass.

I think if voters ultimately reject Marymount's plan to construct residence halls on the campus, Marymount will have to rethink whether it will start building using The Project's approvals or whether they will continue to seek approvals or victories in lawsuits allow them to build on-campus housing, before they begin any construction.

____________________________________________

Census Enumerators are out and about in large numbers and they are individually going to residential units where the resident(s) did not return their mail in Census Questionnaire in time.

Enumerators are expected to wear their I.D. at all times they are working and they should also be carrying the black bag with writing on one side.

Please, if an Enumerator comes to your door it would be great if you would kindly assist the Enumerator in completing the Questionnaire he or she has for your residence.

It takes ten minutes or less, has three fewer questions than the mailed Questionnaire, and you are helping someone who probably needs the job during this continuing time of hardship.

There are about 600,000 Enumerators working since last Saturday attempting to gather information that will lead to the most accurate Census possible.

I promise you won't see anywhere near even one thousand Enumerators in your neighborhood.

____________________________________________

Odds and Ends 166

No sushi. No sashimi either.

Asaka Grill Express held its Grand Opening last Saturday.

I will publish a personal review after it has been open a couple of months because I don't feel a brand new restaurant should be reviewed before its legs are stronger and the kinks have been worked out.

While the drive thru window and the drive thru lane still exist, currently the drive thru is not open and the owner is still not certain if or when drive thru service will be provided.

The most expensive dinner on the menu is the Salmon Teriyaki at just $8.95.

Appetizers include a bowl of soy beans or sweet potato fries.

What I found very interesting

Terri and I ate at Asaka Grill Express on Monday evening and had a pleasant experience knowing the service and preparation would take a long time because it just opened.

The booths have very high backs and I am a short fellow and when I sat at a booth, my feet didn't make it all the way to the floor. This is the only local restaurant I know of where I can't put my feet on the floor when sitting at a booth.

I wanted to post the inside of the menu along with the covers. Unfortunately the image above was the last image my all-in-one scanned before it sent itself off to the great electronic beyond.

Luckily I now have something Terri has been bugging me about because I hadn't told her what I wanted for my birthday.

Darn it. I just bought a whole set of cartridges for it. In a pinch, I can use Terri's all-in-one when she is not writing, but I haven't done it yet for the menu. It looks like I gave Canon a chance and now I will head back to old reliable HP which I have a big printer for my PC and Terri has an HP all-in-one for her PC.

__________________________________________

The middle of this week saw the parking lot of the new Denny's not completely packed during the times after lunchtime and between breakfast and lunchtime.

As a shock, when I drove by the lots yesterday morning at about 7:20 there were NO CAR in the north parking lot of Denny's and it had been open for an hour and 20 minutes.

_________________________________________

If you are interested in the antics of Marymount or want to read stuff about the eastern portion of the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, please visit www.eastrpv.blogspot.com.

_________________________________________

No activity has been witnessed this whole week at the sites of Amalfitano's Bakery and Pavich's Pizza.

_________________________________________

The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed zoning changes for residences in the Eastview area.

City Staff recommended that the zoning on residential lots be changed from RS4 to RS5 to bring the neighborhoods in Eastview more in line with the other housing tracts in the city.

This change will mandate that whenever a homeowner wishes to remodel their dwelling, the side yard setbacks must fall in line with the rest of R.P.V. lost that call for a minimum total side yard setback of no less than 15 feet, with at least one setback being not less than 5 feet.

In my neighborhood of 215 lots, City Staff has recommended that variances would be granted because of the history, lot sizes, and because the original Western View Homes, now referred to in the changes as "Mira Vista" was the first tract of houses built in what would eventually be all of Rancho Palos Verdes.

There are plenty of lots in our neighborhood that are larger than many of the other lots in the city, mine included. But because of the 'special nature' and the fact that there are a number of lots in our tract that are smaller than 'normal' for R.P.V. lots I guess our houses get special consideration.

What probably won't find a variance is the fact that with any large remodel of single-family residential units within R.P.V. a two-vehicle garage is the standard and called for in the zoning.

___________________________________________

Beginning tomorrow Saturday, the U.S. Census Bureau will start the canvasing of households where the resident did not return their Census Questionnaires in by mail as instructed.

Census workers will fan out to dwellings that have been noted to gather information about the residents who live in houses where no Census Questionnaires has been returned.

