It's Friday and that means the Los Angeles City Council praises the work of community members and businesses, handing out certificates and telling the world the good things Angelenos do. Today each councilmember honored one women from their district as Pioneer Woman. One of them was a Derby Doll. more ›

In one of the most exciting finishes in LA Derby Dolls history, the up-and-coming Swarm stung the Fight Crew during the closing moments on Saturday night in front of a packed house at the Doll Factory. Fight Crew's Chargin' Tina was ejected from the game by the referees with just 9 seconds remaining and the score tied, leaving her team with no jammer. The Swarm took advantage of the opportunity with a 3-point jam to win the contest 118-115 as the crowd shreiked their approval. more ›

Another sellout crowd packed the Doll Factory for the opening bout of the LA Derby Dolls 2010 season and even though several skaters got booted from the rink, the crowd stayed on its feet throughout the 60-minute, banked-track battle. more ›

2010 is bringing about some good prospects, including deals to bring you entertainment all year long. The Roxy in West Hollywood yesterday launched Club Rox, a new limited $100 program that gets you into any show at The Roxy and the upstairs On the Rox as long as they are not a private event or a non-ticketed show. "This is our way of showing our appreciation for all of our loyal customers and new patrons we’ve met this past year," the venue's blog explained... more ›

As excitement builds for Whip It, Drew Barrymore's directorial debut in October, the Los Angeles Derby Dolls this weekend took on a new team from San Diego. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Sirens lost to the undefeated Swarm... and by a lot: 104 to 51. Ouch. more ›

The L.A. Derby Dolls introduced a new roller derby team called the Varsity Brawlers to another packed house at the Doll Factory on Saturday night. The new kids in town were welcomed opponents for the battered Fight Crew, who have suffered through a disappointing season plagued by losses and injuries. Fight Crew vented their pent up frustrations by running up the score early and soundly thrashing the Brawlers. more ›

Gameday preview: Sheri Zampelli - Photo: Michael Zampelli/LAist more ›

Submitted and authored by Michael Zampelli more ›

The Mayor has been running these CommUNITY Days of Service since he got into office. Basically, a region is chosen and thousands of volunteers pour into that sector of the city to clean and beautify the neighborhoods. From tree plantings to picking up litter to free community workshops, there's lots going on. Tomorrow's area is in what the Mayor calls the "Heart of the City," aka Koreatown, Thai Town, Historic Filipinotown, MacArthur Park, Hollywood, Pico-Union, Westlake, Mid-Wilshire and surrounding neighborhoods. more ›

After a full weekend of roller derby action, it was time for last night's championship game on Sunday between the LA Ri-ettes (LA Derby Dolls) and Team Awesome (an all-star team from all over the USA). The game came down to a chaotic ending with the enforcers deciding the outcome in a confusing mess. In the end, the LA Ri-ettes came away with the victory and the trophy. more ›

This weekend marks the first ever inter-league meet-up of Derby Dolls here in LA, called Battle on the Bank and our own L.A. Derby Dolls are a big part of the fun and spectacle (last week we chatted with Micki Krimmel, aka Mickipedia, who is a "Baby Doll" on her way to joining the team). It's a banked track tournament featuring skaters from the L.A. Derby Dolls, Team Awesome, San Diego Derby Dolls, TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls, Angel City Derby Girls, the OC Rollergirls and the Inland Empire Derby Divas. LAist Featured Photos contributor Michael Zampelli (aka rink_rat) grabbed these amazing shots of the action down at the Dollhouse. more ›

This upcoming weekend is probably the biggest weekend the LA Derby Dolls have had so far. In a first tournament of its kind, the best skaters from Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County are having it out on a banked track. Not only will there be tons of games throughout Saturday and Sunday, there will be bands, food, beer and general awesomeness. What the Derby Dolls do is very special and unique to Los Angeles. If you were making a list of thing to do before you move out of town, this is a must and here's two days of opportunity (and while available, there's a discount code [ladd2day] for $10 off here). more ›

A guest post from Stephen G. Ruiz, a freelance photographer. more ›

Looks like Drew Barrymore is a Derby Dolls fan! Awriggggghhht, Drew... we are too! more ›

While much of LA stayed home watching movies Saturday night, the real action was in Historic Filipinotown, where a sold out crowd of 2,000+ ventured out into a meteorological maelstrom to watch the L.A. Derby Dolls season-opening bout. more ›

Here at LAist, we know that everyone loves a Derby Girl. So we’re pretty sure that this Saturday night, when the lovely ladies of Angel City Derby Girls pair up with Meltdown Comics to hold an art auction, Eat Your Art Out, it promises to be a good party. more ›

