Time to polish off those reading glasses because this Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of a SoCal literary tradition: the West Hollywood Book Fair! And for letters-loving Angelenos, the line-up is sure to delight. This year, the WeHo Book Fair boasts twelve stages and over a hundred exhibitors, all for fun and for free. more ›

Five years ago, the independent bookstore was likely fated to join the cassette tape: nostalgically revered, but tragically doomed. Despite hand picked recommendations, too-cool cashiers, and erudite small talk, the local bookstore didn’t stand a chance against the Big Guys—corporations like Barnes and Noble, Borders, and the true Iago of bookselling, Amazon. Then came the Kindle, the Nook, whatever the hell Sony makes, and all-too-quickly the local bookstore was thrown into certain extinction. Indie booksellers started looking less like the counter-culture revolutionaries they once were and more like, well, Luddites. But this month, something sensational happened: mega-chain Borders went belly-up and despite bleak predictions, many of LA’s indie bookstores aren’t just still standing—some are downright thriving. That’s right: mom-and-pop bookshops are back, baby. more ›

Los Angeles is home to many things "unliterary." Hollywood celebrities, the porn industry, and paparazzi perpetuate this fact. So, when held against definitive bookish cities Seattle, New York, and San Francisco, LA’s literary credibility falls understandably short. But Central Connecticut State University’s recent list of 75 national literary cities banished Los Angeles to number 61. LA’s literary rating fell behind those of Miami, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. No offense intended toward Sin City, but this can’t be right. more ›

The New Filmmakers Los Angeles will screen 14 short films tonight and you'd be crazy to miss it. The last film of the night is our top pick: show your bike-friendly love by attending the screening of Riding Bikes with the Dutch at Sunset Gower Studios. The film follows a Long Beach family as they travel to Amsterdam to experience how the Dutch use bikes in their everyday life. Get your livable community on starting at 9:15 p.m. Tickets for Riding Bikes with Dutch are $5. more ›

The Daniel Rosenboom Septet, brainchild of composer and trumpet artist Daniel Rosenboom, will be jazzing it up at ROYAL/T tonight. If you're down for saxophone, progressive jazz and good vibes, this could be just the thing. General admission is $10, lucky students get in for $5. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. more ›

The Flux Screening Series is back again at Hammer Museum and the special guests this evening are swoon-worthy: The Neistat Brothers, Angela + Ithyle, Vincent Haycock and Sophie Gateau. They will each be showcasing rare works from their archive. New Spike Jonze, Aardman Animation, Kutiman and David Altobelli work will be shown as well, capping off what should be a delicious short film/music video fest kind of night. Event is FREE, starts at 8 p.m., box office opens one hour before event to get free ticket on first come, first served basis. more ›

Mad Men embodies many things to many people. You might dig Bert Cooper's art and shoeless ways, loathe Pete's ambition or swoon over the Draper's while rooting for their eternal happiness/ruin. Of all the books and merch associated with the hit show, Dyna Moe's Mad Men: The Illustrated World is one of the few that doesn't take itself too seriously which is why you should check out her signing at Book Soup tomorrow evening at 5 p.m. more ›

In his new book, executive producer of "The Howard Stern Show," Gary Dell'Abate explains what he was doing instead of watching someone deliver an unforgettable crank call taken on the air by ABC News' Peter Jennings that ended with "and Baba Booey to y'all." more ›

There’s a MOPLA Group Show hosted by Smashbox Studios Culver City from 7-10 pm tonight. Curated by Hossein Farmani (Lucie Foundation) and Dee deLara (Smashbox Studios), there will be almost 70 photographs by LA's finest photogs--including LAist’s own Koga and contributor Shawn Nee. The night will also feature Pro'jekt LA Part 4 (rained out last Tuesday). Ad-Nauseum: Uncommercializing the Commercial. Food provided by Food Fetish. Music provided by IE. Free with RSVP to groupshow@monthofphotography.com. more ›

Hear NoHo is a monthly music festival (first Thursday of every month) that showcases emerging music in small venues throughout North Hollywood. Check out the musical lineup that includes Scott Turek, Alysse Fischer, Laced Confection and Kill the Complex. Tonight’s performances will be held at the NoHo Arts Center, Art Institute of California-Hollywood and Cella Gallery. Music starts at 7 pm. Tickets $10. more ›

In her new book, Sinner Takes All: A Memoir of Love and Porn, Tera Patrick holds nothing back as she takes you on the wild ride that has been her life. This 33 year ride that saw her go from Linda Hopkins, the unpopular girl who liked to read about serial killers to Tera Patrick (previous LAist interview), one of the most famous porn stars in the world, is heavy, humorous and hard to put down. more ›

