It happens on just about every subway platform in the world: Someone forgets to keep their thoughts to themselves. Sometimes, though, it can get confrontational and awkward, as is the case with this video captured on the platform of the Universal City Metro Red Line Stop. A man who appears to be Hispanic is wandering around confronting a Caucasian passenger, and is accusing him of being racist. more ›

The Los Angeles Police Department has released information about two sobriety checkpoints they will run this weekend in Venice and North Hollywood/Universal City areas. At the checkpoints, officers will be checking drivers for signs of alcohol and or drug impairments and will check for proper licensing and will strive to impact motorists only momentarily. more ›

The LAPD is back this weekend with another sobriety and drivers license checkpoint as part of its effort to deter people drinking and driving. Tonight's location will be in the Cahuenga Pass neighborhood, outside Universal Studios, at Cahuenga and Bennett between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. The LAPD does not have to announce all checkpoints so there could be more out there. Another checkpoint is scheduled for Saturday evening in Azusa, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. more ›

As always on the weekends, there are DUI checkpoints. Some are announced, some are not. At least one organized by the LAPD tonight will be set up in the Cahuenga Pass tonight from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Cahuenga Boulevard between Lankershim and Broadlawn (map). That's right near a Metro Red Line subway station. "The summer months are a dangerous time of the year and your odds of being involved in an alcohol involved collision can be high," the LAPD cited in a news release. "In 2008 law enforcement statewide reported that 7, 801 people were injured or killed during the three summer months of June, July and August." They say if you see a suspected drunk driver, call 911. more ›

Police aren't taking a vacation this Fourth of July weekend. In fact, more plan to be on the roads watching out for the overly inebriated. Case in point, the California Highway Patrol this weekend will begin a Maximum Enforcement Period at 6:01 p.m., meaning all available officers will be out on the roads through midnight on Monday. more ›

It was almost two years ago to the day when a fire broke out on the backlot of Universal Studios in Hollywood that tore through historic sets used in countless productions and seen by millions of tourists over decades. more ›

There are two major projects that have been in the works for quite some time, and both will have a significant impact on traffic, transit, employment, and recreation in the small neighborhood of Universal City. more ›

You didn't think we meant that actress and animal advocate Betty White herself got naked, did you? It's her hot dogs that 88-year-old White likes to keep to a bare-bun minimum, which is how the "Betty `Naked' in the City' Hot Dog" came to be at the new Pink's at Universal CityWalk. White was on hand to participate in both the launch of her namesake hot dog and the new outpost of the long-time beloved hot dog-ery. Said White of her love of a plain hot dog: "The weenie is so good, I have the weenie and the bun, and so they said, `Well, it's a naked hot dog,'" reports KTLA. The CityWalk Pink's is the first Valley location of the hot dog stand. more ›

It's Friday, which means there's an LAPD DUI Checkpoint somewhere in the city. Tonight is the Cahuenga Pass neighborhood, which most refer to as Universal City. more ›

Around three to four hundred hardcore Conan O'Brien fans braved the drenching rain to rally for the Tonight Show outside Universal Studios this afternoon. "Jay Leno sucks!" the crowd chanted in between screaming at passing by cars as horns were honked. Packed to capacity, people spilled out onto Lankershim Boulevard before police calmed and spread the crowd out. more ›

Commuters attempting to travel in the Universal City area early this morning were faced with rail and road closures due to police activity. During a routine traffic stop conducted around 3 a.m. authorities discovered what they labeled a "suspicious device" inside a Scion being driven by a motorist pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving, according to KTLA. A search uncovered the device that "appeared to be a pipe bomb" and "described as a bunch of fireworks taped together." A robot retrieved the device and the bomb squad detonated it safely. Lankershim Blvd, the 101 and area off-ramps, and the Red Line's Universal City stop were closed, but were reopened at around 7 a.m. more ›

From 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., the LAPD will be holding a DUI checkpoint at Lankershim and Campo de Cahuenga. It's actually a genius spot because that's the entrance and exit to Universal Studios and CityWalk. It's also home to the Metro Red Line Subway Station. The North Hollywood police division, which covers the Universal City area, has experienced 166 driving under the influence-related and 1,058 hit and run traffic collisions so far in 2009. more ›

