It was hard to know what to expect from the live performance of the “Raising Sand Revue” As named by Mr. Plant but one thing was for sure is that two of the strongest and most unique voices would be on display in full force. One a bluegrass belle, with a chilling and, at times, ethereal voice and the other a bona fide rock god who, if you closed your eyes and just heard his... [continue]

Photo by 护士黑鹰 via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr "In economic yuckytimes, it's good to be reminded of how awesome just cookin' mac n' cheese n' peas at home can be. It's not always about eating out," wrote 护士黑鹰 in the caption of her above photo on Flickr. Intrigued, the recipe had to be asked for and she was happy to share how she doctors up boxed macaroni and cheese: 1 box Back to... [continue]

Photo at last month's First Friday by Koga/LAist Last night at Largo, The Watkins Family Hour played their last show at Largo on Fairfax. Skipping their usual set break, they played straight for around two hours to a packed house and even at one point, brought up Fiona Apple to sing a few songs (the special guest cello player was also amazing). For anyone who has never seen this show, make sure you do... [continue]

I've got a conundrum, folks. You might, too: In a study entitled "The End of the Music Industry As We Know It" (suggested subhead: "And consumers feel fine"), Forrester Research, Inc., is reporting that half of music sales will be digital by 2011, and digital sales will surpass CDs entirely by 2012. It should be pretty clear to everyone that the CD is beginning to go the way of the VHS tape - even... [continue]

Burbank residents who live in the vicinity of Bob Hope Airport may soon see relief in the nighttime hours from cargo plane flight activity if a proposed mandatory curfew is endorsed by the public and approved by the FAA. This month, airport officials will consider the curfew that will prohibit air traffic between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. In turn, the airport could potentially save millions in operation costs. In 2002, the second phase of... [continue]

Naoko Mori plays science technician/alien-buster Toshiko Sato on the BBC's "Torchwood", the coolest science fiction show to come out of the UK in quite a while. In fact, when put up against a lot of the other science fiction originating on cable, "Torchwood" more than holds its own against "Stargate Atlantis", "Flash Gordon", etc. The production values are great and the stories I think are a bit more unique than some of these other... [continue]

The Flat Stanley project was started in 1995 by Dale Hubert, a Canadian schoolteacher. The project is based on the title character in Flat Stanley, a 1964 children's book. In the book, Stanley Lambchop is squished flat, which gives him unique abilities, like being able to slide under doors and travel in envelopes. The project is intended to increase literacy and educate children about geography. Classes participating in the Flat Stanley Project make their... [continue]

Bikes and graffiti are on tap for today. / Photo by Lush.i.ous via LAist's flickr pool. GRAFFITI ART Ghettogloss presents the graffiti art of Jersey Joe in Silverlake. The exhibit runs until March 20, but the opening reception is tonight from 7-midnight. 7 pm // Ghettogloss // 2380 Glendale Blvd #C, Los Angeles // Free. RIDE & TALK * RIDE-Arc monthly ride -- themed "Trolly" -- happens tonight. The group rides along for awhile... [continue]

Young fans watch the Project Runway finale with Season 3 winner Jeffery Sebelia Anyone following the phenomenon that is Project Runway now knows that Christian Siriano won Season 4. The judges loved his dramatic collection, feathers and all. Though my favorite Rami Kashou did not win, he will always be a style icon in LA and around the world. Last night as fans of the show gather around TV’s throughout the country to see... [continue]

I swear to God I did not pose someone in a creepy frock in front of the truck. They were standing there when I got there. Goths eat ice cream too, you know. Especially when summoned by the music of the dark overlord | photo by Elise Thompson for LAist digg_url = 'http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Satan_s_Ice_Cream_Truck'; I heard it for the first time a week after moving into my new house -- the jangly strains of the... [continue]

Father Dollar Bill (a.k.a. Reverend Maurice Chase) was at it again yesterday, handing out money on Skid Row. While he often hands out money to downtown residents in need, Christmas is his no-holds-barred attempt to spread a little more love in the form of Christmas cash. Skid row residents have lined up every year for 24 years to see what luck might come their way from Father Dollar Bill on Christmas Day. Reverend Chase gives... [continue]

Most people have heard of Candy Cane Lane, a neighborhood in Woodland Hills that puts up elaborate holiday displays. There are a number of other neighborhoods around Los Angeles that can also deck the halls. It all started in South Redondo when a local French restaurant encouraged the neighbors to put white lights in the trees. Every year, a little neighborhood east of Prospect and south of Palos Verdes Drive threatens to put GE... [continue]

This photograph, submitted earlier this week to our LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr, show's an office-eyes' view of those menacing storm clouds that swept over Los Angeles earlier this week and let loose a torrent of rain. Thankfully the December rainstorm allowed us to add to our rainfall total and escape having this rain year (not the same as a calendar year, it turns out) go down as the driest on record. That... [continue]

I have said it before and I'll say it again, the best designers on Project Runway this season are from Los Angeles. In my holiday wish, I see Rami Kashou, Sweet P, and Kit Pistol in the final three and visions of their collections on the runway in the finale. Christina Scarbo A.K.A. Kit Pistol created her alias during her time studying and working in Italy. You can find her designs at Jack Henry Couture... [continue]

A couple things on tonight but Saturday's a wasteland, go play in the sand or snow. Sunday is finale-city, check it out below. Have a great weekend. Tonight 7:00pm Attack of the Show G4 - Totally rad 1987 edition tonight!! (Repeats at 11pm) 9:00pm The Next Great American Band FOX - Because I know some of y'all watch this. 9:00pm Friday the 13th IFC - Uncut! 10:00pm The Soup E! - Listed mainly because it... [continue]

If you want to laugh non-stop for an hour and a half, then go see Bob's Holiday Office Party at The Lounge Theatre in Hollywood. This slapstick Holiday play is hilariously fucked up and the riot that is the party at Bob's will leave you smiling like no other. The whole audience is LOLOLOLOLOLOLROFLOLOLOLOL the whole time -- pure insanity. Every year in a small Iowa town, insurance agent Bob Finhead throws an office party...... [continue]

A 50' woman was seen terrorizing Venice Beach today. We are sure this has something to do with global warming. More photos from the scene after the jump....... [continue]

In a bid to save late night television programming as we knew it, the Carson Daly show will jump the gun on production in the coming days; WGA strike settlement or no, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The late night talk shows have taken a big hit since the Writers' Strike began three weeks ago as insomniacs nationwide discover that Nightline never actually went off the air. Viacom's Comedy Central is losing its late...... [continue]

What? There are unnecessary quotation marks in the title? Better report this to the good people over at The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks. I especially like the ones with people selling "chicken" "hamburgers" or "maple syrup". The blog that started my obsession with punctuation police was Apostrophe Abuse, which is my pet peeve. It blows my mind that somewhere out there stands a tombstone that says, "MOM - Alway's there for us." Literally a... [continue]

Some call Dutch composer Louis Andriessen the "hip guru for a younger generation," we just call him one of our favorites. And lucky for us locals, the Los Angeles Master Chorale commissioned the composer for a piece that world premieres a week from tonight -- "The City of Dis or: The Ship of Fools." The piece is one of the five sections in Andriessen's opera "La Commedia," with the libretto based on works by...... [continue]