A few things to wrap-up the week:

• It's The New York Times' turn to quiz IHOP CEO Julia Stwart about her Glendale-based company's impending takeover of Applebee's. Who knew her nickname among the franchisees is "Velvet Hammer?"

• Burbank city leaders are anxiously monitoring the effort to rescue the Utah coal miners trapped after a mine collapse. The city -- along with Glendale, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Pasadena and Riverside -- owns a stake at a Utah coal powerplant that gets 5 percent of its fuel from said mine. Leader

• Two new executives at Burbank Unified School District -- Lori Ordway-Peck was appointed to the position of Assistant Superintendent, Business Services, and Kathy Granger was appointed to the position of Director, Human Resources Services. Ordway-Peck comes to the District from the Palmdale Unified School District where she has served as Deputy Superintendent. Granger comes to Burbank from the West Covina Unified School District, where she served most recently as middle school principal. via BUSD release.

• Santa Clarita realtor and blogger Linda Slocum left a review of a Garlic Jim's pizza pie from the chain's Valencia outlet in our comments box. The Washington-based chain is opening an outlet in Burbank.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

At noon Thursday, Unite Here Local 11, the union trying to organize the Glendale Hilton, will stage a picket to welcome the hotel's new owners.

via Unite Here

On Wednesday August 8, 2007 Eagle Hospitality Trust shareholders voted to sell the Glendale Hilton to AP AIMCAP, a joint venture of Apollo Real Estate Investment Fund V LP, Aimbridge Hospitality LP and JF Capital Advisors LLC.

Workers at the Glendale Hilton hotel cite poverty wages, a lack of affordable health insurance, and dangerous working conditions as some of the problems they have endured. In September 2005, Glendale Hilton employees requested a fair process to decide whether to form a union. The employees' request was met with fierce resistance from the hotel.

In April of 2006 Glendale Hilton workers called for a boycott of their own hotel. 70% of the workers at the Glendale Hilton signed a petition calling on customers to boycott the hotel. Since then, the boycott of the Glendale Hilton along with a boycott of other hotels owned by the same company has cost the outgoing owner of the hotel, Eagle Hospitality more than $1 million in lost business.

Hotel workers hope that the Glendale Hilton's change in ownership will mean an end to this long-running dispute and allow them to end the boycott. "We hope that the hotel's new owners will allow us to decide whether or not to join the union without any interference or harassment from management. I hope they know that we are prepared to stay in this fight as long as it takes, and we are not giving up," said Angela Reid a bartender at the Glendale Hilton hotel.

Earlier:
What Frequent Stay Points Get You at the Glendale Hilton
State of Protest

Posted by Eugene Tong at 04:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Jennifer Mann's story on IHOP CEO Julia Stewart in The Kansas City Star looks into pher past as president of Applebee's International, which is the Glendale pancake house chain is looking to pick up for $2.1 billion.

In 2001, Julia Stewart left Applebee’s International after three years as president when it became clear she was being passed over as the eventual chief executive officer.

Stewart moved on and in 2002 became the CEO at IHOP Corp., then a tired and flat pancake chain. She and management, in her words, reinvigorated the business by selling most of the company-owned stores to franchisees and updating the restaurants, menu, uniforms and marketing.

Now, with IHOP’s pending $2.1 billion acquisition of Applebee’s, she appears poised to assume the role she initially missed at Applebee’s — running the company. She believes applying a similar recipe to Applebee’s can return the company to growth.

“A strong point of difference — that’s what Applebee’s desperately needs because we all fall into the ‘look like everybody else, act like everybody else,’ ” Stewart said. “I don’t think anybody in casual dining is setting the world on fire, and it was the same situation when I came to IHOP … but we distinguished ourselves in the (family dining) category, and I don’t view the challenge any differently at Applebee’s.”

The fix may be a bit more complicated. IHOP’s revenue is a third the size of Applebee’s, which is the country’s largest casual dining chain. Stewart intends to finance the $25.50-a-share acquisition and turnaround by selling Applebee’s 508 company-owned restaurants and using a sophisticated debt transaction paid off by future franchise revenues for the two operations.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 05:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Looks like another flap between six Southern California cities (including LA, Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena) and Utah area cities over the Intermountain Power Project.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports the California cities, which take 75 percent its power, are blocking the construction of a third coal-fired generator to the 1,800 megawatt plant. They cite California state laws aimed at rolling back greenhouse gases, but the 23 Utah cities operating the power plant say they could use the extra juice.