We've seen our fair share of aggressive behavior while taking the Red Line, but this video, taken between Hollywood and Highland and Universal City, is pretty disgusting. Sure the kids are acting like total brats and rudely harassing the woman (called the "crackhead" in this video), but does one of them deserve mace in the eye? more ›

As new media consumption goes mainstream, so goes the geekfest; this week's Twiistup includes panels featuring the likes of Brooke Burke (of Wild on E! and Dancing with the Stars fame) discussing her new-found success as an online entrepreneur and Chamillionaire (he of the many mixtapes and much Patron) talking digital music. Since 2007, Twiistup, has served as both a memorable party for the entrepreneurs and media savants and a matchmaking event for select SoCal startups and wide-eyed venture capitalists. But this week Twiistup, now in it's sixth version, is expanding to add a day-and-a-half conference with top speakers to complement a night of open bar mingling. more ›

Thinking of purchasing a car? Your options remain plentiful, and deals are readily available as the auto industry is eager to make sales in these rough economic times. But if you happened to be headed to Universal City Nissan, a sign on the hill above the dealership might have you thinking twice about your decision to go with the import. more ›

Conan O'Brien isn't only The Tonight Show's new host (as of last night,) he's also the best tram guide in the history of Universal Studios (and North Hollywood.) more ›

Universal City's Cafe Tu Tu Tango was shuttered back in December, yet is surviving in Orange County and... Orange County, Florida (okay, specifically Orlando). Cruising the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's website, an LAist tipster found that Samba Brazilian Steakhouse is taking the cafe's place. Unclear if they are connected, there's a restaurant with the same name at the Mirage in Vegas and a similarly themed one in Redondo, too. But inquiring minds wonder, what will they do with those old tutus?! more ›

With two cameras, a highly entertaining photo editing feature, an online game store, and a music player, Nintendo lovers have been waiting with baited breath for the latest installment of one of the world’s most popular handheld gaming consoles. Last weekend LAist was invited to Nintendo’s official launch party, where hundreds lined up at the GameStop at the Universal City Walk to be among the first to get their hands on the new DSi. more ›

This is just so "out there" on so many levels. A city subcontracted anti-gang worker nicknamed "Bow Wow" was arrested Friday after a January 5th incident where a Bone Thugs-n-Harmony member was robbed and beaten in Universal City. more ›

TMZ got hold of the 911 call when the fire Universal Studios was reported. It's amazing how calm everything sounds. more ›

Yesterday's all-day fire at Universal Studios, which engulfed two city movie-set blocks (destroying a part of the King Kong tour and one of the Back to the Future sets), was finally knocked down late in the afternoon. An investigation will be going into what caused the blaze, but also one is being called to look into the low-pressure water system that ultimately hindered firefighters in battling the flames. more ›

For residents of the South East San Fernando Valley and adjacent environs, the stench and sight of smoke from the fire that broke out in the early morning hours on the backlot of Universal Studios has dominated the skies today; for most everyone else in Los Angeles this story has dominated the news. more ›

The fire that broke out early this morning continues to burn on the Universal Studios backlot in Universal City. more ›

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As reported yesterday on LAist, a car-to-car shooting took place on the 101 Freeway between Hollywood and Universal City following a verbal dispute that took place between the occupants of two vehicles on Hollywood Boulevard. more ›

Tomorrow is the 23rd Annual LA Marathon, and the multiple races taking place in the city as a part of the day-long event are going to compromise a great many of our streets. more ›

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Last night, a packed room of community members at LACMA listened attentively to Metro present nineteen options to serve the Westside. This first in a series of three public input meetings (two more meetings next week) was exciting -- wheels are in motion to get Los Angeles moving, even if that reality be around ten years from now. more ›

Author and USC professor Gina Nahai and actress Bahar Soomekh (Crash) read from Nahai’s latest book Caspian Rain – about a family falling apart just before the Islamic revolution in Iran. Immediately following, there’s a discussion of the changing lives of women of the Middle East, and relationships between Iran’s Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as how these communities interact in Los Angeles, “home to the largest population of Iranians outside Tehran.” more ›