Before Christmas, Jimmy Kimmel announced on his L.A.-based late-night talk show a YouTube Challenge for parents seeking revenge on their children. Parental viewers were encouraged "to wrap a terrible Christmas gift, give it to their kids and then tape their reaction when they open the gift," said Kimmel during "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" more ›

Christmas has come and gone, and your tree is probably on its way to becoming a fire hazard. So when you're ready to ditch your spruced up spruce or festive fir and you live in the City of Los Angeles, know that there are three ways to recycle that Christmas tree. more ›

Here's a tip for future burglars: do not steal items equipped with tracking devices. One Christmas thief found this out the hard way. Patrick Krewson is accused of robbing two homes, one on December 25 and another on December 22, after he was found with a stolen iPad that was tracked to his house, according to a statement released by the LA Sheriff's Department today. more ›

If you forgot to move your car before leaving town for the holidays, you might be in luck: NBC Los Angeles reports that the city won't be issuing tickets to vehicles parked illegally because of street cleaning. more ›

The holiday season is in full swing, and we found a few events tonight to get you in the spirit of things. This editor's favorite Christmas film It's a Wonderful Life is on the big screen; there's an Ugly Sweater Contest to benefit the LA Mission; Scrooge and Cratchit are together again on stage in NoHo; and there's a Kwanzaa kickoff celebration in DTLA. Read on for all the details. more ›

There are only four more sleeps before Christmas. You don't have to be Semi-Homemade Sandra "I'm Freaking Terrifying" Lee or your great Aunt Tamanay to create a cherished (or at least wanted) homemade gift for your friends and relatives in a short amount of time. more ›

'Tis the season for twinkling lights, festive decor and merriment. Lucky for Los Angeles, local photogs have been capturing holiday moments throughout December. We've culled a few of our favorite snapshots from the LAist Featured Photos pool to help awaken your spirit. more ›

Yes, it's that time of year again. Second only in holiday-themed horror to safety footage of Halloween costumes bursting into flames comes the perils of dangerous merry-making, like menorah candles next to the curtains and a Christmas tree that never gets watered. more ›

We're kind of crushing on this piece of stock footage from the 1940s showing Hollywood Boulevard decked to the max for Christmas. more ›

While braving the local roadways this holiday season, Angelenos are adding one item to the top of their gift wishlists - less traffic. Or perhaps a hovercraft. Though Los Angeles suffers from clogged streets and freeways all year long, getting from point A to point B, especially near popular shopping districts, is extra unpleasant during the holidays. more ›

There's still time to get some shopping done for Hanukkah and Christmas and whatever else occasion is on the horizon, and if you have a food lover on your list and want to get them something "so L.A." we have put together a few gift ideas we think they would love. more ›

'Tis the season for Christmas lights and merriment, and Los Angeles never hesitates to string up twinkling spectacles in celebration of the holidays. The budding hosts of BDCi News' upcoming show, "K&A Adventures with Korbin and Max" recently visited El Segundo's Candy Cane Lane to view the festive displays, meet Santa and find out if the kiddos have been naughty or nice this year. more ›

There are a lot of Christmas-themed concerts scheduled for this week! If you're looking for something tonight, we encourage you to go check out Kirshbaum performing tonight with LACO at Royce Hall. We've split it up into three categories: Messiah, Nutcracker, and Other. more ›

In response to a Michigan music teacher who has sparked controversy over the removal of the word "gay" from the beloved Christmas song "Deck the Halls," America's favorite ginger Conan O'Brien produced a product that we can all now cross off our Christmas lists. He de-gayed Christmas music with Straight-Up Christmas: Vol. I. more ›

Being foreclosed on is bad enough, but apparently it's worse if you own the house in the neighborhood that has the annual massive Christmas display. Such was the case with Jim Jordan of Costa Mesa, who for 44 years has hosted an over-the-top Peanuts-themed display each December, known locally as the Snoopy House. more ›