Six California cities, concerned about global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, are refusing to allow a third coal-fired generating unit to be built at the Intermountain Power Project near Delta.

Their action promises to pit California's tough new environmental laws and the state's commitment to rolling back greenhouse emissions against the interests of thousands of Utah consumers who eventually may need the electricity that a third generating unit could provide.

The six California cities take 75 percent of the electricity generated at the IPP. As a result, their votes far outweigh those of the 23 Utah municipal members, which are represented by the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, or UAMPS, and Rocky Mountain Power.

The whole matter could wind up in court, with the Utah municipalities and Rocky Mountain Power vowing to do whatever is necessary to clear the way for the new unit.

"We have no problem if they don't want to participate in building that unit," said spokesman Dave Eskelsen of Rocky Mountain Power, which takes 4 percent of the power produced by IPP and is interested in getting more to meet its customers' demands.

Rocky Mountain Power, however, considers it improper for those California cities - Los Angeles, Pasadena, Anaheim, Burbank, Glendale and Riverside - to block needed generating capacity in Utah to satisfy California's environmental laws.

You may recall last fall when Intermountain asked the six cities to renew their energy contracts until 2044 (the current contract expires 2027), but the Sierra Club pressure them to sit it out. All did except for Burbank, which unknowingly signed the renewal, and later managed to wiggle out of it after Intermountain agreed to extend the deadline until 2023.

Still, the Six Cities won't be cutting ties to the plant any time soon-- they lent $3.2 billion to construct the project and it has paid them back in cheap power at the cost of roughly 15 million tons in carbon-dioxide emissions per year.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Let me say that early reports of a light crowd at the Galleria Target were GROSSLY exaggerated.

On the way to the overpriced churrascaria stand in the Galleria food court (and at the behest of my LAist-reading editors), I decided to dive into the three-story belly of a retail beast that has been a subject of obsession for LA's Web dwelling hipsters.

My first sight of the red bullseye -- 12:45 p.m. Friday -- were the shopping bags hulled by a group walking through the mall toward Mervyn's. Surely they couldn't be --gasp! -- Target shoppers!

After walking through one end of the mall to the other, I arrived at the Target's mall-side entrance -- there they were: clerks in red polo shirts, Starbucks, Pizza Hut and a row of check-out stands. At first glance -- a good crowd of 30-50 shoppers with moms, kids and downtown workers on their lunch break. It's the same scene upstairs and down, some pushing red shopping carts, others with a few sundries in hand.

All-in-all, a fair lunch-time crowd -- not quite as busy you'd expect in more established Targets as Burbank, Valencia or Pasadena, but not exactly empty either. The parking structure behind the building is about half-to-2/3rds full, with some folks opting to park in the sun (which I'm sure they wouldn't if the lot was empty).

Okay, so it's not exactly the weekend madness and traffic nightmare and meat market that is the West Hollywood Target, but hey, maybe after a few weeks?

Besides, those couple blocks of downtown Glendale are still a work-in-progress -- Rick Caruso's Americana won't open until next summer, which will definitely mess with the area's retail dynamic.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)|

Three-story Targets are all nice and good, but for Echo Park blogger Hexdous, it's all about Armenian beer at the Galleria food court.

The real story about the Glendale Galleria is the food court. Not talking about Pollo Campero here, I am talking about the fact that you can buy beer in the food court. What a concept, I know - but I don’t think most malls sell beer - do they?

Anyways, the International Grill sells kebabs, but they also have a fridge full of Erebuni beer from Armenia. So go there, knock back a few and then buy a bunch of stuff in the Apple store.

According to brewer Kotayk's Web site -- "It’s harmony in strength and flavour makes Erebuni the beer of choice."

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Now it's all speculation at this point -- the Galleria Target's only opened for a few days, but the crowd is looking a bit light for LAist Callie Miller's liking:

So we checked it out during prime evening shopping hours and could not believe that it was empty, empty, empty. We asked some questions. Are there more things here than at our own Target? New items you can't get at other Targets? More Libertine clothing? Whole new sections other Targets haven't even dreamed up yet? Nope, nope and nope. Just more space.

