Thanks to Christmas Day falling on a Sunday this year, today is a legal holiday, and that means things are quiet in Los Angeles, with many offices and services closed or limited. more ›

It's the beginning of a long holiday weekend for most of us, and tonight's events are mostly Christmas related. There's a Janky Christmas party at the Bootleg; a food truck fest in NoHo; and the British panto 'A Cinderella Christmas.' Read on for all the details. more ›

What's going on lately in the L.A food scene? Chew on this: A classic L.A. deli has landed at LAX, MexiKosher is getting into the holiday spirit of giving (and tamales), and a few great restaurant bars have some new cocktail menus. more ›

This weekend marked the beginning of L.A. County's "Avoid the 100" anti-DUI holiday campaign, and what a successful campaign it was. City News Service reports that from Friday at 12:01 a.. to Sunday at 11:59 p.m., 598 arrests of drunk or drugged drivers were made. That tops last year's numbers, which netted 510 arrests for the same weekend. more ›

There are a lot of Christmas-themed concerts scheduled for this week! If you're looking for something tonight, we encourage you to go check out Kirshbaum performing tonight with LACO at Royce Hall. We've split it up into three categories: Messiah, Nutcracker, and Other. more ›

Have you done your holiday shopping yet? You may want to set aside some time and money to support local artisans who are making some of Los Angeles' most delicious edibles at the Artisanal LA Holiday Pop-Up Shop. more ›

There's cheese dip...and then there's Charles Phoenix's "Frosty the Cheeseball Man." From the twisted genius behind the perennial favorite "Cherpumple" comes this party-hearty food performance art involving a "Cheseball Man" made of three Velveeta balls slathered in winter-white cream cheese and studded with veggies. more ›

The Living Christmas Tree Company in Redondo Beach offers a painless online ordering system and delivery service for live trees. It's a bit pricier than buying a cut tree, but it's the principal of caring for the environment. more ›

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and slept off the turkey / food coma from yesterday. While it's holiday-lite on the events front in LA, we hope not to set foot within a two-mile radius of any mall on this Black Friday. Here are a few alternatives to hanging out at the Grove, Promenade or Americana at Brand. more ›

It's time to haul yourself and your family to Los Angeles International Airport and take to the skies to go visit relatives around the country for the big Thanksgiving holiday. Big holidays often equal big headaches for travelers, and it's looking like LAX is going to be the busiest airport in the nation this year. more ›

Save those pretty pennies to support local talent, L.A. Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival is returning to SoCal for its fall holiday event, offering unique handmade items for community-conscious shoppers. Be selfish and score goods for yourself and/or start crossing off friends and family members on your holiday shopping list. more ›

Are you one of the many, many locals opting to beat the holiday heat with a sojourn by the shore? Well, take a number--our beaches have been crazy busy this weekend. How busy? According to officials, an estimated one million people showed to to Los Angeles County beaches on Saturday and the same on Sunday. more ›

With temperatures expected to reach the 90s and 100s across the region, Los Angeles firefighters are prepared for a high risk of wildfires over the celebratory Fourth of July weekend. Fireworks are illegal in L.A., the fire department reminds us but we all know that's not going to stop July 4th revelers from firing off their own. more ›

Due to Monday's Memorial Day holiday, Metrolink will be offering limited service. Additionally, service will be curtailed on Sunday due to scheduled signal maintenance. more ›

If ever there was an evening to knock back a brew or two, it's tonight, in observance of the unofficial "holiday" of New Beer's Eve. Say what? "On the evening of April 6, people lined up outside breweries and taverns, waiting for midnight when they would be able to legally purchase beer for the first time in over 13 years. Since then, the night of April 6 has been referred to as 'New Beer's Eve.'" more ›

Federal Election Day could become a holiday in California, and to get the process going, Secretary of State Debra Bowen announced today that Roy Benson, the proponent of a new initiative, can begin collecting petition signatures for his measure. more ›

