Ray-Ban’s latest iteration of its classic aviator ($175) is actually an updated version of a…
Phoebe Neuman

For years I welcomed the end of the regular season with a prayer:

Thank heavens that’s over!

Of course, that was before the Lakers were through at this point, now in their fourth straight year out of the playoffs, and counting.

There’s a new NBA narrative locally in which the regular season is discounted for both teams. As everyone knows, the Clippers’ season means nothing and the playoffs everything — which is actually true for all teams but a special curse for them, obliged as they are to compete on turf the Lakers have taken possession of in perpetuity.

Laker seasons now mean nothing, either. It’s all about the lottery … assuming they keep their pick … which is now — oops! — less than a 50 percent shot.

Losing the pick would mean having gained next to nothing (they have the Rockets’ No. 1 at No. 28) after another grisly year of developing the young players who are so precious to them, even if none is yet a star.

The question for Lakers fans is no longer whether Lonzo Ball will be Magic Johnson’s Magic … but if Magic is magical enough to beat their diminished odds in the lottery.

The real question is how the Lakers blew it down the stretch with Phoenix two games ahead of them in the standings, zooming past the Suns with an inopportune five-game winning streak in April.

With the second-worst record at No. 29, the Lakers would have had a 55.8 percent chance of drawing a top-three pick, which they wouldn’t have to convey to Philadelphia.

With the third-worst at No. 28 where the Lakers finished, they just dropped to 46.9 percent.

Worse, their No. 1 in 2019 pick is also at greater risk. If they keep this year’s lottery pick, they owe Orlando only a pair of second-rounders (2017 and 2018) to complete the Dwight Howard trade.

If they lose this year’s lottery pick, the Magic get their unprotected No. 1 in 2019.

Teams with less motivation tanked for all they were worth. The Suns, who will keep their lottery pick whether it’s in the top three or not, shut down Eric Bledsoe on March 15 —Bledsoe tweeted his displeasure with the “unamused face” emoji — played their kids who are even younger than the young Lakers, saw Devin Booker go for 70 points in Boston and still lost that game and 14 of their last 16.

Luke Walton looked like he was trying, as when he benched a healthy D’Angelo Russell after he scored 28 against Memphis for the next game against the Spurs, but couldn’t keep the Lakers from going on that winning streak with an 8.9 percent better chance of keeping two No. 1s — both potentially in the lottery — at stake.

The fans got it if the Lakers didn’t. After the Lakers beat the Spurs, Thomas Robinson told our Mark Medina that fans got on him on Twitter for damaging their chances in the lottery.

If Magic has zero experience with tanking, they have been prone to this kind of managerial passivity right along.

I hated seeing GM Mitch Kupchak take the rap for working closely with Jim Buss when he had no choice in the matter. Nevertheless, four-square as Mitch was, gaming the system wasn’t something he did naturally, as in the 2013-14 season when the Lakers, 18-25 at the All-Star break, played it straight the rest of the way with Mike D’Antoni coaching for his job, coming in sixth-worst at 27-55 when a bottom-three finish might have gotten them Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker or Joel Embiid instead of Julius Randle.

If Magic lacks Mitch’s experience, he’s a decisive guy who’s not above gaming the system or turning it into a cocked hat if it gives the Lakers an edge.

This wasn’t merely about an edge. With a thin-enough chance at 55.8 percent, this was all-important. All Lakerdom will feel their agony if their 46.9 percent chance doesn’t come in at the May 16 lottery.

These days the Lakers don’t even do no-brainers, like inviting Jerry West back in a consultant’s role like the one he has with the Warriors. A Lakers insider told me it’s not happening … even though the Lakers are aware West would love to be asked back.

The reason cited isn’t much different than what Jim Buss felt: They don’t think they need West.

A) They’re wrong, and B) even if they’re right, they could only gain by having West in the conversation.

It remains to be seen just what the Lakers will do. In any case, between now and May 16, they had all better start praying.

Radiohead sounded great on the main stage during their headlining set in Friday — at least they did when you could hear them.

