LAPL Blog
Tina Lernø, Librarian, Digital Content Team
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They Say It's Your Birthday!
Well today is my birthday! Happy Birthday to me, and all the other July birthdays out there. I do tend to claim the entire month of July as my time to celebrate.
Dollars to Donuts It's National Doughnut Day!
Dollars to Donuts It's National Doughnut Day! Another National Holiday, another rabbit hole of information for me to jump into. The first Friday in June is officially known as National Donut Day, and here's some history about our favorite morning coffee companion.
The Day the Crayons Were Made
If you look up, "What is a crayon?", you will get a dictionary definition like this: A crayon (or wax pastel) is a stick of pigmented wax used for writing or drawing.
A Pandemonium of Parrots
If you live anywhere near Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley, you have heard them. If you live in Eagle Rock or the Silverlake/Echo Park regions, you will recognize the sound. Twice a day, dawn and dusk, no days off for weekends or holidays. Parrots!
First and 100: A Century of Rose Bowl Football
Happy New Year, Happy Rose Bowl, Happy Football! Did you know that the Rose Bowl Stadium is nearing its 100th year? The story of the Rose Parade and the subsequent football games have been going on long before.
Battle of the Big Birds...
Ostriches versus Turkeys. That age-old problem. (Is it? Well, for this blog post, the answer is yes). Which big bird do we Angelenos love more? And I'm not talking just in the looks department; both make for good eating.
Pumpkin Spice-Up Everything!
It's that time of year—fall, aka autumn, aka pumpkin spice season!
Nobody Walks in L.A.
Walkin' in LA, nobody walks in LA; walkin' in LA; walkin' in LA, only a nobody walks in LA—Terry Bozzio, Missing Persons
Helter Skelter in the Summer of 1969
1969 was a tumultuous year. The US Apollo 11 mission brought men to the moon, and the Beatles gave their final live performance. Richard Nixon was sworn in as President, the war raged on in Vietnam (along with huge protests), and the draft was reinstated.
What the 4th of July Looked Like in Vintage Los Angeles
Independence Day aka the Fourth of July commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen (American) colonies were no longer subject to Great Britain's rule, but were united, free, and independent states.

![A Foster and Kleiser billboard in Los Angeles advertising doughnuts sold at Van de Kamp's Bakeries, [ca 1937]. Herman J Schultheis Collection Van de Kamp's billboard](https://www.lapl.org/sites/default/files/styles/blog_latest_list_120x90/public/blogs/2021-06/donutheader.jpg?itok=3OdoOxT3)


![View of the Rose Bowl entrance flanked by tall palms on either side, [1987]. Photo credit: Dean Musgrove, Herald Examiner Collection View of the Rose Bowl entrance flanked by tall palms on either sides](https://www.lapl.org/sites/default/files/styles/blog_latest_list_120x90/public/blogs/2023-01/1987header.jpg?itok=DwDN0H3x)


![Walking in the rain by the Warner Downtown, [1938]. Herman J Schultheis Collection Walking in the rain by the Warner Downtown](https://www.lapl.org/sites/default/files/styles/blog_latest_list_120x90/public/blogs/2021-02/walkingheader.jpg?itok=qmyBZ9VQ)
![Deputy sheriffs lead Charles Manson to court during the Sharon Tate murder trial, [1970]. Herald Examiner Collection Charles Manson being lead away by deputies](https://www.lapl.org/sites/default/files/styles/blog_latest_list_120x90/public/blogs/2024-02/manson2header.jpg?itok=nd6KynUI)
![Fireworks at Los Angeles City Hall, [2002]. Gary Leonard Photo Collection fireworks at Los Angeles City Hall](https://www.lapl.org/sites/default/files/styles/blog_latest_list_120x90/public/blogs/2019-06/4thheader4.jpg?itok=SFwmyoeX)