People have been camped out at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles since October 1, when Occupy LA got underway. Though we know they are relying largely on donated food and services, and we see them take to the streets for protests and demonstrations, we may not get much of a chance to learn what life is like living at Occupy LA. more ›

You've seen the bear every time you've used the Fern Dell entrance to Griffith Park, but have you seen his new look? Someone has knit the bear a sweater, says CurbedLA, which the statue is now rather jauntily sporting, despite our recent heat wave. Just who that someone is remains a delightful mystery, though. The statue, by the way, was a gift from our sister city, Berlin. Anyone been by there lately? Is the sweater still there? And if so, how long do you think it will stay on the bear? (Photo by evolo:photo) more ›

That aqua-colored line extending westward from the center of Metro's rail map is becoming a reality, but we aren't going to be allowed to look at it through aqua-colored glasses. CurbedLA checks in with Metro spokesperson Rick Jager, who says, in the case of this line, we can't call is as we see it: "It will be called the Expo Line. For mapping purposes only, the Aqua color will be used but the line will be called the Expo Line." What's wrong with Aqua, anyhow? It could have been the Turquoise Line, the Bluish-Green Line, the Ocean Hue Line, or the Electric Cyan Line. Actually, that's not bad...the Electric Cyan Line. Metro? more ›

The City Council has given their approval to a development project that would put a controversial 3-story Target at the corner of Sunset and Western in Hollywood, according to CurbedLA. The strip mall property is currently home to a vacated Farm Fresh Ranch Market and a CVS Drugstore. more ›

You might have to wait and be agonizingly teased for an additional three months until those LCD, screens telling you the arrival of the next train, start to work. Curbed LA reported it would be by May and now Streetsblog LA reports by the end of June the latest and tells us how they will work: more ›

Almost two years ago, Frank Gehry, Eli Broad and the big developer folks from Related Companies announced the Grand Avenue Project. A blocklong development of housing, a hotel, retail & greenspace -- all designed by Gehry -- would complement Disney Hall. Getting the development together was tremendously complicated, and it probably wouldn't have happened without Broad's power and support. Since the exciting, fancy unveiling in April 2006, the Grand Avenue Committee has successfully navigated a series of hearings and approvals. more ›

Curbed LA is reporting that Silver Lake Meadow will open as a park, likely this summer.

The compromised plan opens a portion of the meadow--three and half acres--to the public, while the remainder of the meadow, another three acres, will be reserved for wildlife and native plants: coyotes, blue herons, gnats, ladybugs, etc. The whole opening/not fully opening of the meadow has been a touchy subject for some Silver Lake residents, who worry hordes of visitors will descend to this relatively quiet area. [Curbed LA]

Yesterday our friends at Curbed LA told everyone that the Fox Hills Mall was going to be renovated all Westfield-like, and because they rule, they had lots of nice pictures after the jump. more ›

George Bush issued the fourth veto of his presidency today, nixing a bill that would have provided insurance to poor children. Bush said the program was too costly, apparently cool with the fact that the Iraq war now costs over $455-billion. That's B for billion. And B for Bitch. Curbed LA takes a gander at a new development planned for West LA. In as much as the structure looks like a monument to cubism,... more ›

- Green LA Girl takes her show to the LA Times via The Emerald City - congrats Siel! - LAT - Laker center Kwame Brown gets popped for Disorderly Conduct in Georgia on Saturday after his cousin was charged with drunk driving after going the wrong way down a one-way street. Laker fans would like to see that sort of effort in the paint - AP - Even though it's only 56-years old, and... more ›

Of course Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite-Burke lives in her district. Or maybe not. (Los Angeles Times) more ›

Guest Day Editor LA City Nerd will be joining LAist with a few posts throughout the day. Read the introductory interview here and check out the nerd's blog. As the LA City Nerd, we have to consult many sources to stay up on the latest news and issues facing the City. Besides reviewing the Council File Index regularly, we have to also consult websites to stay up on the latest issues facing the City or... more ›

- Two Long Beach teens are heroes after rescuing two kids in apartment fire - CBS2 - The LAFD and the FBI are investigating a tip that animal rights extremists placed a bomb under the car of a UCLA eye doctor - LAT - The LA Times has a new managing editor? Yes, no, maybe so? - FishbowlLA - Heck of a job, BushCo - Milk could cost $5 a gallon by end of... more ›

+ Rumors of the new Beastie Boys cd being all-instrumental are starting to come beautifully correct - Stereogum more ›

- To boost ridership, WiFi has been proposed to travel with riders on the Gold Line - Curbed LA - Dogs in Echo Park as a hot issue - Chicken Corner - Nevermind. Thomas Mauk has decided to stay with Orange County instead of moving to LA County as Chief Administrative Officer - LAO - Kobe = suspended. Lakers will still win tonight against the Knicks - NY Times - The city council race... more ›

- Bikes + Ditty Bops = Love - bitchinspin - Two microearthquakes in the Valley today and counting... - USGS - Meet Thomas Mauk who will be, for all purposes, the new CEO of LA County - Daily News - Updates on the body found on the wheel well of a British Airways jet at LAX - LA Times - Brandy may be charged with manslaughter per the CHP's recommendation - CBS2 - Ari... more ›