March 31st is Cesar Chavez Day, and though this year that falls on Thursday, some local organizations and civic resources will observe the holiday today or other days this week. The holiday is nationally recognized, but its roots are in Los Angeles, thanks to the many local volunteers who worked to see the day be made into a legal state holiday and day of service. Here's what will be closed on what day this week in observance. more ›

Today Americans honor the life and legacy of Civil Rights advocate and leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On this legal holiday, many Californians have a day off work, though the credo has become "It's a day on," meaning a day to do good work, rather than rest. Today is a "Day of Service," so there are community projects going on all over Los Angeles, as well as celebrations and recreation activities in which to engage. more ›

Hollywood Patch has been hoofing the chain stores in Hollywood and reports a closet of clearance deals from boots to guitars to Hello Kitty erasers. For the cheapest of the cheap Patch recommends the sidewalk jewelry kiosk in front of Hollywood and Highland for $1.99 sale prices. Throw in a nickel allergy and an earring/necklace combo for $3.99. more ›

Have a happy and safe holiday, everyone! Here's what's going on around LA today. more ›

Windowpanes "frosted" with painted greetings, all-weather lights and trees bedecked with colorful baubles, Santa and his sleigh, trees awaiting adoption at lots, some stripped down carolers, and gift-wrapped buildings ("For me? You shouldn't have!") say rain be damned, it's Christmastime in Los Angeles. Here's a look at some recent images decking the halls of our LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr.
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Okay party people, the Los Angeles Police Department are about to get really serious about safe and sober driving, so if you have some holiday merriment in your planner for Friday and Saturday night, know now that you'd best also plan to have a designated driver, a cab ride, or a public transit trip. The LAPD will be conducting multiple Sobriety Checkpoints throughout the city. Here's where and when you can expect to encounter the checkpoints: more ›

The pull to shop for yourself is likely going to prove irresistible once you enter the penthouse of the California Market and drink in your first moments of Unique LA, the craft, art, and gift show that is in its second day of a weekend-long "pop-up" today. However, if you're shopping for anyone who happens to appreciate handmade, creative, local, quirky, innovative, and charming items ranging from plush toys to plush bathrobes and quite possibly everything in between, Unique LA's bountiful stalls will be a glorious sight. more ›

Walk by this clean, bright space on Sunset Blvd. in Silver Lake and you'll probably think its a gift shop. Partially true. However STARK is one of LA's premiere houses of hairlessness featuring a nearly-ouchless hard blue wax called Cirepil that starts its life as little beads and melts down to take it all off. more ›

Suffer from last-minute indecision and need a little help getting some plans made for tonight? If so, you might be interested in a community boutique shopping event in Melrose Village, or a Frank Perry double feature at the Egyptian, or even the chance to listen to a pro opera singer...talk. We have all the details! more ›

Shoppers who are looking to spend their holiday bucks in support of craftspeople and artisans have a duo of opportunities this weekend thanks to a pair of events setting up shop in Downtown Saturday and Sunday. We've got all the vital info on Unique LA and Artisanal LA. Bonus: If you go to one, you'll save if you go the other. more ›

Heading to Art Walk in Downtown tonight? You might want to check out a free walking tour of the storied Theatre District. If you've got a sweet tooth, Magnolia Bakery is worth checking out tonight, for free samples and some pro tips for your cake decorating. Plus a community barter, shop, and hang gathering courtesy The Cantry, and 15 performers onstage at El Cid for free. We've got all the details... more ›

If you've got a relative or co-worker whose home-baked holiday goodies take the cake at every gathering, there's no need to be green with envy--or food coloring--any longer. Sweeten up your December Saturdays with classes at Bakelab, and learn how to decorate cupcakes, or make fun holiday treats. more ›

For holiday shoppers searching for bargains and buys in Downtown Los Angeles, the LAPD wants you to know they've got your back. They've just announced stepped-up enforcement for the holiday shopping season, which means more cops on foot beats watching for thieves of all kinds. The officers will be watching for the kinds of crimes that happen when a shopper isn't aware of their surroundings, like purse snatching and pickpocketing. more ›