Even bloggers can get caught up in shady corporate bullshit. Here's a little yarn for you: Alexia Tsotsis, former LA Weekly writer, recently started blogging at TechCrunch, a blog about technology start-ups that's owned by AOL. This past week, Tsotsis was at SXSW when someone from Moviefone - also owned by AOL - gave her the chance to interview Jake Gyllenhaal, who stars in Summit's new movie "The Source Code." more ›

As a graphic designer, I’ve been reading Alissa Walker in various design publications for years. She’s been somewhat of a household name for designers and architects, but when I started seeing her name pop up with other credits, like Good, Fast Company, Longshot Magazine, helping produce DnA for KCRW, speaking on and moderating panel discussions—it seemed like she was suddenly everywhere. This is a great thing, however, because she writes about the things I love: Los Angeles, design, walking & gelato! I got my complimentary Coolhaus bacon ice cream sandwich (yum!), poured myself a coffee and got settled in for her talk as part of the Creative Mornings Los Angeles series. more ›

The U.S. House takeover isn't the only change that's happening these days. Here at LAist, we're mixing up things, too. After almost three years as LAist's Editor, I'm heading over to KCET, L.A.'s public television station that will split from PBS in January, making it the largest independent public television station in the nation. To say the least, this is an opportunity and challenge like no other, and I'm ecstatic to join the team to ramp up their blogging effort to make KCET a destination. more ›

If you follow any "foodies" on Twitter you may have woken up to a stream of 140 character obit-like wails echoing the death rattle that's just been shook at print publication mega-player Conde Nast. They've just announced that they're going to close up shop at Gourmet magazine, a 68-year-old monthly whose colorful photos and thoughtful words have inspired cooks and eaters here in Los Angeles and around the world for decades. more ›

KCRW's Evan Kleiman, host of the popular and long-running show "Good Food" has issued this video plea to anyone who considers themselves a part of one or more of the following categories: Foodies, food bloggers, or fans of KCRW. She's reminding us that it's the Winter Pledge Drive, and to keep tasty programming like her show on the airwaves, the station needs our support. more ›

The Paley Center hosts the cast and creative team of Monk tonight at 8:30 pm. There’s usually a screening, followed by discussion and Q&A. In person guests include Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, Jason Gray-Stanford, among others. more ›

For the first time, the Orange County Fire Authority is blogging. Just like the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Transportation Security Administration, OCFA wants people to comment and engage by asking questions and offer ideas to make things better in future wildfire fights. more ›

Molly's become notorious in the blogosphere for her wry and ridiculous riffs on pop culture: Lindsay Lohan? Beyonce? Elizabeth Hasselbeck? Molly's got words (and impressions) for them all. She's often joined by special guest stars Ed (the gay husband), Alexis Hyde (the fantastically hip-but-funny BFF) and Wagandstuff (the squirmy Chihuahua). Unfortunately, she was made redundant by Gawker Media's latest round of lay-offs, a sad but apparently necessary move to streamline the blogging behemoth in this newer, braver, but more somber media world. more ›

Cable network Current TV has recently launched this pod that features the LA Times' Homicide Report, which happens to be the only blog of its kind in the country. Although the Times is struggling these days, the Homicide Report is one of the best things about our city's biggest newspaper. The documentary focuses on reporter Ruben Vives, who believes the victims are people who deserve to have their stories told. more ›

The LA Times today profiles an Orange County mom who has blogged her way through her son's bouts with cancer, now returning for a third time. more ›

LA Observed's Kevin Roderick gave blogging some major props in his weekly KCRW report, citing three big names in the local blogosphere who are part of the changing face of mainstream media: the Times' Patrick Goldstein, Patterico’s Pontifications' Patrick Frey, and Witness LA.com's Alan Mittelstaedt. He ends with this thought that hits right at home here: "Blogs, the better ones, are changing the media scene in Los Angeles -- like everywhere. Even with the occasional dishonest actors that go with that, I think we’re all better off." more ›

This upcoming weekend is probably the biggest weekend the LA Derby Dolls have had so far. In a first tournament of its kind, the best skaters from Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County are having it out on a banked track. Not only will there be tons of games throughout Saturday and Sunday, there will be bands, food, beer and general awesomeness. What the Derby Dolls do is very special and unique to Los Angeles. If you were making a list of thing to do before you move out of town, this is a must and here's two days of opportunity (and while available, there's a discount code [ladd2day] for $10 off here). more ›

With temperatures soaring past 100 degrees in the Valley and with other parts of Los Angeles feeling sticky, it's no surprise that energy use spiked yesterday. more ›

