February may well be the month of the year we think about love the most, but our local schools are banking on us sharing our love with them right now, too. This month, a project called "LA Loves Its Schools" is taking place. It's a donation drive based on the pages of DonorsChoose.Org that calls for caring individuals to pitch in a little to help local schools, classrooms, and teachers get the things they need......

The most exciting thing about this primary campaign is the fact that it is reinvigorating in the public an interest in the direction of our nation, our state and even our communities. Witness the energy in the cycling community. This past weekend cyclists “Biked the Vote” with City Council President Eric Garcetti on a bike ride from the Eco-Village to Marsh Park in Elysian Valley where they discussed politics and then phone banked on......

Saturday morning was the first community meeting to discuss the Hollywood Freeway Central Park. Meeting in an elementary school auditorium, like they do in the Simpsons, those that attended saw Assemblyman Mike Feuer, LA City Council President Eric Garcetti and others speak about this park and the story behind it. In part I, I wrote about the failures of design in Los Angeles and a need to use architecture to embrace our 36 freeways.......

LA cyclists are joining LA City Council President Eric Garcetti on a bike ride in support of Obama. Cyclists will gather at the Eco-Village on February 2 at 11:00 am for a leisurely ride through Silver Lake and ending in Elysian Valley with snacks and the opportunity to help with some campaign phone banking. Cyclists in search of Leadership have to search hard to find Presidential hopefuls who support cycling and walking as transportation solutions......

City Council President Eric Garcetti has just announced that City Hall now provides bicycle lockers, access to showers and a subsidy to City Hall staffers who ride a bike to work. End of trip amenities is one of the simplest and most effective ways to encourage cycling as a transportation solution and Los Angeles City Hall has just raised the standard. For those cyclists who don't work at City Hall, this action is still very......

Over 10,000 people are scheduled to march today along Hollywood Blvd., and Grammy-award winning singer Alicia Keys will sing in support of the WGA strike which is now into its third week. Beginning at the intersection of Hollywood Blvd. at Ivar Ave. at 1pm, members of the Service Employees International Union, California Nurses Association, Teamsters, actors, musicians, elected officials will join the striking WGA members. Keys is planned to perform at 1:15pm for about......

As the Sunday morning sunrise warmed the lawn of the San Gabriel Mission, dedicated celebrants gathered with the Pobladores 200 to recognize LA’s upcoming 226th birthday by retracing the steps of the original settlers who established El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles in 1781. San Gabriel is quite proud of its contribution to the “birth” of Los Angeles and a significant contingent of enthusiastic San Gabriel volunteers were on hand to outfit and......

I interviewed Jamie Denenberg, International Marketing Exec for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Democratic Fundraiser (currently for Senator Obama's Presidential Campaign) to find out how she got started in fundraising, her political influences and what she thought were the best things about the LA political arena. What's your background in Los Angeles politics, how'd you get started fundraising? I first came out to LA in 1999 where I got my master's degree in journalism......

At last night's 10th Annual Los Angeles Political Roast, a fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association, there was more than just poking fun at the no-nonsense East Coast talking LAPD Chief - William Bratton. The LA Times did not get into it (LAObserved did), but there was a little tiff between Mayor Villaraigosa and District Attorney, Steve Cooley. The DA took a swing at the Mayor's supposed marriage situation and later while Mayor V......

As the year comes to a close, LAist is asking famous celebs, local politicians, and other movers & shakers of LA to tell us what they thought were tops of 2006. LACityNerd hit the blogging scene earlier this year and this cat has blown us away with the knowledge and history that is spewed upon the blog. Who is it? We will never know. At least we are allowed to ask questions. Lots of......

In certain pockets of the blogosphere and even in our own comments we have noticed that the Sunset Junction Street Fair is receiving some criticism for having the gall to charge an admittance fee for providing a fun, safe, entertaining day on Sunset Blvd. while showcasing some pretty damn good musical acts, who in some cases you'd be totally lucky to only have to pay $15 to see. Never mind the fact that the......

Clowns are scary. Especially in the parking lot of a shopping center in the suburbs as your mom waits in an SUV. But to countless kids who've seen some truly frightening things, clowns like the ones who comprise Clowns Without Borders are like drunken angels... saints, even, who put a smile on the faces of those who need it most. Tomorrow night City Council President Eric Garcetti will host an art opening + reception......

Owners of hybrid and electric cars can go another year without having to feed the meter within the city of LA. Yesterday the city council extended the program that allows properly documented alternative-fueled vehicles to ignore parking meters. However, posted street signs must be obeyed, as must residential permit parking on certain streets. A California DMV Clean Air Vehicle decal must be clearly displayed on the automobile or the meter maid has the right......

OK, can we just agree right now that Eric Garcetti is the coolest LA City Council President, like, ever? That's him on the red carpet — the one crouching down, taking the photo of other guests. The occasion was last night's screening of The New LA on the Paramount lot. So much LA political high-wattage was there that I couldn't get them all down: three or four city council reps, Mayor Villaraigosa, controller Laura......

Franklin Avenue noticed that 2006 is LA's 225th year. They asked City Council President Eric Garcetti "where's the party?" — and he answered: We certainly will be doing our usual celebration on Labor Day, when we re-enact the Walk of the Pobladores from the Mission in San Gabriel to Olvera Street. We always have a party there afterwards. I'll check with Tom LaBonge to see if there is anything beyond that scheduled, but a......

In Los Angeles we sort of live in our cars, but we do have to have someplace to park them. And stretch out a bit, even sleep. And having that home sweet home is just not that easy for Angelenos. Average home price in Los Angeles County, September 2005: $494,000 Monthly payments on such a house, assuming 10% down, 6% interest, and 30-year fixed rate: $2,665/month Maximum portion of income under federal guidelines that......