- Toys for Tots was offered 4,000 Talking Jesus dolls by the Valencia company who manufacturers them but the charity declined the gift in fear of accidentally giving a doll to a little Jewish or Muslim child (even though Jesus was a Jew and the Muslims consider him a prophet) - KSAT - The defense attorneys of SM Farmers Market killer George Weller berated by judge for being "very inappropriate, very offensive, and very... more ›

A news tidbit last week spotlighted the shocking revelation that Surfas, the globally revered restaurant and cook's supply mecca in Culver City, is being forced to closed down after over sixty years of operation. Foodies, fans, and even some foes of the longstanding retailer hashed out the known details peppered with speculation on the net, springboarded by a news piece on the Surfas website that has since been pulled. It seems that Culver City is claiming eminent domain on the building Surfas uses as a warehouse, which puts the operation of the retail store--recently renovated and now boasting a popular eatery--in jeopardy. So while the store itself isn't at risk, the Surfas family's decades-long relationship with Culver City is. A blog has been started to send out the rallying cry of support, and today Pat Saperstein's Eating L.A. blog offers Surfas' "we're hanging in there" response to the hot issue, with Curbed LA also offering the story up. A couple of days ago on her blog, Saperstein explained:

Owner Les Surfas, whose father started the company in 1937, has refused to accept Culver City's offer to buy the Surfas warehouse through eminent domain for a large redevelopment project. Surfas contends that even if his retail outlet remains, he can't afford to run the business without the warehouse right around the corner.

Congratulations to team blogging.la for winning in the media category at the Lotus Festival's dragon boat race! They beat the wussies over at KTLA. In the end, all of that doesn't matter 'cause LAist is going to kick everyone's ass next year (that means you too Mack Reed). It's on! more ›

What could get Paris AND Nicole to attend the same party? Us Weekly cover-girl appreciation day? George Clooney casting for a new film about heroin? Or was it such a huge event that if you didn't show up nobody would notice? T-Mobile Sidekick threw a bash at the Hollywood Palladium that Mischa, Jessica Simpson, the Duff girls, Travis Barker, Christina Milan, Taryn Manning, and Rachel Bilson waltzed into. Ten bucks they all walked out with new 'kicks. more ›

The locals who have been farming for the last 14 years on the land now known as the South Central Farm don't want to move; but the man who owns the property wants to turn it into a warehouse. What to do? more ›

Sales of new homes dropped nationwide more than 10% last month, the biggest drop in nine years. And in the West, the numbers were even bigger: a drop of 29.4%. Yea, maybe the market is finally softening in LA! But not so fast, lusty real estate kittens. Southern California new home sales were up 9.5% from the month before; it's the biggest gain in 18 years. more ›

Capitol Records doesn't want to move back into its iconic building: instead, it hopes to go condo. Not so fast! LA has been throwing money at the company to get it to stay in Hollywood and the LA Times reports that critics are displeased. Curbed LA doubts city leaders will let the lucrative sale go through. We'll never know if there are enough condo buyers who recognize that the building is meant to evoke a needle on a stack of records. (records?) more ›

Yesterday, Curbed LA ran their first column with Castaic. Since we have some experience with Castaic (cold shudder), here are some fun tidbits: more ›

Los Feliz's Sowden House, designed by (son-of-Frank) Lloyd Wright, is now for sale. It's one of two Lloyd Wright properties up for grabs, Curbed LA says. We've always been fascinated by the Mayan-ish mansion that looms, grandly, at 5121 Franklin Avenue. more ›

Yesterday an eagle-eyed LAist reader wondered why we were salivating over the Buena Vista Lofts while the developer is in bankruptcy. We followed up with the folks at Curbed LA and they got a curt response, which boils down to the fact that the company's assets exceed their debts. Sigh. Looks like the developer's Chapter 11 filing was in the last days before rules governing bankruptcy changed. Our lofty heaven is earthbound after all. more ›

We hate to do this, we really do, because it is letting el gato right out of the bag. Curbed LA has the skinny on lofts in development that may be the coolest in the city, in the East LA community of Boyle Heights. The Buena Vista Lofts will have views of Hollenbeck Park and downtown LA. The building, a former hospital, is a recently-designated historic landmark. There will be actual greenspace. Sigh. We're falling in love. more ›

This just in: Tom Delay abandons his bid to return as House Majority Leader. more ›

In the battle of the Thursday Home sections, the NY Times smacks the LA Times down without even breaking a sweat. Just look at those web pages: the NY Times has a gorgeous photo that will make you drool, even if a cedar-sheathed house with a copper tower doesn't sound like your thing. The LA Times, on the other hand, starts with a jumble of text that's not been copy edited for the web, and has just the first line of the main stories with a complete paragraph of a minor one. The LA Times has NO pictures accompanying their stories, highlights the linen designs of Jane Seymour (yes, that Jane Seymour) and the photo gallery (mostly of stuff to buy) appears to be the same one that was up last week. Meanwhile the lead NY Times story comes with an audio-enhanced slideshow, and their Currents slideshow about LA design trends pops merrily across our fair city. Alas, LA Times, alas. more ›

Gothamist talked about Sony and their corporate marketing graffiti invading New York a couple weeks ago then Curbed LA had to harsh our vibe by revealing that the cookie cutter cutesy psp stencils had shown up locally. more ›