East Los Angeles isn’t generally thought of as a hiking destination—but Ascot Hills Park may change that. The 93-acre park opened in the summer of 2011, and provides a great opportunity for recreation in an area of the city not typically known for its open space. more ›

It's hard to be an urban homesteader on the go. Any neighbor can water your sustainable garden when you're out of town, but who is going to watch the chickens? That question is popping up for urban farmers from Culver City to Monrovia, and they're turning to the services of a new fixture on the local farming scene: Easy Acres Chicken Sitting. more ›

Yesterday, actress Lisa Edelstein of "House" fame tweeted about a puppy that she found hiding under car. The dog, described later as a chihuahua mix, was coaxed out after an hour with the help of several neighbors, among them Joe Donnelly from Slake Media. more ›

A school bus carrying 54 high school students was turned onto its side when it was involved in a crash that left one person dead this afternoon. The incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. at 1st and Soto in Boyle Heights (map) under circumstances still under investigation by the California Highway Patrol, which takes the lead on school bus crashes. more ›

The LAPD this morning was looking for a teenaged girl who allegedly stole a car this morning with an infant inside. The incident happened around 8:30 a.m. when two-month-old child's grandfather stopped to pick up a newspaper at a newsstand, leaving the red 2000 Ford Expedition running and the child inside. As he returned, an apparent 16-year-old girl wearing a high school uniform jumped in and drove away, according to Police. more ›

Several restaurants who call Downtown, Hollywood, or other eastern parts of the city home are making strides to set up shop closer to the shore. Caroline on Crack has a breakdown of the restaurants who are opening up in Venice, Santa Monica, or TBD Westside spots. Who's headed Westward-ho? Scoops Westside in Culver City should open soon, Hungry Cat is taking a spot in Santa Monica, Bulgarini Gelato is headed to Venice, both Starry Kitchen and La Guelaguetza have the 310 in mind, and Wurstkuche is taking over the Air Conditioned Supper Club. more ›

Of the some 40,000 LADWP customers left without power over the last stormy (kinda) day, about 9,900 are still in the dark, according to the utility. That number is made up of 4,800 customers in South L.A., 1,800 on the Eastside and another 1,800 in Koreatown. Crews are still working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. more ›

Just like the Gold Line's expansion beyond Pasadena in the foothill neighborhoods, it's also likely to get an extension east of the Eastside. At the moment there are two alternatives being discussed: one along the 60 Freeway from East Los Angeles to South El Monte and another that takes the 60 Freeway to Garfield to Washington, ending in Whittier. more ›

Just over a year ago, the LA Times launched their neighborhood mapping project, which used data from multiple sources and reader input in the hopes of settling debates about physical--and often psychological--boundaries. more ›

Identity can be a topic that gets people talking, good or bad. Recently, there's been an effort to rename a part of Los Angeles commonly, but erroneously, called The Eastside. And in Sacramento, some want to officially rename the 405 Freeway in honor of a fellow politician. more ›

Fed up with those who erroneously label Silver Lake, Echo Park and other so-called hipster neighborhoods as in within the Eastside, and left with no general sobriquet for the area, Curbed LA is calling for submissions for its regional renaming (basically, the real Eastside is east of the L.A. River, but it always seems to be up for debate). more ›

Okay, first, before we go any further, somewhat of a disclaimer: LAist didn't name this app, ergo please do not take this opportunity to school everyone on what you consider "East Side" or not. Now, let us begin... more ›

Considering the lines at Union Station yesterday, you would think there was a new death-defying adrenaline-inducing roller coster. That's not even close, but the excitement was just as intense, if not a lot more. more ›

Metro this morning finally announced the long-awaited opening of the Gold Line's Eastside Extension between downtown Los Angeles to East L.A. After the traditional inaugural ride with government officials and media in tow the day before, the six-mile line will be open to the public with free rides on Sunday, November 15th. more ›

But don't get too excited as it's just one step in a long process that's almost completed. Although the timetable (.pdf) for the Gold Line now include eastside extension stations, they've been left blank. What a tease! more ›

Curbed LA has heard it twice now--Metro's Gold Line Eastside Extension between downtown LA and East LA will open in August. Little Tokyo UnBlogged took a safety walk with officials around the tracks and found that people had many concerns about crossings and signage: "The other questions that came up time and again were the lack of language-appropriate signage (some of the signs that were up did have Spanish translations). Many in the group expressed concerns over how local Japanese and Korean residents, most especially seniors, would be able to read the warnings." UPDATE: Metro says no firm date has been set. Read more here. more ›

You've got the original Eastside--LA city neighborhoods east of the LA River including unincorporated East LA--and you've got the newish Eastside--Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Echo Park--battling it out for their title. Tomorrow in the LA Times a feature, which is already posted online, dives into the issue head on: more ›

