After a weekend of free rides, the 7.6 mile Expo Line between Downtown L.A. and its western stop at La Cienega Boulevard began its regular service today. L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar and Metro officials planned to greet arriving passengers at the 7th Street station Monday around 7am with commemorative first day pins. more ›

A familiar looking black and white rodent painter has appeared with a giant yellow flower at the corner of Melrose and La Cienega. Banksy? Banksyesque? Dangeresque II? Perhaps it's an elaborate Mother's Day offering for one lucky mum. more ›

Walk into Soda Pop's on La Cienega to find the smiling face of owner David Puopolo ready to spring into sandwich mode serving up SteakBombs, Ruebens, Sausage & Peppers and more. The menu is stuffed with classic sandwiches and daily fun specials (be sure to try the pulled pork with pepperjack and bourbon BBQ sauce and the Argentinian steak sandwich when they're on the board!), and every Soda Pop's creation comes with freshly made potato chips in rotating flavors like bacon, cheddar, cajun, salt & pepper, dill and other spicy seasonings. more ›

The first portion of the the Expo Line, the light rail train between downtown L.A. and Santa Monica, is expected to open in August 2011. That portion will travel from the 7th/Metro to La Cienega (cruising by USC just in time for the school year), with completion of the first phase to Culver City in 2012. Three years later, in early 2015, the train should be full operation all the way to Santa Monica. more ›

Drivers in Culver City today were taken by surprise when they went through a drivers license checkpoint. Two separate ones were set up -- one in the morning and another in the afternoon -- resulting in 80 impounds and three arrests for outstanding warrants. Drivers of impounded vehicles were also cited for "Unlicensed Driver" and "Driving on a Suspended License," authorities said. more ›

A relatively unique car and widespread media attention helped put a suspect of a hit and run behind bars last week. The LAPD asked Twitter users and the news media to spread word about a hit and run that left a 22-year-old valet in a coma. Captured on surveillance video, you can see Benjamin Zelman get run down by an older model yellow VW bug convertible. It didn't take long before two West Hollywood neighbors of the 74-year-old suspect independently called police on him. A few hours later Michael Goodman was in custody, according to WeHo News. more ›

Earlier this week the LAPD called the Twitterdom to action, trying to get them to help spread word about a hit and run that left a valet working at Koi in a coma last week. In the end, it was a tipster who saw the security footage that turned in a 74-year old man late Thursday afternoon, according to the WeHo News. more ›

In a move that has streets activists applauding the LAPD, Twitter is being used to spread the word about a hit and run on La Cienega that left a valet in a coma. Ben Zelman was working as valet at Koi restaurant on La Cienega Blvd last week Wednesday when he was run over by an older model yellow Volkswagen black top convertible. more ›

85.000 vehicles travel the southern portion of La Cienega Boulevard everyday, making it one of the traveled surface streets in the region. From the 10 freeway to 405 freeway, the critical five-mile artery can be its own traffic hell for commuters and the adjoining residents of Los Angeles, Culver City, unincorporated Ladera Heights and Inglewood. more ›

Some ghosts (though it's a little late in the season for it) aren't what you think. They aren't wailing waifs or glowing skulls. They're a restaurant called the Spanish Kitchen. I'm not talking about the Spanish Kitchen on La Cienega -- decorated like there's a South America Land in Disneyland and it's in it, though they have a sign that is an authentic reproduction of the sign at the original Spanish Kitchen. more ›

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. more ›

more ›

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... Finally, the viola gets some respect. The concert will feature solo and small group performances of music by legends such as The Grateful Dead, Jay-Z, Thelonious Monk, Carlos Santana, U2, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, and more. Video above: Allie Performs Sunrise by Nora Jones withe the String Project Los Angeles Alternative String Group at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, November 2007. more ›

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. more ›

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." more ›

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. more ›

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... more ›

more ›

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... more ›

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... more ›

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... more ›

Photo by Lush.i.ous via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr more ›

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... more ›

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... more ›

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? more ›

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."... more ›

- 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... more ›

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... more ›

“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,... more ›