Meeting at Travel Town, and fireworks from the Americana.

Thursday night was okay. Lost was great, but that wasn’t what I meant.

There was the Neighborhood Griffith Park Council Utility Annual Budget Parks and Recreation Committee Dinner at Traveltown, which is where all the old trains hang out in the park. The herd of us were rounded up by Councilman Tom LaBonge. I wasn’t going to go, but I got a phone call from one of his assistants who promised swag bags! (Jk. I wish.) The only other “dinner” I’ve been to there was the most gosh-awful hamburgers, lettuce, ketchup and elementary school cake that I’ve had in years, so I arrived about an hour late this time.

Too bad, because this time it was catered – as all civilized dinners should be, of course. This was by Palermo’s, scene of many dinners when I lived on Vermont. They uncovered the tray to give me a slice of the best lasagna I’ve had in years, but so sorry I missed their garlic bread, which they are famous for.

Glendale at dawn.

So I ate that while watching LaBonge introduce some of our park leaders. Here were the parts I found interesting:

As it happened, when I sat down LaBonge was asking us to give a hand to our lovely Fire Department for all the hard work they do in the city and protecting the park. He said they were so important for possible wildfires. He got that one right.

Someone from the Observatory said things are good without the annoying shuttles they had transporting people up there last year. He also said their current program is going very well, called “Water is Life.” I agree!!!

John Lewis from the LA Zoo said their newest exhibit is African Wild Dogs, the first time the zoo has had them in 20 years. He also said Spider City is very popular! Attendance is way up, and they are doing well in lowering dependence on the city budget.

The Greek Theater is going to have a benefit concert for gp on May 28. A couple people complained that there was crime problem when they had Ludicris there.

Doug Kilpatrick, a gp ranger, said that in 2007 they had 60,000 visitors, gave out 26,000 tickets or citations, and handled 10,000 incidents. Maybe I have the numbers wrong, because that would mean one out of 6 people either had a problem or made the problem…

LaBonge asked him how many deer are in the park and he said 40 to 45. (You will recall that I asked Tom that question a year ago right after the fire. My main question was How many animals died? Btw, many people come to my site looking for the answer to that.)

Mukri spoke and said the main work now after the fire a year ago is invasive plant removal. This means get rid of non-native plants, and there will be volunteer weekends this month to do that. He said there’s no tree canopy left after the fire, and even more than water, the sun is making the weeds get crazy and big. (So much for the Fire Department labeling fires which get away “just a brush fire.”) He said they only have $163 million budget. I understand, it’s difficult to work under restraints, and yet….I’m a teeny tiny bit jealous. Doesn’t this sound like a lot of money?

Later on I saw a rather nice display of fireworks out my window coming from the new Grove Americana in Glendale, which opened Friday! More shopping for you and me! For 15 minutes, at 11PM on a weekday. No problem for me, as I’m a night owl – witness the photo above of dawn on a particularly naughty night – but interesting that apparently Glendale doesn’t have a Noise Abatement team or ordinances!

The lights went on in the complex at the Americana a couple of weeks ago, and it’s such a huge structure I knew right away what it must be – but they sure built it fast. I can see the fountain change colors, too, and I have to avert my eyes or I start feeling carsick queasy, even from miles away. Some night when I’m not too lazy I’ll set up my tripod and take a picture for you. Or should I film it for youtube, so you, too, can feel nauseated?