Valley Talk

Thrills, Chills, Spills Not The theme park that gave the world Space Mountain, Star Tours and even Pirates of the Caribbean has a new thrill in store: a tractor. That’s right. Caterpillar Inc., the maker of all manner of heavy equipment, has inked an agreement with Disney for an attraction “where guests can have fun learning about agriculture.” It’s one of many attractions planned at “Disney’s California Adventure,” the new $1.4 billion, 55-acre theme park/resort set to open Feb. 8, 2001 next to Disneyland in Anaheim. At the “Bountiful Valley Farm” area of the new park, visitors can climb aboard a Caterpillar Challenger tractor, join an interactive Farmers Expo and stroll amid crops. Slaves to Fashion The evidence is mounting that the Casual Friday thing has gotten out of control. A recent survey of executives at the nation’s 1,000 largest companies by Accountemps revealed that 34 percent believe workers were dressing down a bit too far on those days. “Relaxed dress policies are a proven recruitment, retention and motivational tool for businesses, but they are not without limitations,” said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps. Similar concerns prompted Woodland Hills-based 21st Century Insurance to recently hold a fashion show for all 1,200 of its employees. It wasn’t exactly a show of haute couture. Models graced the runway in khakis and other styles the company deemed appropriate for the workplace. The show inaugurated 21st Century’s new casual dress policy. Fight Club The North Hollywood Project Action Committee, a community advisory group for city redevelopment, has had its share of troubles over the years. There’s been the open opposition from some members to any redevelopment and endless debates in the move forward. But the group was patting itself on the back last week. That’s because a meeting by one of its larger brethren, the Northeast Valley PAC, which is charged with making recommendations on redevelopment for a huge segment of the Valley, ended in a fistfight among several audience members after the group voted to disband. “I talked to a couple people from our PAC and we were laughing about it,” said Joe Hooven, a member of the North Hollywood PAC. “Can you imagine? I mean, we have a wacky PAC, but I can’t imagine a fistfight ever breaking out.” Overpaid Players It was a case of awkward timing for the annual Los Angeles Press Club journalism awards. The event was scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on June 4. But that turned out to be the time of the incredible fourth-quarter rally by the Lakers in the seventh game of the series against Portland. So instead of mingling in the banquet room of the downtown Regal Biltmore Hotel, dozens of journalists crammed into the upstairs bar for those frantic final minutes of the game. Later, one award presenter, comedian Paula Poundstone, found some humor in the situation. “Somehow, I just can’t get into this professional sports thing,” she said. “All those players making gazillion-dollar salaries What they really should do is recruit the players just like you would for jury duty. Now that would be something to watch, forcing people to play for $5 a day.” Sushi for Shaq? Speaking of the Lakers, the team could open the 2001-2002 season on a very long road trip to Tokyo. The team is thinking about becoming the latest to take part in a semi-regular effort by the National Basketball Association to expose the Japanese to what is quickly becoming America’s favorite game. “The Lakers have expressed some interest,” said Terry Lyons, NBA vice president of international marketing. “But nothing is clear cut.” Last November, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings kicked off the current season by splitting a two-game series in front of 60,000 fans in Tokyo. Vote for Me The latest candidate to enter the race for L.A. mayor is Francis Della Vecchia, manager of the 95-year-old Dawson’s Book Shop in Larchmont Village. Della Vecchia is hoping to end the rule of what he calls a small clique running L.A. “I dislike professional politicians,” he said. As part of his campaign, Della Vecchia has set up a Web site, www. WatchTheMayor.com, detailing his platform and promising: “I will not be preoccupied with fund raising.” Even so, one of the first media releases from his camp promotes a June 21 “launch party and gigantic fund-raising bash” at the El Rey Theatre, featuring musicians who have appeared with Cirque de Soleil and a host of other world music performers. “The theater holds 771 people, and we’re charging $15 each; hardly a $1,000-per-plate dinner,” Della Vecchia said.