For this operation, the Census Enumerator will ask only 7 questions pertaining to each resident of that dwelling who stayed at the dwelling on April 1, 2010, Census Day.

This has been and will always be the largest operation for the Census.

California and especially areas in the Los Angeles Basin, along with San Bernardino and Riverside Counties received a lower than predicted number of returned Census Questionnaires.

If you receive a knock on your door, please allow the Census Enumerator to do their job and please answer the questions the Census Enumerator asks. It takes less time than filling out the original mailed Questionnaire, has fewer questions for each household member and help create the most accurate population information possible.

Answering the Census is mandated in Article One of the United States Constitution and it is the way the membership of the United States House or Representatives is determined.

Answering the Census can also mean more revenue, jobs, and improvements might come to your community and not answering the Census allows for being left out of projects and funds the community could certainly use.

I am not assigned in areas along the east side of The Hill nor am I assigned to anywhere in San Pedro.

Thank you to all who have already mailed in their questionnaires and thank you very much to those of you contacted between Saturday and by the end of July for helping this country have the most accurate Census count in history.

__________________________________________

Now I bet you know that when there is no mention of Ponte Vista at San Pedro by this point in these "Odds and Ends" it means I have nothing new to report on the Project. But I keep my eyes and ears open.

_________________________________________

Odds and Ends 165

This post begins with good news and some unhappy news.

All looks almost ready for the opening of Asaka Grill next to the new Denny's on Western.

The unhappy news is that it appears work has ceased on both Pavich's Brick Oven Pizza and Amalfitano's Bakery. I will continue to hope for this blog to offer news about those two establishments opening sooner rather than later.

____________________________________________

The city of Rancho Palos Verdes welcomes the Grand Opening of its fourth large food market tomorrow when the second Trader Joe's opens today.

Along with Western Avenue's own Trader Joe's, I hope you spend lots of money at Smart and Final on Western Avenue and sometime shop at Ralph's Fresh Faire on Hawthorne Blvd. if you are in that neck of the woods.

___________________________________________

If you haven't yet attempted to enjoy a great salad at Saladish on Western in The Terraces Shopping Center, you might want to schedule a meal there on the moving fake half log hanging from the ceiling. Chasing salad items that are very tasty and in large portions for not that large of a price just may provide you with some fun during your dining and something to talk about to your friends and neighbors.

__________________________________________

The left turn pocket on northbound Western Avenue at the southern end of The Terraces looks to be getting even more congested because of the placement of the driveways for Denny's and Asaka Grill.

During the afternoon drive time, which I feel lasts from a few minutes before the school day ends till at least 7:00 PM, drivers and their vehicles fill up that pocket to overflowing which backs up northbound Western at times at least as far as Park Western Drive.

Please be reminded that there may be starving drivers and/or passengers attempting to turn into the shopping center where there are several eateries or they are attempting to make a U-turn to get to Denny's and probably in the very near future, Asaka Grill.

Western Avenue is a State Highway and CalTrans is the authority which governs the route.

_________________________________________

For the Rancho Palos Verdes residents who visit this blog, a little bunny told me that the folks at Marymount just might turn in signatures collected to place the initiative for The Marymount Plan, next week.

Filing of the signatures gathered next week is sooner than required and it sets up a decision the members of the City Council must make regarding the proposed measure.

Once at least 2,700 signatures are certified and the initiative is brought before the City Council, The City Council must vote to approve the exact wording of the proposed initiative becoming a new city ordinance thereby approving The Marymount Plan without a vote of the electorate OR they must call for the election. The Council has 30 days to act once the City Clerk certifies the initiative could qualify for a ballot.

The sooner Marymount receives certification of the signatures on the petitions, the better because the ballot measure would be part of the November 2 General Election and not a separate election within 180 days for the call for the election.

Having a separate election for the only item that would pertain to just the city of Rancho Palos Verdes would cost the city's General Fund, generated from taxpayer's more than just being a part of the General Election.

During the last meeting of the City Council the members were asked to create a series of questions that the city's Staff could use as part of a Staff Report that may or may not eventually come out regarding The Marymount Plan's initiative.

I have heard that Marymount is planning to place at least 5,000 signatures into the process for confirmation.

____________________________________________

Odds and Ends 164

I don't have anything new to post directly concerning Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

____________________________________________

The opening date for Asaka Grill is growing closer with the placement of the business' sign and the removal of paper from the windows.