One of the perks of celebrating the holidays near the Pacific are the spectacular holiday boat parades. Vessels adorned with festive decor, twinkling lights, holiday tunes and costumed carolers cruise harbors and channels, summoning holiday spirit and merry competition. The annual sea traditions are free for viewers, except for the cost (and joy) of parking. more ›

Set to the tune of "Carol of the Bells" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a holiday lights extravaganza in Upper Canada Village in Ontario, Canada flashes rapidly along with the song. The home and several trees along the property are wrapped in red, white, blue and green lights, rivaling Clark Griswold's ambitious 1989 spectacle. more ›

The Highland Park gallery Monte Vista is letting patrons check out a tree this season. You can call it a Christmas tree rental service, but they don't and the name they've chosen — the Portable Forest Tree Library — sounds way cooler. more ›

Los Angeles' Department of Water and Power announced today plans to gut its budget by about $440 million in part by implementing a three-year hiring freeze, effective immediately, in the face of a huge deficit, reports ABC Local. more ›

For many Angelenos, today is being celebrated as Epiphany, or Three Kings Day (yep, those three kings), which is also known as the 12th, and last, day of Christmas. The observant may participate in gift-giving, attend services, and eat Kings' Cake; many mark the day by taking down the last vestiges of decoration from Christmas. To see how Epiphany is celebrated around the world, the Huffington Post has an image gallery. If you feel like getting in the kitchen and trying your hand at some baking, the LA Times Food Section has a recipe for Rosca de reyes (Kings' Cake). more ›

Christmas is over, and while you may still be eating leftover Tofurkey sandwiches, sweeping pine needles from the living room floor, and contemplating returning that awful sweater from you Great Aunt Ida, for the most part, all that's left are the memories. Here's how Christmas 2010 looked in Los Angeles, thanks to a few of our LAist Featured Photos pool contributors. more ›

Tinsel tinsel everywhere and not a fire hazard in sight. That's the goal of the LAFD. Before your Christmas glow fades into a dead forest of dried pine it's time to think about the responsible disposal of your magical tree. more ›

Bing Crosby may have sung of a White Christmas, but the holiday brings us plenty of dark theaters. Have no fear! There are still more gems than lumps of coal! more ›

Windowpanes "frosted" with painted greetings, all-weather lights and trees bedecked with colorful baubles, Santa and his sleigh, trees awaiting adoption at lots, some stripped down carolers, and gift-wrapped buildings ("For me? You shouldn't have!") say rain be damned, it's Christmastime in Los Angeles. Here's a look at some recent images decking the halls of our LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr.
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West Hollywood dog training and daycare center Mutt Maniacs is launching their new organization "Maniacs to the Rescue" today at Noon. Maniacs is dedicated to generating funding and raising community awareness about the plights of homeless dogs and finding them homes. more ›

This Thursday eve, comedians Davey Johnson and Randy Liedtke take to the Steve Allen Theater stage in Los Feliz to present their show, The Second Annual Best Doorknockers Christmas Pageant Ever! The pageant aspires to be a corny tribute to the TV Christmas special--a variety show in the style of Bob Hope or even Lawrence Welk. According to Liedtke, expect "comedy, magic, juggling, ballet, opera, cookies" as well as "The John 3 Reillys," which, as the name would suggest, are three musical John C. Reilly impersonators. more ›

Every year at Holiday time the LA Kings Ice Girls put on their shiny snow bunny outfits. more ›

A little while ago David Bowie met Bing Crosby for an egg nog-fueled rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth." Recently, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly got together for some of the same. Free MP3 available courtesy of Ferrell's Funny or Die. more ›

If you're not humbugging, you can watch the Nutcracker at any the following twinkling venues across the region. And did you know there are other types of holiday concerts that aren't the Nutcracker!? There are!! We've got that list too. See our picks for the best of the best in classical music this week. more ›