Eddie North-Hager is a man with a mission, and he is not alone. The communities of Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, West Adams, and surrounding areas have dedicated themselves to the redevelopment of The Santa Barbara Plaza, often referred to as "Marlton Square." The Plaza has become a blight in the center of a vibrant community. Just a block away jacaranda trees shade a picture-perfect neighborhood more ›

It’s easy to find Chef Marilyn’s Soul Food. Just head south off the 10 at Crenshaw and look for the line that stretches out the door from 10:30am to 9pm. It’s easy to be tempted away by the smoke from Phillips Bar-B-Que, but Chef Marilyn’s has a line for a reason. Advertising “99-cents and up”, the tiny cafeteria-style eatery sells food a la carte (or a la Chinese buffet). The prices range from 99 cents for dishes like lima beans, neck bones and links to $8 for oxtails. There is also a location on Pico. more ›

Rain has caused some scattered power outages throughout the city today, leaving about 5,500 LADWP customers without service, according to department officials. Around 11 a.m., a utility pole's horizontal crossarm fell, knocking out power to some 2,400 customers in the Venice and West LA areas. Other areas with power outages include the Crenshaw District and Eagle Rock, each with about 1,700 customers affected. Power was lost around 1 p.m. in Crenshaw and about 2:30 p.m. in Eagle Rock. Earlier this morning, about 800 customers lost power in Toluca Lake at 9 a.m. Power there was restored around noon. UPDATE: Power has been restored in the Venice and West LA areas. The number of those affected in Crenshaw has been updated to 3,100. more ›

On this day in 1984, a paranoid, drug-taking, freaked out Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his father, Marvin Sr., at the elder's home on Gramercy in the Crenshaw District. 1983 was very good for Gaye, he won his first Grammy, he performed that unforgettable version of the Star Spangled Banner at the Forum before the All-Star Game, and he toured around the US. Unfortunately he was driving himself crazy with the concept... more ›

Garth Trinidad is familiar to most LAist readers as the host of "Chocolate City" on KCRW, a show that contributes to a local radio scene that makes Los Angeles the envy of listeners across the country (fortunately for them, there's online audio streaming.) more ›