It's great having an apartment just a few blocks away from the Kodak Theater. I can monitor the goings-on easily while trotting around the neighborhood. A few hours ago I went over to the Renaissance Hotel to pick up my media credentials and took these pix of the scene outside.

Hollywood Boulevard looking west from Highland Avenue. Drive-through traffic is prohibited while tents, bleachers and the red carpet are already in place for the big shabang this Sunday. This is where celebs will be dropped off as they arrive. They'll then step into the white tent, which contains two rows of reporters from ABC radio stations, each with their own comfy spot at this ABC-telecast event. When celebs escape that forest of thrust-out microphones, they will emerge onto the red carpet . . .

. . . to face swarms of TV press. Currently, the carpet is covered with a clear-plastic tent that will be removed if no more rain is expected. Some fell last night, so it remains up for now as a precautionary measure.

Celebs will continue their march down the carpet, past the grandstands, till they get to the front of the Kodak. Not yet erected is the "tower," as it's called (it's actually a bridge), that will jut over the carpet along the far left side. That's where I'll be located along with many other TV folks on Oscar day. (L.A. Times photos by Tom O'Neil)