Debris clutters the New York Street facade at the Universal Studios Hollywood back lot, Monday June 2, 2008, in the Universal City section of Los Angeles, a day after a fire destroyed the sets of iconic films. (AP Photo/Ric Francis) The fire at Universal Studios on Sunday that ripped through two "city blocks" was deemed an accident yesterday, but was not clarified until later. Now officials are saying a welders' blowtorch started the fire:......

It's October and you want to do something spooky and cool but, cheap, and not too scary? Or maybe you're a crazy sci-fi horror fan? Well, you know, all the cool kids go to Ackermansion, where owner, waxwork and proprietor, Forrest Ackerman -- coiner of the term "sci-fi" -- will show you his peerless collection of memorabilia of that genre including Bela Lugosi's cape from the Dracula films, the girl robot (you know the one......

Some may ask why Ghettogloss wants to have some douche walking around in a gorilla suit every Thursday, but we at LAist accept it for what it is: another excuse to be ridiculous in Silver Lake. This Ghettogloss place describes themselves as a "Fine Art Gallery, Art Rentals, Retail Store & More". But we can only assume when they say more, they mean some poor guy sweating it out in a gorilla suit so......

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The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute & Auction, featuring The Little Kids Rock Band, Aaron Lewis, Brent & Jasin, Nick Bowcott, Black Tooth Jam @ The House of Blues Mickey Avalon, Dirt Nasty @ Key Club Ben Gibbard, David Bazan @ Royce Hall The Blasters, Lady Dottie & the Diamonds, Creepy Creeps @ Viper Room Ozma, William Tell, Kaddisfly, New Year's Day @ The Troubadour King Kong @ Spaceland Whitestarr, Poets & Pornstars @ Roxy......

Starting today, two websites are allowing movie downloads with the blessings of Hollywood, according to a Marketplace report we caught this morning. Studios say that now they'll release movies for download as they come out on DVD. And while we're not convinced that we want to watch King Kong on a laptop, we headed on over to MovieLink and CinemaNow to check it out. Well boy howdy, no Flight Plan or Transporter 2 for......

First an announcement: this is my last post as lead editor of LAist. I've got a new job that is taking much of my time. I love laist, though, so I'm staying on as "editor-at-large" which mostly means I get to post when I feel like it and bug everybody around here with my opinion on everything. Thanks for putting up with me on a daily basis for the last 10 months. Carolyn Kellogg......

FRIDAY • The Fold at El Cid features Willowz, Lion Fever and Bellmer Dolls tonight at 7 PM. • At the Egyptian Theatre, a double feature of Ebirah, Horror of the Deep and King Kong vs. Godzilla at 7:30 PM. • Local violinist and singer Petra Haden is at the Ford Amphitheatre covering The Who Sell Out, with Stephen Prina opening at 8:30 PM. Click here for our complete listing of events for the......

The Giant Japanese Film Festival begins tomorrow evening with Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla and Terror of Mecha-Godzilla (along with an episode of Spectreman). You can catch the double feature at the Egyptian and then try to see all the rest of the 20 films that will run during the one week of classic (and new) movies featuring sub-titles and actors in rubber costumes. Amongst the 20 flicks are the latest Ultraman and Godzilla movies and,......