The FBI and LAPD bomb squad were brought out to the Bank of America at Pico and La Cienega Boulevards after an attempted bank robbery this morning. KCBS live reported that the robbers got "cold feet," never going through with the robbery, but left a "suspicious package" at a bank teller's window, prompting the shut down of the busy intersection until 11:30 a.m. In a phone interview with Officer Eisenman of the Los Angeles Police......

For those of you who find Urth Caffe on Melrose way too much of a scene, might I suggest a quick, delicious, nearby alternative? Eat Well on Santa Monica at Harper (in West Hollywood in between Crescent Heights and La Cienega) is a simple neighborhood joint that serves a mean breakfast, not to mention lunch, dinner, and cocktails. With a menu that gives Jerry's a run for its money, Eat Well is the perfect......

MUSIC Tonight at the Jazz Bakery is the The Alternative String Group, an ensemble of students from Robert Anderson and Jacob Szekely's music school in West Hollywood, The String Project | Los Angeles. Both studio musicians who have worked with the likes of the Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra and SuperNova, the two have put together a conservatory that is pretty high tech with their interactive music lessons, recording and filming them for student's personal analysis.........

The last time I went to the Beverly Center on a Saturday, I left feeling more hatred in my heart for the LA masses than I have since Halloween. There was pushing, bumping, waiting, complaining, and honking. Awful. I mentioned my misadventure to a more seasoned shopper friend, wondering if she had any sage advice. She first berated me for going to the Beverly Center on a Saturday--or at all, as far as she......

L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. just announced that Mischa Barton was pulled over at 2:46AM this morning while driving in the 900 block of north La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood. According to the police report, her vehicle was seen "straddling two lanes of traffic and failed to signal when making a turn." And what's "straddling two lanes of traffic" code for? Driving drunk. Once it was determined that she was "under the influence of an......

The last time I faced this asphalt nemesis was on Sunday afternoon when my friend’s 4-year-old daughter was helping me navigate the neighborhood from the 2 freeway. I then realized where she was taking me: It’s a straight shot down Baxter to get to their house. ...

Yesterday, another LAister, Jessica Pauline asked about Hollywood shortcuts. A few people gave suggestions, such as the now "not-so-much-a-secret" Fountain but other commentors plain old said, "I'm not giving up my secrets to you greenie." I was reading over the comment and got to thinking... In a town like Los Angeles, a good short cut is like a good dive bar. You don't want the hipsters to take over your secrets and blast them......

Once again, MySpace is copying the people who copied them copying Friendster better. Seeing the success of Facebook's ability to have widgets, MySpace and Google are teaming up to do something similar. More fire likely. Just like in 2003 where the wildfires struck, had a week lull and hit hard again the first week of November, firefighters are currently preparing for the return of the Santa Anas, expected to start tomorrow night. High heels......

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people migrate west to check out the West Hollywood/Santa Monica Blvd. Halloween Parade. Spanning from La Cienega Blvd. to Doheny Drive, the parade holds concerts, DJ sets, food vendors, and costume contests to the LA masses. While closing down Santa Monica blvd. may have screwed up everyone's commute last night, nothing compares to the pure elation of dressing incredibly skanky/scary/complicated. And don't worry, while you never know what......

If the department stores can put their Christmas merch out already, we can sure as hell start celebrating Halloween! Friday, October 12th Rosemary's Billygoat, who always put on a special-effects extravaganza along with some serious rocking, will be playing at The Haunt at the Northridge Fashion Center. There will also be three haunted houses and a Fall Festival. Rosemary's Billygoat plays at 9pm. The CIA (California Institute of Abnormal Arts) in North Hollywood's Fright Night......

When i was still a teenager, i got hooked up selling sunglasses on a street corner in Inglewood. It seems like a random job, and it was, but man that shit paid like whoa, paid in cash, and plus i never had to worry about new shades. The sunglass stand was on La Cienega and Arbor Vitae, and it was ran by this weird Italian guy who lived in various motels around town, chain......

All eastbound lanes between Sepulveda and La Cienega boulevards on the 105 Freeway will be closed from 3 AM to midnight this weekend and next for filming. L.A. 11st District City Councilman Bill Rosendahl introduced a resolution today to impeach President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. An ideal way to find all the farmers' markets in the L.A. region: LA Farmers' Market Mapplet. Jamie Foxx is shooting for another Oscar with......

I had been looking forward to settling in on my comfy couch in some comfy only-wear-around-the-house clothes with some snack foods and my television-watching co-conspirator to watch the season finale of Fox's Hell's Kitchen for a couple of weeks now. I say "couple" of weeks because those programming devils split the finale into two parts and unecessarily stretched the drama over two of my Monday nights for an hour apiece. But instead of seeing......

Tonight, Los Angeles will be playing host to the Democratic Presidential candidates as they square off in a forum to specifically discuss gay issues. The groundbreaking event will be televised on LOGO, and simulcast on the Internet, and will be moderated by Washington Post writer Jonathan Capeheart, Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese, and singer/friend of the trees, Melissa Etheridge. Many of the candidates will continue their courting of a specific demographic with fund-raising......

From our friends at Craigslist, and verified on the "Deal or No Deal" website, apparently the hit tv game show needs a few good women to replace some of the others who had, what, aged? Here are the details: NBC’s hit show, “Deal or No Deal” is currently looking for a few new models to join the current cast. If you’re a female over the age of 18 who has the personality and looks......

