The block on Vineland between Otsego and Hesby is turning into a nice eclectic group of storefronts, even if there are only three. Starting to the north, there is a random Pirate store. Next to that, a fairly new hookah lounge. And then there is Lotus Vegan, which opened last week with a chef from Vegan Express who decided to go on her own. You'll recognize the menu as it is similar too all those......

As mentioned yesterday, Eric Richardson of blogdowntown is visiting Portland on a delegation to study the city's public transit, namely the streetcar system. One of the biggest concerns is construction -- the time it takes and how it affects traffic, both auto and pedestrian. One of the biggest opponents was Mike Powell, of Powell's Books fame. But after the construction came and went, he became a fan....

A fire on a service truck near the NoHo Metro Red Line Station will cause a minimum of 10 minute delays this morning. Earlier today, the truck came in contact with electrical rails about 100 yards inside the tunnel, prompting it to catch fire. Difficult for Los Angeles Firefighters to extinguish the fire with high voltage running through the rails, Metro shut down the train system for safety reasons and prepared buses in case the......

This week's Sepulveda Blvd explosion took the life of firefighter Brent A. Lovrien, and as the LAFD mourns the loss along with Lovrien's friends and family and the city at large, the sacrifice so often made by our firefighters is on many minds. Prior to this week's tragedy, a fundraising event to benefit Fire Family Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that provides "financial assistance to Firefighters, their families and charities that support the fire......

Red marks the NoHo Streetcar path. Blue marks an idea for a Moorpark Streetcar idea. After a September 2007 LAist post about an idea of putting a streetcar in the NoHo Arts District, it grabbed first-year UCLA student Nguyen Doan's attention. "It really got me to thinking about how useful a streetcar system would be and motivated me to do research on the subject." When Doan was presented with a class assignment instructing students......

View Larger Map *UPDATE, Weds. 3/5, 10:00 a.m.: The suspect who was shot is believed to be the North Hollywood-area's "Skeleton Bandit." He died in hospital from his injuries after being removed from the scene. *UPDATE, 11:24 p.m.: The alleged robber who was shot by the U.S. Marshal is now at the hospital in critical condition and the suspected accomplice is still at large according to Officer April Harding of the LAPD. So how was......

'Santa Monica Subway: Alternative 4' is one of the 17 routes presented by Metro Last night, a packed room of community members at LACMA listened attentively to Metro present nineteen options to serve the Westside. This first in a series of three public input meetings (two more meetings next week) was exciting -- wheels are in motion to get Los Angeles moving, even if that reality be around ten years from now. One of......

No, there was not a bank heist today in North Hollywood, as there was 11 years ago, the old bank building turned into restaurant/club on Lankershim Blvd., near the NoHo Red/Orange Line stops, is on fire. At 7:13 a.m. this morning, the fire was reported. One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation.The fire burned between floors and in the attic area, said Ron Myers of the Los Angeles Fire Department. After about 40 minutes, firefighters determined......

Remember that car chase scene in "The Da Vinci Code?" Yeah, that car chase is coming to an LA near you. Last Thursday, the weekly LA Green Drinks was hosted at The Smart Car House in Venice. We get an introduction to the Smart Car and learn that the first Smart Car dealerships in Los Angeles will be in North Hollywood, Beverly Hills, West Covina, Riverside and Laguna Niguel. The smart house at 1319......

We listed tomorrow's Choppercabra costumed Halloween ride in our Weekend Halloween Guide, but this one takes some courage to post about because of where it's located. We'll let Midnight Ridazz explain: This ride will take you to two haunted houses. Don’t worry about the haunted houses, worry about where the haunted houses are located. Yes your worse nightmares are about to come true. Oh it looks all pristine, with nice houses and manicured lawns,......

I have to confess something: despite living in the NoHo Arts District, despite working on Sunset and Vine, despite writing for one of the most public-transit-friendly blogs in the city, I have remained hesitant about taking the Metro to work every morning. I mean, it makes sense: the station in NoHo is about a 10-15 minute walk away, it's a quick 10 minute trip to the Hollywood and Vine station, which drops me conveniently......

The NoHo Arts District is looking up as the opening of the NoHo 14 Lofts nears and the arrival (finally!) of the two-story Bank Heist restaurant/bar. Small steps, small steps, right? Well, yesterday, the "Metro board approved negotiating with Lowe Enterprises for [a $1 billion development] massive mixed-use project," according to the Daily News today. Christened as the NoHo Art Wave, the development located over and around the Metro Orange and Red Line stations will......

It was just a year ago that a small group of Valley kids started a Valley Midnight Ridazz contingent. Ten bicyclists met up and rode through the night. Now a year later, the Valley has its fair share... in one way at least. Last night proved the Valley is hardcore, or maybe just a little more crazy. More cops, more helicopters, more scents of weed, more beer, more angry drivers, more near fist fights and......

On February 28, 1997, two gunmen took 48 Bank of America customers and employees hostage before engaging in an intense gunfight with the LAPD. The 44-minute confrontation resulted in the wounding of twelve police officers and two civilians, as well as the death of the two perpetrators. Today at 4:00 p.m., Mayor Villaraigosa, law enforcement personnel, and elected leaders will gather to honor the bravery and sacrifice of those wounded during the shootout, and......

Dear LAist; I need a bar to take a date to while trying to stick within the Sherman Oaks/Encino area. It can't be over the top clubby. It can't be under the hood trashy. What are my options? Signed, I'm finally dating a Valley Girl The Valley may not be like Hollywood where you can walk from bar to bar to bar to bar to bar to bar. But its got those sweet spots......

Let’s say it upfront. It’s a fake and ridiculous. On September 21st, only 8 days after the unveiling of LonelyGrl15’s identity, a video blog on YouTube popped up under the handle of NoHoGirls. Only one female appeared in the vlog, calling herself Cara Brimley who moved from Oregon to North Hollywood. Later, we meet her two roommates, Blue and Daniella, and Daniella’s boyfriend, Eddie, who occasionally is the cameraman. One day, Eddie cheats on......