Friday night's grand opening party for the highly anticipated Rush Street in Culver City was an evening of fun food and drinks; inside the incredible space on Washington Boulevard were gathered friends of the restaurant, folks from the neighborhood, local dignitaries, and a handful of LAisters, all eager to get a taste of the new bar and eatery. LAist Featured Photos contributor Michael Ngim (aka hinducow) was on hand along with our Caroline on Crack......

The new 7,300-square-foot Hollywood & Highland location of uWink (its first location is in Woodland Hills) opens to the general public tonight at 5pm. But last night we were able to take a sneak peek of the high-tech interactive restaurant at the media party where we had free reign over the food menu and extensive cocktail list and could order directly through a touchscreen at our tables instead of going through a waiter. Dangerous for......

Going to the Playboy Mansion is like watching an episode of HBO's Entourage. You walk in and there are celebrities everywhere, almost like they are extras to your party going experience. McLovin' is chilling with the two girls of Superbad, Tila Tequila is hanging out by the sushi table, Jeremy Piven is chatting by the pool, Anna Ferris is waiting in line to use the bathroom, Obama Girl is relaxing on a couch and the......

Last Saturday at Dockweiler Beach was Lushness X, a volleyball tournament where uniforms and outfits are "highly encouraged." It's fair to say the tournament is a party, billed with rules that include make-out sessions (usually girl-on-girl), "corndogging" (pouring water on player and forcing them to roll in sand) and an occasional egging. LAist Photographer Tom Andrews spent the day sporting photos of the event and here's what he saw. Also: Team/Group Photo Gallery Related: The......

A compendium gallery of teams related to the post and photos from LA's Wildest & Hottest Volleyball Tournament: Lushness X. All photos are by LAist photographer Tom Andrews. Related: The 2007 'Six Man' Volleyball Tourney Photo Essay......

Photo by Avvocatessa Lo via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. FESTIVAL If you love going to really random festivals, then you should definitely check out the Los Angeles Accordion Festival this weekend. With three days of music featuring the [timeless?] accordion, who can resist? 6 p.m. // Fraternity of Eagles Aerie 2188 // 1596 W. Yosemite Dr, Eagle Rock // (323) 257-8869 // $10 PARTY Aimee Mann and her CD cover artist......

Amidst the rain and cold weather, 4,000 participants gathered at the Live Oak Campground in Santa Barbara to dance, play, and frolic in Do Lab's Lightning in a Bottle Arts and Music Festival....

Photo by miss patricia via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. PARTY Popular magazine URB is having a release party for their upcoming issue tonight. DJ ?uestlove shows off his talents after completing the new Roots album. 10 p.m. // The Roxy Theater // 9009 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood // $18 STAGE Tonight, Emergency, a performance piece by Daniel Beaty, ends it’s run at the Geffen Playhouse. Beaty becomes all of the forty characters......

Photo by jtstrathdee via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. FILM Remember all those times you said to yourself, “Man, I wish I was watching this movie at a cemetery instead of in my comfortable living room”? Well, now you can. Cinespia’s summer screening series starts tonight with Ace in the Hole (1951) projected on a mausoleum at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary. Bring food, drinks, blankets, and lots of courage. 7:30 p.m. //......

Family Affair celebrates it's one year anniversary by taking over the rooftop of the Standard Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles....

Photo by WishByNight via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr TRAIN Ditch your car today and take the train. Today is the first National Train Day, stressing the use of public transportation including our local train system. There will be events for the whole family including train driving simulators, arts and crafts, and a live concert with Nickelodeon star, Drake Bell. 10:30 a.m. // Old Ticket Concourse // 800 North Alameda St, Los......

Photo by kpe II via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr FILM There aren’t many good movies to see this weekend so why not grab a seat at the Nuart tonight and watch the classic World War II film, The Great Escape (1963)? The film is a part of the United Artists’ 90th Anniversary celebration series, starring Steve McQueen and shown on a new 35mm print. 8:30 p.m. // Nuart Theatre // 11272......

There were at least a handful of LAist contributors at this year's Coachella Festival, and as we slowly recover from our Coachella "hangover" we'll continue to upload photos and tell the stories from another epic weekend in the desert... (or at least the parts we can remember) Part 1 of 5: THURSDAY - Peanut Butter Cream Pie and Riot Police Our plan was to leave LA by 2pm (or 3 at the very latest) to......

Photo by Sundogg via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr FESTIVAL Stop by the Santa Monica Pier for a Celebration for the Arts pier party today and tomorrow. There will be a lot of stuff to do and see including live silkscreening by Alternative Apparel, Guitar Hero contests, Improv, celebrity appearances, and of course lots of live free music. All proceeds benefit the arts. 11 a.m. // Santa Monica Pier // 350 Santa......

One person was killed last night following a fight at a house party held last night in East L.A. on the 1400 block of Downey Street. A few people were allegedly involved in the fight, which led to one person shooting another, who "later died at a local hospital," reports abc7.com. In another party-turned-crime scene incident, an argument broke out at a birthday party on Hart Street in Winnetka late last night, prompting the host......