I don't know -- I would at least wait till after the weekend before unleashing the snark. How about the folks who have shopped there--any thoughts?

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Two on smoking -- First comes word Disney will remove smoking from all films released under its own label (which isn't too difficult I guess -- when was the last time you see some one light-up in one of their family flicks?).

Also, the Burbank-based company will "discourage" smoking in films released under its Touchstone and Miramax arms. Now that's going to be tougher. YOU try telling Quentin Tarantino or Kevin Smith or some European auteur snuff out the butt in their films...

via Associated Press:

By GARY GENTILE, AP Business Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Walt Disney Co. will eliminate smoking from all its films released under its label and will discourage smoking in films released under its Touchstone and Miramax brands, the company said Wednesday.

Disney chief executive Robert Iger made the pledge in a letter to U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass, chairman of the House Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee, who last month held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on the topic.

“The Walt Disney Co. shares your concern regarding deaths due to cigarette smoking,” Iger wrote.

Continue reading "The Mouse House kicks the butt; the truth behind the "anti-smoking" movement" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

IHOP posts 37 percent rise in second-quarter earnings on sales growth

GLENDALE, Calif. (AP)— Pancake house operator IHOP Corp., which is acquiring casual dining chain Applebee’s International, said Wednesday its second-quarter profit rose 37 percent, helped by new franchise restaurant openings, same-store sales growth and cost controls.

Net income for the quarter ended June 30 rose to $14.1 million, or 82 cents per share, from $10.3 million, or 56 cents per share, a year ago.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial were looking for profit of just 59 cents per share.

Revenue climbed to $89.5 million from $85.1 million last year, above the $87.3 million analysts projected.

In early trading, IHOP shares rose 95 cents to $65.97.

Chairman and Chief Executive Julia A. Stewart said the company drove topline sales through new franchise restaurant openings and same-store sales growth, while moderating general and administrative expenses and continuing share repurchases.

For the three months ended June 30, systemwide same-store sales increased 2.5 percent, reflecting solid growth despite a continuing difficult consumer environment and increased competition for breakfast customers, the company said.

IHOP said it remains comfortable with existing guidance for 2007 as it relates to its IHOP business, but is suspending its fiscal 2007 profit outlook as current guidance doesn’t account for the effect of the Applebee’s acquisition on results.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Finally a free morning to get our blog on...

• Along for the Ride columnist Sue Doyle rode out east early this week and visited some folks whose rides have more than 200,000 miles on the odometer

  GLENDALE - The upholstery on the driver's seat is in shreds. Masking tape patches a cracked taillight. And the odometer reads 223,626 miles.

  To some, it would definitely be time for a trade-in.

  But to Suren Rostonmyan, the 1986 Toyota pickup still has a lot of kick left. By staying on top of oil changes and continuing the TLC, he figures the reliable red truck could hit 300,000 miles without a hitch.

  Check out Suren's rig in the photo galleries to our right.

• Convictions in the 2004 beating death of 17-year-old William Maldonado -- a jury yesterday found William Torres, 24, Pedro Pena, 25, and Fredy Gudiel, 21 guilty of second-degree murder with a gang enhancement. Maldonado was riding his bike to his sister's house when the trio attacked him with baseball bats. Daily News

• Angry residents near Glendale High lashed out at the Glendale City Council last night about broken sprinkers and In-n-Out wrappers littered in their 'hood. They blame the campus' stadium, which holds too many events for their liking. News Press

  What do you guys think? Do they have to live with it since they did move next to a high school ? or do we blame the city and the school district? Me -- I blame society.

• Target at the Galleria -- "We're a normal Target." Good. News Press

  *The CurbedLA crowd marvels at the tri-level Vermaports inside the new Target store.

• The Times catches-up with the Burbank 7-Eleven turned Kwik-E-Mart. Since making the switch as part of a month-long marketing campaign for the Simpsons Movie, business has shot up 300 percent, and hot dog sales jumped from 800 to 3,000 a week.

• And finally, ain't no party like a Burbank party in which a couple of possibly uninvited guests blasted a few holes in the ceiling during a wedding reception Saturday night at Castaway restaurant. No injuries, no arrests and few are talking. Leader

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Looks like the Unite Here folks will have someone new to tangle with in their quest to unionize Glendale Hilton workers...

via the Baltimore Business Journal

Hilton Hotels Corp. has appointed Linda Norman as the general manager for the Hilton Baltimore, a publicly financed convention headquarters hotel opening August 2008.

