No Getaway, but an Arresting Get-Up

What does the well-dressed bank robber wear these days? A 53-year-old man was clad in a blouse with spaghetti straps and a blond wig when he held up a Newport Beach bank. It evidently wasn’t a disguise.

When arrested at home, the transvestite was wearing a black sweater and a purple and pink skirt, the Newport Daily Pilot reported.

Making un-nice: It was my sad duty to report the other day that in a poll of 25 major cities in the country by Travel & Leisure magazine and AOL, L.A. was rated the least congenial. But Jens Peermann found another city that makes up for what L.A. lacks (see photo).

Of course, Dorris’ claim may also relate to the fact that it’s the first stop south of the Oregon border on U.S. 97. Peermann noted that for grumpy types turned off by the “Friendly City” image, there’s a Bad to the Bone BBQ on Main Street.

Ooh L.A. L.A.: A. Brunell saw a for-sale ad for an item that might appeal to Hugh Hefner (see accompanying).

As though tourists aren’t nervous enough: Terry Cobb of Sun City sent along a snapshot that his son, Casey, took of a warning sighted in Melbourne, Australia (see photo).

Department of Redundancy Dept.: I’ve seen numerous “free” offers that would actually cost consumers money. Maybe that’s why the advertiser noticed by Marion Aune went to extra pains to reassure buyers (see accompanying). Or maybe not.

Sometimes a great climate just isn’t enough: San Diego seems to have some anger-management issues when it comes to sports.

The city is still boiling over college football star Eli Manning’s vow that he would not play for the Chargers (they traded him to the New York Giants).

Putting all the city’s resentments on the table, the Union-Tribune recently polled readers: “As a San Diego sports fan, who is No. 1 on your most-hated list?” Manning aside, the list has a distinct L.A./Hollywood feel.

Nominees include the Dodgers, Kevin Brown (the pitcher who forsook the Padres for the Dodgers), the Oakland Raiders (formerly of L.A.) and Donald Sterling (the Clippers owner who moved the team out of San Diego).

Also on the list: Roseanne Barr, who gave San Diego some unwanted publicity several years ago when she sang a mock version of the “The Star Spangled Banner” during Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game -- and grabbed her crotch in the process.

Mondegreen of the Day: For our latest English mishap, we bring you this from Karla Butler of Sherman Oaks:

“When one of my sons was in kindergarten, he came home pledging allegiance to ‘one nation, under guard.’ For security reasons, I cannot tell you his name.”

miscelLAny: This appeal to motorists appears on a sign at King’s Fish House in Long Beach: “Promote catfish. Run over a chicken.”

Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATimes, 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.