Peter Ivan McNeal, the former drummer for the band Cake, could be headed back to court in a retrial for charges he molested a 3-year-old girl in a Laurel Canyon home during a 2009 Thanksgiving dinner. more ›

Inviting Laurel Canyon residents, some of whom with their front doors already open, were recently serenaded via Knock & Rock, a web series experience bringing bands to living rooms. L.A. duo Soft Swells knocked and acoustically rocked the homes of Laurel Canyon homeowners in October. more ›

It is one of the saddest patches of languishing land in the East Valley, and now comes the news that it's not going to get better anytime soon. A half-billion dollar redevelopment project long in the works for Valley and Laurel Plazas in North Hollywood is not going to happen, according to the Daily News, thanks to recession woes and defaulted note from one of the investors. more ›

Imagine if every neighborhood in Los Angeles took a few minutes each year to come together and take a "family" portrait. That's what community members in Laurel Canyon have been doing since 1989 in an event that has grown large enough to warrant a street closure. more ›

A bit of traffic relief for over-the-hill travel! Closed since a February storm washed out a large chunk of the famous route, the portion of Mulholland Drive reopened today between Laurel Canyon Avenue and Coldwater Canyon Boulevard. "All concrete k-rails and barricades installed have been completely removed and the street is now open to traffic," said Cora Jackson-Fossett, a spokesperson of the Department of Public Works. "The Bureaus of Engineering and Street Services, respectively, designed and constructed the bulkhead to support the roadway as well as reconstructed the street and built a guardrail." That was followed by the Department of Transportation installing new signage and restriping this morning. The expensive project highlighted a need for why the city shouldn't deplete its reserve funds during a budget crisis. more ›

A fallen eucalyptus tree was responsible for cutting off power overnight in the area atop Laurel Canyon near Lookout Mountain Avenue, according to KTLA. In response to the multiple calls regarding power outages firefighters expected to find a car crash on the scene, but when they arrived saw "a sizable tree" blocking the whole street, which had "broke[n] two wooden utility poles and knocked out a transformer when it fell." About 2,000 DWP customers were affected, but as crews worked to restore power, as of now only about 700 people remain without electricity, according to the LADWP. Full power is expected to be restored by mid-morning. more ›

"Fellow Angelenos, do NOT take Laurel Canyon right now, it's not moving at all," warned Jeremy Fall on Twitter this afternoon. He's not the only one, either. Apparently, a portion of Mulholland was washed out between Laurel Canyon and Coldwater Canyon, according to a posting on LADOT's website, which was posted around 4 p.m. today. Therefore, westbound Mulholland Drive is shut down between the two canyon routes that connect the Valley to the basin. Traffic Control officers are stationed along both roads, according to the the department's dispatch. more ›

But it looks like it's just an accident this time. One vehicle went 20 feet down the cliff off Mulholland Drive at Laurel Canyon Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. "Occupant out. No injuries at this time," they tweeted. more ›

If you frequent Coldwater Canyon, you should be no stranger to seeing Jay Leno cruising by in one of his million fancy cars. If you haven't, this video is one way. more ›

Driving "over the hill" from the Valley to Hollywood is routine for many, though, the serpentine turns and the tree canopy above make the canyon routes a nice break from the usual traffic blight of the freeways. Along one of those routes is an unusual spot for street art, but for more than a year, one street artist has unofficially claimed the spot as his, adding even more for commuters to gawk at. more ›

After opening a second location in Hollywood last year, Loteria Grill is readying a new one in Studio City, according to a land use committee agenda (.pdf) with the Studio City Neighborhood Council. This Wednesday, the group will discuss and possibly make a motion in regards to the restaurant's application for a full line alcoholic beverage license. Loteria, which has a space on the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura Blvd., is also planning to obtain a permit to allow for live entertainment between 11 a.m. and 2 a.m. more ›

A brush fire broke out in the Mount Olympus neighborhood off Laurel Canyon last night that left approximately 1-acre burned. The blaze began shortly after 7 p.m. on the 2100 block of Laurel Canyon Road the and was knocked down in less than an hour, reportedly leaving no people injured or structures damaged. more ›

It's not the nicest way to wake up on what is a holiday for many: A large tree fell over during the rainstorm this morning in Laurel Canyon, "knocking down three power poles, blocking Wonderland Avenue and interrupting electricity to about 1,700 customers," according to the Daily News. more ›

What better way to celebrate Halloween than to talk about Harry Houdini, the greatest magician who ever lived. He died on Halloween in 1926 and on that day for 10 years thereafter, his wife tried to contact him by holding seances. He starred in a few early movies even -- mostly silent pics and serials. And he lived here for a time, though he was based mostly out of New York. more ›

Shortly before 8:00 a.m. this morning, a car traveling in the Laurel Canyon area south of Mulholland Drive came off the road and landed upside down killing one person and injuring four. more ›

