Escape from your cube and find the nearest west-facing window this afternoon to catch a 4:40pm sunset on the shortest day of 2011. The winter solstice technically occurs tonight at 9:30pm PDT. If you can make it to the Griffith Observatory by sunset, you can join Griffith Observatory Director Doctor Edwin C. Krupp and L.A. City Councilmember Tom LaBonge as they observe the beginning of a seasonal shift from fall to winter with a special presentation. more ›

Sure, a sunset happens every day, but that doesn't mean experiencing one can't be special. In fact, it can create an instant community. Just ask Nat Evans, a Seattle-based musician who has put together a unique national "event" that pairs his "site-specific" music with mother nature's evening gift, the sunset. more ›

It's no secret that California fries and grills up some of the tastiest fish tacos worldwide. Sunset magazine's "Top 41 Road Food Spots in the West" from their July 2011 issue awards three golden state eateries for the best in this culinary delight. more ›

Hundreds of nurses picketed outside Kaiser Permanente on Sunset, citing unfair labor practices and a lack of adequate staffing regulations. At least 90 percent of the 1,100 unionized nurses signed up for the walkout, a union spokesperson told the AP. more ›

Police are trying to determine who was at fault in an accident last night that sent a bicyclist to the hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car. more ›

The weather this week has brought some extremely memorable sights, from double rainbows and vanilla skies to a rainbow "ending" at the Hollywood Sign. Over the past two days many of our readers who contribute photos to the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr have shared more beautiful photos and we just had to share. Enjoy and happy Friday! more ›

Warm temperatures by day, mild temperatures at night, clear skies, and some stunningly beautiful sunrises and sunsets lately. Our LAist Featured Photos pool contributors give us these shots at the reds, pinks, oranges, and purple hues of recent sun-ups and sun-downs. more ›

If you've had your eye on our skies the past couple of dawns and dusks, you may have paused to appreciate what have been some pretty spectacular sunrises and sunsets. These LAist Featured Photos pool contributors shared with us their shots from this week. more ›

In this 1992 video from the Hollywood Palladium, Alice in Chains performs their grunge classic "Man In The Box." Frontman Layne Staley shows what can occur when a lead singer is unencumbered by a guitar -- he's free to climb a massive stack of speakers and Superman onto adoring fans. In 2002 Staley lost a long battle with drug addiction. RIP Layne Staley. You're missed. The Layne Staley Fund aims to increase awareness of heroin addiction and its possible recovery. more ›

Dear Gothamist and Chicagoist, more ›

It's Friday and we hope you have a great weekend. Enjoy these sunset photos from around town, thanks to our wonderful LAist Featured Photo contributors on Flickr. more ›

Silver Lake's Pazzo Gelato is promoting its newly expanded hours (they used to open at 11 a.m.) with 2-for-1 coffee and tea items from 7-11 a.m. While you're there, sample the homemade treats -- it's never too early for gelato. Pazzo Gelato / Sunset & Hyperion / 90026 | photo by e-ta-i via flickr. more ›

The cradle of love was definitely rocking as I took a trip back to Sunset Blvd. circa 1984 in my DeLorean as Billy Idol opened the House Of Billy, the first of a three night stand at the House Of Blues Sunset. The 80's icon (now in his early 50's) came full force with the snarl and full fist pumping punk rock attitude that made him one of the most recognizable artists of the time. more ›

Some of us are feeling a little sunned out these days. But no one is ever tired of sunsets. The day is beginning to cool and suddenly everything turns gold, then the sun is gone and the thick summer twilight rules, with its astonishing array of colors. It's tough to find a place in LA to enjoy sunsets, with a laid back attitude and good food. Beechwood is one of those places. more ›

The new Park & Pay meter system is now in effect in Silver Lake -- at least along both sides of the 3500 block -- where we found people gathering in confusion at this meter outside Millie's this morning. more ›

Yep, I said it. Ketchup. Now, you, like LAist's editor, might be asking, what does Ketchup have to do with hipsters, doesn't it attract the trendy set? It is owned by the Dolce Group right? Well you would think the place would be packed with that little subgroup of hipsters called trendsters - you know, actors, musicians, those prettier, a lot cleaner and label conscious hipsters out there. more ›

Non-profit mentoring group WriteGirl is putting on a screening of Girls Rock! which is a documentary about a rock n' roll girls' camp, and hosting a panel discussion after the film. Scheduled panelists include WriteGirl's founder and executive director, singer-songwriter Keren Taylor; Grammy-award winning songwriter and WriteGirl mentor, Michelle Lewis; and Grammy Foundation Coordinator, Education Initiatives, Valerie Vanderwest. more ›

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Update 7:00 p.m.: Sepulveda is still shut down and now crews expect to open it around 9 p.m. tonight. more ›

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After discovering a massive Shepard Fairey-designed Obama print off Sunset yesterday, we went hunting for the background story, which led straight to the artist himself. more ›

To see how this giant poster got here, check poil11's flickr. more ›

Last year on August 28, we reported that the Elliott Smith wall had been tagged once again, this time with a rather large "Mouse" tag. Today, almost six months later, the tag still sits there, now with new balloon font tag over it. more ›

Once upon a time Millie's was the only game in town. Sure, there was the House of Pies and the coffee shop on Sunset that is now some kind of brewpub -- but no one ever went there. Millie's had a strong family vibe. Everyone in the neighborhood considered it home. Most of the servers were local musicians, and everyone knew each other. Then new restaurants started popping up all over town, and when Millie's changed hands around 8 years ago, it was the final nail in the coffin. Millie's fell off the map. more ›

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