Norman will assume her new job as head of the 757-room hotel Aug. 13, 2008.

Currently general manager of the Hilton in Glendale, Calif., Norman was one of two finalists for the position. Norman and Thomas J. Thomas, resident manager of the Chicago Hilton, were interviewed by city officials last month during a Baltimore Development Corp. meeting.

A Duke University graduate, Norman was previously general manager of the Doubletree Guest Suites Tampa Bay in Tampa, Fla.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

via Associated Press

GLENDALE, Calif. - General Electric Co.'s energy investment unit acquired a 90 percent interest in the operator of the Scholl Canyon Landfill gas project in Glendale, Calif.

GE Energy Financial Services bought the operating partnership from Scholl Canyon Landfill Gas Corp., which will continue to manage the operations, for an undisclosed amount.

The project captures methane gas from decomposing landfill waste and transports it to Glendale's Grayson Power Plant, where the gas is used to generate electricity sufficient for 10,000 California homes. The project reduces 615,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Since opening in 1963, the Scholl Canyon Landfill has accumulated 26 million tons of trash at a rate of 1,500 tons of trash per day.

The acquisition is part of GE Energy Financial's goal of investing $4 billion in renewable energy by 2010.

Shares of GE gained 59 cents to finish at $40.71. The stock reached a 52-week high of $40.95 earlier in trading.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Daily News biz-maven Julia Scott delves into the IHOP-Applebees proposal...

GLENDALE -- IHOP said Monday that it would buy Applebee's for $2.1 billion in cash as part of a plan to revive the bar-and-grill chain.

The $25.50-per-share deal offers shareholders a small premium over the recent trading price of Applebee's stock. The stock rose to $24.91 on news of the deal.

IHOP stock rose almost 9 percent, to $61.24, after news of the acquisition broke.

IHOP chief Julia Stewart plans to sell nearly all of Applebee's company-owned restaurants to individual franchise owners to boost cash flow and stock prices, a strategy she used to help breathe new life into the pancake chain.

Of the 1,319 IHOP eateries across the globe, 99 percent are franchises. Nearly 75 percent of Applebee's 1,943 locations are franchises.

"We've been down this road before and successfully led a total business transformation," Stewart said during a conference call. "We plan to do it again with Applebee's."

Read the rest at dailynews.com

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

*Update -- Check out the photos by DN Photographer Hans Gutknecht here. You won't regret it...

Also at Burbank Airport today -- more shameless Simpsons Movie marketing!

JetBlue Airways, The Official Airline of Springfield, Unveils First-Ever Specialty Aircraft in Celebration of The Simpsons Movie Release

WHAT: JetBlue Airways, recently named The Official Airline of Springfield, will christen its first-ever specialty aircraft “Woo-Hoo! JetBlue!” in celebration of The Simpsons Movie release.

WHO: *Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson

*The Simpsons Movie filmmakers and producer Denise Sirkot
*JetBlue crewmembers and executives

WHEN: Tuesday, July 17 11AM - 12 PM
*Please allow adequate time for parking and set up.

WHERE: Million Air Burbank
2800 N. Clybourn Ave Burbank, CA 91505

VISUALS: Plane christening with Buzz Cola from Kwik-E-Mart/7-Eleven
Life-sized, 3-D The Simpsons Movie couch theater display
Interior of aircraft (Airbus A320) will be available for media tours, featuring a continuous offering of Simpsons episodes on FOX Channel 41.

We may even have photos later...

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

A balanced meal to start your week.

• They've snuffed out cigarettes in Calabasas, Santa Monica, Burbank and Beverly Hills — and now a group of local residents has started pressing for a public smoking ban in Glendale. Advocates behind the "No Butts Glendale" campaign have been pushing the City Council since June to consider outlawing smoking in parks, lines and within 25 feet of sidewalks and business entrances. Daily News
  See their online petition here.

• Glendale-based IHOP (that's International House of Pancakes, for those not hip with the lingo) announced today it has entered into a deal to acquire Applebee's International Inc., operator of Applebee's restaurants, for $25.50 per share in cash, or about $2.1 billion. The all-cash transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007, is subject the usual shareholders and regulatory approvals, of course.

