"Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, 'In this world, Elwood, you must be' - she always called me Elwood - 'In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me." -- Elwood P. Dowd, Harvey (1950) more ›

When you start writing for LAist, you sign a pact in soy chorizo to promote the sacred order of the food truck whenever possible. But so many theaters prohibit bringing in outside food! What to do? If you're the Outdoor Cinema Food Fest, you bring the film outside to the food! LAist's own Farley Elliot posted an overview of the fest a few weeks back, and here's this week's delectable details: in celebration of International Dance Day, Moulin Rouge! screens downtown at Grand Hope Park, accompanied by local piano-rock quartet The Quiet, free coffee from Don Francisco's and The Buttermilk Truck, Calbi BBQ, Lake Street Creamery and Uncle Lau's BBQ! Follow Outdoor Cinema Food Fest on Twitter for late breaking updates! more ›

If you've been to the New Bev as often as I have, you've found that the theater isn't run by a staff so much as a family. Friday, they pull out all the stops for one of their own, Julia Marchese, as she makes her big screen debut in the thriller Golden Earrings. Of course, for every sweet Julia, there are a plethora of bastard stepchildren. more ›

By now, everyone's sick of hearing about how the economy's in the toilet. But hey, sometimes it nets you cheap dinner and a free movie. If you're unemployed, that is. Then you'll want to be heading over to the old Aero, for the uncanny Boris Karloff's spookiest performances, the highly flappable combination of Laurel & Hardy & Fields, and more Ginger than a Shirley Temple - all on their dime (simply present your ID & EDD). For more current freebies, you could always set aside some time to learn something - how about the plight of women in Iran at The Hammer? Or the plight of our descendants stalked by cannibalistic humanoids at The Skirball? Suddenly the recession's a tad easier to bear. more ›

When considering the pioneers of fantastic film-making within the thriller genre, there is but one name that undoubtedly comes to mind first: Hitchcock. The name alone conjures up some of the most classic images of horrific suspense ever to hit the silver screen. From shadows on shower curtains to crazed black crows, he was a master in exploring the depths of psychological terror. more ›

The world's largest body and tattoo art convention starts today at the Fairplex in Pomona through Sunday. You been thinking about getting ink? Now here's your chance to dive right in. Featured events at Body Art Expo include: tattoo contests; Neil Turbin from Anthrax on Sunday and human suspension by Jason of Texas Ink. more ›

There's more to puppetry than Muppetry. Dr. John Bell, puppeteer, teacher and director of the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut, leads an exhibition talk at the Santa Monica Museum's "The Puppet Show" on the history of puppetry. The exhibit explores the work of 28 contemporary artists who use puppet imagery in sculpture, film, video, time-based media, animation and 2D work. more ›

Weekend Edition Tonight - Saturday "Sunset Boulevard" (TCM, 5:00 p.m.) The movie about the fickleness of stardom in Hollywood. It's somehow beyond a classic. "American Movie" (IFC, 6:15 p.m.) The movie about self-financed redneck-geek movie maker Mark Borchardt's project "Coven", pronounced "koh-vehn" Ducks @ Sharks (KDOC, 7:30 p.m.) Didn't these guys just play each other a couple days ago? Are there only 3 or 4 teams in the NHL? Stars @ Kings (Fox Sports,... more ›

"Monday Night Football" (ESPN, 5:30 p.m.) (the former LA) Raiders @ Seattle "NHL Hockey" (Fox Sports, 7:00 p.m.) Penguins @ Ducks "NBA Basketball" (PRIME, 7:30 p.m.) Trail Blazers @ Clippers "Deal or No Deal" (NBC, 8:00 p.m.) I don't care how many girls they got in this show, how could you possibly watch it for an hour? "American Experience" (PBS, 9:00 p.m.) Finally one about California - the Gold Rush starts in 1848 when... more ›

Someone walked off with Gregory Peck's star on Hollywood Boulevard sometime between Nov. 17 and Nov. 22, says Hollywood's honorary Mayor Johnny Grant. Authorities believe the perp (yeah, we know we watch too much Law & Order) used a cement saw to hack off one of the Boulevard's original stars. Begs the question, didn't anyone notice a saw being used? And why didn't anyone notice sooner? more ›

Tuesday cover story by Susan Monahan profiles Vendome Liquors on Olympic in Beverly Hills. The literary tone of the article, which Monahan wrote in the second person, reminds us of Bright Lights, Big City. more ›