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Tonight at the Los Angeles City Historical Society's annual dinner, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner accepted an award from the group for his help preserving the Hollywood sign and open space on nearby Cahuenga Peak. There was some buzz about whether Hefner would appear, since the dinner was held in the basement of the imposing First Congregational Church on Commonwealth Avenue. Well, he did come, accompanied by two blondes, Chrystal & Anna, and he tweeted about it. Hefner received accolades (and a loaf of Monastery of the Angels pumpkin bread) from City Councilman Tom LaBonge, who praised Hefner for recognizing the beauty "of a naked——mountain." Hefner spoke briefly about the symbolism to him of the sign. He also greeted author and historian Catherine Mulholland. LaBonge led the room in a toast — appropriately, of water — to Mulholland, whose grandfather was William Mulholland, the city's formative water engineer.
Other business: There was pumpkin bread and plaques as well for J. Eric Lynxwiler and me for our Wilshire book, and Christy McAvoy for her role in preserving the history of Hollywood.
Photo posted to yfrog.com by Hugh Hefner