It still looks like they will have a tough time finding parking spaces for their customers as the parking lots continue to fill up at meal times with cars whose drivers and passengers head into Denny's.

____________________________________________

I think we have to admit that work towards the opening of Amalfitano's Bakery seems to have stopped. I haven't noticed any work being done in that space but I remain hopeful that the smell of fresh baked breads and other goodies visit the Western Plaza strip area at some point in the near future.

___________________________________________

For the Rancho Palos Verdes readers and voters, the debate and disagreements about remodeling plans at Marymount College were kicked up more than a notch this week with more announcements about the formation of a group opposed to the proposed initiative that supporters of Marymount College is attempting to qualify for the November ballot.

Save Our City III or SOC III is being formed to oppose not The Marymount Plan per se, but the group opposes the initiative with its process and other facts that illustrate that having a private entity bring legislation to the voters when those voters charged the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council with doing those responsibilities, and authority they voted members of the Council having.

There is a claim that this particular proposed initiative could signal that, if it is passed by voters, it would allow other businesses and groups the consideration that they too could bring issues directly to voters rather than go through the City Council.

Rancho Palos Verdes was created to deal with the fear of rampant over development along the coastline by businesses who had only to get approval from Los County where approval of large developments was fairly easy and standard.

There is also the consideration that if this type of initiative passes it means that others like "The Donald" and folks representing the 'Your' event site might attempt to bypass city processes and approvals for more over development in the city.

____________________________________________

For a matter of trivia, I am still trying to find out what housing tract was the original "East View" or "Eastview".

I know that the tract was built in the unincorporated portion of Los Angeles County so that lets out "The Highlands, San Pedro", "Westmont" "Channel Heights", and "Tarragona".

I can identify my tract, "Western View Homes" as it was the first tract of houses built between Western and Miraleste Drive/P.V. Drive East and it saw residents moving in by May, 1950. I even have a photograph on my East R.P.V. blog from May, 1950 with the accompanying News Pilot article.

I know that Mira Costa Terrace is either the second or third oldest tract of homes and it was commonly called "Caddington" long before Toscanini was built east of Western Avenue into the "Strathmore" area.

"Rolling Hills Riviera" is the largest tract of homes in the area and Mr. Ray Watt. built "Palo De Encino" just south of "RHR" during the time he was also developing Palo Del Amo Woods along Vermont toward Lomita/Torrance.

The approximately 60 homes of "Peninsula Verde" are the north easternmost tract of housing and it sits between Green Hills and Lomita.

This leaves the area that has Crestwood Street Elementary School as its largest single plot of land.

MacArthur, Noble View, Enrose, Bernice, Upland, Bayend, General, Fairhill, Trotwood, Wycliff (but only a tiny portion of it), and at least one other street make up that area that has homes similar to Mira Costa Terrace but also having some houses with single car garages just like 200 of the 215 houses originally built in the Western View Homes development.

So perhaps by a process of elimination, that area may have had its original name as East View or Eastview but I would love to find a photo of whatever tract was built with that name.

____________________________________________

This Saturday night San Pedro's Golden States Pops Orchestra has a Broadway themed concert at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.

Little Fish Theatre opens "Tooth and Nail" tonight at their theatre located at 777 S. Centre Street, San Pedro.

Have a wonderful week and thank you so much for stopping by.

Our First Visit To Denny's

Well, it took until the fifth morning for us to visit the new Denny's located on Western Avenue in Rancho Palos Verdes.

I don't feel it is fair to make a real review of the entire outing because today marked the first Friday the new Denny's has been in operation.

Some time ago, there was a Denny's restaurant on Western Avenue near the corner of Western and Park Western. When the Ralph's Shopping area was remodeled some years ago, the old Denny's closed.

That Denny's was thought of quite well by it customers and the opening of the new Denny's was highly anticipated for months now, even before most folks knew what was replacing the Planet Kids store.

As it happened, I talked to the assembled wait-staff and managers during a meeting a week ago on a Thursday evening. I wanted to know when the restaurant was opening so I could post that information on several of my blogs.

During a short conversation I had with the head manager and with many ears perked up because of the stranger attending the meeting, I told everyone in the room that their new work location was highly anticipated and they should expect to see large crowds from the opening of the doors.

The entire wait staff, cooks and managers seemed surprised and somewhat shocked when I told them the information. They were all also quite pleased smiles abounded all through the seating area.

