In LA, the Oscars are a local event

The media who parachute into Hollywood for the Oscars don't always get that, for the locals, the Academy Awards are something of a community event. It's not just that traffic sucks in Hollywood and officials shut down the Hollywood and Highland subway station. The week of the Oscars provides work for perhaps thousands of make up artists, stylists, carpenters, servers, limo drivers and more. There is a surge in business in hotels and restaurants, lots of parties in homes to watch the ceremony, and more celebrity sightings around town than usual. "Brunch at Hotel Bel-Air and #Danieldaylewis just walked by," KCAL weathercaster Evelyn Taft tweeted today.

Plus, a whole lot of Angelenos have friends or family who are involved. So enjoy, and if you live near Santa Monica or Van Nuys airports, try not to let all the jets annoy you too much.

Above: Oscar and film-themed cookies on Sunday morning at Thyme Cafe in Santa Monica. Photo by Judy Graeme.