In a bizarro case that looks like a business deal gone bad, but plays more like a conspiracy theory gone right, a software programmer and his marketing guru partner sailed for San Clemente Island on Saturday to seal a "lucrative" deal with a secret government agency and he never returned. Robert Vendrick, a retired programmer, met up with Gary Shawkey, a self-described marketing guru, and entered into a business deal to develop a highly secretive......

• Londonist pondered who might be the next sponsors of the London Eye and whether or not readers would be willing to donate £1,000 each for a Londonist Eye.
• Shanghaiist was shocked to find a cameltoe in the city's only English-language paper.
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Continue Reading "Week Around the -Ists"

After a five-week hiatus, LAist is back to taking you on its weekly trip down to Orange County to uncover the unique dining experiences that await adventurous eaters willing to explore beyond the county line. I’ve always had a certain fascination with crepes. Not sure exactly why, perhaps it’s the simple elegance that a crepe has, its delicate buckwheat consistency and taste that can be deliciously served with virtually any kind of filling, whether sweet......

LAist has been giving a lot of love recently to the many fine eating establishments that exist all over the basin. No matter what type of cuisine you like, there’s a long list of restaurants that can meet the grade. However, there’s also been a noticeable lack of Orange County representation in these reviews. True, 95% of the non-five-star restaurants in OC are chains not worthy of being reviewed, unless you want to debate......

If Dracula were a fairy Godmother, her name would be the American Red Cross. Sure, she does deplorable things like misappropriating financial contributions during times of horrific crises. But, she also does good things, like providing blood to 3000+ hospitals across the country. Let's focus on the good right now because December is a very rough time for the blood supply. Donations slow down as schools and businesses close for the holidays, but the......

San Clemente has never looked so seedy. The sleepy town just outside of Orange County is the backdrop for Rian Johnson's first film, Brick (note: Brick is an advertiser on LAist but this is not advertorial). We won't argue that the film should join the pantheon of great LA/So.Cal flicks we've been talking about recently or that it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. It's just the best film we've seen this year. There......