Art Museum’s Brush With Notoriety Is Sure to Bug Officials and Patrons

Crawling with art: The county’s just-released list of August restaurant closures included the Plaza Cafe at the L.A. County Museum of Art. It was shuttered for two days in August because of vermin infestation.

But was there really a sighting of vermin at the museum? Or was it a conceptual art piece? And could anyone tell the difference?

Fiddling around: In Encino, Keith Barker noticed a marquee for a musical show that revealed what country “Scotish” fiddlers come from, in case you weren’t sure (see photo). The same as those of the Scottish variety, I presume.

Does Fritz know about this? In Australia, Deloris St. John of Laguna Niguel came upon a sign that may represent the latest technological breakthrough in weather forecasting (see photo).

But how do you know if their odometers were set back? Leigh Sloan of Long Beach alerted me to an employment opportunity for real estate agents with some mileage on them (see accompanying). I would think that the industry would show the sensitivity of auto dealers and refer to the used workers as “pre-owned” agents.

Finished symphony: Shelley Smith of Granada Hills wonders why L.A.’s Pershing Square has a statue of Beethoven but no statue of Pershing.

I’m not sure why there’s no likeness of Gen. John J. Pershing, the World War I hero.

But he was still alive when the park was named for him in 1918; perhaps it was he who persuaded the city to construct the park’s tribute to all American troops of that war.

As for Beethoven, the German composer’s bronze was the idea of the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra, which at that time performed in an auditorium across the street.

The musicians provided inspiration in two ways in 1933: Individual members played Beethoven compositions in the Glendale studio of sculptor Arnold Foerster as he worked. And, perhaps more important, they raised the funds for the statue.

Later, speaking at the sculpture, Frank Shaw, L.A.’s sometimes tongue-tied mayor, expressed delight that the city had such a fine “sympathy” orchestra.

Speaking of bloopers: Here are some gems found in student papers by Juel Goldstock, a teacher at Huntington Park High:

* I bought two tickets to Las Vegas. I was traveling with my moth.

* Dear Roxane, I love you. I love your eye. I love your lip.

* Am I an insider or an outsider? I’m an outsider. I’m usually outside playing basketball.

* Since then, I’m more mature. Now, I’m wizzer.

* I hate that class. We do nothing and I hate to be boring all the time.

* Dog eared: adj., to turn down the corner of. My rabbit’s ears are dog-eared.

* Mr. Goldstock, I loved your class. It was there I first read Edgar Allan Pole.

* . . . and in conclusion, that’s all I got to say.

miscelLAny:

A triathlon requiring a different kind of training regimen will be offered at Calico Days (Oct. 5-7) in the Barstow-area ghost town. Consisting of “rock pulling, muckraking and arm wrestling,” it’s called “the miner’s triathlon.” Not sure whether insiders or outsiders would be better suited.

And, in conclusion, that’s all I got to say.

*

Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LA-TIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., 90012 and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.