Allison Garwood a.k.a. Big Al, the gal, is a striking femme fatale who lives in dowtown Los Angeles. She was the creator of the recently retired syndicated comic strip, NEUROTICA. The Gal also maintains a daily blog at bigalthegal.blogspot.com.
Is your concern for your golf swing preventing you from moving to downtown LA? Well, fret not fore your golf score!
As I have never personally caused a club to come in contact with a golf ball (though I have tried), I asked a golf enthusiast about his experience living downtown and trying to maintain a decent swing.
Big Al, the gal: Have you found a driving range that is close to your downtown residence? A golf course?
Griffin: Absolutely! The Aroma driving range on Wilshire in Koreatown opens at 7 a.m. (for an early session before work).
I believe the closest golf course is the Griffith Park golf course just up the 5 and exit Los Feliz Blvd (also a driving range here that opens at 6 a.m.).
Big Al, the gal: What has been your experience with these places?
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Tags: Games · Interviews · Local LA
Home sales went up in February? Up. Yes, I said UP! Wassup with that? Are we finally out of the woods? Should we rush out to buy a home? Well, I asked Mr. Developer and here’s what he had to say:
Big Al, the gal: Is it true?
Mr. Developer: Yes, existing home sales have declined the last 6 months, but in February they rose 2.5%. However the median home price fell by the largest amount since they started keeping track in 1999. That tells me that sellers are finally dropping their prices to move their house/condo. This drop in price has helped fuel some sales in February.
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Tags: Real Estate
Thursday, my husband and I received a call with the most important and life-changing news of our lives. Our contact from the adoption agency called to let us know that the Haitian orphanage from which we are adopting, had a 2.5 month old boy named Luc for us!
Adoption isn’t a spur of the moment decision. Serious discussion began about three years ago. Paperwork started a year and a half ago. Our finalized dossier was submitted in early July.
Well, actually we will have our son after the Haitian government ssslllooowwwlllyyy files all the paperwork. However, it’s time to prepare for sweet Luc.
This gave me a great idea.
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Tags: Editorials · LA Backdrop
Sometimes we find a deal in the most unlikely place, a place that is right in front of us but that we never thought twice about. Maybe we are even too snobby to give it a first chance.
Well, I am guilty of it. I ignored what was right in front of my face for a long time. I’m deeply sorry now. Where is this magical, mystical place? Macys. No, I’m not kidding.
I went to the Macys on 7th at Hope in that little mall-lette and my eyes were opened to miracles (not as thrilled with the Macys at 7th and Fig). Would you like to hear my story? I thought so.
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Tags: Shopping
Wow! This morning, when I went upstairs (visiting parents) my Dad had the news on and shushed me. I couldn’t believe my eyes or ears!
So, I called my favorite explainer, Mr. Developer for clarification . . .
Big Al, the gal: What happened with Bear Stearns?
Mr. Developer: They were the 2nd largest holder of sub-prime mortgages. They dealt in the teaser rate loans and with people of lower credit and got left holding the bag.
Big Al, the gal: How will it affect little guys/girls like me?
Mr. Developer: Your bank stock holdings will probably go down. The price of the home or condo you want will go down. Also, inflation is creeping into the economy so prices for most everything are going up, which will exacerbate the recession.
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Tags: News · Real Estate
The vision behind this new brand of high quality bags stems from hope and integrity. Integri-who? Do we even know how to pronounce that word anymore?
Cocaine Mule is a two-year-old brand of durable bags designed with a clean, crisp, personalizable aesthetic. The bags can be combined in a million different combinations, like corporate lawyers and legal loopholes … but with a concern for the greater good. Perhaps my analogy just burst into flames when I put “concern for the greater good” so close to the heat of corporate lawyers. But you get the idea.
Until 2010, but from then on too. So really beyond 2010? Tyler Huen and Trevor Tarczynski and their hard-core brand of bags are as unique and hard to pin down as the pronunciation of Trevor’s last name.