As it came to pass, I was not wrong one bit. The Denny's has been packed.

By 8:45 this morning all the seats were filled and there were customers waiting for table openings.

The two sides of the restaurant have parking spaces. Naturally all the spaces were filled. I expect that when the Asaka Grill finally opens there will be an average of ZERO spaces for customers of that site, right next to Denny's.

It looks like the workers at both restaurants will have to park somewhere other than the parking lots for those two places. I hope they don't choose Trudie, Highmore, or Jaybrook, thank you very much.

As you may have expected, there were two cars in the Marie Callender's parking lot as we walked through it. You may want to enjoy Marie Callender's while it is still open because it certainly looks like their customer traffic has dropped off and will continue to drop off as Denny's becomes more well known (not like it really needs it).

Because I should not offer a real review of the place, I do want to share some impressions and comments with the opening week and I think it is going to take a couple of months before a true set of opinions can reveal what normal experiences at Denny's should be expected.

The restaurants hours are as follows;

From 6:00 AM on Friday and until 11:00 PM on Sunday, Denny's will remain open.

All other times Denny's hours are 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

It appears that the conditional use permit does not permit Denny's to post the "Always Open" sign found on just about every other Denny's.

Parking is bad and probably that won't go away in the forseeable future. I have seen times when there was parking along Western Avenue, even directly in front of Denny's.

The south parking lot is also going to be used by customers of Asaka Grill once it opens AND if Denny's customers don't take up all the parking. This lot also has some spaces it takes skill to get into and out of. They are the spaces sort of behind the restaurant and near the gate that we found closed preventing a throughway between the two parking areas. I hope Denny's management open the two sets of gates behind the restaurant and leave them open during business hours.

You will be greeted by friendly and I really mean friendly managers and those showing you to your seat. They are a bit rusty with their actions but since there is nothing "normal" about Denny's yet, that is quite fine with me.

I remember with other Denny's that once ordered, it sometimes takes an eternity for the food to arrive. Please be very patient during your visits to Denny's in the coming months. The food you get might be cooled off by the time it finally arrives, but I expect that when the Denny's finds its normality, food will arrive sooner.

We had to request from someone other than our wait staff for the bill. We ended up getting copies from two different employees and did I mention they were friendly?

There is absolutely no reason for Terri and I and whoever visits Denny's while with us, need to add another vehicle to the parking lots.

Since those of you who know what I look like know I still need to lose lots of weight, I was pleasently surprised by the make-your-own Grand Slam. That size of Grand Slam is not the size I remember and I never needed that amount of food I remember filled the plate.

My Grand Slam consited of two regular size eggs, amout the smallest portion of hash browns I have seen in any restaurant in R.P.V. and San Pedro, two sausage links and two pancakes, each about 1/4 to 1/5 the size of my beloved Fluffys enjoyed at Rex's Diner.

The price was $5.99 and other than the eggs being cool, somebody like me need to learn to live better with smaller portions and at a price I can live with.

It looks like tables and chairs could be added to the dining area if the C.U.P. allows for that. But with the parking lots full with the amount of tables and chairs there already, more tables might create problems.

I did write to officials and our city's Traffic Safety Commission about something I observed that I feel could be a safety hazard and a potential for liability with R.P.V.

We saw many Denny's customers heading north on Western making a U-turn from the left turn lane for the south entrance to The Terraces.

Normally, that turning lane is overflowing during commute times and the added number of customers choosing to not go into The Terraces but rather making U-turns will add to the congestion along northbound Western and probably more collisions.

I don't have a solution for my thoughts but I don't think drivers will heed NO U-TURN signs on the medians of Western.

Of course we saw a "true Pedro thing" when we visited Denny's. Even though the restaurant is physically located in Rancho Palos Verdes everybody knows everybody else who live in San Pedro so many of you will meet friends and/or family members when you go to Denny's.

It's just like the Target where many of us can't get through a visit where we don't greet somebody we know.

The consequences of having the new Denny's where it is makes me think that perhaps Marie Callender's will continue to be a very good restaurant for our elderly friends and neighbors.

Many folks who are up in their years find comfort when they take their meals at Marie's. I think it has been that way for years. Whether Marie Callender's can survive what I expect to be a big drop in business is something we won't know for some time.

As for Asaka Grill, I haven't found any notice of when it may open.