It was almost a year ago that LAist was blown away by the US Sumo Open at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The day of amateur sumo wrestling action, yakisoba noodles and free sake made us understand why the sport is followed so religiously in Japan. With the lousy weather keeping us homebound this weekend, it seemed like a good time to start researching the 2008 event, as we’re anxious to see the return of flamboyant Norwegian champ Hans Borg, root against those seemingly villainous Bulgarians, marvel at the skills of the Mongolians and root for (while trying not to drool over) bodacious ladies sumo vixen Florence Bannout. more ›

Hope Solo might be the best thing to happen to women's soccer since the 91ers (if you don't know who they are, read my DVD review from earlier today). She's grabbing intriguing headlines for the US women's soccer team -- a squad that otherwise embarrassed itself this month and would be wallowing in anonymity at the moment. In case you missed it, Solo, the starting goalkeeper, was benched just before the team's loss to Brazil... more ›

After a summer hiatus, the in-your-face punk rock action of the Derby Dolls are back. Tonight is a different brand of the Derby and of the Doll, as they will be playing at the Industry Hills Expo Center for a night of two games (including a mini-bout), bands and Hell's Belles Custom Classic Car Show. While the temporary one-time location is screwy for some, the advantage is the 2500 people the space can hold,... more ›

We've been covering the Derby Dolls since the Winter and now we bring you the Angel City Derby Girls (ACDG). You won't see a Derby vs. Angel match because they are in two different leagues, respectively as banked track and flat track. And like Derby, Angel City is made up of local teams such as the Berzerkers and the Shore Shots who played head to head last night. Rules are also different with Angel... more ›

Photo by Tom Rippe more ›

Despite the fact that only about 8 of the 50 competitors at Saturday’s 2007 US Sumo Open will be women, LAist is simply giddy about the prospect of watching two girls charge each other like a couple of rhinos. We already feel blessed that our city is the home of some of the country’s best girl on girl roller derby action, so it’s hard not to get excited by the mawashi-clad ladies of sumo taking it up a notch. more ›

Want to see somebody who'll be hurting worse than you on Sunday morning? Get your designated driver (or wish on a leprechaun) to chauffeur you to the Anaheim Hockey Club on Saturday night to watch some hot roller derby action. The Angel City Derby Girls will be visiting local rival Orange County Roller Girls. It's St. Patrick's day, so of course there will be beer. The ticket site mentions key words like "Get Lucky"... more ›

By the end of the first quarter on last Saturday night's game, it looked like it was over: the Tough Cookies already have won. In the first jam of nine, 5-points were scored off the bat; then another 2 in the second jam. Finally the Sirens caught on and started using their moves, but still not as tough as any cop should (think police sirens in their team name). The first quarter ended 5... more ›

To my dearest City of Angels, On this Valentine's Day, my thoughts turn to love. I want to whisper sweet nothings in your broadcast booths. I want to serenade you with Randy Newman's, "I Love LA." You have blessed me with your balmy weather and sunny skies. Other cities may act like ice queens and dump (11 feet of snow on) their lovers, but you never fail me. You always get me excited. You give... more ›

Before we get down and dirty with Saturday night's game, here is a little "audio postcard," if you will, that features some play by play action and Scientology bashing by the game announcers: You know you're missing something when celebrities start coming to an event that a few years ago used to be held illegally in warehouses in Chinatown. Last Saturday's game brought out John C. Reilly (pictured left) and Patricia Arquette (interestingly enough,... more ›

It's never too early to plan for the weekend... LA Derby Dolls: Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Little Tokyo It's almost sold out, if not already by the time we press publish. This sport is about as local and special to LA as you can get. Two teams in the country play roller derby on a banked tracked and we have it here. Support your local punk rock kittens because it is a blast. Saturday's... more ›

Here are the ground rules: five players from each team enter the track -- four blockers and one jammer. The whistle blows and the group of blockers start skating. The second whistle lets the jammers begin their jam. The jammers must skate through the group of blockers, go all the way around the track and catch up to the group again. Now, for every opposing blocker they pass, a point is gained. It's those... more ›

Don't miss the "Hey Doll" show, a collaboration of 13 women artists that's been more than a year in the making. Each artist constructed a doll-like art object and gave it a diary, then released it into the hands of the next artist, and so on, until each woman had added her touch to each doll. As the changes were documented in the diaries, the dolls evolved into strange and beautiful creatures. See what happens when a razor scooter doll meets a glassblower at the opening Saturday night. more ›