WGA Bests: Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Comedy Series, Drama Series The Writer's Guild of America (WGA) didn't hold a gala ceremony this year (who can afford a gown when you're not getting paid?) but they did take a break on the East coast from discussing the possible end of the strike to announce the winners of their annual awards. This year's very informal and somewhat unusual gathering "was decidedly looser than past ceremonies and......

The LA County Board of Supervisors and the City Council are set to vote today on a "Lights Out Los Angeles" proposal, which would encourage all city employees to "voluntarily turn off all non-essential lights between 8 and 9 p.m. on Oct. 20, replace at least one incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb and pledge their participation on www.lightsoffla.org." Mirthala Salinas didn't show up to work today at her new gig......

Monday Portia Iversen & Jane Kaczmerek present Strange Son 7pm @ Vroman's Christopher Hitchens discusses God is Not Great 7pm @ Central Library Diane Lefer signs California Transit: Stories and a Novella 7pm @ Dutton's Larry Doyle presents I Love You Beth Cooper 7pm @ Borders, Westwood Tuesday Ron Carlson signs Five Skies: A Novel 7pm @ Dutton's Larry Doyle presents I Love You Beth Cooper 7pm @ Book Soup Aurelia Scott presents Otherwise......

Monday Calvin Trillin discusses About Alice 7pm @ Vroman’s Norah Vincent presents Self Made Man 7pm @ Borders Century City Tuesday David Ulin, LA Times book editor, talks with Calvin Trillin 7pm @ Central Library Rachel Ballon signs The Writer’s Portable Therapist 7pm @ Dutton’s Brentwood Deborah Eisenberg presents Twilight of the Superheroes 7pm @ Hammer Museum Wednesday Chris Abani presents The Virgin of Flames 7pm @ EsoWon Books Felicity Huffman & Patricia Wolf......

Tonight marks the fist night of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Don't forget to ring in year 5767 with lots of apples and honey! The Chai Center will be offering free High Holiday services at The Writer's Guild of America, 135 S. Doheny Drive. They are boasting the "Largest Jewish New Year's Party". We don't know much about The Chai Center except what we gather from their website. It seems to be a......

The Black Keys @ The Avalon Nora Ephron & Lynda Obst @ The Writer's Guild Theatre The 44's @ Harvelle's 7 Redneck Cheerleaders @ Elephant Asylum Theatre Marty & Elayne @ Dresden Ninja Academy, Animatronics @ Mr. T's Bowl A for Attack, Veto @ Little Pedro's Osama Bin Sars, Them Hills, The Advantage @ The Echo Facehumper @ Malibu Inn Hem, Ollabelle @ Troubadour Bones @ Lava Lounge Dry September, Mulberry Purple @ Roxy......

The Writer's Guild West is following in AFI's listomania footsteps and come up with the 101 Greatest Screenplays. We won't keep you in suspense — #1 is everyone's favorite B-movie-made-good, Casablanca: I'm not good at being noble, Ilsa -- But it doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you'll understand that. Not now. Here's looking at you......