Denny's is now the new monster on the Avenue. Folks who eat there will hopefully do other shopping along Western in both San Pedro and R.P.V. I do hope they visit Marshalls' more than they visit Ross. I also hope they visit Trader Joe's more than they visit the store near Peck Park.

For dining pleasure similar to Denny's I hope they visit Coco's over Carrow's and Azteca over Taxco. I certainly don't folks visiting Domenick's and Niccolo's. Eating at Baja Fresh is a good thing. I hope you like the ice cream at 31 flavors more than Coldstone Creamery. All of the above eateries are wonderful, but some of them help our General Fund grow with portions of Sales Tax dollars that flow into R.P.V.

For the high school football and party crowds, having Denny's open all night on Fridays and Saturdays is a good thing. It allows revelers the chance to continue in a safe and comfortable environment and it also provides more food options to those who need to eat because they drank too much alcohol.

For me, sobering up at the IHOP many year ago when it was open late helped. I was all done with that by the time the old Denny's opened or I chose not to cross Western while drunk. It was easier staggering home from IHOP than just about anywhere else.

So please, ENJOY DENNY'S! When it becomes a normal "San Pedro" restaurant, then I think we can make fair reviews. I use "San Pedro" because that is where our hearts still side with.

Odds and Ends 163

Lakeshore Homes is now in its selling stage. This is the condo project at Five Points.

I noticed one unit had blinds on its windows and a second condo had 'SOLD' signs in several of its windows.

____________________________________________

I have known about iStar Financial's reentering into the Ponte Vista at San Pedro Project for several months. I had been keeping that information on the 'down low' because of the rumor I have heard about how many units iStar Financial may try to seek.

I won't publish the contents of that rumor and I hope it remains a rumor and never is realized.

____________________________________________

We are two-0pen, three to go on the five eateries that are along Western Avenue between The Terraces and Summerland.

I don't have any new information about Asaka Grill, Amalfitano's Bakery, and Pavich's Brick Oven Pizza.

I do know that the pizza at Pavich's other shop is outstanding, ethnic, and a real joy to learn about.

If Amalfitano's is anything like its 'older' self-Ramona's Bakery, that will continue an institution of excellence that we have loved for decades.

___________________________________________

On behalf of every Rancho Palos Verdes resident, I apologize that it was probably in the Conditional Use Permit of Denny's to not be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

I think if R.P.V. and especially Eastview voters had been polled or got to vote, we all would have welcomed an "Always Open" Denny's.

I apologize that I didn't make myself better informed about the issue and I should have, would have, could have, done more to seek more hours for Denny's.

__________________________________________

Please do not sign the petition seeking qualification of a November ballot measure dealing with The Marymount Plan.

The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project has 11 of 12 issues voted on and approved and there will probably be agreement about the 12th issue, where the soccer field will be placed, on or before May 4.

That would still leave just one piece different between the Project and the Plan. And when you watch the T.V. commercials, get greeted by petition signature gatherers, receive mailings every few days, please realize it is ALL ONLY about ONE THING DIFFERENT and that is on-campus housing, which Marymount REMOVED from consideration in the Project.

__________________________________________

The New Denny's Is NOT "Always Open"

Yes, the new Denny's is finally open on Western and it is packed!

Yes, the new Denny's is just inside Rancho Palos Verdes unlike the old one that was in San Pedro/Los Angeles.

Yes, you can order a Grand Slam just like at every other Denny's.

NO! You can't eat there at 2:00 AM on a Tuesday morning.

I talked with one of the managers because when I left my home and glanced over to the new Denny's, it looked dark and the sign was not lit, at about 5:30 this morning.

Denny's will be open from Friday Morning until 11:00 PM Sunday night.

On Monday through Thursday and on Sunday, Denny's will close at 11:00 PM.

This may be because of rules for business hours in Rancho Palos Verdes.

There are well over 600 "7-11" stores in the Southern California territory.

Two of the only FOUR "7-11" stores that are not allowed to remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week are the two in Rancho Palos Verdes. I know this is because of codes established in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The Jack in the Box on Western Avenue at Park Western Drive has its drive through open 24 hours a day but I don't know of any other fast food restaurant or convienence store that is open 24 hours a day in R.P.V.

Please visit Denny's often and spend lots and lots of money. Our city's coffers only gets about 9 cents for every sales tax dollar collected, but that helps, too.

Please don't sign the Marymount Plan petition.

FINALLY! More News About Ponte Vista and Rumor Control

Below is an article written my Ms Donna Littlejohn, a reporter for The Daily Breeze.

