DineLA's Restaurant Week officially starts today! LAist was there for the kickoff event hosted by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Neal Fraser at Grace. LAist's Callie Miller let us in on her dirty little secret this week: she loves Pinkberry. GIANT KILLER CUPCAKE!!!! Okay, so it's not exactly 50 feet tall, but jumbo cupcakes from French pâtisserie La Provence in Beverly Hills still look massively good to us. Fresh & Easy has finally opened in......

The 4th St. bridge and 3rd Street is closed between Alameda and Central due to an explosion at 637 E. 3rd St. Unknown in nature at this point, the explosion left one LAPD officer with minor injuries who was transported to the hospital. Another officer in the patrol car was not hurt....

So far this weekend in the Southland there have been several major freeway accidents that led to injuries, deaths, arrests, and shutdowns. In the early hours of Saturday in Diamond Bar, a driver going the wrong way in his pickup truck on the transition road from the eastbound 60 Freeway to the northbound 57 Freeway collided with a minivan, killing its driver. As KNBC.com reports: "The wrong-way driver, who is believed to have been intoxicated,......

A big rig carrying a cargoload of tires collided with a sedan around 10 this morning on the 5 Freeway south of 4th Street, causing a two-hour-long shutdown of the major arteries through Downtown and a blaze that was apparently visible from over 20 miles away. It took 60 firefighters 38 minutes to knock down the flames, according the LAFD, which lept from the burning vehicles to nearby palm trees, as witnessed by other......

It was a great year of new books, re-discovered books, and books we meant to get to last year but didn't. The end of the year is nearly here and before we look forward, we'll take a look back. LAist Editors share their favorite book they read this year: Who: Zach Behrens, Editor What: The Four-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris Why: Inspiring words on how to improve workflow, automate tasks, and get more......

Today is what would have been the anniversary of Charles Bukowski's 87th year on this planet, had he not passed away in 1994. I really wish I had it in me to writing something amazing in honor of the man, but I'm not sure it can be done. What can you write about a man who revolutionized literature with a style that has yet to be rivaled? All I can think to do on......

- According to Pat Saperstein of Eating LA, the LA Times is starting a food blog…ooooh, how 2005 of them! - Jonathan Gold checks out ChiliMySoul. Damn him. Now we've got to go to Encino. - EaterLA finally gives a shout-out to LAist's fabulous food reporting, and mentions Callie Miller's excellent expose of bakery Sweet Lady Jane (more like Pissy Lady Jane). - There's beer in Santa Barbara??? No! You'll never make us believe......

After the Guinness buzz wears off, after the shamrock foam fades away, after all your St. Patty’s festivities have come to an end, you will have a chance to save a life. What: Pet Adoption Festival When: Sunday, 11am – 4pm Where: Johnny Carson Park off Bob Hope Dr. in Burbank Why: 19,263 un-adopted dogs & cats were euthanized last year in Los Angeles Over 60 rescue organizations are working together to make this......