L.J. Williamson

Author Lauren Kessler

The Body Detested

L.J. Williamson
Fragrant steam rises from an enormous vat of tea, and steeping in the brew at this Koreatown spa are three plump Korean grandmas. Their nudity, and the undulating rolls of fat ringing their waists, seem to trouble them not at all. The ritual of a communal bath is clearly comfortable......
law logo2x b

Everything That's Wrong With the Valley

L.J. Williamson
The stereotype of Valley residents is that once you drive over the hill, everyone is over the hill — if not numerically, then philosophically. However, since work began on the new Valley Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge, San Fernando Valley residents have had hope that the spectacular new......

Bad Religion, the Book

L.J. Williamson
The line outside Book Soup stretches down the sidewalk on Sunset Boulevard. The doors open briefly so that co-authors Steve Olson and Greg Graffin, and Graffin's mom, can make their way inside. It's unusual for a book about evolutionary biology to draw this large a crowd, but then again, it's......
law logo2x b

Baked California

L.J. Williamson
Wonder what life will be like the morning after Election Day if California voters approve the ballot measure to legalize marijuana? You are not alone. Fortunately, Angelenos are blessed with a newspaper that has the answers. The Los Angeles Times editorial board slipped the bonds of time recently, sailing forward......

A Sports Field Evaporates

L.J. Williamson
It's 8 o'clock on a Saturday morning, and already the Valley heat is making its afternoon plans known. But on this sprawling expanse of green, with a glittering reservoir visible in the distance, moist grass cools your feet under the sheltering shade of trees, where Geno DeVandry has parked his......
article placeholder

President Evil

L.J. Williamson
“Elvis has left the building,” crackled the walkie-talkie. It was 17 minutes after a strike force of seven (including four lookouts and one ground-support crew member — read: ladder holder) began their ascent up the Resident Evil billboard at the corner of Pico and Centinela before daybreak Saturday morning. Their......