HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATALINI'S!!!

Cantalini’s Salerno Beach Restaurant owner Lisa Schwab celebrated her tenth year of owning the Italian restaurant on January 2 with a buffet and live entertainment in appreciation of the support and loyalty of her customers and fellow community members.

All journalism aside, I have eaten here on many occasions and every meal was delicious. I highly reccommend the Penne ala Vodka!!! Buonissimo!!!
Great Job Lisa and keep up the good work!!!

Cantalini’s is at 193 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey. For more information go to www.salernobeach.com/.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

As I write this, 2009 has come to a close, along with the as-yet unnamed decade. We had the ’80s and the ’90s, so is this the ’00s? Will we call it the zeros, the 2,000s, the single digits? Someone is bound to come up with something catchy, I just thought it would have happened by now (someone last night said we should name it the AUGHTS, as in we aught to have done better in the last ten years).

(Add Paul Schaffer saying something that makes that funny).

2010 looks to be a worse year than last. The economy is slowing at a pace that is even worse than the great depression. Less money = less travel which means that there will be no travel section on this blog. I will welcome satellite contributors but there's no way I can go anywhere. So if you have a small town you'd like to pitch to us please drop me a line.

All this being said... we need to be optimistic about as we begin the new decade. The PDR Press is holding steady, working to increase business while watching costs, as are many local businesses.

(Add Paul Schaffer again).

Below Mayan Calendar:

For example, or as my maid Maria says: "Mal ejelempo!" My hardworking staff is to be commended. And what I mean by staff is me. For those of you who didn't get it that staff is me. So, I implore you all to write in and thank me for what I am doing!!! My talents have gotten us through the extraordinary challenges of 2009 and most likely will get me through next year as well. My big problem is 2012. Who knows what will happen then? Those Mayans dude... I hate to say it but they were probably only half reading this prophecy because they're Mexicans. And Mexicans are... fill in the blank. this is a newspaper not an OP ED column.All I'm saying is, in 2012 this won't be the Playa Press, it will be something more like the Billings press because there's no way I'm going to be here that year. It's not like I really believe that stuff about the Mayan calendar and the appocolyspe but that John Cusak movie was pretty convincing. I mean, would you really want to be here if that happened? At any rate...

In the upcoming year my resolution will be to continue my efforts to be your the best source of local information on this side of the Ballona Creek. Every Thursday The PDR Press is waiting for you on the net. I will continue walking my dog and weighing in on Local issues such as the increasing meth problem in PDR. And that brings us to...

Big Local News:

There was a Meth Bust over on Pershing. I'm not kidding. There are some hillbilly kids who's dad is a big real estate guy or something. The brother was taken to jail while the sister was evicted from the apartment. Then after the Meth dealing brother left his disgruntled clients started showing up at the house. They started trying to break in and one of the perps actually said he was going to do harm to the sister. From that point on I'm sure you all heard the story, sister maims a guy, she goes to jail, guy ends up suing, real estate dad has to end up selling the place to pay this guy off. What blows my mind is that thins person who was hurt was a fucking meth head!!! Does being hurt by your dealer constitute you being able to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars!!!? If it does I think I am going to get into meth because I am obviously doing something wrong. Below you can see the mug shots of the people in suspect.

Just kidding, that's obviously Mel Gibson

Below are the people in suspect!!! Do not treat them well, they should be treated like meth heads because they are:

As well as overseeing the news department and writing my own stories, I also select the content and photos for the Police Blotter section.

I write write on many topics but specialize in the goings on in Marina del Rey/ Playa. I also write copy for our special advertising section(Will be up soon).

I'm great because I always come up with two or three in-depth stories each week and report on a wide range of topics. In the upcoming issue I will be discussing the sex offenders here in Playa and I will pair that with my various movie ideas. Here's a taste of what you will have in store for early 2010.

The guy below lives in my neighborhood. I saw him at Yum Yum Donuts a few weeks ago. It does not make me feel well that this guy literally walks by my nieces school everyday.

