Now that your Los Angeles Kings have finally hired a coach, they can get aggressive about putting a plan in place to disappoint as many fans as possible this year. It will be hard to top last seasons next to last place finish, but then, I felt the exact same way a year ago, and the Kings didn’t let me down. (In that I expected to be so let down, that I wasn’t let... [continue]

The concept of reality jurisdiction was a controversial one during the recent writers strike. The idea was divisive, even amongst WGA members who debated how much, if any, reality television should be covered by the union. When the WGA announced it was abandoning its fight for reality rights during the negotiations, it did so with the caveat that the Guild would aggressively pursue authority on reality projects once the strike was over. In a... [continue]

On a recent visit to the official website for The Scene in Glendale, I was a bit miffed to find that the club is now offering memberships. For a nominal fee ($99-$350) you can enjoy privileges ranging from free entry for you and a guest to the very enticing 20% off of all drinks. As extra incentive, membership also comes with… well, actually that’s pretty much it. Unless you consider a discount rate when... [continue]

Love it or hate it, Rick Caruso's $400 million, 15.5 acre Super-Grove opened this morning in Glendale. The open-aired shopping mecca boasts over 75 retail stores, a wide variety of eateries, and one heck of a fountain. It's the perfect place to spend an afternoon people-watching, listening to piped-in Sinatra and downing Beard Papa cream puffs, while secretly cursing Capitalism and referring to the retail monstrosity as "Genericana".... [continue]

Photo by HeathBiter for LAist Right where the 134 meets the 5 is an atrocious dilapidated dirt lot known as The Griffith Park Dog Park. Despite being visible from the 134, and located at the intersection of two main freeways, it is near impossible to find or get to. On a recent beautiful Sunday afternoon, me and my Labradordle (half-Labradoodle, half-Labrador) drove around for 45 minutes trying to find the entrance to this place.... [continue]

Do you like ice cream? Do you like free stuff? Do you hate free stuff, but like ice cream? Then get thee to an Ice Creamery. More specifically, high-tail it to the nearest Ben & Jerry’s, because today is Customer Appreciation Day, and that means free scoops of Groovy Brownie Nougat-Chunk Hippy Nut-Swirl Fudge-Monkey for everybody! While “Free Cone Day” sounds like something LAist might have come up with when we recently celebrated “Make Up... [continue]

Last Sunday there was a memorial service for beloved Sunset Junction mainstay, Bingo. If you’ve ever been on Sunset between Sanborn and Hyperion, you’ve surely enjoyed the super wiener-dog of all time strutting his stuff; greeting shoppers and friends at Pull My Daisy – the store belonging to his supercool owner, Sarah, or satisfying his legendary love of bacon just outside Eatwell. If you know me, you know that I also have a particular... [continue]

In honor of April Fools Day, here is brilliant footage of "Santana" Shredding! I strongly encourage you to watch any of the related videos. They have to be way more entertaining than watching Yngvie Malmsteen or Steve Vai rock out for real.... [continue]

With one week to go in the regular season, your Los Angeles Kings find themselves in last place in the NHL. With three games left, the Kings are two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have also played one less game. Kings, your pathetic fate is in your own gloved hands. Go out there and give it your all. Make us proud… Lose those last three games! That’s right. Lose! There’s no pride in... [continue]

Several hundred people squared off in Pershing Square yesterday to help celebrate International Pillowfight Day. LAist brought you a wonderful photo essay on the event last night. And since about 500 of the 300 people at the pillowfight had cameras, I suspect these aren't the last photos you will be seeing from the event.... [continue]

Yesterday as I made my way from the Blessing of the Animals to the Great Pillowfight of Pershing Square, I was amazed to find that 4th street had been shut down for this commercial shoot. The image of a giant slip n' slide running across two city blocks in the heart of downtown was a joy to stumble upon.... [continue]

While the feathers were flying in Pershing Square, just a few miles north, feathers of a different kind were being blessed at Olvera Street. A tradition since 1930, it has to be seen to be believed. The crowd is an interesting mix of religious folk and what looks like extras from a John Waters film.... [continue]

Carbon/Silicon took their punk rock pedigrees to the stage at the El Rey Wednesday night and kicked out an inspired, energized set that left the crowd of several hundred white 40-year-olds ecstatic that they’d stayed out past their bedtimes. I have to confess that I hadn’t heard much Carbon/Silicon before the show. Most of the press I’ve seen has been less about the band, and more about the band members – especially Mick Jones... [continue]

Elvis Costello and The Attractions essential 1978 record This Year’s Model was re-released for the twenty-third time earlier this week as a deluxe 2-CD set. This year’s model of This Year’s Model includes a bevy of previously released bonus tracks, and a previously unreleased live concert. I was going to review it, but instead I decided not to buy it. On Tuesday, I found myself at Amoeba records. After an hour or so, I’d amassed... [continue]

How many ways can you say “Today I walked in a circle for three and a half hours”? Thankfully, after 50-odd posts, 100+ days, a 2.5 billion blow to the local economy, and 217 donuts eaten by me, you can finally close the book on “The Writers Strike of ‘07”. Last night, the WGA announced that its members had voted “overwhelmingly” to ratify the new MBA contract. With over 4,000 votes cast, Guild members... [continue]

Photo by Heath Biter/LAist It might seem hard to believe that tonight’s game between the Phoenix Coyotes and your Los Angeles Kings carries any weight, but it does, and I’ll tell you why. With 21 games left in the season, and a lowly 53 points to their cellar-dwelling name, the Kings would be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with a loss tonight. Not officially of course. After all, only 13 points separate the Kings... [continue]

a writer's perspective So now that the writers have voted overwhelmingly to end the strike, what next? Well, now we’re in the midst of the contract ratification process. Last week, interested writers were asked to provide the WGA with “camera ready” statements for or against the new contract. Over the next few days, guild members will be receiving ballots along with the pro and con statements, and will have the opportunity to vote as to... [continue]

Writers Strike outside Disney | Photo by Heath Biter/LAist Just moments ago, in a letter to its members, the WGA announced that writers have voted by a 92.5% margin to lift the “restraining order” and officially end the strike. The move comes on Day 100 of the labor dispute. WGA president Patric Verrone is expected to hold a press conference in just a few moments at the WGA Theatre in Beverly Hills, where members... [continue]

a writer's perspective After last night’s WGA membership meeting at the Shrine, it now feels very likely that the end of the strike is here. Over 3000 WGA members turned out to hear the announcement that over the next 48 hours, writers would be given a chance to vote as to whether or not they wanted to call off the strike. This means that writers could be back to work as early as Wednesday.... [continue]

Writers Guild members picket in front of Sony Pictures in Culver City, California, November 2007 At nearly 3am last night, WGA members received an email announcing that "we have a tentative deal." I'm told that the language of the deal could have been done earlier, but that the AMPTP attempted some last minute shenanigans - most reprehensible in the fact that it made me use the word "shenanigans." The WGA East will be holding... [continue]