Hot dog! We can thank the Germans for our favorite ballpark treat, but we can also head out to dine in several German sausage-focused establishments opening up around town. Who knew L.A. was so sausage-centric? Joining the fray of kutches, hauses, and currywursts is Wirtshaus, which will have its grand opening this Friday, July 29th. more ›

Westside foodies will no longer have to pine over the “exotic grilled sausages” of Wurstküche, known to many as the sausage kitchen for its literal German translation. The popular downtown location in the historic Arts District will expand to its own Venice locale. The Westside digs will replace the newly departed Air Conditioned lounge on Lincoln Boulevard. more ›

That lonesome stretch between the 101 and Thai Town is not a particularly pretty slice of Hollywood Boulevard. Traveling east, the sidewalk stars (both living and marbled) have long since dissipated, and the lights and smells of a cultural identity are still on the horizon. Not much in the way of palm trees, and a desperate Pier 1 Imports hides behind a cement half-wall. But then again, there’s nothing particularly pretty about sausages, either. Which is perhaps the reason new gourmet sausage shop Grindhaus decided to open its doors at 5634 Hollywood Boulevard last week, just a few links away from an auto body shop, a bodega, and a tattoo parlor. more ›

It's hard to imagine a more un-L.A. cuisine than German food -- it's heavy, it's meaty, it's about as vegetarian-unfriendly as you can get. So how does the Red Lion Tavern in Silver Lake stay so busy? A few reasons, actually: beer. Beer! Also, beer (bier!). The Red Lion has a number of great brews -- pilsners, bocks, weizens, and so much more. These Germans value their beer so much that the interior of the tavern is lined with steins -- buy your own and bring it back for refills if you're really serious. more ›

What the hell is up with air travel these days? more ›

If Hollywood's Thai Town has a center, it is the bustling block of Thailand Plaza. The two-story Plaza houses not only a restaurant, but is home to a Thai bookstore and a giant, well-stocked grocery. Thailand Plaza is easily identifiable by its elaborately decorated shrine to the Thai Buddha of four faces. Off to the side stands a spirit house, meant to entice spirits to take up residence. The idea is they will be so... more ›

Born in 1894, George Johnson, whose father managed the B&O Railroad, passed away last week despite living on a curious diet that consisted almost solely of breakfast food. After an autopsy, doctors claimed he had the intestines of a man half his age. "He had terrible, bad habits. He had a diet largely of sausages and waffles," Dr. Stephen Coles, founder of the Gerontology Research Group at UCLA told the AP on Friday. Last... more ›