If you see the man in the picture to the left please do not be nice to him. He is a sex offender 3. For those of you who do not know what that is please read below:

632-A:3 Felonious Sexual Assault. – A person is guilty of a class B felony if such person:
I. Subjects a person to sexual contact and causes serious personal injury to the victim under any of the circumstances named in RSA 632-A:2; or
II. Engages in sexual penetration with a person, other than his legal spouse, who is 13 years of age or older and under 16 years of age where the age difference between the actor and the other person is 4 years or more; or
III. Engages in sexual contact with a person other than his legal spouse who is under 13 years of age.
IV. Engages in sexual contact with the person when the actor is in a position of authority over the person and uses that authority to coerce the victim to submit under any of the following circumstances:
(a) When the actor has direct supervisory or disciplinary authority over the victim by virtue of the victim being incarcerated in a correctional institution, the secure psychiatric unit, or juvenile detention facility where the actor is employed; or
(b) When the actor is a probation or parole officer or a juvenile probation and parole officer who has direct supervisory or disciplinary authority over the victim while the victim is on parole or probation or under juvenile probation.
Consent of the victim under any of the circumstances set forth in paragraph IV shall not be considered a defense.

Long of the short is, he diddled a toddler, so don't be nice to him. Be wary of him. I'm not giving names but you know who you are RAY**** WH*****.

Aside from me, I also have three contributing columnists. Mystery Writer 1 who writes about life in The Jungle. We have Mystery Contributor 2 who sends me images of PDR and shares her knowledge of the people in the Jungle as well as the PDR Hills and Lastly we have PAL who speak to the boating community in PDR. Below are a few of her photos.

PALS PICS:


How the hell did someone get ship wrecked in Playa?


The work of pirates I tell you!!!

I actually like this last one!!!

I interviewed a life guard on the scene. He said that he is renting out the boat to homeless folk who cant afford suitable housing or the Santa Monica shelter!!! His philosophy was out of sight out of mind, to which I have to disagree with but what can you do? If I tried to save every person in this world I would not be able to bring you fine people the news.

Finally, INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
As promised before my new movie idea!!!

This movie was inspired by the events which occurred on XMAS day. You know the idiot who tried to blow a hole in the side of a plane filled with DUTCHMEN!!! The Dutch are a peaceful people until provoked. Once you provoke them you can only hope for their mercy which you probably won't find. Messing with them is like being the guy who puked on a friends carpet and fell asleep. Then you try to make it up to them the next day... my subscribers know that guy. I've been that guy.

I digress, the movie idea. The movie would revolve around the Bloods and Crips uniting to fight a common foe... AL QUEDA!!!

Think movie trailer guy saying this:
They though they were invincible but even ALA can't save 'em now.

Name of the film:
HOMIE-LAND SECURITY

If you have more movie ideas feel free to write me and I will post them.

This is getting long...

As this year ends and the new one begins, I am grateful for myself and those outside the PDR Press who provide their services, for their skill and dedication to putting out a quality BLOG PAPER.

I will be back Tuesday with more images and stories. Thanks for all of your support.

To myself and the community I serve, I wish all a very happy and prosperous new year!

The Prince of Playa

Editor and Publisher

RAIN!!!

Rain!!! Decemeber 7th 2008. Rain!!! invades Playa Del Rey. Mother nature begins to flex her natural muscle sweeping the scum from our gutters, not to mention she's giving us all a free car wash!!!

Today, bewildered drivers screeched and skidded down Manchester Avenue awestruck and confused by the phenomenon. Can they drive... no!!! They drive off to their sad jobs in a state of complete debilitating fear. Fear that the steady sun may never return.

This fear causes accidents. Child killing accidents.

One subscriber related me his fear of how he believes the rain will bring German scientists who produce weapons of mass devastation. Now in my opinion that is an absurd notion however in regards to safety I took to action. This very morning I wrote a letter to the President of Neighborhood Council for Westchester and Playa Del Rey, Cindi Hench, and urged her to look into the matter.

You can find any of your local community leaders at the following website:
http://www.ncwpdr.org

In my letter to them I advised that they form a committee on the safety of residents in the neighborhood for days like today. These drivers must be stopped at all costs, because this whole thing can snowball like Germany invading Poland in 1939 which could plunge the locals into a state of chaos and confusion.

Over the last year I have counted 10 accidents at the corner of Manchester and Tuscany. My girlfriends car was totalled in one of these accidents. Less than one month ago someone was going so fast he flipped his car and totaled two parked vehicles. To make things worse, not one day goes by where I do not hear someone blaring their horn at a speeding motorist. Long story short we need some more stop lights along Manchester. One of these days a kid is going to get hit by one of these speeding jackasses and people are going to be up in arms on the state of this stretch of road. I say it once more, we need a stop light before a child dies. A child will die if we don't do something now.