• Lawyers in the Grand View Memorial Park civil suit will be doing some discovery Tuesday. News Press

• The Pasadena Star-News paid their repsects at slain Glendale College cheer captain Brittani Idom's memorial.
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

As noted in my colleague-in-biz Julia Scott's Bargain Hunter blog, Target's Glendale Galleria store will open its doors July 24 for "Family & Friends," then heading into Grand Opening festivities Sunday, July 29.

When the news broke last year the red bullseye is heading into the hollowed-out anchor once home to Robinsons-May, I recalled a couple of haters say the Galleria is going downmarket with this new tenant. To you, I say stop the hate and relish the store that carries everything including a $46.89 Lobster Mold and a $679 espresso machine.

Target Opening Schedule:

Tuesday, July 24 – Family & Friends opening from 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday, July 25 – Soft opening
Sunday, July 29 – Grand opening for the public.

Target at Glendale Galleria Operating Hours
Monday – Saturday: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm

Posted by Eugene Tong at 01:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

A smorgasboard.

• A 24-year-old woman was killed in Glendale last night by a hit-and-run driver. The woman was hit by the car about 9:40 last night on Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road, said Glendale police Sgt. Dennis Smith. The victim was walking west across Glendale Avenue, about 50 feet south of Windsor Road, accompanied by another woman, when she was struck by a black Mercedes-Benz. Daily News CBS2 (video)

• The Times profiles Burbank's Autobooks-Aerobooks, which has been in business since 1951. It's collection of books, models and memorabillia for gearheads has drawn a celebrity clientele including Nicholas Case, Tim Allen and Jay Leno.

• Since gunfire errupted at Brand Park a couple weeks ago, frightened residents have been stroming the Glendale City Council pushing for more police patrols, security cameras and removal of the basketball hoops there, which they say draw unsavory elements. News Press

• Here's a tale involving unsuspecting travellers flying to Vegas from Burbank on Southwest, and rock god Tommy Lee. E! Online
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 09:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

For the record, that last blog post took 15 minutes to type out on the iPhone (granted I included the half-dozen tries it took me to log into Movable Type -- it's tougher than you think to get those fingers exactly on the right key to spell my login and password, even if they're already 10 times the size of those itty-bitty Blackberry keys...)

So I couldn't resist running back to the Galleria Apple store to taking the thing for a test drive when 6 p.m. rolled around. After I cruised past some anti-war protesters outside Mervyn's and made the store at about 6:20 p.m, the gadget grab was already on -- about 65 people through the store so far, with more coming.

More pics and thoughts on the way...

Continue reading "iPhone Test Part Two -- or More Thoughts From a Tech Layman...*" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 07:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Blog entry by iPhone.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 06:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

The obligatory iPhone post -- what self-respecting blogger could ignore the hype? Heck, this'll probably drive a couple more hits to this humble blog...

So I got to the Glendale Galleria at 10 a.m., and the line was bout 150 long and snaking from the mall Apple store, rounding the corner at Abercrombie & Fitch then out to the parking garage and beyond.

Continue reading "iCame, iSaw, iGot Paid 100 Bucks by My Aunt to Wait Here..." »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 02:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

i-blog.

• The Armenian National Committee takes its share of credit in the LA Times Managing Editor Doug Frantz's resignation, pegging it as fallout from his spiking that Armenian Genocide story back in April. But so far, no actual reason from the Times newsroom, other than word Frantz is heading back to Istanbul to head Middle East coverage for the Wall Street Journal.

• Meanwhile, if you're still keeping score, this year's version of the Armenian Genocide recognition bill making its way through the House now has 218 co-sponsors -- a majoirty -- screams Rep. Adam Schiff in a release this morning.

  "In gaining 218 cosponsors today, we have demonstrated that a majority of the House strongly supports recognizing the facts of the Armenian Genocide,” said Congressman Adam Schiff. “While there are still survivors left, we feel a great sense of urgency in calling attention to the attempted murder of an entire people. Our failure to acknowledge these dark chapters of history prevents us from taking more effective action against ongoing genocides, like Darfur.”

  “The Affirmation of the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide” resolution (H. Res. 106) calls on the President to "ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding" of the 'Armenian Genocide' and to “accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide.”

• It's new to me: The Falcon, Crescenta Valley High's school paper.

