LOS ANGELES — Wall Street protesters in Los Angeles defied the mayor’s early Monday deadline to vacate their encampment near City Hall, with about 1,000 flooding into the area as hundreds of tents remained standing as they have for nearly two months. A celebratory atmosphere filled the night with protesters milling about the park and streets by City Hall in seeming good spirits. A group on bicycles circled the block, one of them in a cow suit. Organizers led chants with a bull horn. “The best way to keep a non-violent movement non-violent is to throw a party, and keep it festive and atmospheric,” said Brian Masterson. Police presence was slight right after the 12:01 a.m. PST Monday deadline, but it began increasing as the morning wore on. At the same time, the number of protesters dwindled. “People have been pretty cooperative tonight. We want to keep it peaceful,” police Cmdr. Andrew Smith told The Associated Press. He refused to discuss how or when police will move to clear the park, but he said: “We’re going to do this as gently as we possibly can. Our goal is not to have anybody arrested. Our goal is not to have to use force.” By 2:30 a.m., most protesters had moved from the camp site in the park to the streets. That put them technically in compliance with the mayor’s eviction order, but could lead to confrontation with police if they try to clear the streets. There have so far been no arrests or reports of violence. “We’re still here, it’s after 12, ain’t nobody throwing anything at the cops, they haven’t come in and broken anyone’s noses yet, so it’s a beautiful thing,” said Adam Rice, a protester standing across the street from police in riot gear. The Los Angeles showdown follows police actions in other cities – sometimes involving the use of pepper spray and tear gas – that resulted in the removal of long-situated demonstration sites. Some of those encampments had been in use almost since the movement against economic disparity and perceived corporate greed began with Occupy Wall Street in Manhattan two months ago. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said earlier that the park grounds would be closed after the deadline, while Police Chief Charlie Beck promised that arrests would eventually be made if protesters did not comply. But in a statement issued shortly before midnight, the mayor said police “will allow campers ample time to remove their belongings peacefully and without disruption.” As the deadline approached, people poured into the grounds, likely many of them answering calls on Facebook and Twitter to come out and show solidarity. Well after midnight, some protesters began marching into the streets, and several crossed the street to police headquarters. “Me and my friends, we are not leaving no matter what,” said Brian Guzman, who stood on the street corner holding a “Power to the People” sign. “Not until we get some changes.” Masterson said he had turned his own tent into a “non-violent booby trap” by filling it with sandbags to make it tough to tear down. “We can’t beat the LAPD, but we can make it difficult for them to do their job, and have fun while we’re doing it,” Masterson said. Elsewhere, a deadline set by the city for Occupy Philadelphia to leave the site where it has camped for nearly two months passed Sunday without any arrests. The scene outside Philadelphia’s City Hall was quiet most of Sunday and by early Monday the numbers of protesters – and police officers – had decreased. Philadelphia’s protesters have managed to avoid aggressive confrontations so far. By early Monday there was still hope the City of Brotherly Love would continue to be largely violence-free. But eight people were arrested in Maine Sunday after protesters in the Occupy Augusta encampment in Capitol Park took down their tents and packed their camping gear after being told to get a permit or move their shelters. In Los Angeles, some campers packed up their tents and belongings to avoid police trouble, but said they intended to return without them in support of their fellow protesters. Scott Shuster was one of those breaking down his camp, but he said it was only to protect his property and he planned to remain. “I just don’t want to lose my tent,” he said. Others moved their tents to the sidewalk so they were technically out of the park. Villaraigosa, a former labor organizer himself, has said he sympathizes with the movement but that he felt it was time it moved beyond holding on to “a particular patch of park.” He said public health and safety could not be sustained for a long period. Chief Charlie Beck told the Los Angeles Times in an interview published Sunday that he expected to make arrests at some point. “I have no illusions that everybody is going to leave,” Beck said. “We anticipate that we will have to make arrests.” Read more from the original source: Occupy LA Protesters Defy Mayor, Refuse To Leave Encampment
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Tom’s Toys Is the Spot for Holiday Shopping
In an effort to support small businesses across the country, American Express is asking consumers to shop local this month in honor of Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26. And just in time for the holiday season, buyers can find shelves full of trendy and unique toys, games and trinkets at Tom’s Toys in Beverly Hills, a popular destination for residents and visitors alike. As an independently owned small business, the North Beverly Drive location boasts staff who “will guide you to find exactly what you need,” said Steve Meynig, the shop’s manager since it opened in the summer of 1998. “Our employees speak Spanish, Farsi and some French.” With the store entering its 14th holiday season in Beverly Hills, Meynig said he expects to see some familiar faces. “Certainly one advantage of being a local business is that we get a lot of repeat business,” he said. “People have grown up with the store and while they may have grown out of playing with toys, they will still come back or refer their friends to the store.” Unlike Betty Crocker, there was actually a Tom. Tom Williams was the proprietor of the first Tom’s Toys