Get Ye Back to the Red Line: From trolley to hearse, take the last ride on the infamous Holly Trolley before it shuts down at 2:30 a.m. tonight. Fly me to the...: Van Nuys, Union Station and now Westwood are easy ways to get to LAX. But don't expect to be able to park in Westwood while you pose on the Spanish Steps since there is "no overnight parking is permitted Monday – Thursday."......

- Attention Blacks - Dreamworks wants you to audition to be Donkey for the Broadway production of Shrek - Defamer - Was Mayor Tony up to the same monkeybusiness that the Frisco Mayor admitted to? - LA Observed - Now that we know where the Westside of LA begins (La Cienega), has the Associated Press determined that Toluca Lake is in the Hollywood Hills? - LA Brain Terrain - Muslim man in Van Nuys......

Tears, shrieks and wails broke out in the LA courtroom where Paris Hilton was sent back to jail just moments ago. Crying, "MOM! MOM! MOM!" the heiress was lead out of the downtown court, the nexus of mayhem, hordes of press, and gaggles of paparazzi. L.A. Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini told the media that Judge Michael T. Sauer had heard from the County Council's office (representing the Sheriff's Dept.), the city attorney, and......

“Whassup Haterz I’m At The Mandrake” reads the tee-shirt above the cocktail menu at Culver City’s most darling art-bar located on a once desolate stretch of La Cienega just north of Washington Blvd. The Mandrake, decorated in one part rustic, one part modern and two parts sauna is host to rotating exhibits, DJ events, film & TV screenings and of course, thirsty locals. Nearby gallery owners and creative purveyors in the areas of fashion design,......

Here’s the thing: this book isn’t even out yet. But because we live in Los Angeles, and this book is about Los Angeles, you’re in luck. We’re all in luck. Denise Hamilton and the bevy of supremely talented noir writers that contributed stories to this book are signing all over town this week. And the book will be, yes, you guessed it – available for signing at the readings two weeks before the rest of......

Before heading out to your local Irish pub tomorrow night to partake in the St. Patrick's Day fiestas going on around town, you may want to sneak in some art just to balance things out. Paintings, prints, and a new handmade book titled "All Done But None" from local artist and fellow blogger Carol Es will be presented tomorrow night at the George Billis Gallery. The mixed-media show features quirky illustration and ironic childhood......

Valentine's Day can be rough on guys. There's flowers ($80 for a dozen roses at a store on La Cienega), candy ("Are you trying to get me fat?"), jewelry (That little diamond thingie costs how much?), and dinner (you did make reservations in January, right?). You could have taken Tom Lykis' advice and dumped her last week, or planned an out of town business trip. Or you could go to the Flower District with......

Today was the big unveiling of Proenza Schouler's "resort wear" collection for Target. It was exalted. It was hyped. It was drooled over. (I plead guilty to all of the above). But an early morning trip to the Target at the corner of La Cienega and Rodeo yielded nothing. Not as in "nothing good left cuz the racks were already picked clean" but as in "where the fuck are these clothes?" That's right. Absolutely nothing......

In honor of America's national day of enforced romance, which is otherwise known as Valentine's Day, we offer you this tidbit of lamppost love that was spotted on Wilshire just East of La Cienega. A new twist on viral marketing, a heartfelt plea for love or a creepy attempt to seduce Beverly Hills dowagers? You be the judge.......

Thank God for the New York Times and its latest scintillating trend piece, which bravely goes out on a limb to inform readers that as crazy as it may sound, Koi and Republic aren’t the only two restaurants in Los Angeles. What? A New York publication writing arrogantly and stupidly about some aspect of Los Angeles culture? Stop the presses! In her New York Times regional trend essay Los Angeles: Where Stars Are in the......

photo by hexod.us via Flickr. I know I'm a little late jumping on the bandwagon of year-end Top 10 lists, but if there's one thing that never goes out of style, it's food. 10. Foxy's 206 W Colorado St. at Central Ave., Glendale Any place that puts all my favorite things into one omelette (bacon, avocado, onions, tomatoes) as a standard dish on their menu can't go wrong. 9. Rodeo Grill 1721 W. Sunset......

Rande Gerber not only married supermodel Cindy Crawford and is BFF with George Clooney, but he also opened the chic Stone Rose Lounge in the Sofitel Hotel last Spring on Beverly and La Cienega. If you want a cool, low profile yet still Hollywood-esque spot this is it. Swanky but not pretentious, the space is large and filled with lots of Hugh Hefnerish red couches to lounge on (hence the name), cocktail waitresses at......

- African-American LAFD firefighter Tennie Pierce (no relation) awarded $2.7 million in a racial harassment suit that was settled yesterday. A Captain bought dog food, a second firefighter mixed in into Pierce's spaghetti, and another Captain knew what Pierce was about to eat but didn't warn him. - LA Times - Unrelated: Fire Captain allegedly tortured Eagle Rock woman before he strangled her, making the murder eligible for the death penalty - LA Times......

In order to provide more space for drag queen street races, and due to the Annual West Hollywood Halloween Parade, the following streets will be closed from 1pm to 6am: -- Santa Monica Boulevard between La Cienega Boulevard and Doheny Drive. -- Robertson Boulevard between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. -- San Vicente Boulevard between Cynthia Street and Melrose Avenue. From 6 p.m. through 6 a.m., La Cienega Boulevard will be closed between......

Yoga: A spiritual practice of postures for some; A sweaty mess of a workout for others. But regardless of your personal preference on this mind-body-spirit trifecta, you will have to admit that something other than the Nag Champa smells kind of funny with this close to home story... As if steaming yourself into pretzeldom wasn’t dangerous enough, the Associated Press reported today that Bikram Choudhury Yoga Inc., founded by Bikram Choudhury, pleaded no contest......