P22 - LA's Most Famous Mountain Lion

In the northern end of Los Feliz lies Griffith Park, the second largest urban park in California with over 4,000 acres of land. The park is home to only one mountain lion known as P-22 and it was originally spotted in the surrounding park area around February 2012. The lion is suspected to have arrived from nearby Santa Monica Mountains, which meant it would have had to travel over 20 miles with some of that distance across highways 101 and 405.

Within the last four months the lion has been struggling against mange, a parasitic skin disease that causes hair loss and infections. Scientists used trail cameras located in areas across the park to investigate how P-22 contracted the illness, and it turns out the mountain lion was living with an infestation of mites. Scientists treated the lion for mange as well as rodenticide poisoning, as rodenticide can travel within a food chain and build up within top predators.

P-22 is still able to successfully hunt and gather food on its own, but it will require attention to make sure a relapse of the illnesses do not occur. Scientists and park rangers are keeping tabs on his location with a GPS tracker as well as using park cameras to observe the lion’s fur growth and movement. Due to the potential dangers to wildlife, consumers will no longer be able to purchase higher doses of rodenticide starting in July. Scientists have even suspected that the chemicals found in rodenticide can increase the vulnerability of animals to mange or other illnesses.

 The mountain lion, P-22, is providing scientists with data on how a lion species survives within Griffith park, but at the same time, P-22 is reminding the community of Los Feliz the delicate balance of wildlife living within the middle of Los Angeles. Los Feliz and nearby cities, such as Glendale, understand the importance of protecting wildlife environments. With P-22 recovering from its illnesses, the community can set this event as a precedent for future improvements upon ensuring the safety of natural habitats for both humans and animals.

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Los Feliz Says Goodbye to Dr Paul Fleiss, a Logo Hero

One of the most prestigious pediatricians in Los Feliz and of the greater Los Angeles area has passed away on Saturday July 19th, 2014.

Paul Fleiss was known in the community as a respected doctor that treated many children and families, some of whom were Hollywood celebrities. Fleiss was born on September 8th, 1933, he went to school originally to train as a pharmacist and osteopath. He earned his B.S. from Wayne State University, then went to the University of California at Irvine for his D.O., and finally got his MPH from UCLA.

He relocated his practice from Detroit to California after the passage of a 1962 act that allowed an osteopath to convert his degree to an M.D. Dr. Fleiss will be remembered for his generosity towards the community as well as his passion for taking care of children and providing support to families. Even when families did not have insurance or means to afford his care, Dr. Fleiss would gift his services to them. Not only did he provide his services to a diverse number of people in Los Angeles, but he truly cared about the quality of the experiences to clients and that is how he made an impact on many in the community.

With a career spanning decades, Dr. Fleiss has taken care of generations of families in the Los Angeles area. At one point, he was one of my children’s doctors. Many clients even detail their experiences with Fleiss, saying he “simply treated children with respect, kindness, empathy, and love.” Dr. Fleiss clearly went above and beyond what many average pediatricians would do for their clients. Another client recalls that the doctor “gained their trust by taking his time -- always overshooting the standard 15 minutes allotted for an appointment”. The fact that he wouldn’t rush his clients demonstrates how deeply he cared about providing a great experience.    

Although Dr. Fleiss is well-respected within the community, he does have some controversies that make him the unique man that he has become. Dr. Fleiss has supported unconventional medical practices, such as preventing colds and infections “by putting breast milk up the nose, treating allergic reactions with water and conjunctivitis with chamomile tea bags”. Fleiss would also recommend vaccinations for clients, but would not require them to have the vaccination. He also was a breastfeeding and anti-circumcision advocate. His practices may seem different, but it’s kept many people in Los Feliz happy and healthy. The community is deeply saddened by his loss, and the families within the community will remember how he taught them to care for and love their children.

The Desert Rose

The Desert Rose, Los Feliz

The Desert Rose Restaurant (1700 N. Hillhurst Ave), Los Feliz serves authentic Mediterranean food with lots of art and at Desert Rose, it is ALL about the patio.

Serving everything from organic eggs at brunch, beef shawarma at lunch or pistachio crusted halibut and seared scallops at dinner, this Los Feliz eatery offers the finest in Mediterranean-influenced foods, traditional recipes and amazing entertainment. There is also a wonderfully extensive vegan menu for the non-meat eating members of any group or family.

Jazz on Saturday nights and comedy on Wednesdays, mean the Desert Rose is the perfect place for a great meal and a great time. There might not be a better place for a date or a romantic dinner  in Los Feiliz than the Desert Rose. There is a great happy hour menu and an extended Facebook discount on Thursday nights, and due to it's proximity to the Los Feliz Keller Williams office on Hllhurst, this is one of our favorite places to hang.  Not only is there great entertainment, amazing food and fantastic wines, but it is set in wonderful Los Feliz.

The patio is the legendary seating area for this restaurant rated 19/30 by Zagat. Reviewers online and in person will tell you that the food is as extraordinary as the setting. Comments from reviewers are consistently “Awesome food,” “Blown away by the food,” and “Amazing patio area; so beautiful.”

Reasonably priced and with an extensive wine list, this is the perfect place to bring a date or friends for a night of delicious food, great entertainment and beautiful surroundings.

Reservations are recommended. Call 323-666-1166 or go tohttp://desertroserestaurant.com for menus and more information.