Last Friday I trundled up in the tram at The Getty Center to see a 'sold out', intimate performance. For the mere cost of parking and a little bumper-to-bumper on the 405, I and my brother from another mother, MX, got to sit in a comfy auditorium and listen to the laconic stylings of ex-punk (no pun intended) troubadour, John Doe. Now, ain't yah jealous? Of course, I've always had a crush on Mr.......

If you're looking for something free and chill, then catch old school acoustic jazz at Crane's Hollywood Tavern or ride the tram uphill for reggae at The Getty. For jazz of a crazier brand (yet still classic), try the Art Ensemble of Chicago at REDCAT. Speaking of Chitown, three hip-hop artist from there will be at Echoplex. Hip-hop of a different brand can be found at the weirdest space in LA, pehrspace. And for some......

Haven't you always wanted to grow your favorite fruit in your own backyard? This month you can have your tree -- for free -- thanks to TreePeople and SEE-LA. Just go to one of the Farmers' Markets listed in the flyer at right or fill out this form and you'll be on your way. * LA Mill Opening - Stop by the long-awaiting opening of LA Mill's new coffee shop in Silver Lake. You might......

This week, Fodor's online published a little Q & A with editor Jennifer Paull who recently spent a long weekend in our dear city. She wanted to catch up on all that's been recently new to her as a frequent(ish) tourist. Among that was the Griffith Observatory, The Getty Villa, restaurants Osteria Mozza and Röckenwagner Café in Venice and Moss, the high-design housewares store on Melrose. What caught our attention the most, though, was her......

Edward Weston. One of the most brilliant photographers of the 20th Century. Viewing the LACMA exhibit many years ago, I was enamored instantly. The buildings, the nudes, the everyday objects, and his link to Los Angeles stirred up emotions in me that I’ve never forgot. I’ve been trying for months to get to the Getty Center to see this latest exhibit, and finally this weekend I treated myself…and it was delectable! Once again, I......

If you haven't been to The Getty Museum in a while, now may be the time to plan another visit. L.A.-based contemporary artist, Tim Hawkinson, has been showcasing his latest work, Zoopsia (Visual hallucinations of animals) which will be on display until Sept. 9th. The exhibit is anchored by the gargantuan installation of Hawkinson's Uberorgan. Don't confuse this towering work of art for Stephen Baldwin's kidney, built with giant biomorphic balloons and tentacle-like horns that......

Hadrian over at Cinefile in West L.A. just sent us the heads-up for a great event going on at the Silent Movie Theatre this Wednesday, 8/15 at 9pm. Brent Green is an animator from rural Pennsylvania whose unique style has drawn comparisons to Tim Burton and Adam Jones. Hadrian blogs: Brent Green an untrained, completely original animator from rural Pennyslvania, who plays music along with his short films, while narrating them live in freeform,......

The Germs, Dr. Know, Black President, The Diffs, The Politicians @ Safari Sam's The Knitters @ The Getty (rsvp: 310 440-7300) Aimee Mann, Paul Bryan @ Largo Mike Watt & the Missing Men, Bizzart @ The Troubadour The Submarines @ The Echo Lovelikefire, Eskimohunter, Mezzanine Owls @ El Cid Groovy Rednecks, Cheatin' Kind @ JD's Sports Bar Mustard Plug, Buck-O-Nine, Satori, Los Kung Fu Monkeys @ The Knitting Factory Murderland, The VooDuo, Funeral Director......

Sometimes LA is like a bad romantic comedy. You know the one, where the fiance comes to meet the weird-ass parents and the protagonist tries, unsuccessfully, to hide just how crazy they are. (see “The Birdcage”, “Meet The Fockers”, et al). I live a quiet, unassuming writer’s life here. Yet whenever friends from out of town travel through, despite my assurances that I live a perfectly normal life in our sunny, smoggy city, LA......

Insane Clown Posse @ Vault 350 Los Lobos @ Disney Concert Hall Kristin Hersh @ El Cid Foreigner @ The Canyon The 88 @ The Getty (free) Omar, Kim Hill @ Temple Bar Pretty Boy Floyd @ Paladino's The Clean Prophets @ Amoeba (free) Citizen Cope, Alice Smith @ House of Blues Neglected Youth, Crazy Wetbacks @ Colbalt Cafe Murderland, Graveside Rockers, Stab-Outs @ The Scene Blond Lemon Jefferson @ Arcadia Blues Club Electric......

“The known center of the universe is Ikea… the whole world is built on consuming and shopping,” local photographer Bill Owens quipped yesterday during a discussion of his photographic odyssey of 1970s suburban sprawl. Owens’ lecture at the USC graduate school of art was the trial run for presentations he will be giving at the MOCA Pacific Design Center today at 3 pm on his solo exhibit and The Getty on Sunday for the......

La America Tropical, the once-controversial, then painted over mural is coming back to Olvera Street thanks to the city and The Getty: The mural, one of three done during Siquieros' six-month stay in Los Angeles, depicts an Indian being crucified on a double cross topped by an American eagle. The piece, depicting the struggle against imperialism, was considered so controversial at the time that it was painted over shortly after it was finished. Here......

We're just not able to get upset by another story of fat salaries and benefits for museum heads. The latest kerfluffle in the LA Times is about the housing expenditures for the new Getty Museum director, whose rental is $15,000 per month, which is $180,000/year. The Getty purchased a house for him that (oops) was mold-ridden so they're putting him up elsewhere. But if we want to have world-class museums we have to pay......