is a tiny, unexpected gem. more ›

Last Friday night at Bordello, Elite Yelpers gathered for drinks and music to wish Stephy S, Community Manager of Yelp.com for Los Angeles (she's like Tom of MySpace, but goddess style), a farewell adieu as she takes on a larger responsibility for the website up at its San Francisco HQ (sister site SFist should feel so lucky). Since May 2006, Stephy has been leading the way for Yelp.com, bringing in the energy for a site that had nothing to a site that now has everything. Today, we spoke to Stephy about food, drink, some other stuff, and... food. After all, when it's your job included writing over 1500 food reviews (1575 to be exact as of this publishing), you're going to have great foodie suggestions. more ›

After debuting last week on the Internet, because I'm afraid I might like it and lose all credibility. more ›

The year is coming to a close and, like all procrastinators, I am late on my "Best of" duties. Nevertheless, 2007 was a jam-packed year full of great music. With some very welcome returns, some flops, and some breakout contenders, 2007 was a testament to the ever-changing, ever-exciting musical atmosphere. Anyway, here it is... more ›

Rock Insider, a blog dedicated to music and life in Los Angeles, shares a top ten list: The Best Los Angeles Albums of 2007. We are happy to report that some LAist local favs made the list including Sea Wolf, Great Northern, Eleni Mandell, The Valley Arena and The Deadly Syndrome. No more choose-your-own-price for Radiohead's "In Rainbows" album starting on Monday. The band, who had previously written off Apple iTunes, is currently in talks... more ›

Pixar's long streak of superb movies is starting to feel vaguely satanic, but I'm willing to keep embracing evil as long as it's this rich and funny. is finally on DVD so prepare for 720p vidcaps of Biel ass. more ›

Last weekend we were happy to take part in the Harvest Festival, as part of a year-long 90th Anniversary celebration for the historic San Antonio Winery, a place much loved by LAist. The gracious Riboli family hosted the event, which was held at the winery, which has been in its same location on Lamar Street in East Los Angeles since 1917. There was food provided by the winery's onsite Maddalena restaurant, and wine aplenty... more ›

Here's what we know: on Thursday night at 7pm, Walter Kirn (who we believe is a genius, but we cannot prove it), former U.S. Senator George McGovern, writer James Q. Wilson and editor extraordinaire Robert Vare will be in discussion at the Central Library. more ›

Many call Sanamluang Cafe the most authentic Thai in Thai Town. Others know it as the preferred late-night post-drinking noodle stop (the restaurant is open until 4 a.m.). Sanamluang calls itself "The Best Noodles in Town." more ›

Those of you who didn't get enough of Death Proof at the theater (and that would be 37 of you) now have the chance to experience Quentin Tarantino's complete and unedited cinematic vision--oh, whatever. Matthew McConaughey almost refused to do We Are Marshall because he thought his character should always be shirtless. Would Carly Schroeder turn 18 already so I can stop feeling so creepy (Kristen Stewart, too). Lucky You deserved better. Daniel Auteuil... more ›

If you're like most Americans, you'll be on your way to a barbecue at some point this weekend. Of course you'll want to do the right thing and help out your host with the menu -- but who wants to slave over a blazing grill in this heat? Here are some super quick and delicious side dishes you can bring along as an offering to the hospitality gods -- that great crowd-pleaser, Potato Salad,... more ›

For the second year in a row UC Santa Barbara was ranked the 10th Best Party School by the Princeton Review. In their newly released 2008 edition of The Best 366 Colleges, the university 90 minutes north of LA was the only California school to make the Top 10. The top ranked party school this year was West Virginia University, a school that has made the list seven times in the past 15 years.... more ›

As over 150,000 Dodger fans spent three days showing Barry Bonds as much hate as they could muster, Sporting News saw fit to profess its love to Los Angeles. Yesterday, in an article entitled "Best Baseball City: Los Angeles," Managing Editor Stan McNeal expounded upon why he believes this to be the best town in which to be a fan. more ›

You may have noticed a new button on our left-hand column with the title We See The Best Concerts. It dawned on us the other day that we really do go to the best concerts and we usually write about them the next day or a few days later. So here's a wrap up of all 37 shows we reviewed this month, with links to the posts just in case you missed it. Chris... more ›

