If your tap water smells funky, you can blame a stinky but safe algae bloom taking over our water supply. The problem is affecting taps from east Los Angeles County to Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, and it might go on for a couple of weeks. Some places might be worse than others, according to CBS Los Angeles. more ›

People who have spent time today in the Lomita area today might have wondered what the heck that awful smell was. As a matter of fact, Lomita stinks. Reports have been flooding into the 911 center today in Torrance about a "sulfur" or "rotten egg" smell; even the cops could smell it at their Department, according to South Bay Crimes & Courts. Using their noses, along with their noggins, the source of the stench was sniffed out: "There is an open large sewer pipe at 250th Street and Western Avenue in the city of Lomita. Los Angeles County Public Works will be handling the situation." And, exhale. more ›

The famous rotten-smelling corpse flower began to bloom yesterday at the Huntington Library and Gardens, according to the Pasadena Star-News, and today might be your last chance to get a whiff of this real stinker. On display inside a conservatory at the historic site, the flower releases a scent likened to rotting flesh which is strongest for about the first 12 hours. While in bloom, botanists can propagate the plant in order to pass the seeds on to others to grow the tropical flower. The Huntington is open to the public today until 4:30. Members can stop by to smell the corpse flower from 5-7:30 this evening as well. more ›

The Los Angeles Fire Department has been investigating reports of a suspicious smell since 7:30 a.m. this morning near 7th and Figueroa where the Metro red and blue lines converge below at the subway station. No evacuations were called and no one reported any respiratory problems. Ron Myers of the LAFD reported a "very light" smell of bleach on the street level near 6th and Figueroa. He said it was possibly coming from a storm drain. more ›

Throughout the morning, the phones at the LA Fire Department dispatch center have been ringing off the hook, prompting officials to release an LAFD Alert: "Smoke from the current wildfire in Camp Pendleton is now notable in many parts of Los Angeles," Brian Humphrey wrote. Over the phone with LAist, he did emphasize that if you do actually see smoke, it might be worth a call. The fire, which has burned 1000 acres on the marine base is 70% contained, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. more ›

LA is a gadget kind of town. We’re also, it seems, swiftly becoming quite the literary town. And so, as the year draws nigh and you scramble around the city trying to score the latest whatever for your loved ones this holiday season, it would be wrong of us to ignore Kindle. more ›

I think it started about a year ago, when the students in one the classes I was teaching found out that I was going to cooking school. "Will you make us something?" they begged. I pictured myself whipping up something in the French tradition from my growing pile of recipes and modifying it to serve thirty or so college freshmen. "No," I replied sensibly. "But if you're good, I'll make you cookies!" more ›

Mi Ami (ex-members of Black Eyes from SF) and Bipolar Bear. Since we love classical minimalism, we thought to ask the band a few questions before tonight's show: more ›

It's starting to feel like a Michael Connelly novel chock full of mob hits and urban noir. The Pink Elephant liquor store in Los Feliz, a mysterious suitcase and body parts found in a dumpster. Much is still unexplained after the body's discovery on Friday, which broke in the news last night. A store worker was throwing away boxes at the store on the 1600 block of Western Avenue when he noticed the suitcase and... more ›

If you happened to miss the December 3 Downtown News, you haven't seen the personal ads Jon Regardie suggested to help Mayor Villaraigosa get a New Year's Eve smooch. They're pretty hysterical from top to bottom. My favorite one begins with the perfectly awkward hook: "Looking for My Energizer Lady Bunny: Hot bilingual mayor has an opening on his staff - for love!" In the same edition, peep Evan George's report on the uneasy relationship... more ›

"Sticky Honey" - Juliette and The Licks Juliette and the Licks @ The Roxy (LAist says: "a can't miss tonight") Shonen Knife @ The Glass House John Mayer @ NOKIA Theater LA Live Stay Fucked, Good For Cows, Grandpire @ The Smell Tea Leaf Green @ The Troubadour Rocky Dawuni, Leon Mobley, Da Lion, DJ Nnamdi Moweta @ Temple Bar Joe Baiza Congress Of, Fatso Jetson, Half Assteroids, Scrappers, Not in the House @... more ›