located in San Luis Obispo. Ted Frankel purchased that shop from Williams in 1986 and went on to open stores in four other cities. Aside from the San Luis Obispo and Beverly Hills shops, there are Tom’s Toys in Montrose and Redlands that both opened in 1996, and also a store in Santa Maria, which opened in 2009. Why have a location in Beverly Hills? Frankel grew up in Westwood and had a paper route through Beverly Hills as a kid. The landlord made a very attractive lease arrangement to encourage Frankel to open a shop here, Meynig said. Tom’s Toys is an entertaining place for people of all ages. Families stroll down Beverly Drive, have dinner, stop at the store and have a good time. Fair warning to parents: come stocked with quarters. Once the mainstays of old-school stores, there’s a gum ball dispenser and a mini car ride machine. On a recent Sunday morning, Mark and Kelly Shulman were at Tom’s Toys with their three children: Jack, 11, and Ryan, 8, who attend El Rodeo School, and preschooler Ava, who is almost 5. “I love the big Lego sets,” Ryan said while Eva pleaded to ride the quarter-powered mini car. Recently relocating to Beverly Hills from Beverlywood, the Shulmans like to support local businesses, adding that they can walk to Tom’s Toys from their home. Kelly Shulman, a former first-grade teacher, said she appreciates that the store stocks alternatives to electronic and plastic toys. If you worry about giving your little ones plastic products that could contain chemical phthalates, Tom’s Toys offers a variety of wood toys. For the eco-conscious buyer, the shop carries the “Green Toys” line, which is made from recycled plastic. Trying to keep your purchase simple? Pick up a set of jacks. In a hurry to grab a gift for a birthday party? Store employees will wrap the item for free. And what does Meynig think about the efforts to recognize small businesses this month? “We honor American Express,” he said. “As a part of the Small Business Saturday campaign, we encourage people to make purchases with their card.” Tom’s Toys is located at 437 N. Beverly Drive. Store hours are Mon-Sat: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 310-247-9822 for more information. Parking is available at the city lot at 345 N. Beverly Drive. Metered street parking is also available. Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook . Excerpt from: Tom’s Toys Is the Spot for Holiday Shopping
Stacie Krajchir: An Open Letter to Kim Kardashian
Dear Kim, There is no doubt you are a hopeless romantic, you love falling in love, the same way your family loves a good cover photo. I believe you when you say you thought this marriage was forever, except for the fact that I also think you knew far before your wedding day that you were just not that into him (hello those dogs on your pretty bed? Never going to happen.) But you forged ahead, because you had already signed on the dotted line and the train had already left the building and you’re a people pleaser. Public commitment sucks. I have always given you credit, well actually, I give Mama Kris props for taking your little sex video and manipulating the public to catapult your bank account to the zillions. There’s no fault in solid, good business, but this whole wedding, relationship and divorce shenanigan — this is where we need to have a little talk. I have so many less than lady like things I want to say about you, but I’ve decided to leave the name calling to all the not so happy people who have said you’re a shallow, overrated, attention seeking, sad, pathetic, pointless, money hungry human. People are not being very nice, but we live in America, so we have to let the people say what they need to, to get through it. I think it’s safe to assume, the only thing that is on your mind right now is how you’re going to ride the wave of a PR crisis that mommy got you into; so while Mama Kris figures out how she’s going to get you out of this and make 37 million while doing so, I’m going to give you a handful of other things to think about. 1. The 400 people who drove to Santa Barbara in LA traffic, many of those people had to get babysitters and rearrange their lives to watch your pretty fantasy spill out in black and white and roses; you sort of owe them babysitting and hotel money, it’s the least you can do. 2. You received millions of dollars from E! For the rights to air your farce of a fabulous, over-the-top wedding and yet, we still can’t get gay marriage legalized. If you have one ounce of integrity, I challenge you with all my being, to donate half of that fee you received towards the mission to get gay marriage legalized. I don’t even care about what state you do it in, just do it. 3. The wedding vendors who worked their asses off to make your perfect fantasy come to life and got paid zero in hopes to use your wedding to move their business forward, well, you might want to go ahead pay them for their stellar services; it’s the polite and proper thing to do. Oh, and, if they won’t take your money, because they’re ass kissers, I have a whole list of friends who run charities who will be happy to accept your donation in lieu of the 20 million in free products and services you received. Tweet me, I’ll send you their contact info. 4. If you’re wondering what do about that 20.5-carat ring, that little bling would do miracles for the LAUSD and help thousands of children get a better education. Just think about it, you could make change happen in your own backyard. What a concept, right? My educator husband will be happy to help guide you in this area. Tweet me, I’ll re-tweet it to him. 5. While your image and “brand” pushes sex to the millionth degree, my friends Alison, Aleda, Maria and Barbara see, treat and refer about 62,400 women a year in Haiti who are affected by gender based violence through WeAdvance.org. They built an itty-bitty clinic that is more powerful than any magazine cover. Imagine what you could do for these women, with just the cost of catering from your wedding — now that’s a cover story. I think you get where I am going with all this. Put down the Blackberry, add an “out of the country” signature