Suspects in Santa Monica Murder Identified

Santa Monica police today released the names of the four suspects allegedly involved in Tuesday night's murder. Patrick Dwight Birdsong Jr, 18; Norman Lovan Cole, 33; Sean Alex Mermer, 29; and a male juvenile were all booked on murder, attempted murder and "promoting of a street gang." Cole and Mermer were also charged with violating parole.

                     

It's November and that means time to start holiday shopping. Here at LAist we encourage our readers to shop local, buy items that raise money for good causes, and celebrate the great things about our city.

Pencil This In: Street Art Gallery Opening in WeHo, Public Transit Meeting

The Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art in West Hollywood puts on some of the edgiest and coolest art shows in town. Tonight is the opening reception for Dark Doings with art by street artist Dan Witz. "This is the Brooklyn based artist’s first US west coast solo exhibition," explains a gallery e-mail blast. "In Dark Doings, Witz will showcase a selection of pieces from his expansive summer street project of the same name. Created both for the street and gallery, the subtle, haunting images of human and animal faces trapped behind dirty glass windows...

TV Junkie: Interview with 'Bored to Death' Team of Ted Danson, Jonathan Ames & Jason Schwartzman

The season finale of HBO's "Bored to Death" is this Sunday at 9:30pm and it is a must-watch. There are plenty of McShows out there but this is not one of them and nor will it ever be. The brainchild of author and memoirist Jonathan Ames, the show about an author and part-time amateur private investigator bursts with uncompromised originality in every episode.

Is Oprah Moving her Show to L.A.?

oprah-moves-los-angeles.png Our sister blog Chicagoist is reporting that Oprah might be moving her show to Los Angeles. That's via Deadline Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke, who doesn't name a source. If true, then Oprah could be here by 2011 and the show would air on her own channel, ending syndication. But Oprah's people say no decisions have been made yet. This would also mean she'll be closer to her Montecito home near Santa Barbara.

Tonight In Rock: Pixies, The Bravery, Neon Indian, Avi Buffalo

Tonight NY-based alternative rockers the Bravery will be headlining the Wiltern with Aussie indie rock quartet Howling Bells in tow. Austin/Brooklyn-bred electro pop duo Neon Indian are poised to grace Siren Studios with none other than Canadian experimental electronic duo Crystal Castles. And, lastly, Long Beach/Los Alamitos natives and recent Sub Pop signees Avi Buffalo (LAist Interview, Review) will be performing at the Echo. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Hollywood Palladium to catch legendary Boston-bred alternative rock outfit the Pixies, who will be taking on the penultimate night of their three-date stint.

New Japanese-Fusion Spot Opening in WeHo on Saturday

This morning it was Vietnamese-fusion and now we're talking Japanese-fusion. After a soft-opening in October that ended last night, Grub Street gives a heads up to this Saturday's opening of Agura in West Hollywood.

                                   

It's hardly surprising that KCRW knows how to throw a party. I mean they are the home of Morning Becomes Eclectic one of the best music shows on air. And I don't mean in Los Angeles. I mean in the country. The radio station had rented out the gorgeous Park Plaza Hotel in MacArthur Park and threw a masked ball Louis XIV would have been proud of. KCRW's famed DJs spun tunes in every room as costumed guests milled around in varying states of inebriation. In the parking lot, food trucks waited patiently for the midnight hour to strike, a time when the guests would give in to their secret desire for tacos and grilled cheese.

Map: How to Connect to the New Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension

The Gold Line's Eastside Extension is opening on November 15th, but how does one get to the light rail line? Other than the big connections at Union Station (Red Line, etc), what other bus lines connect to it?

Ready, Set, Go! Bouchon is Now Accepting Reservations!

Michelin star collector Thomas Keller has been causing a stir with the opening of Bouchon in Beverly Hills, an expansion of the Bouchon Bakeries in Yountville, Las Vegas, and New York City. Bouchon Beverly Hills is slated to open on November 18, 2009 in the Beverly Hills Gardens building located on CaƱon Drive. The opening chef is Rory Herrmann, who previously headed up the kitchen at Per Se.

Auntie Em's Tops List for Best Cupcake Shop, Sprinkles Left Out

best-socal-cupcakes.png ABC7 and Citysearch got together and made a top 7 cupcake shop list. Auntie Em's Kitchen in Eagle Rock took the top spot with Yummy Cupcakes in Burbank and Famous Cupcakes in Valley Village in spots 2 and 3. The list is rounded out by Susie Cakes, The Cobbler Lady, Violet's Cakes, French's Cupcake Bakery, Cupcakery and Dolcissimo. Who didn't make the list? Sprinkles and Crumbs. Oh, snap!

Guerilla Public Art We Like: Pasadena's Fork in the Road

lad in Caltrans uniforms a few nights ago, a group of people installed a 12-foot wooden carved fork where Pasadena Avenueu splits at, well, a fork in the road, with St. John Avenue (see a map here). Who did this awesome piece of art and why? "It turns out the fork is an elaborate - and expensive - birthday prank in honor of the 75th birthday of Bob Stane, founder of the Ice House comedy club, who now owns the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena," reports the Pasadena Star News. And the group would like to see it stay there permanently, but that will be up to the Caltrans, which owns the small parcel of land and the city.

New Late-Night Shuttle Service Will Connect USC and L.A. Live

In an attempt to attract the thousands of USC students ready to spend money in downtown, AEG is funding a free weekend shuttle between the campus and the entertainment complex.

Possible Connections in Murders in Venice, Santa Monica

venicemurdersamo.jpg In a follow-up to yesterday's post about the arrest of four suspects in Tuesday night's Santa Monica slaying, there is some speculation that it might be connected to a murder in Venice during the afternoon hours the same day. The LA Times reports that "William Charles McKillian Jr., 19, was in the 600 block of Westminster Avenue in Venice when he was confronted by at least one attacker who opened fire about 3:30 p.m." Police are unsure if they are connected at this point, but are "aggressively pursuing the cases in an effort to make sure there was no chance of the violence escalating."

DNA Pins Down Suspects in NoHo Double Murder Cold Case

DNA evidence from a double murder 12 years ago has been linked to a suspect who is currently in a California prison. Back in September of 1997, the stabbing murders of 57-year-old Nancy Boehm and her mentally impaired 23-year-old son Shawn occurred in their North Hollywood home on the 5700 block of Riverton Avenue. Without any leads, the case remained unsolved.

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