• The line was out the door and into the back parking structure at the Glendale Galleria this morning as about 150 people line-up for the iPhone, Apple's new must-have gadget....we'll have photos as soon as i upload...
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Another quarter, another blast of tenant news for The Grove East, otherwise known as The Americana at Brand. You already know about Barnes & Noble relocating to the Rick Caruso mixed-use extravaganza next to the Glendale Galleria. The new list includes some heavy hitters, opportunities for shoppers to work up that national debt. The release from Caruso Affiliated says the mall is now 80 percent leased.

Shoe mavens have Kate Spade, which is opening its first Los Angeles-area location; Barneys New York CO-OP features designer casuals. There's also fancy cookware dealer Sur La Table. (I'm looking at YOU, Galleria tenant Williams Sonoma...)

For the hoi poloi, there's The Cheesecake Factory, and a pinkberry outlet. (Taking the faux-gurt back from knock-off purveyor Roseberry or Rosegreen or whatever their name is up the street...)

*For more Caruso goodness, check out this past weekend's edition of KPCC's Off-Ramp, which spent some time with LA's uber-developer -- there's a chat with Ed Leibowitz, who profiled the man for Los Angeles Magazine; and take a walk with Caruso through The Grove, where he shares a few hidden secrets...

Other Americana tenants:

Continue reading "A Barney, a Kate, more Cheesecake and Faux-Yogurt Multiplies*" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

The City of Glendale is working on a license system for tobacco sellers doing business here as a tool to prevent underage smoking. City officials are holding a meeting tonight to take-in public comments -- Perkins Building Community Room, 141 N. Glendale Ave., Room 118. Call Noreen Benjaminsen at (818) 548-2125 for more details.

Burbank already launched a permiting system for retailers of cancer sticks within their borders last month. It costs stores $200 a year.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Here's a look at Baskin-Robbins, which has been trying to shed its old, linoleum-ecnrested image for something more hip in order to compete in a crowded marketplace. Boston Globe has the story, though I wrote about this about two years ago when they opened one of their first new concept stores with the new logo in Stevenson Ranch. It reminded me of Starbucks, but brighter.

Local historians will recall those 31 flavors started life in Glendale in about 1945. It's now owned by the company that owns Dunkin' Donuts back east, though it still operates an ice cream test lab out in Burbank, I believe. Ah, here's a 2003 Time magazine story with a peek inside the lab.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Today's theme: Gluttony...

• An Washington-based pizza franchise is moving into Burbank and other locales in Daily News-land (that being Simi Valley, Stevenson Ranch and Valencia), according to CurbedLA. Never had a Garlic Jim's pie, but if anyone out there has and cares to share, leave a comment below!

• Meanwhile, Daily News restaurant critic Larry Lipson stops by the year-old Porto's Burbank. Excerpt:

  Last year, Porto's came to neighboring Burbank's Magnolia Park and took off right away. It's a mega hit. Tasty, refreshing, quickly served fare at very reasonable prices. And no tips.

  What originally was primarily a bakery where there were a few tables available for a pastry nosh and a cup of coffee had turned into a hugely successful, quasi-self-service cafe.

  See the rest of the review here.

  Also, Sharon Kaplan over at our reawakened Table Talk food blog praises Porto's potato ball!

• Don't forget to check out our link to Chowhound's good eats in Burbank/Glendale thread to our right...
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)|

Despite a call for help making picket signs and plans to hire temp nurses in anticipation of a one-day strike scheduled today, both sides in the conflict between the nurses union and management at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center have pulled back from the brink, at least for now...

Brent Hopkins reports both sides have agreed to a 30-day cooling off period brokered by Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon, who obviously doesn't represent Burbank, but got involved because of his union ties and his district in L.A. covers Providence Holy Cross, the hospital's sister facility in Mission Hills.

BURBANK - Late Monday, hours before nearly 1,500 members were set to walk off the job at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, the unions representing nurses, technicians and staff called off a planned strike.

Seeking to prod hospital management into better job security and added staffing, SEIU-UHW West (formerly Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West) and SEIU Local 121 RN had called for a one-day walkout beginning at 6 a.m. today.

Hospital officials said they would use replacement workers on a three-day contract and threatened to keep strikers off the job on Wednesday and Thursday.
...
The two parties hope to resume negotiations later this week.

A marketing/pr official at St. Joe's told me this morning ths deal is holding and everybody's at work.