Ponte Vista back to square one; returns to investor

By Donna Littlejohn Staff Writer

Posted: 04/05/2010 05:43:30 PM PDT

The slow economy has led to San Pedro's long planned Ponte Vista project being turned over to primary investor iStar. The company will now have to revise plans for the project. (Robert Casillas/Staff Photographer)

• 
  

For good or ill, few projects get done quickly in San Pedro.

And Ponte Vista - the large-scale housing development planned on 62.5 acres of surplus Navy property - surely is no exception.

Mired in controversy since it was first proposed in 2005, Ponte Vista now has been hit hard by the plunging economy. It has already been through a few incarnations and now is about to present yet another.

Last week, it was announced that the project has been turned back over to its chief investor, iStar Financial Inc., which will again re-evaluate building and density plans for the site on Western Avenue.

"Unfortunately, Ponte Vista has been subjected to the current economic ills affecting the country and because of that, there's been an orderly transferring of the property back to the (primary) lender," said Elise Swanson, who is serving as a consultant to the newest team taking over the development.

Gone is DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners, a subsidiary of Credit Suisse that took over the project after Bisno Development was bumped in December 2008.

Taking over is SFI Bridgeview, LLC, a subsidiary of iStar Financial Inc.

"iStar has just begun an assessment of the status of the project and they're reviewing all the community input from the past," Swanson said, adding the company is putting together yet another new project team for Ponte Vista. "They've just taken title to the property They want to take some time before they come back to the community to make sure there's a thoughtful approach."

The primary disagreement remains over density and traffic impacts. As first laid out in 2005, the project called for 2,300 homes to be built. That was later reduced to 1,950, a number turned down by the Los Angeles Planning Commission.

Before talks were suspended, housing numbers had been bumped down to between 500 and 1,395.

"It's just got to be recognized that we're transportation corridor poor being on a peninsula," said Jerry Gaines of San Pedro who served on the community's Ponte Vista task force.

"The community's been very clear that they want somebody who will address the traffic needs," said John Greenwood of San Pedro, who was chairman of the committee. "I don't think anybody has done that yet."

Vacant Navy homes still sit on the property across from Green Hills Memorial Park. A herd of about 80 sheep and goats graze the property to keep the weeds down and Ponte Vista still maintains an open office in a trailer on the site.

"I would like to see something built, those places are getting worse and worse," Greenwood said. "I'd like to see the right kind of development there."

While the debate over density and traffic has yet to be resolved, Gaines agreed that the property shouldn't continue to sit vacant.

"I'm sure that at some point people realize they don't want a continuous eyesore there," Gaines said. "The community does need housing This is a working asset and it would be ridiculous to watch the sheep out there graze for the next 15 or 20 years."

Swanson said it is anticipated that the new team will be ready to go public with some of their ideas in two to four months.

"They are committed to working with this community to determine what development at Ponte Vista is a `fit,"' she said. "They're very interested in doing a high quality project."

"I keep hoping someone will get it right," Greenwood said of the plans. "We're still waiting."

Gaines noted that the economic climate is vastly different from that in 2005 when developer Bob Bisno purchased the land for $125 million.

The city union members targeted to purchase the future homes have also since fallen on hard times of their own.

Developers have to look at "what's affordable and what's achievable in today's market," Gaines said. "Most of the existing (new housing) stock is leasing rather than selling. But at some point that property needs to be utilized."

donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com

---------------------------------------------------------------

The takeover by iStar Financial Inc. has been known by a few individuals for a few months now. I have refused to publish what I knew about it because I considered it a rumor and I am not comfortable publishing rumors.

I wish the information contained in Ms. Littlejohn's article contained the answers to more rumors that I have known about and perhaps within the timeframe stated by Ms. Swanson, we will learn whether the other rumor(s) I have heard are true.

I do know that there has not been much for staff members of The Los Angeles Department of City Planning do to for many months concerning Ponte Vista and I hope we all learn whether the entire Environmental Impact Report will require recirculation.

The news about Ponte Vista also comes at a time when signatures are being gathered for a proposed initiative dealing with Marymount College and that institution's administrations' attempt to build on-campus housing on Marymount's main campus in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Even though supporters of The Marymount Plan want on-campus housing, they have no intention of closing the off-campus housing site the college owns along Palos Verdes Drive North, not far from the Ponte Vista site.

