Photo by Julie Wolfson/LAist Can't be hassled with slaving over an oven to make treats for all those holiday parties you're gonna hit up? L.A. has many wonderful dessert shops to save the day. Take your pick. Will it be cute peppermint cupcakes, a personalized gingerbread house or how's about a Yule log cake? Crumbs has gone over the top with holiday joy by creating several impressive holiday cupcakes ($3.75 each or 12 mini... [more]
Posted by Caroline on Crack on Dec 18, 2008 | Recommended (13)
Proposition 8 proponents filed a lawsuit today seeking to nullify 18,000 gay marriages that took place between June and November this year. The brief filed with the court was co-written by Pepperdine's law school dean Kenneth Star, who also was the former independent counsel that investigated President Bill Clinton. "Proposition 8's brevity is matched by its clarity. There are no conditional clauses, exceptions, exemptions or exclusions," it read. Attorney General Jerry Brown promptly responded to... [more]
Posted by Zach Behrens on Dec 19, 2008 | Recommended (12)
When it comes to Skid Row's largest Christmas toy party, some wait over ten hours in line; some wait over night. Fred Jordan Missions' 65th annual Family Christmas Celebration was last Sunday and it brought out the masses, with smiles in tow. In a year of economic hardship, you'll hear the same story: donations are down, the people needing help are up. For Fred Jordan, they've seen a 50 percent increase in people looking for... [more]
Posted by Zach Behrens on Dec 24, 2008 | Recommended (10)
It rained down here and it snowed up there. It's time for morning surfing and some nighttime skiing.... [more]
Posted by Zach Behrens on Dec 18, 2008 | Recommended (9)
Moby at Electric Daisy Carnival 2008 | Photo by Drew “Rukes” Ressler/Used with Permission Every year dance music lovers around the world salivate over the DJ talent that drops in on Los Angeles to dance in the New Year. December 31, 2008 makes a strong case for those mouths to continue watering. From trance to house to techno to electro, here's a taste -- Giant Maximus -- Downtown LA Giant and KCRW bring you... [more]
Posted by Caleb Bacon on Dec 18, 2008 | Recommended (9)
How do you insure that you will never show up to a party to find someone wearing the same dress? Buy vintage. In Los Angeles we have loads of choices for finding fun vintage clothes. We had heard of Shareen's but never had a chance to shop there. Then one day a friend suggested a trip to Shareen's instead of lunch. So we drove off through the warehouse district downtown to find it. We turned... [more]
Posted by Julie Wolfson on Dec 18, 2008 | Recommended (9)
We're not normally ones to pry into your personal lives, but we're asking because today happens to be Global Orgasm Day. Granted, with a Noon GMT timestamp, that means you would have had to have been, err, um, participating in the event at 4 this morning, but our day has just begun here in Los Angeles, so there's still plenty of time to... Well, anyhow. Why Global Orgasm Day? According to the organizers: The world... [more]
Posted by Lindsay William-Ross on Dec 21, 2008 | Recommended (8)
This weekend marked the official opening of the jogging path around Silver Lake Reservoir. The new 3,300 foot path (that's about 2/3rds of a mile) on the eastside of the reservoir goes from Armstrong Avenue to the dog park. This new step helps one jog or walk a complete circle around the approximately 2 mile loop of both reservoirs (that includes Ivanhoe, too). The anticipated Silver Lake Meadow, however, still has not opened. For that,... [more]
Posted by Zach Behrens on Dec 22, 2008 | Recommended (8)
It's Christmas and hey, not everything is closed. So here are some options of what you can do today... Ice skate at Pershing Square or on 3rd Street Promenade. Then eat lots of turkey at The Pantry. Visit the homeless in Venice Beach. See Jewish musical comedy at The Echo. Or see a selection of films--including John Waters' Christmas Evil--at the Silent Movie Theatre. Go to the DWP Holiday Lights Festival in Griffith Park... [more]
Posted by Zach Behrens on Dec 25, 2008 | Recommended (8)
Earlier this fall we got a copy of the posthumous release of Mitch Hedberg's "Do You Believe in Gosh?" It's difficult to think about and listen to Hedberg without thinking about his premature death in 2005, silencing a unique comedic voice that had been getting national attention for far too short a time. Hedberg's very original speaking style and surrealist non-sequiturs set him very much apart from other comedians in his generation, and even from... [more]
Posted by Tom Lewis on Dec 19, 2008 | Recommended (7)
Times are tough all over, but they are particularly tough for one block in Beverly Hills, where there's been some un-neighborly thieving going on. On today's Huffington Post, Tom Gregory explains how the boundless joy of Christmas has been curtailed by someone helping themselves to people's Christmas decorations put out by Peter (Columbo) and Shera Falk, Charo, and Gregory himself. Wow, it's not such a wonderful life after all for the people who live... [more]
Posted by Lindsay William-Ross on Dec 20, 2008 | Recommended (7)
Photo by Will Calcutt / Used with permission December is list-making season. And for us music journalists, it is a time to look back on scores of albums, singles and remixes, reflect upon the music and recapitulate our favorites. But this year, just like the last, we took this opportunity to flip that tradition upside down, asking the artists that influenced us what influenced them. The prompt was not limited to that which came... [more]
Posted by Caleb Bacon on Dec 24, 2008 | Recommended (7)
Los Angeles is cold. It’s too cold for this Midwestern escapee’s comfort even if it is Christmas. Humbug. Yes, God gave us Jesus and a really great climate in SoCal, so it’s not supposed to freeze. We don’t really freeze that much, but Jesus and a frost show up once or twice. It happens; my Yahoo Weather report says expect the low 30’s. It says Buffalo. It says Dayton. Every year I tell myself to... [more]
