Last weekend, while most of you were chilling out at the beach, or planning your outfit for some Saturday night booze-sessions, skateboaring's elite including Ryan Sheckler, Shaun White, Paul Rodriguez, Bob Burnqist and more were in at the Maloof Money Cup shredding a revolutionary skatepark in the hopes of grabbing the $100,000 prize. But that wasn't all there was to win. Vert skaters competed for $75K, Girls for $75K, and the éS game of SKATE,... [continue]

There's a new hockey player in town. He's 6' 1, 219 pounds, 18 years old and from Canada. Meet defenseman Drew Doughty, who was the Los Angeles Kings' 1st round choice and 2nd overall in the 2008 NHL draft. Today, Doughty was found at the Los Angeles Kings Prospects Development Camp that started today. The camp is from July 8-18 at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo. The camp is open to the public,... [continue]

That's the Maloof Money Cup Car parked in Hollywood by Crescent Heights and Sunset... see the Laugh Factory in the background? I think that might even be the SUV one lucky skateboarder can win. or maybe its just some promo-thing. whatever. Photo Anti/LAist Prior to the Maloof Money Cup the largest prize in skateboarding was the x-games, and the only prize winner was 1st Place, getting $50,000. By the way, x-games makes so much... [continue]

An early Sunday evening walk exploring your own neighborhood can be quite fulfilling. Here's what caught our eye while taking a walk up Alomar Drive in the hills of Sherman Oaks towards a little known piece of public open space that overlooks the San Fernando Valley (nearby, you can hike a small trail in Dixie Canyon Park). Looking for a walk that is a little more than casual? Try the Hollywoodland Staircases Walk in Beachwood... [continue]

Regarding the incident reported this morning where a one Dr. Christopher Thompson*, a 58-year-old emergency room physician and resident of the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood, was involved in an alleged road rage incident between two bicyclists, Christian Stoehr and Ron Peterson, on Mandeville Canyon Rd. in Brentwood, there have been some updates. "Captain Eaton, the commanding officer of the West LA station, reports that LAPD believes this was indeed a 'road rage' incident, made an arrest,... [continue]

No deal has been met between the the Screen Actors Guild and the movie studios and producers, who have given their "last best final" offer. Right now, it's all about back and forth information sharing as they look over the offer. But is that really it? Nikki Finke says it best. "Let's not be coy: the Screen Actors Guild seems to be understandably playing for time until the results of the AFTRA contract ratification vote... [continue]

Since many are so hopeful that we can get weed legalized for everyone in California, we thought we would share with you what happened in 2006. From the trends you can see below, fewer and fewer people see marijuana as a "bad, evil, boogie-man that will unravel society as we know it."... [continue]

That was an eighth of some $80 weed. 510 Kush. Photo by Anti/LAist digg_url = 'http://digg.com/world_news/California_to_Legalize_Weed_for_Everyone'; There is an initiative in the works that could end up on the November ballot that allows for marijuana to be sold to anyone, and anywhere that already sells alcohol. Its being called The Inalienable Rights Enforcement Initiative. From the full text of the measure: This initiative will amend the Constitution of California to defend and safeguard the... [continue]

Galaxy defender Ante Jazic got things going early for the blue-and-gold against D.C. United, but unfortunately, it got them going in the wrong direction. Jazic fouled D.C. United midfielder Santino Quaranta in the penalty box as Quaranta was making a run towards the Galaxy goal. Referee Jair Marrufo did not hesitate to call the penalty which United forward Jaime Moreno then converted into a goal, all within the first 5 minutes of the game.... [continue]

the Rabbit of Seville, with a "cameo" by Leopold Stokowski This week we revisit some classic cartoons at the Hollywood Bowl. It pairs the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Looney Tunes characters as it incorporates the music and the cartoons live on stage. This is the final performance of the show before 2010 when they present a new 20th anniversary edition. It includes the Rabbit of Seville and What's Opera Doc? This is a fun... [continue]

Saturday night was hopping in Chinatown, from Hop Louie's to the Lindy Hop on the dance floor as the iconic neighborhood celebrated their 70th anniversary. A big band was on hand to provide the tunes, folks in 30s and 40s garb milled about, the shops were open, and the Central Plaza was abuzz with young and old alike celebrating Chinatown's history. To learn more about the area's features and stories (like why it's called "New"... [continue]

Attorney General Jerry Brown recently announced that the State of California has filed a legal suit against Countrywide home mortgage lender for deceptive lending practices that has caused thousands of foreclosures. Brown cites that Countrywide routinely failed to explain complicated and expensive mortgage terms to consumers -- a practice that encouraged borrowers to agree to completely unaffordable mortgage terms. But according to several lending professionals working in California State (who requested that their anonymity be... [continue]

Photo by Jsome1 via Flickr Kickchella is free and featured 14 excellent bands. It all goes down at 6:00 p.m. at the All-Star Lanes in Eagle Rock. The lineup: Le Switch, Henry Clay People, You Me and Iowa, I Make This Sound, The Flying Tourbillion Orchestra, Tandemoro, Les Blanks, The Hectors, The Voyeurs, Swim Party, Marvelous Toy, The Damselles, The TC4, Nathan Wasilewski. Tonight Willoughby, Graves @ Tangier Meshell Ndegeocello @ Key Club Kickchella... [continue]

When you read something you like on LAist, we love it when you hit the "recommend" button, and we love it even more if you put your two cents' worth in the comments. Getting a dialog going with our readers and making sure we're giving you content you can use are top priorities for us. So here are this week's top posts, as endorsed by you via the recommend feature, or as indicated by the... [continue]

This weekend marks the first ever inter-league meet-up of Derby Dolls here in LA, called Battle on the Bank and our own L.A. Derby Dolls are a big part of the fun and spectacle (last week we chatted with Micki Krimmel, aka Mickipedia, who is a "Baby Doll" on her way to joining the team). It's a banked track tournament featuring skaters from the L.A. Derby Dolls, Team Awesome, San Diego Derby Dolls, TXRD Lonestar... [continue]

Some musicians make use of the advantages afforded by their symbiotic relationships. First Aid Kit—a Stockholm-based duo comprised of sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg—are certainly one of them. Their debut Drunken Trees EP, which was released via the Knife's Rabid Records this last April, exemplifies the surreal properties innate to flesh and blood. ... [continue]

Photo by Phil Romans via Flickr EXPERIENCE WATER MEETS DANCE MEETS CHINATOWN...THE MOVIE: Stephan Koplowitz's Liquid Landscapes begins tonight via Grand Performances with the showing of original dance film inspired by locations from Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, followed by a screening of Chinatown itself. It's the start of a one-week dance tour of LA inspired by water and sites that have to do with water. SEE A FILM: It's the last day of the Greek... [continue]

Yeah you have heard of the Palms Casino, and that its owned by these guys called the Maloof brothers who are really good at making things cool. But you didn't know that the Maloofs are doing the same thing to skateboarding. So they started the Maloof Money Cup, a skateboard contest with the biggest cash prize ever heard of, all the freshest skaters, and its going down July 11-13 at the OC Fairgrounds in... [continue]

Perhaps you thought Burton was just for winter-sports, and didn’t realize that they’ve taken over Channel Islands. It’s all good, that’s why you’re reading LAist. Now they have all kinds of tight shit for the summer, and the beach, and just straight up kicking it pool-side. (For some of us, the beach is like a million hours of traffic on the 405)... [continue]