This is a purposefully backdated post for a National Arts Marketing Project (NAMP) workshop called "The New Frontier Part Two: Blogging, Social Networking and YouTube!" organized by the LA Stage Alliance with guest speakers D. Jean Hester and LAist Editor, Zach Behrens. The following are notes and reference links for workshop participants. more ›

more ›

more ›

more ›

The Lakers aren't the only team with a new big man. more ›

It’s been a whirlwind of a day here at LAist. Early this morning our Editor told the staff via email that he would soon be accepting a new job at the LA Times running all of their blogs (of which there are about 25, currently) and that he would be starting in just a few weeks. We all knew this day would come, but so soon? Since the moment Tony Pierce began at LAist back... more ›

It's very important that bloggers follow a strict routine -- down to the minute. more ›

LAist Editor Tony Pierce has blogged here non-stop for more than a year deserving a well-earned vacation (and did he ever earn it). While out of town, we decided to have a little fun and bring some guest day editors in from around the blogLAsphere. Monday we had Green LA Girl and Tuesday saw Fred Camino of MetroRiderLA. Yesterday was Zuma Dogg and today is the official nerd him/her/itself, the LA City Nerd. 1.... more ›

LAist Editor Tony Pierce has blogged here non-stop for more than a year deserving a well-earned vacation (and did he ever earn it). While out of town, we decided to have a little fun and bring some guest day editors in from around the blogLAsphere starting with Siel, our friend over at www.GreenLAGirl.com. Here's to a green start of your week! 1. Age and occupation: 28, grad student and blogger 2. Home town: Los Angeles... more ›

interview by Carolyn Kellogg A year ago Tony Pierce took over the reigns of LAist, and I have to say he's done wonders with the place. It's bigger and shinier and got a gorgeous crowd standing out front (that's you). Will he tell us what it's like behind the LAist editor's curtain? Can we ever really know the man, the blogger, Tony Pierce? Carolyn Kellogg: Where'd you grow up, Tony? I was born in... more ›

Earlier this week came the launch of BlogSoopLA, a searchable restaurant database that brings together the reviews and write ups from local bloggers. The LA outpost is following closely on the heels of the site's origins in New York, and its first sequel in San Francisco. Users of the site can either search for specific dining spots, or browse; listings are sorted by the number of blog posts for each restaurant. Here in LA,... more ›

According to a recent study by the neighborhood blogging aggregator Outside.in (backed by Netscape and Ning cofounder Marc Andreesen, among others), Downtown LA is #3 on the list of "America's Top Ten Bloggiest Neighborhoods": "The common themes are real estate prices and local politics," Outside.In CPO John Geraci told CNET. "People also post reviews about restaurants and other local businesses." Well-earned congrats to our friend Eric Richardson for being singled out per below:3. Downtown... more ›

John Amato, once known as the sax-man for the likes of Duran Duran, Goo Goo Dolls, and Ringo Starr, is recognized today as the man behind one of the most popular blogs on Earth, Crooks and Liars. We stole the LA resident and LAist reader for a couple minutes before he sat on a panel at the Knight New Media Center's Covering Politics in Cyberspace seminar. Click here to subscribe to the LAist podcast and... more ›

About a hour ago, the LACityNerd posted "we're typing live from the SavingLA conference." The anonymous city blogger is out on the streets, possibly sitting next to you. We see it as a risk, but maybe red herrings are thrown in. We're suspecting that the nerd is Ken Bernstein, Director of the Office of Historic Preservation. Bernstein also happens to be speaking at today's event. "Ken's presentation is quite informative and worth staying past the... more ›

• Social giant MySpace is prepping a new news service that may require users to verify their ages before entering. • Worried about the upcoming change to Daylight Savings Time? Find out what it means to you in the handy FAQ. • Sony launches its "Home" and "Little Blue Planet" services for PS3 users. And the world reacts with a thunderous yawn.... more ›

Welcome to the LAist weekly tech news roundup. Each week I'll be bringing you the latest, and hopefully most interesting, technology news from around the city, the state, the country and the world. Also, if you have any news, tips or things of interest you want to point out, feel free to drop us a line at: themacist [at] gmail dot com. Ok, let's get to the news: The Bush administration is at it... more ›

Welcome to the latest edition of Ask the MACist, the column where I answer your Macintosh, Macintosh-related and other technology questions with hopefully more clarity and insight than you could ever need. We'll get to your questions in a moment but first I just want to thank those of you who sent well-wishes to me during my bout with pneumonia last week. I'm happy to say that I'm well on the road to recovery... more ›