Lawns

It's a bird, it's a plane, it was two flying lawn chairs strapped to 350 helium balloons! In a soaring feat reminiscent of a certain Disney movie , a gas station owner and an Iraqi adventurer lifted off in a homemade flying machine in central Oregon on Saturday -- only to be forced down again by storms moving through the area, according to a report from the Associated Press . The area saw heavy rain and hail as big as nickels, the...

Robert J. Kelleher, who helped lead tennis into the modern open era while serving as president of the U.S. Lawn Tennis Assn. and who later became a U.S. District Court judge based in Los Angeles, has died. He was 99. Kelleher, who was also captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team in 1962 and 1963, died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home after a long illness, said his lifelong friend, former Mayor Richard Riordan. Before 1968, only players classified as amateurs were allowed to enter the major international tennis tournaments.

Re "Santa Monica curbs displays at city park," June 14 As an American, I cherish and defend our right to freely express our beliefs, whatever they may be, and I expect my government to ensure that we are able to do so without censor. But to set aside public park space for the sole purpose of erecting displays of either religious or atheist themes is not only impractical but wrong. Perhaps those who strongly desire to view the Nativity scenes could instead find some lawn space from among the dozens of Santa Monica churches or thousands of Christian property owners.

Looking to reopen the City Hall lawn without sparking a new and protracted occupation by demonstrators, the Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to bar tents from being set up in more than 400 parks. Wednesday's vote also explicitly prohibits using sleeping bags or cots in a park once it closes for the day. The changes were spearheaded by Councilman Richard Alarcon, who supported the Occupy movement that brought encampments to major cities around the nation. The city has prohibited camping on city parkland for years, except in areas designated for that purpose.

So there you are, in the Assembly, running for reelection, and you have to describe your "principal professions, vocations or occupations. " You're limited to three words. This is going to be your ballot designation, and even voters who don't read your campaign literature, see your lawn signs or know where the Capitol is are going to see these words, right on their ballot, when they go to vote. Your political consultant tells you your choice will have a huge impact on your chances. What should you say?

People who live along the shimmering coastline of Southern California have found many creative ways over the years to discourage the public from using the parts of the beach they would prefer to consider their own. They have put up gates that block public access and have taken down signs that say "public welcome. " The latest gambit, by residents in Newport Beach, involves planting lawns and hedges, installing sprinkler systems and fire pits, and plopping down furniture and ornaments that spill over from their property onto the public beach.

Grab your blankets and beach chairs, Oscar is going casual. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday the slate of movies for its first outdoor screening series, to be held at its new Oscars Outdoors venue in Hollywood. The lineup, which kicks off June 15 with a screening of "Casablanca," is a mixture of classics and contemporary films designed to appeal to a broad swath of the moviegoing public. Screenings will take place Friday and Saturday evenings through Aug. 18, with Saturday evenings devoted to family-friendly fare, such as "The Princess Bride" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Baseball has made the pitch. But should Griffith Park make the catch? That's the situation at the eastern edge of the 4,310-acre recreation area where supporters of youth sports teams want the city of Los Angeles to build two Little League-size ball fields. But opponents say that's a bad idea because the fields would gobble up two acres of lawn, eliminate a popular group picnic area and require the removal of numerous trees. The dispute has been brewing for years and at times has turned nasty, with warnings by opponents that "screaming kids" using the fields will scare horses on a nearby equestrian trail and endanger riders.

Actress Linda Hamilton , who has had a recurring role on "Chuck" for the last two years, recently listed her gated villa in Malibu at $5.495 million. The 4,754-square-foot residence features open-plan living spaces, vaulted wood-beam ceilings, terra-cotta floors, a skylighted kitchen, two fireplaces, a bar, five bedrooms and 41/2 bathrooms. The more than one-acre property includes a two-bedroom guesthouse, garage space for six cars, expansive lawns and beach access. Boulders surround the free-form swimming pool.

Retired professional baseball player Eric Davis and his wife, Sherrie, have listed their home in Calabasas at $2.195 million. The Mediterranean-style house, built in 1994, sits on about half an acre with a swimming pool and spa, barbecue pavilion, half basketball court and stretches of lawn. The 7,239-square-foot home features a marble-floored entry, a wrought-iron staircase, a media room with a wet bar, an office, four bedrooms and six bathrooms. Davis, 49, played for the Dodgers in the early '90s and ended his playing career with the San Francisco Giants in 2001.