In perhaps the worst sound snafu ever for such a prominent slot at the desert music fest the sound cut out entirely for large parts of “Full Stop,” “15 Step” and “Let Down” – three of the first seven numbers in
Radiohead’s set.

The crowd groaned each time but because the band play with in-ear sound monitors they had little idea what was happening into the end of each song. After leaving the stage twice briefly things seemed to get
back on track nearly an hour into the set.

Radiohead’s show started slowly, with newer tunes such as “Daydreaming,” lovely with its piano part played by Jonny Greenwood, and “Desert Island Disk,” a pretty number built around singer Thom Yorke’s voice and acoustic guitar.

Older numbers in the first hour such as “Airbag” off the “OK Computer” album and “Street Spirit (Fade Out) got big responses from the crowd.

Radiohead has played Coachella three times now and while they were big draws in past years the changing tastes of festival fans, and programmers, saw them get one of their smallest crowds here. The dance
music In the Sahara tent — with Empire of the Sun and Dillon Francis slotted opposite Radiohead – surely drew a big chunk of fans away from the main stage.

And its their loss for not being there because this is one the great bands of the past two decades, emotionally complex, musically challenging, and when the sound system cooperates a true delight to see and hear.

Midnight passed and we’d gone six whole songs without any more sound issues, knock wood, and the set is finally as it should be with glorious takes on “There There” and “Weird Fishes / Arpeggi” as Saturday arrived.

Near the end of the set, just before launching into “Creep,” Yorke commented, “A funny thing happened on the way to the festival tonight – no it didn’t.”

Along with spring flowers, the season may also bring adorable animals into your home. Who can resist a cuddly puppy, playful kitten, or sweet baby bunny? When that irresistible bundle of fur becomes a member of your family, you may be interested to know there is no specific limit to the number of bunnies you can keep at your house, according to what I can gather from the Orange County Animal Services website.

Same thing for birds, snakes, turtles, fish and guinea pigs.

However, there are some limits when it comes to dogs and cats.  Let’s take a look at the guidelines, rules, and constraints regarding keeping mammals, reptiles, arachnids.

The county allows three animals total, dogs, cats or combo of dogs and cats. Once you exceed these limits, you must apply for a license (often called a kennel license).

According to recorded information on their phone line, the county animal services currently supports the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Lake Forest, Midway City, Orange, Placentia, Rossmoor, San Juan Capistrano, Tustin, Villa Park, Yorba Linda and all unincorporated areas in the county.

Be careful, though. If you live within the boundaries of other cities, differing city rules will prevail.

But wait, it gets more complicated.  If your home has a homeowners’ association (HOA,) they may have their own rules regarding the number and type of pets you can keep at home. You must check the covenants, conditions, and restrictions for your HOA to determine pet rules.  HOA rules prevail.

A representative from Mission Viejo Animal Services, which serves Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, and Rancho Santa Margarita, said there is no limit to other “domestic” animals such as rabbits, turtles, guinea pigs, birds, iguanas, tarantulas, or bearded dragons.

However, if your collection of uncontrolled critters becomes a public nuisance (via excessive noise or foul odors), a law enforcement officer may pay you a visit to check out your situation.  They judge on a case by case basis and are looking at the specifics of the public nuisance, as well as signs of humane (or inhumane) treatment of the animals, to determine the indicated course of action.

As with any pet you keep at home, if a bunny recently joined your family, be sure to have a plan for proper care, be aware of whose rules you need to follow, and be courteous to your neighbors.

Please note, ferrets are illegal in the state of California.

During the month of February, four Orange County attorneys were disbarred by the State Bar of California as a result of misconduct.

The state bar provided the following explanations for the disciplinary action:

Dean Robert Kitano, 64, Santa Ana: He was disbarred Feb. 19 for failing to report a fraud against him, making false representations, seeking to mislead a judge or financial officer and engaged in acts involving moral turpitude.

ING Radiology Medical Center, a company he created, entered into a 50-50 partnership with Mir Akhorli to create an MRI facility in Long Beach.

