Just in Case Anyone Forgot the New Name of the Downtown Library . . .

Have you noticed those new directional signs on the Harbor Freeway for the Richard J. Riordan Central Library? Funny thing. There were no such signs on the freeway during all those decades when it was just the plain old Central Library. You’d think Riordan was running for office or something.

Mayor ‘n’ Librarian (Cont.): Oh, that’s right, Riordan is considering a try for the governor’s office.

I hate to question whether the position of mayor of Los Angeles is lacking in prestige but, historically, it hasn’t been much of a steppingstone to higher office.

Riordan’s two immediate predecessors, Tom Bradley and Sam Yorty, each ran unsuccessfully for governor.

If Riordan should lose a gubernatorial bid, I hope he won’t go the way of Yorty, who concluded that his defeat had readied him for the White House.

The talkative Yorty entered the 1972 presidential race, whereupon a Paul Conrad cartoon in The Times showed his campaign posters on trees, with the caption: “The sap is running in the maple trees of New Hampshire.”

Guide to Adventurous Dining: Today’s specials include:

* Some stubby rib-eye steaks (submitted by Michael Greaves of Altadena)

* A crunchy English dish (Felice Apodaca of Llano)

* And some unspecified eats offered by a nail and skin salon (Donald Gilbert of Buena Park).

More food for thought: I get a bit tired of encountering eateries that claim to be the greatest, or the tastiest, or the most famous. In Long Beach, I found a burger stand with a refreshingly low-key name (see photo).

And some beverage tips: I recounted how my mother opened fire on an invading squirrel with her trusty Super Soaker 30 water cannon only to have the elderly varmint open its mouth and gleefully drink in the fusillade.

A couple of experienced squirrel fighters proposed new battle plans.

“Have your Momma add a LITTLE bit of ammonia to the water and Grandpa Squirrel will head for the hills,” wrote John Benson. “Too much will hurt him, which you don’t want, but a little will make him think twice about a drink from the friendly lady in the backyard.”

And Jerry Beatty wrote: “Tell your mom to add a little hot sauce to the Super Soaker water.”

I think I’d advise the same for those rib-eye steaks above, by the way.

Ah, the ancient Olympic sport of price gouging: The 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City are drawing close, and Scott Wilson of Long Beach noticed a classified ad offering a “small studio” in Park City for a mere $24,500 a week. A larger unit can be had for just $35,000 a week.

Or you could save money and commute via airliner from L.A. each day.

miscelLAny:

Mention was made here of Steve Hirsch’s license plate, ONE RACE, which refers to the human race but has some drivers thinking he means car racing.

Kit Hope of Tustin wrote: “A friend of mine used to get challenged to race based on his license plate, too. Except my friend was a female impersonator. His plate said DRAGGIN.”