As San Franciscans gear up to vote on whether or not circumcision should be banned, those opposed to the procedure may have a new victory to point to. After a botched circumcision in 2003 at a Los Angeles medical clinic, a family will receive $4.6 million in damages and lawyers' fees, reports the Long Beach Press Telegram. more ›

Once again, the Natural History Museum will be opening up its Butterfly Pavilion, where patrons can "wing it" with hundreds of free-flying butterflies in a fun, interactive environment. This is the 13th year the seasonal attraction is operating at the Museum. more ›

"Dia de los Muertos is purely a celebration of our loved ones that have gone before us," Steve Acevedo, CEO and creative director at Chimmaya Gallery and Retail in East Los Angeles explained to ABC7. Chimmaya Gallery is just one of the many places where people can celebrate Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which is officially taking place on November 1st (honoring children) and November 2nd (honoring adults). There are many things to do between now and then, and special food and drink to enjoy. more ›

Tuesday afternoons from 3 p.m. until dusk Avenue 58 at Marmion Way--right where the Metro Gold Line's Highland Park stop is--fills up with the sights, sounds, and smells of a festive, family-oriented farmers' market. Called the "Old L.A. Certified Farmers' Market" this weekly gathering is small, but draws one of the most diverse clientele of the many markets that set up all over town. Teenaged couples pausing to cuddle, families with children of all ages, senior citizens, skateboarders, homeboys, hipsters, re-usable bag-toters--people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and colors mingle among the modest stalls of farm-fresh produce, baked goods, and other edibles. more ›

Tomatoes are at their, well...peak right now, and the HFM wants to help you figure out what great and diverse things you can do with the bounty. They'll have cooking tips, preservation demos, gardening info, and a tasting of all the varieties available at the market. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Market. Free. more ›

More than 250 independent artists and crafters are on hand for the second day of the weekend-long Renegade Craft Fair, which is taking place today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Los Angeles State Historic Park (aka The Cornfield) in Downtown. more ›

Statewide, reported cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, have doubled last year's number from the same time period, according to the LA Times. The increase in cases is cause for concern among health officials, who are urging parents to consider seeking vaccination for all those in the family who come in regular contact with babies. more ›

Although he has not been charged with the murder of his wife Monica, reality television producer Bruce Beresford-Redman remains a "person of interest" in the case, and has surfaced back home in Los Angeles, despite expectations he would remain in Mexico where she was killed. more ›

The First Annual 4th Street in Motion festival will showcase alternative transportation and bicycle-related activities along the 4th Street corridor between Junipero and Cherry Avenues in Long Beach. The street will be abuzz with activities including a bike-themed Film Festival and independent film competition at the Art Theatre, local/national bands on The Pike Music Stage, libations at the 4th Street Vine Wine Grotto, Lola's Mexican Food Court and at other food vendors, lots of bike/alt-transportation vendors and other misc merchants, and much more! 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. more ›

The GRAMMY Museum and Ozomatli teamed up on Saturday afternoon to give area kids a musical treat. Ozomatli's performance was part of the GRAMMY Museum's Musical Explorations initiative which aims at teaching families about music. more ›

A mother, her two young daughters and a 60-year-old relative were all found dead inside a gated community home in San Clemente yesterday. No suspects are currently on the loose, say police. more ›

It's your day off. You're uninspired and under-funded (aka bored and broke). "But I live in Los Angeles!" you remind yourself. "There's got to be something I can do that won't break the bank." Art, music, museums, theatre, workshops, gardens, and more always seem to come with a price tag, unless you're totally in the know. Well, it's not too complicated to file yourself under the in-the-know column. Free L.A. is a publication that you can keep on your bookshelf to use when you need low-cost fun on the fly, or hand off to those out-of-town couch surfers you're hosting who would otherwise spend their vacation days fondling your remote control and eating you out of house and home. more ›

If you’re in the mood to get a taste of small town America, The Watermelon Festival presented by the Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club at Sunland park, with its game booths, watermelon seed spitting contest and all the carnival food a glutton can handle, is the place to be this weekend. Though today is the last day for the festivities, there’s still plenty of action left, including a watermelon eating contest, greased watermelon relay race, music by 60s and 70s cover band The Heist, and a drawing for a $500 grand prize. more ›

Since last week's death of Michael Jackson, crowds and media have flocked to various locations related to the superstar. In Hollywood, it was his Walk of Fame star; on the Westside, his Holmby Hills rental mansion; and in the Valley, his family home on Hayvenhurst Ave., just off Ventura Blvd. more ›

Tonight at Family, Jacob Ciocci (of the Paper Rad art collective) presents a new 20-mix of original videos and animations, and will perform 'I Let My Nightmares Go' featuring video and dance moves that “grapple with mental demons, web 2.0, G.O.D., 21st-century breakdown, real lies and fake truths, cartoon violence, and awareness bracelets.” Music will be provided by David Wightman/Fortress of Amplitude. The free screening/performance starts at 7 pm. more ›