Akhorli entered into another 50-50 partnership for the same facility. The new partner eventually wanted to sell but Akhorli would not sell his share. Akhorli was also sued by an investor of another MRI facility and the Long Beach MRI facility was shut down as a result.  Kitano claimed ING, not Akhorli, was the co-owner.

It was the first time the new partner heard about ING’s involvement. Kitano was found liable for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud by concealment, fraud by intentional misrepresentation and a violation of the Uniform Transfer Act. An appeals court reversed the breach of fiduciary finding.

Robert G. Scurrah Jr., 69, Tustin: He was disbarred Feb 4. and charged with not filing a declaration of compliance, required because of a prior suspension for collecting upfront fees in nine loan modification issues. The State Bar Court found that he violated a consumer protection law prohibiting advance fees for those services.

Rachelle Shalom Visconte, 45, Rancho Santa Margarita: She was disbarred Feb. 4 after two criminal convictions that included possession of a controlled substance and of drug paraphernalia, making a fictitious check, burglary, possession of a completed check with intent to defraud and identity theft.

Lawrence Allan Moy, 50, Irvine: He was disbarred Feb. 10 because he engaged in misconduct in five personal injury cases. In one, he misappropriated $33,333 in settlement funds in his client’s trust account and failed to give him an accounting of $50,000 in settlement proceeds.

In other matters, he did not maintain client settlement proceeds, misappropriated money, did not communicate with clients and commingled personal funds in a client’s trust account. He was ordered to pay $48,649 plus interest.

Two local attorneys were suspended or placed on probation in February. They were:

• William West Seegmiller (66, Newport Beach)
• Scott Bunker Hayward (57, Santa Ana)

Breed: Dachshund mix

Age: 3 years

Gender: Spayed female

Size: 10 pounds

Fiona’s story: Fiona gets along with other gentle dogs. This little girl is sweet as can be. She house-trained and also knows how to use potty pads. She sleeps in a crate at night.

Adoption procedure: Fill out an adoption application for Ken-Mar Rescue at KenMarRescue.org

Promise Project’s 10th annual Beautiful Promise cocktail party, chaired by Dana Buchman, Cindy Weber-Cleary and Lori Buchbinder, will take place April 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
With ABC’s Bill Ritter as guest emcee, the event takes place at the Metropolitan Pavilion at 123 West 18th Street in New York.
Guests will have a chance to bid on silent auction items that include accessories and jewelry from Edie Parker, Judith Leiber, Jennifer Meyer and Monica Rich Kosann, among others.
In addition, one-of-a-kind items and experiences will include four VIP tickets to San Francisco’s pop-culture musical revue, “Beach Blanket Babylon,” two round-trip tickets to any U.S. city courtesy of Jet Blue, as well as a four-week paid summer internship at Parfums Christian Dior and lunch with Nicole Miller in New York. Those prizes will be available for bidding on Charitybuzz when the auction goes live on April 18.
All proceeds from the event will go to Promise Project, which in collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital, is a comprehensive program committed to helping impoverished children living with learning disabilities get the support they need to succeed.

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“I take my camera everywhere I go,” said Torrance Hall, a high school senior from Richmond, Va., who received the second annual Max Mara Young Visionary Award through the Italian fashion house’s ongoing partnership with the National YoungArts Foundation headquartered in Miami.
The budding photographer slung a Canon EOS Rebel T3i over his shoulder during the ceremony and reception for an exhibit of his works for sale at Max Mara’s store in the Miami Design District on April 12. The series of self-portraits depicts his coming of age as a cross between introspection and celebration. Themes touch on what defines manliness for his generation and suburbia as a place for a young artist to escape yet call home.
“I couldn’t believe how a 17-year-old could be so tormented,” said Maria Giulia Maramotti, Max Mara’s U.S. retail director, who purchased two photographs after presenting him with the $10,000 award. “You just don’t see work that powerful and meaningful outside of a major art gallery. It struck me right away, and I knew he was our winner.”
Hall competed with thousands of teenagers for the honor. Many are invited to Miami for National YoungArts Week in January, when they attend master classes by the nonprofit’s

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Don’t have time to commit to a full-length vacation? Travel hassles not worth the get-away?  Enter The Great Escape, the Coast version of a “staycation” or  “daycation” (or, if you’re British, the “holistay”). The idea of a staycation is not to replicate other places you could be. If you wanted a taste of Italy, you’d go to Portofino. Craving steak with pomme frites? Have them in Paris, under the shadow of “La Tour Eiffel.” The Great Escape is about taking advantage of the fabulousness available in our own backyards.
So buckle your seat belt. Make a great playlist. Find your favorite podcast. Immerse yourself in history or architecture or natural beauty – or why not all of them? This is California. We are living our dreams, making our way, finding our fortunes. Let’s go West in style.