Update 9 a.m. -- In fact, both sides are slated to return to the negotiating table Wednesday.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 08:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

Another year, another anniversary for Damon's the venerable bamboo-and-palm frond tiki steakhouse on Brand. For it's 70th today, they're doing a fundraiser for Glendale Healthy Kids. The $20 cover gets you in on a celebration of meat and protein at 1937 prices -- that's $1.10 for a New York, $1 for a Filet Mignon. See the menu here.

Party begins at 4 p.m.

Yelp.com's reviews and Citysearch's entry.

How TIki is Damon's? Ask Critiki!

Keep reading for the release...

Continue reading "Damon's Spices 70th Bash with 1937 Prices" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)|

via Globe St...

The Burbank Collection, that city-block size, mixed-use residential/retail project bound by by Magnolia Boulevard, San Fernando Boulevard, Orange Grove Avenue and First Street has sold more than 60 percent of its 118 condo units, according to developer Champion Development Group of Los Angeles.

Four retailers Skechers USA Inc., Johnny Rockets restaurant, Café Venizie and Amuse Jewelry have sign leases at the complex.

The Burbank Collection is the second phase of a project called Burbank Entertainment Village, a $90 million urban infill mixed-use development. The first phase was developed by Kansas City, MO-based AMC Entertainment Inc. and completed in July 2003. It is anchored by a 16-screen AMC Megaplex with a Macaroni Grill, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Coldstone Creamery among the tenants that occupy the 30,000 sf of retail and restaurant space in phase one.

I recalled when that was AMC's parking lot -- in fact, I went out to movie there back in 2000, (the forgettable Bounce with Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck) and got stuck there for a couple hours when the battery on my old VW Jetta died and needed a jump from a good samaritan.

Now it's part of the Burbank Entertainment Village -- which some locals are still hating on during City Council meetings, nitpicking on traffic and arcane land use formulas that are the province fo the obsessed.

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The labor dispute between nurses and management at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center is escalating, with the union preparing a one-day strike on Tuesday and talk of a two-day lockout beginning Wednesday (because the contracted temps to fill-in Tuesday have to stay a minium three days).

Here's Jason Kandel's story from Saturday:

BURBANK - Management at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and the union that represents its employees have discussed bringing in a federal mediator to help move stalled contract negotiations forward, but it won't be in time for a planned one-day strike at 6 a.m. on June 12.

The 1,500 employees represented by the SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West and SEIU Local 121RN -- announced last month that they will protest unfair labor practices and call on the hospital to work with its employees on issues affecting patient care.

The bargaining committee is stalled over a no-subcontracting clause -- which would ensure the employees wouldn't be laid off, retirement health benefits, a unionized education fund, safer staffing ratios and to bring an outside arbitrator for patient care. But the group has made movement on wages.

Meanwhile, the union is busy making signs for the picket, according this release:

Continue reading "Providence St. Joseph Nurses Prepping for Strike" »

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Day 4 of the Daily News' Exposed: Porn in the Valley series includes my write-up of Porn Star Karaoke -- an industry mixer/party held at Sardo's Restaurant in Burbabnk for the past three-going-on-four years.

It's my small, geographical contribution to our look at XXX -- and I have to admit, a pleasure to take on. Contrary to any images of Boogie Nights its name may conjure, it was mostly a mellow night of song, dancing, drinks and conversation, porn or otherwise. Still, it was raining that night and they weren't holding a special event, so the crowd may have been a little off...

Allow me to thank PSK organizer Konnie and Sardo's manager Seymour Satin for letting me in on their party, and putting up with my questions, which got more and more aimless as the clock approached 1 a.m.

While you're at it, check out the audio slide show DN photographer Michael Owen Baker and I put together of our PSK night out.

If the story link above doesn't work (Flash required), try this. And here's the PSK Club's Yahoo! group.

As Konnie told me, PSK is "whatever you want it to be -- just don't bring a bunch of guys." Remember -- ratios, people.

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Curbed LA is backing off from their earlier post that the Glendale Home Depot will be closing to make way for a residential/retail mixed-use development.

According to the latest, a City of Glendale planner told one of their tipsters no such thing is in the works for the San Fernando Road property. However, they did say Lowe's would be building a store at the old Levitz site on 5375 W. San Fernando Road.

I would check for myself, but I'm technically still on vacation...

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