The Volunteers of America as also moving forward with their plans to open up the dwelling units they own adjacent to both the Marymount off-campu housing site named Palos Verdes North and Rolling Hills Prep School.

News Release from Your Ponte Vista

This news release was published on April 2, 1010 on Ponte Vista at San Pedro's site;

www.yourpontevista.com.

SFI BRIDGEVIEW, LLC ANNOUNCES OWNERSHIP OF PONTE VISTA

Apr 2nd, 2010 by Ponte Vista

April 2, 2010 (San Pedro, CA). SFI Bridgeview, LLC, a subsidiary of iStar Financial Inc., a leading publicly traded finance company focused on the real estate industry, announced today that it has taken ownership of Ponte Vista, a 62-acre residential property located on Western Avenue in the community of San Pedro, in a negotiated transfer of the property.

iStar Financial was the primary lender for the Ponte Vista project since 2005, and will lead the development as it moves through the entitlement process in the City of Los Angeles.

“We look forward to working with Harbor Area residents to build a high-quality, sustainable community that we can all be proud of and enjoy,” said Michael Dorsch, Executive Vice-President at iStar Financial. “We plan to work with the community, Councilwoman Hahn, and the Planning Commission to move the development forward as expeditiously as possible.”

With an asset base in excess of $15 billion, iStar is one of the country’s largest publicly traded commercial real estate finance companies, managing nearly 40 million square feet of high-quality real estate located across the country. iStar, headquartered in New York City with offices in Santa Monica and Irvine, has extensive experience in the Southern California real estate market. Currently, approximately $1.3 billion of the Company’s total assets are located in the Southern California region.

“iStar has closely followed the Ponte Vista development process and understands the concerns that have been raised by area residents over the past several years,” stated Dorsch. “We ask the community for patience while we work to develop a revised plan that reflects the valuable community input that has been voiced in the various hearings and open houses held on the project.”

For more information, please contact the Ponte Vista Community Outreach Office at (310) 241- 0699.

______________________________________________________

Sorry gang. I missed checking Your Ponte Vista like I normally do last Friday morning and with Denny's opening and other things, I slipped up.

Saladish is OPEN!

Click over image to enlarge.
Click over image to enlarge.
Saladish, one of the eateries I have been writing about has actually been open for "a few weeks" according to Ms. Jee Lee, one of the owners.

Ms. Lee said that currently, the restaurant is open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM seven days a week and their Grand Opening is set for April 10, 2010.

Terri and I dined at a counter that looks like half a log. It is suspended from the ceiling and I think a group of mates could have some real fun chasing their salads and wraps as they make the counter swing from side to side.

Terri had the Thai Chicken Wrap and I had the Oriental Chicken Salad. Both of us agreed that they were huge portions.

Terri like less spicy Thai Chicken salads or wraps than the one found at Saladish.

I enjoyed my salad that included peanuts, carrots and didn't have too much dressing on it.

I bought one piece of Garlic Bread to try it out. Terri usually finds the Garlic Bread at Niccolo's to be her favorite. Tonight she shared mine and she told me she prefers the Garlic Bread from Saladish now more that the great bread at Niccolo's.

The most expensive single salad at Saladish is called "The Farm" and it is $8.75. If it is anything like the size of the salad I enjoyed, it is probably just as large.

Individual vegetarian and proteins can be added but there is not a whole lot of meat available other than a few pork-based items and, of course, chicken. The Turkey, Bacon, Avocado salad or wrap contains turkey and that wasn't hard to guess.

My first impressions of Saladish is that is offers tasty food that I can afford. The interior seating could be enlarged to include more tables and I don't know how long the swaying log is going to last. It is a fun thing to play on, but it may not be the most popular thing to eat on.

The staff is friendly and the meals are prepared in a clean environment and mixed individually for each customer.

There is no letter grade posted on the door yet. When the space was occupied by Nona's Kitchen, the highest letter that restaurant could get was a "B" because of venting issues that Mrs. Palazzolo had with her ovens not venting directly up and out of her kitchen. I don't know if that will still be an issue.

So between all five eateries I have been writing about for several months, Saladish was the first to open its doors and I hope their doors remain open for a long time to come.

Saladish is located at 28901 S. Western Avenue in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Their phone number is 310-521-0030.

Their fax number for ordering is 310-521-0324.

Saladish is located on the lowest level of The Terraces shopping center.