Photo by joddo via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr PARTY Celebrate Beauty Bar’s 8th birthday with free drinks from 9:30-10:30, and live sets from DJ’s Apollo Staar, Achilles & Matter, and Dia & Clifton. Started in New York in 1996 in an ex-beauty parlor, Beauty Bar has spread across the country with it’s 50’s inspired décor. 9:30 p.m. // Beauty Bar // 1638 N Cahuenga, Los Angeles // Free ART Today is......

All photos by Kelly C. Gallamore for LAist.-->Lucent Dossier is the spectacular LA-based vaudeville circus that highlighted The Do LaB's awesome Lucent L'Amour Valentine's Day party last month. You may have even seen them performing at the official Grammy Awards party (no, that wasn't Cirque du Soleil, it was Lucent Dossier). Stretch your legs and enjoy the photos below of Lucent Dossier members getting their vaudeville cirque on at the Lucent L'Amour bash. Want......

Two weeks ago I headed to Las Vegas for my friend's 21st birthday. There's nothing quite as fun as partying in Sin City while also celebrating a person's rite of passage into adulthood. With a killer hotel discount rate and swimsuits in hand, my friend's and I made the trek to Las Vegas for the most epic trip of the year. Photo essay after the jump!......

Dave Koenig of LA-based Spindrift, Little Radio Day Party, Red Eyed Fly, SXSW 2008, Austin, TX We made it through another South by Southwest Interactive, Film, and Music Conference and Festival in Austin, TX. After writing out that sentence, we need a nap but stay tuned for more interviews and live footage documenting LA's presence at the 21st annual event. Shout Out Louds at the Austinist Day Party, The Mohawk, Austin Enjoy some live......

UPDATE!!! The event has moved to in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater. Check Facebook for updated details.Coming on the heels of the announcement for Los Angeles' participation in World Pillow Fight Day scheduled for Saturday March 22 downtown, there's yet another spectacle of an event planned for the night before at Hollywood and Highland, sans bouncers and lines to wait in (h/t again to Bored-LA). According to the Facebook page, at 10:00 p.m. on Friday......

Want your date to pucker up? Take her to the Hungry Cat in Hollywood, well-known for its innovative and freshly juiced cocktails, and order her up a Sourpuss ($12). I had tried one on the recommendation of the bartender. She swore that despite its ingredients of 1792 Bourbon, fresh orange juice and lemon with caramelized simple syrup that it was far from tart. I don't like tart, ya see. According to the bartender, the......

Family, the great little bookstore on Fairfax is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a huge art show that opens tonight at 8pm and you're invited. The show is a "Thank You" to all those who've made Family's first year a success. And what a Thank You it is - the 26 artists they've assembled for this celebratory art show are impressive and reflect everything about the store that we love - eclectic and slightly off-kilter,......

Soulicious is having a party. Come join us for a night of thumping beats, art, performances, and fun....

They've brought luminescence to Burning Man nights and misting relief to blistering Coachella days. This Saturday, Do LaB sets out to light up your love life, whether you hate V-Day or not. Skip the roses and head downtown for a night of burlesque, nonstop beats, and a brand new performance by the Los Angeles' own Lucent Dossier Vaudeville Cirque. The Do LaB's transporting the naturific, visionary vibes you know from their Lightning in a......

Don't forget: LAist Super Tuesday Election Party tonight at Seven Grand! Details and RSVP here. Did you have any problems voting in Los Angeles today? The Los Angeles Times and LAist report on problems in the precincts, especially for non-partisan voters. Is it still a long strange trip if it's only just begun? The last remaining members of the Grateful Dead are reuniting tonight in San Francisco to show their support for Obama. The......

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Go on, grab a cup of coffee, meet those neighbors you never knew, and vote. Nearly 9 million voters are predicted to hit the polls today in California. A record. Don't miss out on the party. Later on, make the most of this Super FAT Tuesday at our party. In a hurry? Review a sample ballot. You can also text your picks to your e-mail......

USC students might be trying to claim victory in an unspoken hardest-partying contest among local college students--or they're just doing what college kids tend to do: PARTY!!!! In today's wee morning hours, bragging rights may well have been earned by a handful of revelers, according to ABC7: Police broke up a gathering of about 1,000 students early Saturday, arresting nine of them on suspicion of public drunkenness. LAPD began receiving complaints about the party near......

Dudes, it's raining, I know, but that doesn't mean there's still not cheap booze to be found in this city tonight! Here's a few more we managed to dig up this week -- send your secret spots and recommendations my way at carrie@laist.com. Kung Pao Kitty, Hollywood, 3pm - 7pm everyday: Need more, uh, kitty in your diet? Try $3 appetizers like lettuce cups, chicken wontons, and fried tofu, plus $3 drinks. Lucky Devil's,......

During the go-go, greed is good ‘80s, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and host Robin Leach became the symbol of American opulence. It was hard not to aspire for 'champagne wishes and caviar dreams.' Of course these days, there are countless shows featuring the upper crust flaunting their wealth. And like a car wreck, we wretch at the sight of such blatant materialism while secretly keeping our eyes glued to the TV set. So......

On News Year's Eve, Belinda Carlisle and Rufus Wainwright will sing classic French cabaret songs and more accompanied by a Parisian band and dancers. You could be with them in Los Angeles' living room, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, as we are giving away a pair of tickets to the 10:30 p.m. show, which will take you into 2008. To enter, leave a comment telling us about your favorite New Year's Eve in the past.......