OUT TODAY: Tegan and Sara - The Con (Sire) Juliette and the Licks - Four on the Floor (Hassle) UNKLE - War Stories (Surrender All) Mexican Institute Of Sound - Pinata (Nacional Records) Robbers on High Street - Grand Animals (New Line) Manu Chao - Rainin In Paradize [EP] (Nacional Records) Prince - Planet Earth (NPG) VHS or Beta - Bring On The Comets [Single] (Astralwerks) Hanson - The Walk (Cooking Vinyl) Manic Street... more ›

by special guest reviewer, Carolyn Kellogg more ›

On June 5, Virgin/EMI will release The Best Of David Bowie 1980-1987: Sight & Sound. It's one of those CDs with a DVD snuck in there. 19 audio tracks of Bowie’s best '80s jamz like "Blue Jean" , “Let’s Dance,” “Modern Love,” and “China Girl”. Plus 15 videos from that era plus DVD release debut vids for “The Drowned Girl” and “When The Wind Blows.” Virgin/EMI will also re-release the Bowie classic Young Americans,... more ›

LAist is proud to offer a weekly chart roundup of Billboard Magazine's most coveted rankings. Join us as we revel in the conventional standard of musical success. Let us cross our fingers, hoist our lighters, and dream together of the supreme resurrection of artist-driven recordings that will forever eclipse the dark cloud of big label greed, A&R sleaze and disposable audio. Amen. Here are this week's chart toppers. Behold the #1s. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Billboard Charts... more ›

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Halberstam died yesterday in a car crash in Menlo Park, CA. He was 73. Halberstam’s work as a journalist ranges wide and delves deep. He covered the Korean War, the Vietnam War and civil rights but he was also fascinated with the humanity and spectacle of sports. He did not simply document the history he lived through – he explained complex societal constructs and cultural shifts in a way that anyone could easily understand. He was one of the only journalists who questioned the Vietnam War early on and it was this same questioning – throughout his life and his work – that allowed him to uncover facts that other journalists side-stepped. more ›

Tucker Max spoke yesterday here at SXSW on a panel called "Turning Your Blog Into A Book" where he explained the success of his website and how it landed him, first a book deal with a $7,500 advance, and once his book "I Hope They Sell Beer In Hell" spent a fortnight on the NY Times Best Seller's List, a new book deal worth $300k. So not only were we all ears, but we... more ›

David Mamet & Howard Norton sign their new books 7pm @ Dutton’s Brentwood more ›

I still want a hula hoop. But I'll settle for a sweet stash of new music and reissues. Here are the newbies for this festive holiday week. [via All Music] more ›

- New Hybrid marijuana plant found in Mexico; grows year-round, can't be stopped with pesticides - AP - Cannabis is the largest cash crop in the USA. Worth $36 billion - Norml - Is Bong Rip a Drug Dealer or just a stoner with a shitton of buds? - OC Weekly - "The Best of Times", 2006 advances in drug reform laws - stop the drug war - Tuscon car chase leads to cops... more ›

With the year winding down, LAist is asking famous celebs, local politicians, and other movers & shakers of LA to tell us what they thought were tops of 2006. Before founding PostSecret, Frank Warren grew up in the Valley and attended Colfax Elementary School with Adam Carolla. If you missed his book signing last month, you can catch him on January 15th at Borders Books in Torrance as he signs the next PS book, "The... more ›

Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Live at the Fillmore 1970 (with DVD; Reprise) more ›

- Perez Hilton might go down because of his illegal photos - Radar - Official photos from the Playboy Halloween Party - Bricks & Stones - Part of Woodman Street in Sherman Oaks dressed up for Halloween as a Sinkhole - CBS2 - The Best Halloween Party We Didn't get invited to: Tera Patrick's porno lovin' fiesta at Tao - Movie Hotties - iPod + Breathalyzer = Genius - Gizmodo via Gmask - Semper... more ›

Go ahead, call it a comeback. more ›

Monica - The Makings of Me (J) more ›

Summer fruits are in abundance at grocery stores and produce stands all around town. And because summer often amounts to the only excuse needed to bring people together for good times and good eats, we thought we'd take a great summer fruit that's nearing the end of its season and make a great summer treat that's simple, and sure to wow your fellow revelers. Recently we took full advantage of a couple of pints of fresh summer blueberries we had and turned them into a dessert that had our guests ooh-ing and ahh-ing to a degree that was almost obscene. And now that the heat outside has cooled off significantly, it's safe to turn those ovens on inside, so no more excuses about it being too hot to bake! We promise you it's worth if if you brave this recipe for The Best Blueberry Pie Ever. Even if you've never made a pie before, you should make this one -- it's a no brainer that's sure to score raves. more ›

drop like a Stone Rolling Stone Keith Richards was airlifted to a New Zealand hospital after falling out of a palm tree in Fiji, where he was vacationing. It's serious, but it looks like he'll be OK. more ›