Before the current tyrannical rule of Tony Pierce, Carolyn Kellogg was the editor of LAist, in a time many yearn for. But she decamped for the University of Pittsburgh, where she's getting an MFA in creative writing.

In between bouts of homesickness, she blogs about books and podcasts interviews with writers who rock at pinkyspaperhaus.com.

Top 10 LA Things You Don't Realize You'll Miss, Until It's Too Late

10. Beaches. I hardly went to 'em. Doh.

9. Freeways. Where I live now, the big highways have just two lanes in each direction. Dude, La Brea is wider than that.

8. LA Radio. Oh, I used to think radio sucked. KPCC's local talk shows are irritating, KCRW has the most sonambulistic program director ever, and Indie 103 ain't indie. But you know what? They're solid gold compared to the radio wasteland out here.

7. LA blogs. LA Observed, Blogging.la , Losanjealous and dear dear LAist. So much to love.

6. Food from south of the border that's not Taco Bell. Pupusas, mole, chimichangas, nopales... so good. And so cheap!

5. Food from the other side of the Pacific. Get thee to a Korean hot pot.

4. Food from IN the Pacific. Sushi sushi sushi sush, where's the little sushi sush?

3. A Hollywood evening trifecta, all within two blocks: movie at the American Cinematheque, drinks at Musso & Frank, a hot dog and fries at Skooby's.

2. The eternal sunshine.

1. The absolute fabulousness. LA has more cultural events, more food, more art, more drinks, more wonderful people, more parties, more rock shows, more bike rides, more fashion, more hikes, more shopping, more architectural wonders, more fabulousness than any person could hope to experience. But it's SO worth trying.