Amoeba Records, along with its two other California locations, took top honors this week on Rolling Stone's list of 25 top U.S. record stores for unique vinyl and CDs. No surprises there and no other local stores were listed (Chicago garnered three spots!). more ›

There are a plethora of events, including LAist's five picks, taking place across the city tonight for Fashion's Night Out. In Los Angeles, there five areas that will have a good amount of couture concentration. Those neighborhoods are Venice's Abbot Kinney Boulevard, downtown, Los Feliz Village, Melrose Avenue, Robertson Boulevard and West Third Street. Maps, schedule of events and trolley information can be found on the city's webpage. more ›

Is this the summer of nudity or what? From naked PETA protests in Orange County to random and criminal instances of nudity on the 405 Freeway, Azusa and Temecula (and let's not forget the drunk teen in Simi Valley who went to his former house -- the keys still worked! -- and went asleep in a bed nude). more ›

A suspicious package left on the street has prompted the police to shut down a portion of Melrose Avenue, says the LAPD. A call came in at 10:50 a.m. reporting the item near Melrose and Genesee, according to Officer Rosario Herrera. As of 11:50 a.m., the investigation was still active as the bomb squad investigated. The immediate area was shut down to the public. more ›

As of noon today, two flower bouquets sat in front of the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen's store on Melrose Avenue. While his name wasn't at the forefront of pop culture talk, his work was (think Gucci, among many other fashion trends seen worn by stars). The Washington Post today gives good sense of that in the opening of his obituary: more ›

When The Foundry's Eric Greenspan announced he was opening a grilled cheese restaurant, it was big news. Grilled cheese, the ooey, gooey and naughty comfort food that could possibly solve world peace, has encapsulated Los Angeles in the past, whether it be with the hordes of people that show up at the annual Grilled Cheese Invitational (no date announced yet) or head out to the Grilled Cheese Truck. Greenspan, who won the Invitational and is known for competing on Iron Chef, is still working on his restaurant, but Lucinda Michele at Metblogs spoke to him about his plans. more ›

Since 1970, the Bodhi Tree Bookstore, a Melrose Avenue staple, has been an information center for spirituality-related information. But times have changed and the store which used to have a staff of 100 is preparing to close its doors in a years time, reports the LA Weekly. "Twenty years ago we felt like it was an expanding situation," said Co-Owner Stan Madson. "We were concerned the store was getting too big. We had a staff of 100. Publishing was expanding. Spirituality was expanding. But what changed was that the market became widely dispersed." Also closing in the very near future is the nearby Borders Bookstore on La Cienega. more ›

COMIC BOOK ART more ›

Here's the good news of the day: It's almost Friday! Go out and celebrate tonight with these happenings about town: more ›

For those interested in entertainment I might liken to wrist-slitting, there's Disney on Ice or George Lopez live at the Nokia. For everyone else there's a few things going down around town. more ›

Melrose Alley Street Art more ›

In 1966, Huey Newton & Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party. A militia organization, made up of black men & women to fight for their rights, and defend themselves against “capitalist pigs” (the US government). more ›

Here are a few spots for eats and drinks that we are looking forward to seeing open: 1. We were very excited to pass on to you that last month was National Grilled Cheese Month, and now we're gearing up for the impending opening of Culver City's Meltdown, which is a (mostly) grilled cheese eatery that's slated to open as early as this week. Their menu, which is available online, looks like an ooey-gooey... more ›

With Joe Rogan's recent calling out of Carlos Mencia's joke-stealing habit, comedy has been a bit more interesting lately. This weekend, Rogan is performing twice at The Improv, and a few miles away, Mencia will be safe from him at The Comedy Store, where Rogan has been banned due to Mencia's feelings that he was "physically threatening." Comedians can be so dramatic sometimes. The Improv (8162 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles) 2/16 Joe Rogan @ 8:30... more ›

Headlines still focus on the temperature and how Posh Spice has arrived to shop for the maybe next Scientology castle for David Beckham and family. Investigations over the plane crash in Van Nuys continue while the book is closed on the latest E.coli cases -- California is once again to blame for Midwest and beyond sicknesses. Tonight Hollywood (not the neighborhood) comes back big for 2007 with 24, Rome and Extras. Choices, choices. It's... more ›

Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger are two of America's most beloved chefs. The duo have been business partners for over 20 years, beginning with the opening of City Cafe on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles in 1981. Currently they are hands-on owner-operators of the popular and critically acclaimed Border Grill restaurants in Santa Monica and Las Vegas, serving upscale, modern Mexican food in a hip, urban cantina setting. The pair also own and... more ›

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... more ›

Sometimes you can't keep a good "let's tear down this god forsaken local monolith" LAist post down -- as is evidenced by today's resurgence of Tear It Down: Hollywood/Highland Edition. more ›

Paper, the very NY mag, has their sights set on LA this week, where they intend to create both colorful chaos and a February issue devoted entirely to our city. To accomplish this they've assembled a hodgepodge of quirky characters and are setting up shop--quite literally--in a storefront at Melrose and La Brea. For the next few days anyone and everyone is invited to take part in a sort of performance art meets (media) circus, have your photo snapped by Torkil Gudnason (we love that name; it just says "photographer" doesn't it?), and do things like take a drag aerobics class, sip tea with Phyllis Diller and Paper's Mr. Mickey, groove to DJs, scope out LA themed panel discussions, and, of course, swill vodka at any one of their almost nightly parties. Check out the full schedule, and list of participants, and LA.comfidential's write up. Then go on down to Paper's ACME headquarters and join in the insanity. Give those smug New Yorkers some of that left-coast lovin' they need. Prove for once and for all we're not a bunch of fame-hungry, substance-addicted, vegan, tree hugging, miniature dog carrying, SUV driving nut jobs. Oh, hell, who are we kidding? Just be yourselves. May as well give 'em what they want. more ›

Check out some of this week's events: more ›

LAist's Tear It Down is currently 1-0, with last year's desperate cry to tear down 8500 Melrose Avenue (the pink and black checkered monster) receiving cries of agreement and some nice legitimate placement in the Los Angeles Times for the cause. We were overjoyed to know that we weren't alone in voicing our opinion that, yes, there are some buildings and landmarks around town that really, positively must be demolished. more ›

The first gathering will be on Friday February 11th from 5pm until 9pm at the BUNGALOW CLUB, 7174 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California 90046 more ›

It's been a banner week for LAist with press mentions in Los Angeles Magazine and now a great mention in today's Los Angeles Times. (Click here to read the piece, although a subscription may be required.) more ›

Although LAist has visited some coffee haunts in the last few months that felt as if we had miraculously ended up in a totally different part of the world (i.e. Pasadena), there are other pockets of Los Angeles that also make one feel as if they've taken a trip through the Twilight Zone. more ›

There is a building. It is located at 8500 Melrose Avenue. It is situated in the city of West Hollywood. It sits just down the street from Urth Cafe, and on the corner of Melrose and La Cienega Boulevard. And LAist is pleading the City of Los Angeles to . more ›

LA Theater geeks, rejoice! Three quirky shows are running at local theaters until mid-August. more ›