Book Soup presents Alicia Silverstone at 7 pm who discusses and signs her book The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Losing Weight, Looking Great, Saving Yourself, the Animals and the Planet! more ›

The start of 2009 brought with it sad news for friends and fans of Book Soup, the much-cherished bookstore located on the vibrant Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, when its longtime owner Glenn Goldman passed away just a day after putting the shop on the market. more ›

Laurie Sandell presents and signs her graphic novel The Impostor's Daughter: A True Memoir tonight at 7 pm at Book Soup. It’s a true story of a woman who loves and fears her larger-than-life father. But she discovers that her Dad isn’t the man he claimed to be and three decades of his lies unfold. more ›

FOOD* Palate Food + Wine in Glendale presents “Le Cirque du Fromage” tonight at the Wine Bar tonight (and every Tuesday night) at 7 pm. The Truffle Brothers drop in with pounds of black summer truffles from the Molise region of Italy. In addition to this week's Cirque menu (three cheeses + one wine = $12). Fresh table-side shavings for a $6 supplemental. Little nuggets will be available for retail @ $30 per ounce. Cheeses on the menu are stilton, bleu des causses and gorgonzola piccante. No reservations are necessary. more ›

Filmmaker David Lynch and musicians Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse collaborated on a special CD, photography and book project, which LAist told you about last month. Tonight, the trio are signing their limited-edition book Dark Night of the Soul at Book Soup at 8 pm. They’ll also sign ONE ITEM in addition to a purchased copy of the book. This is not a ticketed event, so get there early. Attendance is on a first-come-first-served basis. more ›

Here are our to-do picks for a post-Fourth Monday in LA: DIY DRUMMING* Tonight the On Ensemble, a contemporary taiko quartet, brings D.I.Y. Drumming to the Ford Amphitheater at 7 pm. Bring your drums, percussion instruments or even paint buckets to play along as the Ensemble coaxes Japanese taiko rhythms out of everyday household items. The J.A.M. session is free, so reserve your spot by calling the Ford Box Office: 323.461.3673. Don’t forget to bring a picnic for dinner. more ›

Anna David (writer/TV personality/Twitteraholic) recently told LAist she’s obsessed with writing about the “seedy underbelly” of “so-called glamorous things.” In “Bought,” her second novel, David does just that, exploring the sexy, dysfunctional world of Hollywood's "kept women." “Bought” follows Emma Swanson, a young journalist who would call herself “up and coming” if her superiors asked, though they're not. As a complacent red carpet reporter, with no luck tracking down important A-list interviews, she finds the only thing less satisfying than her work-life is her dating-life. more ›

Dan Clark was a brutal force on the football field and in the Gladiator arena. In his book Gladiator: A True Story of 'Roids, Rage and Redemption, which he will be signing copies of tonight at Book Soup, the man better known to many as Nitro, gives a brutally honest account of his life and 20 year love affair with steroids. more ›

Popular indie bookstore and longtime Sunset Boulevard retailer Book Soup has been mourning the loss of their owner and founder, Glenn Goldman, who recently lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. To honor Goldman, the store will hold a memorial event this week that is open to the public. Per the Book Soup website:

Everyone who knew Glenn or who appreciate the wonderful store he built is welcome to join us in remembering and celebrating Glenn's life this Friday, the 16th of January, in the store at 7pm. In lieu of flowers friends and colleagues may contribute to the "Glenn Goldman Booksellers Scholarship Fund" by donating below or emailing: GGBScholarshipFund@booksoup.com

The first day back to work & no bookish events to distract! more ›

Sunset Boulevard is home today to another sad story: Glenn Goldman, the owner of the 33-year-old bookstore Book Soup, died yesterday, just one day after he put the cherished shop up for sale. more ›

Brian Yaeger signs Red White & Brew 7:30pm @ Village Books more ›

Telling a story is not easy, especially when the stories are emotional, outrageous and true. Comedian, actor and member of the Howard Stern Show cast, Artie Lange, however, has made a living telling the stories of his life on the air and on stage. Finally, those stories that have made the Stern Nation laugh since joining the show in 2001, along with several other painfully true moments from Lange's life can be found in Too Fat to Fish. more ›

Alan Zweibel presents Clothing Optional 7:30pm @ Skylight Books more ›

Susan Lankford presents Maggots in My Sweet Potatoes: Women Doing Time 7pm @ Book Soup more ›

Diahann Carroll presents The Legs Are the Last to Go 7pm @ Book Soup more ›

Arthur Nersesian and Joseph Mattson read their work 7pm @ Vroman's more ›

Candace Bushnell discusses and signs One Fifth Avenue 7pm @ Vroman's more ›