American Express conducted a survey (link works only for cardholders) to find the top 10 restaurants in the Los Angeles area. Their polling group was their customers and their data was their transactions (so no subjective surveys here). The list below is based on the number of transactions: Belvedere at The Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel Grill on the Alley Katsuya Lawry’s The Prime Rib (new cocktail menu) Napa Valley Grille The Palm Restaurant Pizzeria Mozza......

At the 2007 BioBlitz in Rock Creek Park in Washington D.C. |Photo courtesy of National Geographic For twenty-four hours starting tomorrow at noon, 120 scientists, 1,400 LAUSD students and community members will embark on the 2nd National Geographic BioBlitz in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area (though some say it's essentially a National Park), which stretches from the ocean to Cahuenga Pass at the 101 Freeway. Together they will comb the area, as well......

A poll conducted by the Los Angeles Times/KTLA has found that Californians are practically split even on the issue of gay marriage, which was deemed legal last week by the California Supreme Court. The findings on their website, which was posted yesterday afternoon, time stamped for today, has already garnered over 3,000 comments. Let the fight begin... "The survey also suggested that the state is moving closer to accepting nontraditional marriages, which could create openings......

Photo by delara-photos via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr The trial of Juan Manuel Alvarez began today. Among his charges are 11 counts of murder for the January 2005 incident involving him parking his car on the tracks and causing a Metrolink train to derail. The stretch of San Diego beach closed to the public last week following a fatal shark attack has reopened. Swimmers are cautioned to keep close to the......

Photo by Steven Fernandez via Flickr The results of a recent survey administered in seven public schools in South Los Angeles are downright depressing. Students feel scared, unmotivated, unsupported, and ignored, and it's causing many to experience the symptoms of clinical depression. Administrators and psychologists agree, noting that the multiple killings of youth in the community leaves a pall on the students, and that their choice to skip school because they are "tired, had......

Last month a program called Project 50 aimed at identifying homeless individuals most in need of immediate housing was begun in Los Angeles, and a similar program kicked off today in the City of Santa Monica. This morning teams began training for safety and census-taking skills, and are preparing to take to the streets early next week in the late night (or early morning) hours, tracking the areas where groups of homeless people congregate and......