It's a rat's life these days at Los Angeles' City Hall, where the four-legged furred foes are scurrying about a bit more than usual, according to the Daily News. Officials note that this isn't an increase in rat population, but rather their presence seems to be more felt because of weather and sanitation issues. more ›

Concert review of Nocturnal Wonderland featuring The Chemical Brothers and Paul Van Dyk. more ›

It's a sparklie!! The Aero Theatre in Santa Monica is host today to the 25th Anniversary (yes, really) of this 1982 masterpiece about a sick mouse, a sinking house, Dom Deluise as a crow in a blouse, and magic rats. I'd write more about it but I'm busy gathering my amulet. The Secret Of NIMH -- 25th Anniversary! @ The Aero Theatre Sunday July 29 1328 Montana Avenue Santa Monica 3pm... more ›

As I'm really just a longterm visitor to this, your fair city, it gave me some real reassurance to know that I received the same hysterical email about the mountain lion in Silverlake as did Franklin Avenue (which has it in full) and Blogging.la (where Will, who once worked at the zoo, parses the mountain lion/cougar/bobcat thing). more ›

Since you know LAist is crazy about bacon, how about this burger made of ground bacon? [Serious Eats] In the meat-eating corner: Ted Nugent! In the meat-free corner: Paul McCartney! Read what Nugent really thinks about the folks in the music biz he knows who have been "Fired for eating meat by an animal-rights maniac, hard-core vegan bass player." [Waco Tribune-Hearld] David Haskell of Bin 8945: Chowhounds can be so tasteless, bloggers mean business... more ›

from the upcoming Metal Skool movie - NSFW Thailand, Pink Mochi, Good on Paper @ Silverlake Lounge Burning Brides, Nebula, Sasquatch, Black Fur @ The Echo Metal Skool, The Refinery, Looker, The Grand Marquee @ Key Club The Horrors, Bloodcat Love, Suicide Club @ The El Rey Health, Juiceboxxx, Dan Deacon @ pehrspace Listing Ship, 3 Leg Torso, The Abe Lincoln Story, Ollin @ Mr. T's Bowl Disrott, Homesick Abortions, The Lab Rats, The... more ›

- Hey hippies, the world’s largest wind energy conference and trade show ever is happening here in town - All American Patriots - LAPD accused of beating up homeless - LAT - Random two sentences out of today's LA Daily News: The 23-year-old star of "Teeny Tarts 4" and president of Hollywood-based Nautica Thorn Productions made a name for herself getting naked on camera. That name pushed her into mainstream consciousness recently as she... more ›

"You're trying to sell a historical period drama to a country like America, you don't want a big, fat, 250 pounds, red haired guy with a beard. It doesn't let people embrace the fantastic monarch he was, because they're not attracted to the package. Heroes do not look like Henry VIII. That is just the world we live in."
--WENN/IMDB

We've all done it: sat in hours-long traffic, eying the swiftly-moving carpool lane, wishing we had brought a friend, a blow-up doll, anything that would "legally" get us into the carpool lane. There's often a moment, as you sit trapped in the fast lane, oh-so-close to the carpool lane and oh-so-late to your intended destination, when you look at the people in the carpool lane. Really look at them. It's then that the obvious occurs: "Wait a minute...I don't see two people in that car. Or that car...that guy is by himself...these people are...cheating!" more ›

Austinist gets arty with an interactive guide to SXSW, loved some local art galleries and a new art exhibit and lamented the possible loss of "Friday Night Lights" production to New Mexico. more ›

Sex is something that drives us, empowers us and gets us into really stupid situations with people we have no business seeing naked. Jen Sincero is the bestselling author and sexpert with the carnal knowledge you need. Ask her your questions (all are posted anonymously). Cuz there's no such thing as being too good in bed. Dear Jen, I need to get your spin on this. I've been seeing this guy since December who... more ›

The Daily News throws a one-two punch at New York (top 10 list below) as tomorrow begins the National League Division Series against the New York Mets. Got any to add to the list of why LA beats NYC? 10. We have Disneyland. You have Coney Island. 9. We have the Pacific. You have the East River. 8. Our women wear bikinis. Your women wear dresses with sneakers. 7. In the winter we ski... more ›

Gracious. We just got back from the Fifth Annual Interfaith Blessing of the Animals in Long Beach, where we took our beloved Pet Sematary refugee for a spiritual boost. We knew we were really in for something when we almost immediately ran into the pig pictured above, who obviously had no concept of a traditional luau menu main course. We'd write more, but right now we're suffering from acute Cute Overload. Enjoy the photos.... more ›

Earlier today art.blogging.la reported that LA artist Jeff Gillette pulled a Banksy on Banksy by installing a piece of art in the British artist's show near the 10 freeway. It was a tip of the hat to Banksy who placed a parody piece in Gallery 49 of the British Museum two years ago that looked like anciet art until you looked closer and saw that it was a caveman pushing a shopping cart. The... more ›

Sometimes you need to clean yourself up, get serious, and move in with daddie for a few months before you head to Latin America for a new gig. The District bids Jenna Bush adios. D.C.-based television shows have an elderly audience and DCist has Butterstick the panda bear a birthday bash. more ›

Looks like the justifiably famous British graffiti artist Banksy has recently been visiting our fair city-- we spotted these three rats on Melrose a few blocks north of Fairfax. You may remember Banksy from his world-reknown punking of three New York museums-- check out more of his art at his website, or at Streetsy. Have you seen Banksy anywhere else around town? We'd love to take some more pictures. more ›

Heh. Not exactly. In fact, we're pretty sure magic isn't mentioned in LA building codes but that's what Les Firestein said when he was told to halt construction on the 100 sq. ft. tree house he and his wife are building for their 18 month old. It isn't exactly a treehouse of horror but his next door neighbor is concerned for privacy. more ›

Yet again, Halloween approaches and all the ghouls and goths come out to play. Get your blood-and-guts fix this week and next when ScreamFest and the Grindhouse Film Festival hit town. more ›

One blogger, Requia Badr, said "We walk quite a lot compared maybe to some cities in the U.S. I remember the day I was walking on Third Street in Los Angeles and three different cars stopped and the drivers asked “What happened? Are you OK?” This couldn’t occur in France because we are accustomed to walking. If I take my own example, when I can avoid taking the bus or the metro I do it, and anyway, even taking the metro, we walk a lot from a line to another." more ›

LAist knows that in a city of almost 4 million people, sometimes the real heroes go overlooked, relegating such individuals to an anonymous existence where their daily good deeds often go unnoticed. more ›