It’s a beautiful, wonderful day! Why, you ask? Have they pulled the troops from Iraq? Is America’s Next Top Model going to be syndicated twice a night, every night? Has the retail industry decided that Christmas should just be about spending time with family and loved ones, and yanked their holiday marketing bonanzas? No…it’s even better. For those of you who missed it this morning…Dunkin’ Donuts coffee will now be available for purchase in... more ›

• Need for food donations is increasing, while food available for those in need is on a downturn. The good folks over at SOVA in the Valley are scrambling to provide for hungry families this holiday season; rising energy and food costs are partly to blame.
• So why do I still see people checking the coin slots for loose change? AT&T is selling off their pay phones to "independent" operators; will the machines be kept in working order or will they devolve into so many graffiti magnets?
• Downtown L.A. is welcoming its first new movie theater in twenty years this week, the ImaginAsian Center -- but will its location, right next to punk club The Smell, prove problematic?
• Maybe it fell over because it had too many jello shots last night: an overturned crane blocked off the southbound lanes of the 5 freeway near Mission Hills this morning -- traffic is being diverted but the freeway has yet to be reopened.
• Gridskipper rounds up some of the worst parking lots in Los Angeles: thumbs up on recognizing the horrors of The Grove and the Hollywood Bowl but nothing deserves to be on this list more than that god damned Trader Joe's Santa Monica lot. Worst. Ever.
• I'm sorry, but men can be such useless, vile idiots sometimes: "Two males were arrested in connection with last month's stabbing death of a 19-year-old man in a case police said started when one person disrespected another." [Emphasis mine.]
• Tickets for Garth Brooks's series of concerts benefiting victims of the recent California fires sold out in less than an hour -- 85,000 tickets at $50-75 a pop, with all proceeds going to charity? Not bad, Garth, not bad!
• IWantMedia's media person of the year? Striking Writers!!!
• How's our man Rex over at Fimoculous.com doing with his 2007 predictions? "6) Jim chooses Pam on The Office. Yes! Score: 10 7) Studio 60 catches on. No! Score: 0"

Sea Wolf - "You're a Wolf", UCLA, 11/29/07 Sea Wolf @ Rhythm Lounge The Lemonheads, Racoon, The New Rivals @ The Troubadour Adolescents, Agent Orange @ Galaxy Theater Slightly Stoopid, Fishbone @ Wiltern Youssou N'Dour @ Royce Hall Too $hort @ House of Blues Jewmongous @ Tangier Steve Forbert @ McCabe's Ojos Rojos, Chuck Dukowski Sextet, The Sundowners @ Knitting Factory Big City Rock, Everybody Else, The Hanks, Girl in a Coma @ Roxy... more ›

As winds died down Sunday, firefighters gained the upper hand on the Malibu blaze that burned at least 49 homes and sent thousands fleeing. It is now 70% contained and officials expect full containment by Tuesday. The damage could run close to $100 million. Firefighters rescued a father and his 4-year-old son in a Sun Valley home that burned down this morning. The father got his wife and daughter out of the house, but,... more ›

I am thankful that my family happens to include people who I would rather spend this day with than anyone else. I know today they will make me laugh, stuff me with food and touch my heart. For the opportunity to befriend everyone here at LAist, including (and especially) the readers For moonlight on the Seine For art museums For white narcissus For See's chocolates For the Pacific ocean For the smell of Crayons... more ›

Whispertown 2000, Michael Runion, Franklin for Short @ Tangier more ›

Kelly Clarkson @ Gibson Mika Miko, Jay Reatard, No Age, The Strange Boys @ The Smell Rademacher, Earlimart, Tigers Can Bite You, Karabal Nightlife @ Spaceland Nickel Creek @ House of Blues Carlos Guitarlos @ Liquid Kitty The New Christy Minstrels @ Cerritos Center... more ›

