Idolator

Also, Griffith Observatory was the site of a famous scene in REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, and more importantly, in the Keanu Reeves-starring Paula Abdul video inspired by that scene, "Rush Rush".

Your title is probably safe since we lost Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes.

RIP Left Eye, RIP.

Did that Keane dude get outta rehab?

I can walk to the Greek from my house. Last night was not a fun night to live in the neighborhood.

@heidiho: I can imagine. I was getting ashed on in Laurel Canyon

I use the 1994 Q Magazine pix of Morrissey at Griffith Observatory to fend off fires in my apartment, just like Brian Wilson thinking that master tapes of some Beach Boys "fire"-themed track could start fires, or whatever the hell that story is.

Mike Joyce = Eugene Landy? Wha?

Sorry, sleepy @ work. Glad CA commenters emerged unscorched, so far. Be careful.

come on now, idolator - that pic from google maps doesn't even show the greek theatre, it shows the parking lot... track up to the northwest a little bit to actually see the greek...

The McKennitt show is tomorrow?! I can't imagine the air quality will be deemed safe enough by then.

What about the John Anson Ford Theater? Isn't that nearby as well? I remember seeing a Rilo Kiley concert there and feeling like it would be totally appropriate for deer and bunny rabbits to come out and play on stage as well. Not in a scary way.

Last night was madness, I live near Los Feliz and Commonwealth and the shit was hectic. Around 8pm people were milling about at that intersection, some drinking wine and chatting with neighbors (more than a few overheard remarks about how this was the first time many of us had talked to one another, sad but true). Then after nightfall, the fires looked a lot worse which was probably a combination of darkening skies + bright orange fire AND the fact that the fires were actually getting worse. When flames were shooting up close to Los Feliz Blvd-level, far up Commonwealth, people started to leave and that's when I had to evacuate. There was never any imminent danger, but it seemed ridiculous to stick around and tax an already overworked LAPD (which is exactly what a few people did, either out of stubbornness or rampant douchery). Everyone east of Vermont and north of Los Feliz Blvd had to leave, so my friends who live on the south side of the blvd were okay (but they left anyway because their power was out). I eventually sneaked back home around 1am, but no one was in my building and I figured if I stuck around I might get bullhorned out when they saw the lights on in my place. I typically don't get nervous about fires but this one was *slightly* nerve-wracking. I'm going up to the park this weekend, if I can, to take some photos. From what I've seen the area right above where I live looks pretty devastated.

BYT --

the Ford Theater is a several miles and several wealthy developments away from Griffith Park. Speaking of animals hopping around, there were a few skittish coyotes headed down my street out of the park around the time I left. Which isn't necessarily out of the norm, since coyotes are usually pretty skittish and nocturnal, but they looked even more spooked than usual.

@riverrun: We must be neighbors!

Just got an email from the Greek mailing list that the McKennitt show has been moved to the Gibson Amphitheatre.

Apparently so! Or you north or south of the boulevard? What's funny is yesterday morning I was thinking, hmm, tonight I might have time to jog from my place to the peak and back. Maybe I'll attempt a run down to the AFI tonight. Is the air clear over there right now? I once tried to go up Runyon during a remarkably smoky post-fire day back in '04 and nearly caught and died from lung cancer in one fell swoop.

I'm a block south. And I didn't have power. Any idea if it's been restored? I'm still at work. My throat has been killing me all day. Breathing in that smoke last night just ruined my sinuses.

Also, I met about 10 neighbors last night I'd never spoken to. Under awful circumstances, but I'm glad I met them all.

My friend who lives at that corner e-mailed me from work about two hours ago from somewhere else, saying he'd just been there and the power had yet to be restored. My power never went out, strangely. I'm not sure how that happened, but the extremely pricey condos right next door lost theirs. The night included the strange sight of all of that place's residents teaming together to push open the underground gated entrance and propping it up with ladders (I think they were trying to get their cars out?). I'm still smelling smoke on my clothes and I think my cigarette-quitting endeavor was set back about six months last night.

Were you hanging out on one of those corners last night? I talked to a lot of people I hadn't met before but am likely to talk to again because of last night (which is cool, despite the circumstances).

OK, just talked to a neighbor. Our power was restored about three hours ago, she says. Everyone around us had power but our little block. So odd.

For a while I was on the corner of Los Feliz & Rowena, but then found a neighbor's courtyard to hang out in after that.

I ended up at a friend's place near Gelson's for awhile and then went back up to grab some essentials and headed out to Santa Monica. I was tempted to take some records, too, but I figured on the off-off chance my place went up I'd have bigger problems than losing my Fleetwood Mac LPs or whatever, so I left them behind.

I just hope the air is tolerable by the time I get back there tonight.

This Idolator post now knows what it's like to be swept up in a fire. Can we talk about lasers now?