First stop this month: Beverly Hills.
The golden Age of Hollywood with a Cutting-Edge Twist
Pickford, Fairbanks, Chaplin, Valentino…Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Elizabeth Taylor and Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. Imagine what Beverly Hills was like in the heyday of Hollywood, from the ’20s to the ’60s. Perfectly turned out stars, driving through the streets with the top down, sitting by the pool in hotel robes and corseted swimsuits.
So maybe the star system was inevitably suffocating, the studios making all of the decisions, creating gods out of mortals. But in this over-stimulated age, isn’t it nice to consider having a handler? Someone shaping your persona, making sure you are always impeccably put together, effectively squashing every faux pas before it happens. Consider this list a well-curated Run of Show, with you as the star.
(All you have to do is hand this list to your assistant.)

Noon Friday: Leave the office early. Pack a toothbrush. Maybe your favorite pair of sneakers. If you want. Or not. You’re going to Beverly Hills, baby. Everything you need will be at your fingertips. This weekend, you’re the star. The town car is waiting at the curb to take you to Atlantic Executive Terminal at John Wayne, where you’ll jump in the chopper. You’ll be in Santa Monica in 20 minutes.@ochelicopter ($1750-$3800 per hour)

The driver is already waiting on the other end for you to land, leaning on the front bumper of a 1965 Lincoln Continental. A car that’s been been featured on film so many times, it should have its own star on Hollywood Boulevard. Step through those iconic suicide doors and settle in. The drive to your hotel could take you anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes.@regencycars www.regencycarrentals.com

Don’t forget your playlist:
Charles Bradley, Sinatra, The Black Keys, Roberta Flack, Leon Bridges, Dean Martin, Otis Redding and Nina Simone. Patsy Cline. Al Green, Irma Thomas and Curtis Mayfield.
And your podcast:
“You Must Remember This” exploring the secret and/or forgotten histories of Hollywood’s first century. (http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/)

3 p.m.: Hotel check-in: Beverly Hills Hotel
Offering 5 star luxury for more than a century, where else would you stay but the city’s namesake? It’s not like The Rat Pack invented the “Pink Palace,” but The Beverly Hills Hotel did become their LA haunt in the 50s.
Travelling with the boys? Then it’s Bungalow 22 with the grand piano, private patio and monogrammed crystal. Your lady? Take Bungalow 5. Not only was it Liz Taylor’s favorite, it has its own pool. Into architecture? Paul Williams designed his own suite and is alse responsible for the hotel’s famous banana leaf motif. (Starting at $4,200/night)
www.dorchestercollection.com, @bevhillshotel

Evening plans: By the time you check in, private shopper Catherine Bloom has set herself up in your hotel room. Everything Neiman Marcus has to offer. (Call her ahead of time to tell her what you’re into, style wise. She’ll bring the couture and the caviar.)
Be sure to pick a few looks for day and night. Maybe an unstructured velour tuxedo for her, cashmere for him, black skinny jeans, v-neck tees, some Gucci slides. Keep in mind that you have tomorrow to shop and Beverly Hills is lousy with flagship designer stores.
Catherine_Bloom@neimanmarcus.com, @catherinelbloom

Tonight will be casual. Pop into the Polo Lounge or Bar Nineteen 12. You could head over to Wally’s for a tasting if you decide to leave the property. Have the bread pudding at Boucheron. Back at the bungalow, sip a shot of Jack by the fire. Swim naked in your own private pool. Slip into those bespoke bed linens. You’re in good company. Sleeping here is so good, Esther Williams demanded that a permanent guest pass be written into her MGM contract.
Sweet dreams, sweethearts.
@wallysbeverlyhills @bouchon_bistro @bevhillshotel

Day Two: Rise and shine.

