Heading to Art Walk in Downtown tonight? You might want to check out a free walking tour of the storied Theatre District. If you've got a sweet tooth, Magnolia Bakery is worth checking out tonight, for free samples and some pro tips for your cake decorating. Plus a community barter, shop, and hang gathering courtesy The Cantry, and 15 performers onstage at El Cid for free. We've got all the details... more ›

Earlier this month was "Ho-Ho-Tel 2008" at the Hotel Cafe (MySpace) in Hollywood. The three night fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the LAFD's "Spark of Love" Toy Drive, featured a "very good" all-star lineup of singer-songwriters and bands that included The Abdomen (MySpace), Sweet Talk Radio (MySpace), Alvin Stewart (MySpace), Holly Conlan (MySpace), Laura Jansen (MySpace), AM (MySpace), The Paper Raincoat (MySpace), Meiko (MySpace), Buddy (MySpace), Gary Jules (MySpace), Brian Wright (MySpace), Joe Firstman (MySpace), Greg Laswell (MySpace), Cary Brothers (MySpace), and Butch Walker (MySpace) for Friday, while Sunday included Jenni Alpert (MySpace), Rob Giles (MySpace), Shane Alexander (MySpace), Charley Turner (MySpace), Lissie (MySpace), Austin Hartley-Leonard (MySpace), Jay Nash (MySpace), Brother Sal (MySpace), Chris Pierce (MySpace), Jim Bianco (MySpace), Pedestrian (MySpace), Andy Clockwise (MySpace), Foster Timms, Tim Jones (MySpace), and Truth and Salvage Co. (MySpace). more ›

Last month, the Hotel Cafe Tour (MySpace) -- mentioned previously here -- whose all-female singer-songwriter lineup was comprised of locals Emily Wells (MySpace), Lenka (MySpace), and Meiko (MySpace), as well as Jaymay (MySpace), Thao Nguyen (MySpace), and Rachael Yamagata (MySpace), concluded at the Henry Fonda Theatre. more ›

TOYS FOR TOTS Everyone has that one special moment when it really starts to feel like Christmas. It might be shopping Thanksgiving weekend, baking cookies or buying the tree. For me, it is that magical moment while stuck in traffic when I am taken unawares by a phalanx of motorcycles zooming by carrying giant stuffed bears on the back. That is truly the spirit of Christmas. The bikers are part of an annual Toys for... more ›