Recently added articles from Los Angeles Business Journal:

Apparel maker grooves on toons: Avril Lavigne, Disney musical among licensing deals.(RETAIL)(Walt Disney Co. Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications)

Apr 14, 2008; Chammas, Sharifah ... When Andrew Leigh graduated from UCLA and joined his father's clothing company 27 years ago, he envisioned taking the company far beyond its trademark polyester suits. The Encino native, steeped in L.A.'s freewheeling culture, wanted to enliven the company his father, Jerry, ...

Fancy feast.(PAGE 3)(Brief article)

Apr 14, 2008; Miller, Daniel ... Albert Charbonneau, Raffles L'Ermitage Beverly Hills food and beverage director, has dreamed up an epicurean's fantasy at the hotel' s restaurant, Jaan. Make that a deep-pocketed epicurean's fantasy. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Starting on May 1, the eatery will offer a ...

Fast track: racing merger revs up Honda's local facility.(Honda Motor Company Ltd.)

Apr 14, 2008; Clough, Richard ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN the final race car crosses the finish line this weekend at the Toyota Grand Prix in Long Beach, it will mark the beginning of a new era in Indy auto racing--and a lucrative opportunity for one Los Angeles County engine builder. The ...

Eatery Web cam creating distaste: celebrities, restaurant want to pull TMZ.com's plug.(MEDIA)

Apr 14, 2008; Sporich, Brett ... Online gossip site TMZ.com's live Web cam, which has taken to streaming videos of celebrities dining at alfresco lunch spots, is starting to provoke some anger. "I find it abhorrent and an invasion of privacy," said Richard Irving, co-founder of the Ivy restaurant on Robertson ...

Horse racing site on wobbly legs: Youbet.com reeling from bad acquisitions.(WAGERING)(Company overview)

Apr 14, 2008; Lee, Booyeon ... Horse betting site Youbet.com Inc. is limping painfully down what may be the home stretch. One business it acquired has put the company $15 million in debt, and another recent purchase was shut down amid government investigations. A client that brings in a quarter of its ...

'Lightning' name strikes twice.(PAGE 3)(Brief article)

Apr 14, 2008; Miller, Daniel ... Hollywood producer Mark Harwell had an easy time finding a name for his new International Basketball League team. He named the Los Angeles Lightning after himself. "Howard Cosell gave me the nickname 'White Lightning,'" Harwell said. Harwell explained that he played basketball ...

Big payday.(PAGE 3)(Brief article)

Apr 14, 2008; Miller, Daniel ... While David Beckham hasn't had the impact that some local soccer fans had hoped for in terms of the L.A. Galaxy's record, he has come out on top in at least one contest. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to France Football magazine, Beckham is the world's highest paid ...

Intimidating negotiator.(PAGE 3)(L.A. Boxing)(Brief article)

Apr 14, 2008; Miller, Daniel ... Anthony Geisler, chief executive of L.A. Boxing, a chain of boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts training facilities, said his background in martial arts sometimes intimidates business associates. While not a pro, Geisler enjoys practicing martial arts and people always ...

Fiesta en fuego: marketing fair expanding beyond Latinos.(Up Front)

Apr 14, 2008; Russell, Joel ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN Fiesta Broadway takes over downtown Los Angeles in a couple of Sundays, it will have a decidedly more diverse complexion thanks to the influx of full-time residents to the city's core. The Latino marketing event is the largest street fair ...

Diamond matters: House of Taylor Jewelry Inc.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)

Apr 14, 2008 ... DIAMOND MATTERS: House of Taylor Jewelry Inc. said its chief executive, Jack Abramov, and his brother Monty, resigned from the West Hollywood-based jewelry maker for personal ...

UWink takes high-tech act to Hollywood.(Up Front)

Apr 14, 2008; Chammas, Sharifah ... Out with Wolfgang Puck, in with the heir to Chuck E. Cheese? As the high-profile Hollywood & Highland shopping center prepares for the opening of a UWink restaurant, UWink's creator, Nolan Bushnell, winces when he hears it compared to the Chuck E. Cheese pizza-and-play ...

More expensive.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)

Apr 14, 2008 ... MORE EXPENSIVE: Rents in Southern California should increase slowly in 2008 as a result of the credit crunch, the USC Lusk Center Casden Forecast said. Los Angeles County rental increases should be between 2.5 percent and 3 percent--as renting becomes an alternative for ...

Banker passes: Leonard Weil, founder of Manufacturers Bank, died last week at the age of 85 after struggling with health issues for a year and a half.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)

Apr 14, 2008 ... BANKER PASSES: Leonard Weil, founder of Manufacturers Bank, died last week at the age of 85 after struggling with health issues for a year and a half. Weft was founding president and served as chief executive of Manufacturers Bank from 1962 to 1986. It was the ...

Dollar dealings: Walt Disney Co.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)

Apr 14, 2008 ... DOLLAR DEALINGS: Walt Disney Co.-owned theme parks in Paris and Hong Kong are doing extremely well compared with a year ago, thanks in pint to the weaker U.S. dollar, Disney's Chief Executive Robert Iger said. The weakness of the dollar, which dropped to a record low against the euro ...

New flavor: California Pizza Kitchen Inc.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Gourmet Gulf Co.)(Brief article)

Apr 14, 2008 ... NEW FLAVOR: California Pizza Kitchen Inc. said it signed a deal with Dubai-based Gourmet Gulf Co. to become a franchise partner. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. As part of the deal, the Los Angeles-based gourmet pizza chain said Gourmet Gulf will open a minimum of three ...

Disney deal: Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. agreed to sell its Disney Stores back to Walt Disney Co. for $50 million to $55 million, less than the $55 million to $65 million the retailer initially estimated.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)

Apr 14, 2008 ... DISNEY DEAL: Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. agreed to sell its Disney Stores back to Walt Disney Co. for $50 million to $55 million, less than the $55 million to $65 million the retailer initially estimated. The ...

Still complaining: Boeing Co. said the aircraft fuselage proposed by Northrop Grumman Corp. in the competition between the rivals for an aerial refueling tanker contract should have received lower scores from the contest's evaluators.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)

Apr 14, 2008 ... STILL COMPLAINING: Boeing Co. said the aircraft fuselage proposed by Northrop Grumman Corp. in the competition between the rivals for an aerial refueling tanker contract should have received lower scores from the contest's evaluators. The latest gripe from Boeing ...

Doling it out: Dole Food Co.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)

Apr 14, 2008 ... DOLING IT OUT: Dole Food Co. is selling land in Hawaii and California to avoid default on $350 million in bonds. The Westlake Village-based produce company is raising money after European banana tariffs and ...

Money hold: the SEC said it stopped a $29.5-million severance package from being paid to Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.'s former chief executive, Henry Yuen, who was charged with securities fraud.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)

Apr 14, 2008 ... MONEY HOLD: The SEC said it stopped a $29.5-million severance package from being paid to Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc.'s former chief executive, Henry Yuen, who was charged with securities fraud. The agency stopped the payment from ...

Back on track: IndyMac Bancorp Inc.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Brief article)

Apr 14, 2008 ... BACK ON TRACK: IndyMac Bancorp Inc. sold $335 million of mortgage loans on April 1 in a private securitization, resulting in a $2 million pretax loss. The Pasadena-based lender said the mortgage-backed securities consisted of about $235 million of AAA ...