Today for the first time, a light rail train ran the tracks on the soon-to-open Gold Line eastside extension that goes from Union Station to East LA. It was part of a slow moving clearance test to evaluate how doors measure up to station platforms and to make sure trains pass by equipment and through tunnels safely. The last streetcar ran on First Street just after midnight on March 31, 1963, Metro says. The new extension of the Gold Line should open this Summer, most likely the end of June. more ›

When the Gold Line Eastside extension opens this summer whisking commuters from downtown to East LA, that won't be the end of the line if Metro gets their way. Metro staff has four light rail routes they are studying and proposing that would go from unincorporated East LA to the possibility of other cities such as Monterey Park, Whittier, Montebello, El Monte and others. more ›

There's a relatively new local blog on the scene called Blazing Shark. Albeit a bit, ohhhh, NSFW (in words, not photos), it's all about the red headed Westsider's sexually adventurous life (she even flirts on Twitter). Her most recent post reminisces on some successful celebrity stalking earlier this year. more ›

No, it's now some city plan or anything official... yet. A large group of cyclists are going to ride tomorrow from the Eastside to the Westside in an experiment that's in search of a more bike friendly city. From their Facebook event page: "We will be transforming several square blocks into a mini bike town. Simply ride your bike around the area meandering up and down every street. Make stops to patronize businesses, enjoy parks, and chat with other riders. It will be like a Midnight Ridazz stop on every corner." And for those who live on the Westside, StreetsblogLA reports that a group of cyclists will ride from Venice to Westwood. more ›

Jesus Sanchez at The Eastsider LA was curious who be the richest in the land of the hippest. Hypothesis: American Apparel's Dov Charney: "Last year, Charney, who sold off his company but remains in charge as CEO, earned a salary topping $8 million. In addition, the company granted him stock options worth nearly another $8 million. Of course, Charney, like everyone else with stock and a 401k, has taken a big hit. Still, the American Apparel stock he got when he sold the company is now worth, at least on paper, nearly $200 million, based on Thursday's closing stock price. That would buy enough $17, American Apparel pocket t-shirts for just about everyone living in Los Angeles and Orange counties." more ›

Metro announced today that they have finished installing twin tracks for the six-mile Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension from downtown to East LA. To that, Metro bragged that "the $899 million project is ahead of schedule, under budget, and has logged 3.4 million hours of construction without a lost time injury, an unprecedented safety record for a major public works project." But don't get too excited just because the project is 87% completed. You'll still have to wait until sometime next summer when Metro expects to open the line. more ›

I live on the Westside. I like it pretty well. It's cooler (temperature-wise) and a little less...precious than the Eastside. I like the Eastside -- it attracts a higher number of cooler (and less expensive) bars, restaurants and boutiques. It's just a fact. Sometimes, I take a 'staycation' and spend the day over there. But when I want a little of that without circling the whole city on the freeway to get there, I go to the Double Dutch Dinette. It was a nice balance to the wonderful, but most assuredly bourgeois places popping up all over Culver City. more ›

In the comments section of yesterday's post on changes at The Viper Room, concert goers are hoping for Indie 103.1's Check One... Two moves eastward while saying such things as "the Sunset Strip is dead." To that, owner of The Roxy, Nic Adler commented back: "True the strip has negelted it self over the last several years but we are well aware of that and are doing our best to bring it back to it legendary status. One show at a time, one show at a time." Crystal Castles plays the venue tonight and and an additional midnight show on Friday. more ›

Igloo Tornado is an East Side based art collective (they actually call it a Fraternity, which when you account for their frequent references to beer, can probably be taken in both the Classical Greek and Collegiate meanings) featuring the work of Levon Jihanian, Tom Neely, Gin Steven and Scot Nobles. more ›

What are your favorite breakfast spots in Los Angeles? Who's got the best cup of coffee? The yummiest pancakes? The thickest slabs of bacon? Who's overrated and who's overlooked? We're determined to find out -- so wake up with us, won't you? Enjoy L.A.'s Best Breakfasts!!! more ›

Because he's too shy (and way too busy) to announce it here himself, I am proud to do the honors: Zach Behrens has officially accepted the Editor position here at LAist and he'll be starting on December 17th. BloggingLA has the announcement, as well as a nice picture of the new editor's "Sexy Face." That's how you get your Canadian fanbase, Behrens!!! Rain. Please. Rain. Effects of the strike are starting to ripple out... more ›

FARMERS MARKET: Downtown’s latest farmers market takes place in the Fashion District. So hit up some holiday shopping then treat yourself to some of the freshest foods around. 4-7 pm // Fashion District // 716 S. Los Angeles St., Downtown // Free. ART: Diego Cardoso is the Executive Officer of Transportation Development and Implementation for the MTA who headed the East Side Gold Line project. He's also on the city planning commission. But his... more ›

Sometimes it seems like the only people who actually eat at Taix are the musicians. Taix is kind enough to actually give the performing bands drink and meal tickets. I've never even eaten in the restaurant itself, but I've spent a lot of time in the homey wine bar, where I can listen to local bands while I dine. Whenever I cozy up in the warm brick-interior listening to the edgy jazz, I wonder... more ›