Stuck in traffic down Laurel Canyon Blvd. this weekend on the metropolitan side of the hill, we took note of this stencil, below. We can't identify the artist, can you? It looks like Bansky, but sources say no. Blek le Rat was in town, but that's not his. Herakut just opened their show this weekend, but Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art owner Seth Carmichael says it was not them and that he noticed this piece a couple weeks ago. So, dear readers, can you help? Comment below if you know or can add any tips, other sightings, etc. more ›

Sara Melson has been in LA for some time now after graduating from Harvard with a degree in English (she's shy about this fact). First it was acting, now it is music. She loves living in classic Los Angeles area neighborhoods, especially those with history, roots and the word "canyon" in it. Currently living in Beachwood Canyon, which she describes as a "true oasis," her past homes have been Topanga Canyon and Laurel Canyon, both places seeded for artistic inspiration. more ›

You might recognize the girl above. Locally, that's Sam from the band Alex & Sam who is playing at Tangier all this month every Sunday night, but for those who are more pop-culture oriented (rather, American Idol obsessed), that's Samantha Sidley who got a pass from all three judges for a "Welcome to Hollywood" (she's already here). Her audition was unusual, making it to YouTube (which is below after the jump), because Ryan Seacrest and Paul Abdul switched places. Ryan failed as a judge, but at least our local indie-acoustic songstress made it to the second round. Support her and her band this month, starting tonight. more ›

Author and USC professor Gina Nahai and actress Bahar Soomekh (Crash) read from Nahai’s latest book Caspian Rain – about a family falling apart just before the Islamic revolution in Iran. Immediately following, there’s a discussion of the changing lives of women of the Middle East, and relationships between Iran’s Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as how these communities interact in Los Angeles, “home to the largest population of Iranians outside Tehran.” more ›

So many events, so little time. Concete Frequency's latest installment is tonight and there's always Disney on Ice (skaters, not Walt), but here's a sampling of the other good stuff to be done in LA tonight. more ›

You Me and Iowa more ›

Last night, 20 year old Ricardo Hernandez was killed by gunfire in a gang-related shooting in Pacoima. The incident took place in the 11800 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard. more ›

In no particular order... 1. Secret Shows at the Viper Room 2. La Taquiza on Figueroa 3. Saturdays with the USC Trojans 4. The Henry Fonda Theatre 5. A short hop over Laurel Canyon to see my family 6. Friday Nights at the Rainbow Room 7. Using Venice Blvd. to get from work to play 8. The newly built lane at the 405/101 interchange 9. Amoeba Music 10. Some of the most eclectic, intelligent,... more ›

I love standing at the front of the Orange Line bus looking out the front window, my eyes being massaged by the passing by landscaped medians, surrounded by Valley apartments and industrial buildings on the outside. Take a ride, here, from the NoHo Arts District station to Laurel Canyon Blvd. Video by Zach Behrens/LAist... more ›

View Larger Map Ventura Blvd. is well served by three bus lines, the 750, 150 and 240. During the day on a weekday, you can pretty much walk to a stop and find a bus coming. To the north of the Valley's famous boulevard is the Orange Line, which during the same times of day seems to run every few seconds (it's only at 12 a.m. am I waiting longer than 10 minutes). Sandwiched between... more ›

Earlier this week, as I was riding my bike down Van Nuys Blvd. towards Ventura, I kept on hearing all these honking horns -- I thought someone must be holding up traffic and pissing people off. As it turned it out, it was a group of twenty or so 40-somethings from MoveOn.org protesting the War in Iraq, with a few signs telling people to honk their horns if they oppose the war too. Another... more ›

LAist reader Drew wrote in with some news in his part of town, and he was nice enough to attach some photos. Wow, thanks, Drew! Hey Tony! Apparently an elderly driver was leaving the UPS store in the little shopping corner on Riverside and Laurel Canyon (where Starbucks and Subway are), backed into THREE cars and then tried to flee the scene only to hit another car pulling into the parking lot and ended... more ›

Studio City may actually be what out-of-state folks are talking about when they imagine L.A. (I personally had always wondered...) Wide boulevards lined with palm trees and shops, neighborhoods yielding houses used on TV sitcoms, plaques on the sidewalk commemorating John Wayne films, and filming going on around nearly every corner; as Vankman said to Vigo, it's "the sweet life out in Southern California's beautiful San Fernando valley". For Los Angelenos, it's either a... more ›

Now why would you want to spend your hard-earned dough this weekend on a flick about Chuck and Larry when you can see live, local theater? Here are LAist's five picks for this weekend... Do Do Love Diana lives alone on disability baking cupcakes in her Burbank studio. Her landlord wants to get her out of the apartment and so sends a hottie of a handyman to disrupt her life and up her rent.... more ›