on your Twitter account, tell mama Kris to back the hell up and get your ass out of Tinseltown. Be bold, be independent and surprise yourself and everyone else around you. Book a one-way solo ticket to a third world country and get some real life experience and perspective, you need it. It’s time to reach far and deep into your soul and see some things you need to see and create a vision of who you want to be as a woman. This is what Oprah might call your defining moment — which path are you going to choose? Go, sit in the uncomfortable. Dare to become a woman who stands for something and become someone who gives back and inspires young women to be something unique and spectacular; be known for creating good versus empty and predictable. Go. Be authentic. This whole famous for nothing and living your life out loud on television with no true purpose other than cash and fame is not what your father would have wished for you. You have to know when to say when, and when is right now. After a very bad break up, Stacie Krajchir-Tom left her life behind for 60 days up to volunteer in Thailand after the Asian tsunami. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacie-krajchir/tsunami-relief-work-the-m_b_79267.html. She was so inspired by her experience; she created and launched The See & Sprout Project (seandsprout.com). Read more here: Stacie Krajchir: An Open Letter to Kim Kardashian
Halloween Hangover in the Hills
Halloween seemed to go on for weeks this year, what with the marketing at stores, spooktastic billboards and celebrations at city schools . Now that the costumes can finally be put away and the fake graveyards are beginning to disappear from your neighbors’ front yards, the question is what to do with all that candy the kids collected. One option is to dole it out a little at a time until it eventually becomes hard and tasteless months later. You can stick it in the freezer to make it last longer. Meanwhile, adults have a dangerous sweet tooth and nobody to tell them when to stop. Despite the best of intentions, I’m going to raid that candy bag. The kids don’t even like the Hershey’s Special Dark chocolates, so I’m doing them a favor, right? Perhaps take some of the candy to your office and put it out for co-workers. This strategy works if you want to see your work buddies (and non-buddies) gain weight, so long as you have enough discipline to not eat too much yourself. A better alternative that several of my friends use is the “switch witch.” Think of her as the tooth fairy for Halloween. She shows up the night after Halloween, takes all the kids’ candy and replaces it with a toy. I’ve heard of other friends having a “store” where their children “buy” things they want in exchange for the candy, like gummy erasers or plastic bracelets. This allows the kids to feel that they are in control of the process of trading away their candy. It’s good for their math skills too. You could also save the candy for a future party and use it to stuff a piñata. It takes a lot of candy to fill one of those things. Last year, I gratefully took all my children’s candy to a friend who was collecting for a program called Operation Gratitude that sends care packages—including candy—to U.S. service members who are deployed overseas. The organization also asks for letters and kids’ drawings, as well as toothbrushes and toothpaste, to go along with the candy. Dentists around the country participate in this program and many act as collection sites for the treats. Check with your dentist to find out if he or she is participating. The real fun of Halloween is running around at night in costume and being bold enough to knock on strangers’ doors and demand tribute. For kids who are usually not allowed to go anywhere without their parents and are taught to be wary of strangers, that’s an incredibly powerful reversal of norms. As for the candy? While most youngsters like it, they are usually not too sad to give it up a few days—and bellyaches—after the holiday. Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook . Here is the original post: Halloween Hangover in the Hills
The Far West: L.A.’s Best Country Band
The Far West is an alternative-country band from Los Angeles, California, comprised of musicians Lee Briante , Robert Black , Erik Kristiansen and Tony Sanborn . The band’s 2011 debut album, The Far West , has made an impact on the L.A. country charts and is garnering the attention of music critics in America and overseas with its straight-forward Americana appeal. Californiality is categorically labeling The Far West as “the best L.A. country music act of 2011,” and here’s why: The Far West takes country music where it should be by now in 2011 – technically pure, slightly jaded, no-nonsense and honest with stellar storytelling for the every-man. The songwriting, musicianship and production quality on The Far West album is superb, so nothing more needs to be said.
PHOTOS: The Ten Best Cities To Trick-Or-Treat
Between the threat of razor blades in Kit Kat bars, roaming sex offenders and large spans of dark, empty roads, Halloween has the reputation of being a pretty hazardous holiday. Luckily, the data-heads over at Zillow have compiled a brand-new list of the best cities to trick-or-treat in. Researchers analyzed a host of factors, including safety, walkability, population density and median home values to determine the top places to hit the streets with the kiddies this year. Not surprisingly, the progressive haven of San Francisco came in first place, followed by Boston and Honolulu. But some unexpected spots (San Jose? Virginia Beach?) managed to make the cut, too. Unfortunately, the final list may give our friends in Suburbia an extra reason to keep their children inside this All Saints Eve. To which we can only offer our condolences and a reminder that the Fog City is certainly a lovely place to visit in the Fall. Take a look at the ten best cities for trick-or-treating below, and click over to Zillow for more information. Bummed your town didn’t make the cut? Be sure to let us know in the comments. See more here: PHOTOS: The Ten Best Cities To Trick-Or-Treat
