Mayor Villaraigosa's Re-Election a Mere Formality

Photo of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is running for re-election in March 3 city primary election, arriving on the red carpet at the 81st Academy Awards ceremony at the Kodak Theatre Sunday, February 22, 2009. So confident he will win again, he was a no-show at a mayoral forum with the other mayoral candidates on Sunday, opting for the Oscars. There is also much speculation that Villaraigosa is also planning on running for governor of California in 2010, although he declines to confirm. His only potential foe for the office would have been developer Rick Caruso, who decided against running. The other candidates are extreme longshots.

OSCARS 2009

Cast members from Slumdog Milllionaire on the Red Carpet

Kate Winslet, Sean Penn, and Penelope Cruz with their OscarsJosh Brolin lays one on Diane Lane

Anne Hathaway on the red carpet

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Hollywood Royalty

Some of my photos from the 2009 Academy Awards , lots of fashion, loads of awards, and a big night for Slumdog Millionaire, Kate Winslet, and Sean Penn.

The talented and beautiful Amy Adams

Ben Kingsley, Robert DeNiro, Sean Penn, Michael Douglas, Adrien Brody, and Anthony HopkinsRobert Downey Jr Emile Hirsch

Evan Rachel Wood

Slumdog Millionaire Director Danny Boyle

Mickey Rourke

Beyonce

Marissa Tomei

Meryl Streep and Sophia Loren

Tour Of California- Lance Armstrong on Comeback Trail

Race Leader Levi Leipheimer (yellow jersey) is supported by Teammate Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong's 2nd race since coming back from his 2005 retirementrace leader Levi Leipheimer (yellow jersey) in the peleton

Levi Leipheimer with Big Love star Ginnifer Goodwin

Trent Lowe of the Garmin-Slipstream Team

The Tour of California came to Pasadena today, with Levi Leipheimer retaining the yellow jersey after the day. Lance Armstrong continues his comeback by supporting his teammate Leipheimer in his bid to win the race for the third time, as it finishes tomorrow near San Diego.George Hincapie leads a charge up a hill in PasadenaLance heading over to my friend Ted Soqui Christian VandeVelde , riding for Garmin-Slipstream, is awarded the most courageous rider jersey from actor Luke Wilson

The Four Seasons Oscar Week Prep

This week I photographed a behind the scenes look at the operations of the Four Seasons Hotel for The Wrap as they gear up for the Oscar guests to arrive. The emphasis is on the daily routine of the hotel work. Due to the high profile celebrities that frequent the Four Seasons, the privacy of the guests is at a premium. This finely tuned hotel and staff provides the guests with top quality service.conciergethe security hubGeneral Manager Mehdi Eftekar and Sarah Cairns, Director of Public Relations walk through the lobby.

Countdown to the 81st Oscars Telecast

Preparations for the 81st Annual Academy Awards Show in Hollywood are in full gear as this Sunday's telecast approaches. With no rain in the forecast for Sunday, the overhead canopy will almost assuredly be removed in the next couple days. The red carpet stretches on the closed down Hollywood Blvd from Highland to the main entrance of the Kodak Theater.And speaking of Hollywood, last night my good friend and colleague Sharon Waxman hosted a launch party for her new online venture The Wrap.com, which takes a fresh look at the business and news of Hollywood. Here is an online gallery of the festivities and panel discussion she held with Yahoo's Jeff Dossett and Universal's Marc Shmuger talking about Hollywood and the web.

Mammoth Discovery

The nearly fully intact skeleton of a mammoth was found by workers excavating an garage at the old May Co on Fairfax and Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, along with a huge amount of other fossils. Page Museum La Brea Tar Pits lab supervisor Trevor Valle (pictured with the left tusk in a mold) told me it's the largest find in over 100 years. Below is a jaw bone from the mammoth

Caltech's New Cahill Center Astronomy and Astrophysics at Caltech

The brand new Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics at CalTech in Pasadena has some very interesting architecture designed by Thom Mayne. I saw this LA Times story and went by to check it out today myself while I was in Pasadena.