It was a good week for scooplets, links and smart posts by LA Observed contributors at large in the city — here's my dozen-plus-some for catching up on what you might have missed:
- LA Observed was the first media outlet or blog to report that David Tokofsky quit the school board race, the ousters of Hollywood Reporter editor Howard Burns, "Weekend America" host Barbara Bogaev and Long Beach Museum of Art director Howard Nelson, plus LACMA's addition of new board members, William Morris' hiring of Cecile Ablack and the passing of publicist Ronnie Lippin.
- Culture Clash's Richard Montoya tosses a little zinger at the mayor — but it's a joke. Villaraigosa also names his team of education advisers.
- Just because Villaraigosa goes to the Owens Valley doesn't mean things are better there.
- Also exclusive at LAO: The L.A. Times looks for a few good Baghdad reporters, moves around Metro reporters and names the editors who will run coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign.
- Times subscribers tell tales of trying to get proper service — and Time Warner cable customers also have it bad.
- Jenny Burman ponders the pit bull problem while hiking the hills of Echo Park.
- Walking on Broad Beach sets Veronique de Turenne to thinking about the old Malibu.
- David Geffen talks about the Times, Dreamgirls and quitting Hollywood — and asks the Coastal Commission for some official mercy.
- Nati Cano gets some recognition as L.A.'s king of mariachi and Hollywood stalwart Tommy Johnson receives a 99-tuba salute.
- Erika Schickel's advice for shopping at the Divine Design sale and Jacob Soboroff's video tour of the Chinatown farmers market.
- Did the Times overplay the USC angle on the front page when the Bruins won the big game?
- LA Observed's Bill Boyarsky gets the full Johnny Grant treatment at a Hollywood Roosevelt luncheon.
Plus: Morning Buzz for the week.