I urge you all to write to Cyndi Hench and request more stop lights in PDR, especially along Manchester. I have seen too many accidents on days like today and I believe they can prevented. I spoke with officer Downey about why there are certain spots along Manchester where stop lights could be placed. He told me the reason we lack stop lights is due to lack of local interest. If we the people speak up we can put up more stop lights and stop these drivers from ruining our lives and cars. I implore you all to write Cyndi Hench and make her aware of our issues because if we don't speak up who will... I know the rain won't

Playa's Past!!! Awesome Subscriber Pics...

To move forward we have to know where we have been. Truer words have never been spoken and on that note I give you today's little entry.

After posting my first entry /mission statement yesterday I received an email from a good friend of mine who lives down in the jungle. He sent me some pictures of Playa Del Rey in the past. It took me a while tofigure out where a few of the pics were from but I think if you look long enough at them you will be able to figure it out.









The person who can give me the locations of all the pictures below will be bought a pint by yours truly, The Prince Of Playa...

Enjoy the Images---

Playa Del Rey Press Mission Statement

Hello all.

I am writing this blog to specifically report all things occurring in Playa Del Rey, CA. Here's a bit of History on this fantastic neighborhood.

I have lived here for over 5 years now and I think it is hands down Los Angeles best kept secret. It's the last of California's sleepy beach towns. It's sad watching them(the old school Cali beachtowns) all go away so I want to report as much on this neighborhood before it too is corrupted by California's real estate developers.

Here's a bit of history as reported by Wikipedia.

History

Overlooking the entrance to the marina and Ballona Creek, with the tightly-packed area known as The Jungle in the foreground.

The community's proximity to LAX has made airport expansion a hot button issue to residents.

Playa del Rey as seen from Ballona Creek.

The northern part was originally wetlands, but the natural flooding was halted by the concrete channel which contains Ballona Creek. Before 1824, the harbor was the mouth of the Los Angeles River, before its course shifted to its current outlet at San Pedro. A bridge between Playa Del Rey and the jetty between Ballona Creek and the Marina is accessible to foot traffic and bicycle traffic, but not to automobiles. Bikers, skaters and joggers probably have the best chance of traversing the sidewalks of the beaches north to Santa Monica, and to the South Bay, here at this bridge. Both UCLA and LMU have crew teams that practice on the Ballona Creek channel.

In the 1870s, Playa Del Rey was the location of the first attempt at a dredged harbor in Santa Monica Bay. Under contract with the Atcheson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, Moye Wicks' syndicate spent $300,000 to dredge "Ballona Harbor," for shipping to the Orient. Within three years, wicked winter waves brought flooding and failure, but what remained of man's early efforts became the Playa Del Rey Lagoon, now a regional public park.

Development of Playa del Rey surged in 1928 with the building of the Del Rey Hills neighborhood in what is now the southern part of the community and move of then Loyola University to nearby Westchester. The area was the last stretch of coastal land in the city of Los Angeles to be developed.^[2]

A large portion of Playa del Rey is now vacant, and homes were destroyed, after the expansion of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) brought increased flight traffic. The noise from the flights made it less desirable to live on the dunes above the ocean under the LAX flight path. LAX bought the southern section of Playa del Rey under the power of eminent domain, eventually numbering 4,400 homes.^[3] Today one can see only barbed-wire fences protecting vacant land and old streets where houses once sat. Recent LAX rejuvenation plans call for the city to finally remove the old streets that still line the empty neighborhood once known as Palisades del Rey. The condemned areas of the community are now a protected habitat of the endangered El Segundo blue butterfly.

Playa del Rey in the 1950s and early 1960s was known as a great Los Angeles area "surfing spot," but due to the many rock jetties that were built to prevent beach erosion, the good surf is mostly gone. The beach at the northermost end of Playa del Rey is still known as "Toes Over Beach", "Toes Beach" or just "Toes" by the local surfing community, a name derived from the toes over or Hang Ten surfing maneuver. Most surfers now flock south of Dockweiler Beach, to "El Porto", the most northern part of beach in the city of Manhattan Beach. The lifeguard and park services are uniform across the entire twenty mile stretch of beach.

One danger for beachgoers is the uncontrolled water runoff from the creek, and the occasional overflow from the giant Hyperion treatment plant to the south.

Locals refer to the small area of housing south of Culver Boulevard and closest to the beach as The Jungle, a nickname given to a group of closely-built apartments built in 1956, within the bounding streets Trolley Place and Trolleyway Street on its east and west respectively, and including the streets Fowling, Rees, Sunridge and Surf. The small sidewalks between homes had/have deep green overgrowth, which added to the name.

This post was basically cut and paste from the wikipedia article. More things to come in the upcoming weeks.

Yours,

The Prince of Playa Del Rey