THE STREET
Word on the street ...
[Mayoral Race]
Un-American Activities?
As campaign phone calls go, this one was a doozy. Was it a return to the divisive antics of the last mayoral race, in which winner Jim Hahn painted Antonio Villaraigosa as soft on (brown) crime? Is the ugly race card appearing again in time to influence March's election? "Before voting for mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa, be aware of his ties to racist groups and shocking un-American activities," said a man identifying himself as Hal Netkin, in an automated call. Turns out Netkin is no tool of Mayor Hahn's reelection machine. He appears to be a San Fernando Valley gadfly who dislikes all the major candidates and favors conservative Walter Moore. His site, Mayorno.com, calls Villaraigosa a "Mexican nationalist," State Sen. Richard Alarcón a communist, Hahn a "pay-to-play mayor," former state Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg a member of an "anti-American" group, Councilman Bernard Parks soft on gangs, and trial lawyer Moore "your only choice." Villaraigosa spokesman Nathan James writes off Netkin's crusade as somewhat quixotic. "We don't think it's a factor in the race," James says. "This is a fringe guy with what looks like a vendetta against Antonio. We're certainly not responding. It's not worth going there."
-Dennis Romero
[Style]
Hate the Player, Not the Game
With the January 10 release of his 45th annual "Worst Dressed" list, style critic Mr. Blackwell continued to tell some of the wealthiest women in the world that you can purchase new body parts but you can't buy good taste. (And you might not secure a trustworthy wardrobe assistant, either.) This comes as encouraging news to the rest of America. "I just [wrote] what I felt was right or wrong, and the public has happily agreed with me most of the time," Blackwell, a former fashion designer and radio personality, tells CityBeat. "If they didn't, the list would not have survived all this time."
It was 1960 when the flamboyant fashion policeman first blew the whistle on megawatt violators. Back then, actress Anna Magnani took top tacky honors, followed closely by an unkempt Brigitte Bardot. While Blackwell has always offered a "best" list, too, it's the catty critiques he's known for, especially as the cult of celebrity has turned away from elegant movie stars toward "it" girls whose greatest talent may be their ability to look like hell in front of photographers. "They think they [look good]," Blackwell explains. "They like what they do ... [plus] a lot of designers take advantage of that and try to peddle off what they are trying to push."
So when Nicollette Sheridan, this year's number one "worst," showed up at the Golden Globes on Sunday, kicking off Hollywood's fashion season in a body-hugging, cleavage-celebrating black Valentino, she looked surprisingly demure. ("In barely-there bombs she's a taste-free pain: Let's crown her the Tacky Temptress of Wisteria Lane," Blackwell decried days earlier.) While not convinced of his influence, the King of the Couture Cut-Downs feels he's providing a public service, however vaporous and vapid, and regardless of his own fashion falls. Asked if he'll ever evaluate male stars, the emperor reveals his true clothes. "Personally, I am just not interested in male fashion, nor do I think I am qualified to comment," he says. "I'm still wearing blazers."
-Rebecca Epstein
[Poetry]
Return to Rhyme
California's public schools might not have any books next year due to proposed budget cuts, but at least they'll have a little poetry reading now and then to refresh their rapidly fading memories of literature. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced recently that he will re-launch the state's poet laureate position, and it'll only cost taxpayers the amount of a small personal stipend for the lucky wordsmith.
The position was first created in 1915 as a lifetime honorary title. That system lasted until 2001, when then-Gov. Gray Davis made it a term-limited two-year appointment. Unfortunately, Quincy Troupe, the first modern California poet laureate, resigned after he allegedly falsified information about his educational background. For the last two years, our state has been laureate-challenged. Good thing, too, as the California Arts Council (CAC), which helps the state run the poet laureate program, has seen its budget shrink by 94 percent since fiscal year 2003. Schwarzenegger, however, thinks the laureate program is worth preserving. "We are encouraged by this step because it shows that the governor's administration sees the value of arts and culture to this state," says CAC spokesman Adam Gottlieb.
Through six mandatory public readings and a cultural project of his or her own creation, the poet laureate will preach the power of the spoken word and sing the praises of the Golden State. Any self-proclaimed poet is eligible, and the title will be given to the person with the highest quality work and communications skills. The CAC will create a group of peer reviewers, a panel of fellow poets, to assess each candidate and come up with three finalists. The governor will then choose one nominee to be confirmed by the State Senate. The deadline for applications is January 31. (See www.cac.ca.gov.)
"California has a rich fabric in arts and culture," Gottlieb says. "It is only fitting that California bring to the forefront the importance of learning, the importance of how we can better communicate and teach so many things through the arts."
-Kate PetrePublished: 01/20/2005
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