It’s Saturday morning in the “9021-OM.” The Beverly Hills Hotel offers yoga classes every Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 am with celebrated yoga instructor Amy Rose. Not feeling social? Call an instructor to your bungalow. Looking for something more active? Blue Clay Fitness will meet you at your front door. There’s also a Physique 57 on Canon Drive if you’re interested in sweating with celebrities.
@iamdiva__    www.generationdiva.com, @blueclayfitness www.blueclayfitness.com, @physique57 www.physique57.com

11 AM: You’ve done your due diligence, now it’s time to grab some sun, a Cabana Bowl, and a glass of Green Envy back at the hotel pool (reserved for hotel guests only.) After you eat, leave your man at the pool and meet the Lash Diva in your room. There’s nothing like a full set of falsies for a night on the town. Make sure you shower first, though, you don’t want to get them wet. And don’t drink too much coffee. The twitchier you are, the longer it takes for Courtney to attach each individual eyelash.
When you’re done, throw on a hat and a pair of shades for a tour of Greystone Mansion with Bikes and Hikes LA. You can have Million Dollar Listing: L.A.’s Josh Flagg guide you through a room by room commentary, sharing the house’s dark history. Learn how Lucy Doheny’s lavish parties carried on in secret throughout prohibition after her husband’s mysterious death. Talk Beverly Hills real estate, now and then. Perhaps you’ve decided that you’d like to own your own piece of Hollywood history.
@bikesandhikesLA www.bikesandhikesla.com

2 p.m.: You’re hot. You’re tired. It’s time for a lie down. One that will literally take years off of your face. Erika Lazar will meet you in the SkinStyle Beverly HIlls penthouse office, ready to customize your treatment for that “after SkinStyle glow.” Don’t feel like freezing time? Go for a deep freeze instead. Three minutes in the cryosauna at Beverly Hills Cryo Clinic decreases inflammation, boosts your mood and your immune system.
Take your glow to the Rodeo. Drive, that is. Wander the strip. Look for fitted silhouettes, heavy lace. A structured bodice, a mid-calf hem, gartered stockings. Velvet and crepe. Skinny tie, shiny shoes, white shirt; cuff links. A pocket square. You can do it all here. Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Chanel, and Dior. Agent Provocateur and Harry Winston. Have a glass of champagne on the roof of the Vuitton flagship store (you’ll need a bag for all of your new things) and then it’s back to the bungalow to get ready.
@skinstylebh www.skinstylebeverlyhills.com, www.cryotherapyclinicla.com, www.rodeodrive-bh.com

Later: Back at the bungalow, lay out your spoils, slip into that cashmere robe, pour yourself another glass of champagne, a nip of scotch, and prepare for some primping. Think sculpted waves, winged eyeliner and a red mouth for her. And for him? A hot, scented towel, a straight razor shave, and buffed nails. Who to call:

Hair: Mimi Cotrell (@thehaironess)

Makeup: Daniela Babcock (@danielabmua)

Nails: Debbie Leavitt (@debbiedoesnails) www.nailinghollywood.com

Shave: Pascal’s Barber Salon www.90210barbershop.com

Dinnertime: Call the car now that your primped, primed and ready. It’s off to The Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Tonight it’s about 100 percent Japanese wagyu and bold California reds in bowl-sized glasses. Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck delivers again at CUT, a contemporary twist on the classic steakhouse. Reserve the private dining room, Petit CUT, for the full VIP experience.

Tonight, there will also be scotch, so after your final bite of Frog Hollow Farm Apricot Tatin (for two!) make your way across the street to The Montage. £10 is the secret bar above Scarpetta, devoted to the rarest of Macallan scotches. Settle into one of the 35 seats. Opt for the fireside patio and ask for service from Cash Black (his daddy was a gambler.)