Posted by Hand of Gardener on Dec 25, 2008 | Recommended (7)
For those in recovery, the holidays can represent the most trying time of the year. Good thing Los Angeles is strong on recovery. All sorts of help can be found, including many 12-step meetings from many 12-step programs. Perhaps there's something to it. Happy Holidays! Adult Children of Alcoholics -- (310) 320-3931 Alcoholics Anonymous -- (323) 936-4343 AA (Spanish) -- 323 735-2089 Al-Anon/Alateen Family Groups -- (818) 760-7122 Al-Anon/Alateen (Spanish) (462) 948-2190 Cocaine Anonymous --... [more]
Posted by Caleb Bacon on Dec 24, 2008 | Recommended (7)
The leftovers from one of the many food-drop offs that occur on Skid Row. Photo by Emily Lerman/LAist December's Skid Row Neighborhood Watch Walk was lightly attended, likely due to the tree lighting events happening at LA Live. As always, the walk went on, and as always, the walk was unlike any prior walks. While feelings of sadness, confusion and hopelessness had ensued after previous walk, this one offered a new, fresh and somewhat hopeful... [more]
Posted by Emily Lerman on Dec 26, 2008 | Recommended (7)
The beautiful haunting melodies of the Duke Spirit's new album Neptune broke out at the beginning of this year with the single The Step and the Walk.On that single Liela Moss' voice radiated an eerie joy and her famous tambourine rattle bounced all over the radio waves. The British band traveled all the way to Joshua Tree to record this album. Oddly enough in the middle of the desert, they found themselves writing about... [more]
Posted by Molly Bergen on Dec 19, 2008 | Recommended (7)
Rosario Dawson and Will Smith and a big-ass dog. Photo Courtesy Sony Pictures. The holiday box office season is generally a time for light-hearted, star-driven films that keep audiences engaged. After all, it is tough in this economic climate and with so few days before Christmas to take two hours out of your day to sit in a theater and really become involved in the characters on screen, even if the dialogue is upbeat... [more]
Posted by Farley Elliott on Dec 19, 2008 | Recommended (7)
Photo by Lush.i.ous via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr This holiday season many of you will want to help others but will say: “what can I do to help? I don’t have that much money to give.” Good news -- you don't need much. Fight Global Poverty For A Few Bucks Microlending is a revolutionary and efficient way to fight poverty that gives businesses in developing nations a real chance. Entrepreneurs in... [more]
Posted by Caleb Bacon on Dec 19, 2008 | Recommended (6)
In Culver City, Royal/T celebrates Christmas pop culture style. When we heard they had on display a one of a kind custom Tokidoki Christmas tree, we knew we needed to see it for ourselves and have lunch in their "Maid Cafe". We are loving the STRANGEco vinyl figures. Maybe next year we'll decorate our tree with King Ken. Merry Christmas!... [more]
Posted by Julie Wolfson on Dec 24, 2008 | Recommended (6)
With Jews around the world getting ready to light the first candle on the menorah tomorrow night, Keith From Up Da Block has some holiday music to get us all in the mood. Oy vey! Gefilte fish and matzoh balls! Happy Hanukkah! And if you'd like to debate the spelling of the word Hanukkah The Leevees offer this exploration on the topic.... [more]
Posted by Julie Wolfson on Dec 20, 2008 | Recommended (6)
Remember this apartment in Palms? | Photo by mondolind via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr With the foreclosure crisis happening, homeowners weren't the only ones finding themselves homeless. Renters were too. After all, someone owns those buildings and they can foreclose just as easily. But after a one-year moratorium placed on foreclosure-related evictions yesterday, it will be harder for banks to evict good tenants who pay rent on time. "Banks don't want to be... [more]
Posted by Zach Behrens on Dec 18, 2008 | Recommended (6)
Photo by Jessica Pauline/LAist A turkey sandwich, when done well, is a delicious and satisfying lunch mainstay. In fact, it's one that I rely on as a dietary staple. A few simple pieces of turks, tucked happily between two slightly warmed slices. Easy. Tasty. Attractive. I never really gave much thought as to whether a masterpiece of form and substance existed in the genre. Had I eaten certain sandwiches from certain vendors that outshone... [more]
Posted by Jessica Pauline on Dec 20, 2008 | Recommended (6)
There was a warm communal vibe at Harry Shearer and Judith Owen's singalong December 5th. It was held in the Steve Allen Theater, which is small and homey enough to remind you of being in a high school auditorium. In fact, it was almost like being at your kid's high school holiday chorale -- if your kids were all over 40 and went to the most awesome high school ever. The first half of... [more]
Posted by Elise Thompson on Dec 25, 2008 | Recommended (6)
It was quiet, people seemed happy and overall, the Prop 8 candlelight vigil on Saturday night in Hollywood was positive. Light Up the Night was a nationwide demonstration that aimed to make an impact on the private sector by holding the vigils in high traffic business or shopping areas. Organizers estimate the vigils reached one million people with the message of equality.... [more]
Posted by Zach Behrens on Dec 22, 2008 | Recommended (6)
The future of toy cars? The H-Racer is the smallest hydrogen powered car in the world. All photos courtesy of The Ultimate Green Store.com LAist had a chance to talk with LA-resident and "green-shopping" expert Laura Meyer, founder and CEO of the recently launched TheUltimateGreenStore.com. Meyer took the time to share her green gift picks and shopping tips and fill us in on what to expect for green products in 2009. What lead you to... [more]
Posted by Emily Lerman on Dec 18, 2008 | Recommended (6)