When you sign up for an evening with a Henrik Ibsen production, you know what you’re getting into: The drama, the heaviness, the repression oozing from the script. But what you don’t always expect is a good production with impeccable acting. But that’s exactly what LAist found with A Noise Within’s production of Ibsen’s 1891 play Ghosts. more ›

In what appears to be a "family-on-family murder-suicide," according to one Police Lieutenant, six people, including four children, died after a shooting that took place in an upscale neighborhood in Santa Clara of Northern California, according to the Associated Press. Officers responding to the call around 8:30 last night arrived to find two adults and three children dead, and another adult and child both wounded. The child, an infant girl, died at the hospital, but the adult, a female, remains "hospitalized with life-threatening wounds." One male adult victim found on scene appears to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The names of the victims have not been released, and Santa Clara police are working to determine what happened inside this home, and why. In the last six months, Southern California has experienced three murder-suicides in Wilmington, Covina and Porter Ranch. more ›

The mother who gave birth to octuplets last week has finally gone public. Nadya Suleman, 33, of Whittier appeared on NBC's TODAY for an exclusive interview revealing a lot more about her: more ›

More details are coming out about Ervin Lupoe, who is suspected of killing himself after shooting his five children and wife at their Wilmington neighborhood home. He was at least one month behind in mortgage payments, owed the IRS $15,000 and had thousands of dollars out on credit, reports the Associated Press. more ›

ABC7 this morning received a telephone call and a fax from the a man saying he was going to kill his family and himself. The news station in turn called police who later found seven people--five children under the age of ten, the mother and the suspected shooter, the father. more ›

During and after the inauguration yesterday, these ads showing gay families acting like any happy family would act aired in 42 of the 58 counties in California on stations and during shows such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN and FoxNews. more ›

Imagine heeding the call of a craving for some Annie's Sour Cream and Onion Cheddar Bunny crackers and opening the box to find $10,000 in cash instead. It happened to a Tustin family, who had bought the box of crackers at their local Whole Foods. Instead of being greedy, though, the Rogoff family brought the cash to the cops, who thought at first it could be part of a drug drop. According to abc7.com,

Police later heard from store managers at Whole Foods in Tustin that an elderly woman had come in a few days earlier, hysterical because she had mistakenly returned a box of crackers with her life savings inside. The Lake Forest woman, whose identity was not released, had lost faith in her bank and decided the box would be a safer place for the $10,000.

Police twice responded to a Silver Lake residence where a domestic dispute took place last night, but the second visit found deadly results. more ›

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21-year-old Robert Mendez known for his erratic behavior is being held in the murder of his father and uncle who were discovered yesterday in a shallow grave behind their apartment on the 2800 block of London Street near the 101 Freeway and Silver Lake Blvd. more ›

Royal/T (along with Japan LA) is hosting a Lolita Halloween Tea Party from Noon-5 today. Dame Darcywill be signing copies of her new book, GASOLINE: A Rock n' Roll Apocalyptic Fairy Tale. In addition, photographer Pierre Auroux will be taking pictures of Lolitas who step into the looking glass of the Royal/T Shop window display to become living mannequins in the black rose garden and a special Halloween high tea will be served featuring seasonal snacks and a pot of tea of your choice. more ›

It was only a matter of time before hipster boys and girls grew up to have boys and girls of their own, and were left with the dilemma of how to reconcile a live music obsession with a dearth of available babysitters. Presto chango diapero! Kidrockers to your rescue! Beg, borrow, or reproduce - all you need is a little one and a sense of adventure to enjoy a family-friendly afternoon of music (not necessarily kid-specific jams) tomorrow afternoon at The Echo. Past bands of this New York staple include Los Campesinos!, Pela, Rogue Wave, Ra Ra Riot, Harlem Shakes, and Bishop Allen. Come join funny man Patton Oswalt (better known as Rémy to your Ratatouille-loving four year old) and co-host Seth Herzog to kick off the West Coast-incarnation, featuring LA’s The Deadly Syndrome. LAist’s Tom Lewis heralded 2007’s The Ortolan as “rollicky melodies of xylophone, organs, jangly guitars, and pleasantly thrashed drumkits” and liked it so much he put it on his Best of list. With openers Afternoons. This ain’t The Wiggles, my friend. more ›

Candace Bushnell discusses and signs One Fifth Avenue 7pm @ Vroman's more ›

The Los Angeles County Fair is in town at the Pomona Fairplex from September 5th thru the 29th. Lots of fun, food, and farm for the whole family! More than just milking cows and eating pies, there are a number of activities ranging from animal amusement to educational to just get out and eat! The usual rides and games are scattered throughout plus there is shopping, dancing and just about anything you could want to do. Plenty of parking: $10 general, $15 reserved and $20 VIP (the VIP is worth it if you go when its hot) and stay 'til late! The fair is open Wed - Sun generally from 11am to 10pm. Adult admission is $17 ($12 weekdays) and kids get in for $12 ($7 weekdays). There are also group rates and season passes. Here is a little of what we saw this weekend... more ›