The storefronts of four Sherman Oaks and Van Nuys businesses were covered in shattered glass on Monday night after vandals targeted Ventura Boulevard and Sherman Way. Police received the first call at 9:05pm and discovered vandalism at The Lover Thai-Chinese Restaurant, Leeds Mattress Store, Rodeo Realty and Mirage Fine Home Furnishings.
Valley Vandals Target Businesses With Slingshots, BB Guns
Van Nuys Water Main Break Creates Large Geyser [Updated]
The Los Angeles Fire Department is reporting major flooding on the 7000 block of Van Nuys Boulevard, near Sherman Way.
It looks like a sheared fire hydrant, but it is reportedly a water main break. Water is shooting about 100 feet into the air and LADWP crews are on scene. [Update: the LADWP confirms that it is a water main break].
Streets on and around the major thoroughfare are closed down.
Recession Obsession: Where The Valley Meets Costa Rica
When I moved to Los Angeles from Back East, I immediately heard of two magical destinations for which East Coasters darned not speak: Costa Rica and Hawaii. Apparently they’re too far from Back East, but not Out Here.
Recession Obsession: The Other Thai Town's Krua Thai
The Official Recession has enveloped us for seventeen official months. It’s still no reason we can’t enjoy life. This is LA -- we have a ton of inexpensive options! A Recession Obsession is truly fantastic, whether you've recently been downsized or are about to cash a large commission check. It's not just a "cheap eat." We last obsessed over ginormous Korean Dumplings in K*Town, and via a Taco Crawl in Highland Park. Today, we obsess...
Skeleton Bandit Nabbed in NoHo; Shot by US Marshal at AutoZone
Two North Hollywood news items melded into one last night when, as reported on LAist, a US Marshal walked in on a robbery in progress at an auto parts store in NoHo Arts, fatally shooting one suspect who is believed to be the "Skeleton Bandit."
What Does Graffiti Say About Airport Security?
A couple weeks ago, Andrew Hurvitz at the Here in Van Nuys blog snapped this photo of the Sherman Way tunnel under the Van Nuys Airport and questioned the state of security. "Is it just my foolish and suspicious imagination that sees this tagged up tunnel as something which raises questions about security at Van Nuys Airport?" he asked. "This is evidence that security right on airport property needs to be stepped up again."
Manhunt: 'Most Wanted' Fugitive Kidnaps Infant Daughter in NoHo
Police are searching for an 11-month-old girl who was allegedly taken from her North Hollywood home last night. The suspected kidnapper, Raul Carillo Alderete, was already wanted by Pomona police on suspicion of kidnapping, raping, and torturing the girl's mother and was profiled last month on America's Most Wanted. The LA Times reports:According to Los Angeles Police Department Officer Kate Lopez, Alderete went to the home of his child's mother near Sherman Way and Lankershim...
Pencil This In: Tuesday
TALK: Pulizer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold moderates a Zócalo discussion that focuses on “The Mexican Restaurant in Los Angeles.” Joining in on the roundtable are Gilberto Cetina of the Yucatecan restaurant Chichen Itza, Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu of La Casita Mexicana, and Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Border Grill. 7 pm // Central Library – Mark Taper Auditorium // 630 W. 5th St., Los Angeles // Free. (Reservations are recommended.)...
Extra, Extra: Don't forget to turn your lights off tonight
Sherman Way is deadly, City shares blame with citizens
View Larger Map It's safe to say that the 15 or so mile east-west Sherman Way has been a deadly topic in the news lately. On September 16, Daily News reported in an article about deadly Valley streets for pedestrians that "30 people were killed and more than 90 seriously hurt on just two streets - Sherman Way and Vanowen Street." (link not available, the paper doesn't archive their stories online for very long) An...
"It looked like he was trying to drive in between. And then he became airborne."
You know those annoying people who speed down local streets, swerving in, out and between lanes? This is their brain on stupid:WINNETKA - A man was killed tonight when his speeding car overturned and hit at least two other vehicles at a backed-up intersection, police said. The crash was reported at about 9:10 p.m. at Mason Avenue and Sherman Way, said Sgt. Charles Swanson of LAPD's Valley Traffic division. The driver, who was ejected from...
The World According to Jonathan Gold
Last night's free Zocalo program at the Central Library featured L.A. Weekly food writer Jonathan Gold in conversation with Variety's Monica Corcoran. Her first question: Did winning the Pulitzer Prize (for criticism, this year) blow your cover as an anonymous food critic? And if so, this evening won't help, will it?
Free Outdoor Screening Alert!
Anyone interested in movies is familiar with Ain't It Cool News and anyone familiar with Ain't It Cool is familiar with the Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow. The Roadshow was originally scheduled to make a stop in South Central to screen Friday next Friday, but lily-livered politicians decided to pull the permit at the last minute. Fortunately, the Roadshow decided they had to make a stop in L.A. so they've now scheduled a 10th anniversary screening of Boogie Nights for next Friday, July 21st.
The Family that Robs Together gets Popped Together
Four men in their 20's were arrested Saturday in connection with a series of robberies that went down Friday night in North Hollywood. Despite only two of the men having the same last names, police are saying that they are all brothers in crime. Jose Alberto Garcia, a 25-year-old construction worker from Reseda, and Jose Cruz Ibarra, 22, from Reseda were arrested in the 7300 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard in North Hollywood. Juan...
How the LAFD Keeps Us Connected: An Interview with Brian Humphrey
Using the latest and greatest Internet tools, the Los Angeles Fire Department is setting an example for public communication and ubiquity in the information age. After being notified via text message of a "traffic collision with entrapment on Sherman Way," we paid a call to LAFD for an update on their ever-expanding Web endeavors. We caught up with veteran LAFD firefighter and public service officer Brian Humphrey during one of his 24-hour shifts in...
10 LA Post Offices Open Late Tonight
LAist just cruised by our local post office in Los Feliz and we were pleasantly surprised by how short the lines were there. Far better than a normal Tuesday - probably because all of the counters were open for business - imagine that!. For those of you who like to live on the edge, as long as your envelopes to the IRS are postmarked by today you're cool. The following Nine post offices are...
Best Police Chase Story Ever
It truly felt like an LA moment. A police ceremony for the 10-year anniversary for the North Hollywood Shootout is taking place in the parking lot across from the Bank of America. The Mayor, the Chief of Police and other prominent figures are honoring the men and women of the LAPD who risked their lives in the extremely long shootout.
RapidBus.net in Beta
Attention transit nerds! Are you jealous of other big cities that employ GPS technologies to bring you the time of the next arriving bus on your cell phone or wireless PDA? We might not be that far away. In collaboration with LADOT, Metro is testing out their own version on RapidBus.Net with a select number of lines including the Orange Line. Here is what we experienced and our recommendations: 1. It let us know...
22 More Interesections to Get Cams for Red Light Runners
If you see the LA City Council around any of these intersections, may we suggest that you honk if you're horny. According to CBS2, they've got the green light to put digital cams in 22 intersections and these 22 are on their radar.

