A study released late least year ranked Los Angeles as a paltry #62 out of 75 when it came to the city's literacy. And when each year seems to bring word that more and more small independent bookshops are closing down, like this weekend's end of Equator Books in Venice, it seems the good old fashioned printed word is having a hard time staying afloat. But we are readers, right? We still love books, don't we? And while you're looking at our words on some sort of screen, we wanted to pay tribute to books and the act of reading; what better way than to skim the virtual pages of our LAist Featured Photos pool... more ›

Venice's Equator Books has been a welcoming independent option for book lovers on Abbot Kinney for over five years, but now they have announced that this weekend they are closing their doors for good. In an announcement sent out by email and posted on their website, the bookstore's owners are asking their customers to come by and make a last purchase from their collection of rare, vintage, and specialty books or vinyl:

To our friends, customers, family: more ›

Susan Diamond signs What Goes Around 7pm @ Dutton’s more ›

April Fools Day is almost here. LAist, for one, can't wait. more ›