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Tags: Fashion · Interviews
Having lived in large cities all my life, I have learned the secrets to avoiding getting robbed, saying no to aggressive beggars, and circumventing tourists. I will now share these precious secrets with you! Grab a pen and pad, I’ll wait . . .
Secret 1: Leave your fear at home.
We downtowners (yes, me included) can smell fear a mile away. Fake it till ya make it. Appearing to be calm and confident will save you a truckload of hassle from scammers asking for money.
When you say no to the guy who is explaining why he needs only seven more dollars to catch the bus down to San Diego where he has a job all lined up (and other less obnoxious beggars), look him in the eye. One of the biggest gripes from homeless folks is the feeling of invisibility. I have received expressions of displeasure after decline to give them money, but have never physically threatened.
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Tags: Local LA
The very bestest place in all of downtown LA is the Central Library. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Well, maybe later.
ALOUD is a spectacular program hosted by Central which is FREE to the public. Authors, politicians, artists, editorialists, and more are interviewed by intelligent journalists from varying publications (LA Times, Huffington Post, etc).
Wednesday, March 12, at 7pm
Josh Swiller
The Unheard: A Memoir of Deafness and Africa
In conversation with Louise Steinman, curator ALOUD at Central Library
Seeking a place where his deafness would be irrelevant, Josh Swiller volunteered for the Peace Corps and spent two years in a remote and impoverished village in Zambia. His hilarious and harrowing memoir recounts what he found there.
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Tags: Literature · Upcoming events
Big Al, the gal: Tell me about the new loan the government approved for 3% down for homes up to $700K.
Mr. Developer: The loan program that requires only 3% down is the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) loan program. The program limit used to be in the mid-$300s, but now the limit has been raised to $729k.
This new higher limit now makes many condo and home purchases in LA County eligible for the program. Developers will need to quickly get FHA approval for their projects, so that the FHA loan program can be used. Be sure to ask the sales team at the project you are interested in if they have or will be getting FHA approval.
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Tags: Real Estate
Knitting is becoming the hot new trend. Over the past few years, several of my girlfriends have mentioned knitting classes. There is even a knitting studio on 3rd Street near Fairfax which features cleverly knitted teddies in the window.
Emma Roberts (right) started a free knitting class/group at the downtown Central Library one year ago and it was an instant hit. I attended her class and she agreed to sit down for an interview.
Big Al, the gal: I’d like to learn a little about you. Where are you from? What is your roll at Central Library?
Emma: I’m originally from the UK, but I’ve lived in LA for almost ten years. I went to library school in the UK, and I also have a BA in Art History.
I’m the Subject Specialist for Art, Music & Recreation / Rare Books at Central Library. We have a fantastic collection, which is really a privilege to work with.
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Tags: Editorials · Local LA
Cafe 630 is a tasty little soup, salad, and sandwich shop located in the Central Library building. You’ll also find Panda Express and TCBY, but I’m not a junk food fan. Have I mentioned I have the metabolism of a large dead man?
Café 630 is a great place to grab a tuna sandwich and fruit salad (my favorite). Sometimes they have Lentil soup, which is great for us vegetarians. Their daily soup and half sandwich special will run you $5.99 and is plenty of food.
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Tags: Food and Drink · News · Restaurants
The downtown Los Angeles housing market is progressing and has wonderful potential. However, the developers are setting prices (per sq. foot) at a level commensurate with Santa Monica (where you’ll also get a little amenity we call the Pacific Ocean) and Beverly Hills (where you’ll find What’s-Her-Name).
There are about 150 residential projects in the works in downtown right now. That sounds promising, until you listen to what people are saying about that number. For example, a Downtown News editorial qualified an assertion with “no one pretends all 147 projects will make it to market.”
Downtown has a lot of potential, but potential don’t feed the family, pal. Little Gwendolyn has a lot of potential too, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to pay a 10 year-old $5,000 to do my taxes.
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Tags: News · Real Estate
