Edith Shain, the woman whose spontaneous dip-and-kiss by a WWII sailor in Times Square was immortalized by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, has died. Shain "died at her home in Los Angeles on Sunday," surrounded by her family, according to MSNBC. She was 91 years old. more ›

Before yesterday's arrest of a man suspected of leaving a car bomb in New York City's Times Square on Saturday, Southland police agencies were already taking note. more ›

Starting late last year, the Downtown "destination" LA Live began to host all sorts of events, including a Grand Opening celebration, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony starring Britney Spears and the Mayor, a big screen broadcast of Obama's inaguration, and the openings of specific "on campus" spots like the Conga Room and the ESPN Zone. Touting itself firmly as LA's answer to Times Square (a promo video shown to some invited bloggers last year at the Ritz Carlton sales office declared as such), the LA Live-ers asserted that the development joining Staples Center, the Nokia Theatres, Club Nokia, and the Convention Center would be both a destination and a pit stop for locals and tourists alike. more ›

• Gothamist found that an explosive set off outside the Times Square army recruiting center may be similar to five past bombings in New York City.
• Seattlest worried when severed right feet and bottles of rat poison started washing up on local beaches.
• Shanghaiist was surprised by Bjork's rooting for Tibetan independence at her concert (see video), and the political fallout has only just begun.
• SFist debated the merits of new bronze plaques that will be placed in locations where San Francisco's homeless have died.
• DCist was obliged to respond to the worst Washington Post Outlook column ever published, in which conservative writer Charlotte Allen tried to make the case that women are dumb.
• LAist found Satan's ice cream truck trolling the streets, and they recorded the music.
• Some crafty Torontoist readers didn't like the dearth of ski hills in downtown Toronto, so they just built one of their own on their deck and (of course) recorded a video of them all taking turns on it.
• Bostonist knows the city's subway and bus system, the MBTA, has problems. So does this 17-year-old who submitted a report and told the MBTA brass how to fix it.
• Phillyist explored the possibility of an Ivy League prostitute, while their commenters debated the most ethical approach to proving or debunking the story.
• Londonist spent a little too much time looking at airbrushed operatic private parts, and enjoyed an enlightening comment from someone who was there. more ›

After reports that 10 members of congress, including California Senator Dianne Feinstein, received letters and photos in the mail that possibly claimed responsibility for yesterday's bombing in Times Square, the FBI did the obvious thing: go to the man's house who was listed on the return address. Nothing turned up when they questioned the man. "We're continuing to investigate, but right now there is no evidence linking the individual being questioned to the incident in New York or the letters themselves," Eimiller said to KNBC. more ›

Update 8:25am, 3/7: "Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman in Los Angeles, said an individual was questioned there about the letters to Congress and "there is no evidence linking the letters, which contained no threat, to the bombing," according to ABC7.

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 peppered with references to the likely strike settlement. 'WGA on Strike' signs filled the ornate lobby of the Hudson Theatre in Times Square, and writers gathered by the open bars, comparing notes about the membership meeting earlier in the day when they finally heard the details about the tentative deal." more ›

Yesterday the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved additional steps for Project 50, a three year pilot program that will help get some of the most vulnerable people living on skid row into permanent housing. more ›

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Guitar Hero was in full-effect at E-For-All more ›

Don't call it a comeback, but Hollywood Blvd. will soon look very different. Today the Los Angeles City Council approved a $400 million, 7-building, mix-use complex that will feature 1,000 apartments as well as several shops and restaurants. Built on the parking lots around the Pantages theater in the once-glorious center of Hollywood (Hollywood & Vine), the council voted unanimously to change zoning laws to allow for construction to begin at the end of... more ›

Where did this Venice based collective of playwrights come from? How was it that we have never heard of Apartment A? We feel so out of touch and so enlightened at the same time. Last weekend at the Electric Lodge in Venice, An Evening in Defense of Delight, a set of 6 new short plays by local and out-of-state playwrights, opened for a six week run. That means you have tonight plus four more weeks... more ›

Between fake terrorist alerts and scandals big and small, this just might be the Best Best of the -ists ever. We're exhausted just thinking about it. more ›

So if you don't feel like driving that hour+ to some party in the Valley, or to some party anywhere in Los Angeles, you can always turn on the TV. There's nothing like watching the 3-hour tape-delayed disco ball drop to reaffirm your existence. Tomorrow - Sunday - New Years Eve "Twilight Zone Marathon" (SciFi, ALL DAY) "Seinfeld Marathon" (TBS, ALL DAY) "Marx Brothers Marathon" (TCM, starting at 5:15 p.m.) (other marathons include "Ace... more ›

Halloween is Tuesday, which means this weekend is really the time for all of the –ists to celebrate. And whether they’re designing super-spooky costumes or talking about the super-spooky upcoming elections, we’d say that they’re doing a fine job of it. more ›

I'm not a sign maker, so maybe what I'm about to say is simplistic or misguided. But the old, classic neon scripted signs that decorate so many pre-WWII buildings are remarakably elegant....and don't look all that difficult to replicate. more ›

LAist is traveling around the country trying to find out the secret to life, the universe, and everything. Currently we're just about finished with five days in New York City. We sorta wished someone would have told us about this crazy town, you know, written a book about it, filmed a movie here or something, cuz the place is In-Sane. We had fun eating the various foods found from all over the world, we've... more ›

Houstonist reports on cross-dressing thieves and undressing educators this week. A Peeping Tom defends himself with a papaya and an outraged onlooker asks Ken Lay, "TATER TOTS OR FRIES?" Also, FEMA wants it's money back. more ›

LAist spent some time in New York this past weekend and took just one picture the whole trip. more ›

So we wanted to put in our $3.95 worth on the juice scene, and to chime in with a definitive winner, based on years of sipping. See what we think of the city's top three after the jump, and, as always, get ready to blend in with your berry own juicy opinions. more ›