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SoCal Focus

SoCal Focus is a blog about the people, places, and issues in and around Southern California.

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The Wicked Witch of redevelopment is dead, but we may regret it.
Photograph by Douglas McCulloh
The nighttime security officer arrives when the sun sets and the Santa Ana River is lit by floodlights at the construction site. Here in March of 1774, a party formed by Juan Bautista de Anza to form a trading route in New California crossed the river ...
Metropolis II
One of this week's highlights in art is the opening of what LACMA director Michael Govan dubs "a portrait of LA," namely to Chris Burden's exhilarating freeway sculpture, "Metropolis II."
Chinese New Years, 17 February 1961. Bill Hong; Mayor Norris Poulson; Julie Li. Courtesy of USC Libraries
President Obama was born in the Year of the Metal Ox, while Mitt Romney is a Fire Pig.
The Salton Sea, possibly doomed | Creative Commons photo by Seabamirum
You might expect environmentalists worried about the Salton Sea to be outraged at the proposed cut. As it turns out? Not so much.
fandango1
The current debate over son jarocho in L.A. ranges from expletive pissing matches online to a philosophical debate over the nature of community music building and the process by which a musical practice that's spiritual to many is carried out.
Pina Wenders
Wim Wenders uses 3-D cinematography in groundbreaking ways to render the exquisite artistry of German choreographer Pina Bausch in his new film, "Pina," opening January 13, 2012.
5reads011012
A big picture look at the region with stories about the future of San Diego transportation, lesbians in the Miss California USA pageant and more.
Route considerations between proposed stations in Bakersfield and Sylmar, a San Fernando Valley neighborhood in Los Angeles | Image courtesy CA High-Speed Rail Authority
The desert route would be a few minutes longer, but would put two more million people on board each year.
It isn't enough - not even much. Still, you can see the mountains again.
Flame Alphabet
LA-based artist Erin Cosgrove has created an eerie and disturbing book trailer for Ben Marcus' new novel, The Flame Alphabet.
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