Wrap your hands around a dram of 40 year old Sherry Oak, or a 1968 Highland Park in a Lalique rocks glass. Listen to the clink of a sphere of ice flown in from Scotland. Sample the platter of crispy bacon, masala seasoned pecans and 26 month aged gouda, offered to bring out a different flavor in the scotch.
If you haven’t done so already, you might want to call the Pink Palace and request a late check out. Tonight it’s anyone’s guess what time you’ll get in.
CUT www.fourseasons.com        (310) 777-3711

£10 tenpound@montagehotels.com (310) 906-7218

The Morning After

What is that sound? Someone knocking on the door? What happened? What day is it?

It’s Sunday and that sound is your hangover cure: IV vitamin therapy. A representative from My Concierge MD Executive Health is here with your Myer’s cocktail, a powerful blend of restorative vitamins and minerals delivered intravenously and designed to get you up on your feet. Open the door to your very own Dr. Feelgood.
www.myconciergemd.com
Now that you’re walking upright again, pick out something elegant to wear. Linen, maybe a floral pattern, some horizontal stripes, a head scarf. Pile the Vuitton cases in the backseat of the Lincoln and set out for home. But be sure to stop for brunch at the Peninsula. Executive Chef David Codney is turning out Mediterranean-inspired dishes with a focus on locally sourced ingredients (there are gardens on the roof!) and wild-caught seafood at The Belvedere. A Peninsula Bloody Mary with truffle cheese, horseradish and stuffed olives is the best way to say goodbye to Beverly Hills.
http://beverlyhills.peninsula.com/en/fine-dining/the-belvedere

The winged insect is no bigger than a grain of rice, but it is threatening to destroy California citrus one tree at a time.

Concentrated the last decade-plus in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the Asian citrus psyllid made its way into north Orange County in 2009. Just the other day, a residential tree in La Habra was removed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture because the insect, which carries a lethal bacteria, had infected it.

To protect the state’s citrus, the ag department has placed at-risk Southern California counties, including Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Barbara and the San Gabriel Valley, under quarantine; citrus plants purchased at a nursery or a farmer’s market within county boundaries must meet regulations to prevent the insect from spreading its bacteria, said Jay Van Rein, a department spokesman.

“A few great plagues have hit citrus over the years,” Van Rain added. “This is right up there.”

With origins in humid Florida, where occasional hurricanes spread the insect waywardly, the Asian citrus psyllid leeches on leaves and stems, and can infect citrus trees with Huanglongbing, a bacteria that causes asymmetrical yellowing and molding in leaves, and keeps fruits from ripening.

The disease was first found locally in 2012, in Hacienda Heights. In 2015, a tree was reported in San Gabriel, and last year, Cerritos had its first confirmed case.

All three trees were in residential yards, and were removed.

“We’re trying to protect from the disease spreading in residential communities,” said Van Rein, adding that Southern California’s commercial citrus trees – those on golf courses, in parks, on medians on the highway – have remained largely unscathed.

Once a tree is infected, it will die. The disease has no cure.

Residents should call the state’s free pest hotline if they believe the insect has infected a tree in their yard. Officials will remove the tree and prevent the formation of a “reservoir of bacteria, which insects can pick up and move to other trees,” Van Rein said.

“California is the latest citrus-growing region to have this arise on its shore,” Van Rein said, noting cases in Florida, Brazil and China. “We’ve learned a lot from other folks who’ve had it.”

Once a big seller, Scott Brown, who owns Anaheim Wholesale Nursery and Landscape Supply, stopped selling citrus trees a couple of years ago when the cost of treating each one every three months weighed on his checkbook.

Off North Glassell Street in Orange for 35 years, Brown said larger chain stores still sell citrus trees, but with red or blue tags on them informing prospective owners when they were last treated.

Though many nurseries have stopped selling such trees, Brown said customer demand has risen. “A lot of people are hunting them out. But they’re not out there.”

Seen easiest when new leaves are growing on the tips of branches, the Asian citrus psyllid produces a white, waxy substance. Citrus tree owners should check leaves and stems monthly for the pest.

“We’re trying to preserve our trees,” Van Rein said. “Buying time for the citrus industry to invest in research to come up with a solution to this.”