Will the real reverend please stand up. The Reverend Bob Levy and his collective of stand-up comics known as the Killers of Comedy (Rev. Bob Levy, Jim Florentine, Sal Governale, Richard Christy, Shuli, Yucko the Clown, Beetlejuice & The Iron Sheik), are coming to the Avalon and even Hollywood will notice. Bob is a regular on "The Howard Stern Show", is a professional comedian, has horrible spelling skills, and lives with in the basemen... more ›

This cross strain of Train Wreck and Bubba Kush (aka Bubba-wreck) was picked up from Dealer McDope's House for $60 an 8th. It's a mix of two favorites, so we were pretty excited to take it home for a test run. more ›

Tomorrow may be the day we observe today's holiday, yet today our local newspapers honor the men and women of the past and present who have fought for us. Here are their stories: Steve Lopez takes his weekly LA Times Sunday column and dedicates it to telling the story of Sgt. Maj. Jesse Acosta, who lost his sight, taste and smell in Iraq. Lopez follows Acosta as he commutes on the bus in Los Angeles.... more ›

We scored this tasty blend from Dealer McDope the other day, for $55 an 8th. Super Silver Haze was the first prize winner at the High Tims Cannabis Cup in 1997, 1998 and 1999. It's a superb plant well known for bringing joy to the masses. Pre-Smoke Examination: The nugs are huge. My whole 8th was that nug in the picture. It's smell is pungent and very strong. It smells close to skunk with... more ›

Dethklok - "Bloodrocuted" more ›

The Eagles, The Dixie Chicks @ Nokia Velvet Revolver @ Irvine Meadows (postponed due to wildfires. The show will take place Dec. 12 at the Gibson Amphitheatre. More info...) UNKLE @ Echoplex RBD @ Home Depot Center Cute Phase, Black Tie Dynasty @ Vertigos The Warlocks, The Meek, Magic Lantern @ Alex's Bar Babyland @ Spaceland Blonde Redhead @ House of Blues, Anaheim Uh Huh Her, X Ray Ok @ The Knitting Factory Monsters... more ›

Brangelina are going into business together- the two have signed a deal with HBO to produce a drama series about, what else, international aid workers - Hollywood Reporter Iggygate isn't even close to being over - sources say Iggy wasn't the only pup Ellen Degeneres has passed along to staff members over the years - Page Six Soap star Nathaniel Marston was hospitalized after attacking three people with a crate, breaking one's leg this weekend... more ›

This weed was delivered by Dealer McDope to our house, on his way to Del Taco. It's a strain known as The Odyssey, and was originally developed for HopeNet dispensary in San Francisco but was so popular it has since been distributed throughout California. we picked up an 8th for $50. more ›

Morrissey @ The Palladium Devendra Banhart @ Orpheum Polysics, The Matches, Protokoll @ The Troubadour Brother Reade @ The Echo Great Lake Swimmers @ Spaceland Dark Star Orchestra @ El Rey Paul Green School of Rock @ Roxy Michael Ian Black @ The Ivar Girlyman @ McCabe's Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson @ Irvine Meadows Fujiya & Miyagi, Project Jenny @ Echoplex Genesis @ Hollywood Bowl Bluebeard, Heart Love Alive, Haven @ Malibu Inn... more ›

A bit of happy news for our sister site over in Texas: the Austin Chronicle just named Austinist Best Local "Fun" News Site. Yay for the Ist-iverse! The correct term is babes, sir: "Point Break Live!" -- yes that's right, as in the classic 1991 Patrick Swayze-Keanu Reeves film -- is coming to a stage near you! NBC is leaving its longtime home in Burbank for the greener pastures of Universal City, or Campo... more ›

October is my favorite month of the year. Pumpkin Pie ice cream finally shows up. The weather is not too hot. It's not too cold. It's just right. Of course, the best part of October is Halloween. It may seem a little early to be thinking about it, but it's good to get a jump on things if you are going to order anything off of the internet. Here are a few once-a-year favorites to... more ›

It's hard to find a person out there who doesn't like cookies. And it's even harder to find someone who will turn down a free one. So what if I tell you that over the next few days at several Los Angeles-area Whole Foods Markets you can get yourself a free sample of an organic Crummy Brothers Chocolate Chip cookie? I think you just might say "Hell yes!" So what's the deal with Crummy... more ›