Travelers who check in for flights at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are also checking in to the venue via Facebook. LAX has just been deemed the "most social airport" by social networking site Facebook, since more people "share" that they are there than at any other global airport. more ›

Hey, it's National Grilled Cheese Month (you've been celebrating daily, right?), so what better time to visit dessert eatery than now? Syrup Desserts in downtown is a cafe that focuses on lattes, cappuccino, coffees and teas along with a melted chocolate, waffles, crepes, ice cream sandwiches and more. The last page of their menu, however, is where they start mixing it up. more ›

Laptop: Check. Screenplay notes/freelance deadline: Check. Need for caffeine and WiFi: Check. Now, where to? The Huffington Post's LA site has a piece today giving their picks for the 10 best non-chain cafés or restaurants where writers can open up their laptops and tap away (mostly) happily. The list includes everything from Palihouse to the members-only Soho House, along with Larchmont's Bricks and Scones, Intelligentsia, Abbot's Habit, and Casa del Mar (home of LAist's least favorite brunch). But the list comes with another 10 points: Rules for good behavior that will ensure you don't ruin a good spot for others. Any good writing place you're willing to share that didn't make their list? Let us know! more ›

As mentioned yesterday, Los Angeles was awarded $7.5 million in stimulus money to increase broadband access in the city. Now here are more details: via L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti's blog: "The funds will allow us to install more than 2,600 public computer workstations, provide broadband connection at 72 computer center sites, expand WiFi networks at places such as parks and community centers, deploy portable wireless training stations, and upgrade networks used to connect thousands of computers to the Internet." more ›

But LAX won't be one of them. Through January 15, 2010, 47 airports nationwide--that includes Burbank and San Diego--will have free WiFi. However, you can pay if you want. "The holidays are about giving and we hope that you can continue to spread holiday cheer by making a donation via Google Checkout to any of the participating non-profits," says the search engine giant. "At the end of the program, Google will match donations made via participating WiFi networks, up to a maximum of $250,000." more ›

Blogdowntown has begun to profile coffeeshops that carry wireless internet in the downtown area. This is especially good for those of us who don't live downtown, but still need the occasional hook up to get some work done. Other than the obvious Starbucks option, Ed Fuentes visits Lot 44 Coffee, a secret hideaway to him, but also one of his top spots to go get some work done with a cup of joe. The WiFi is consistent and there are a handful of outlets to plug in. And the organic fair trade coffee is good too, even if a little more expensive than other shops. more ›

Answer: Not ones owned and operated by the city of Los Angeles (LAX, Ontario, Palmdale, Van Nuys), with the exception of the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge inside LAX (Go Canada!) The Travel Doctor published a list yesterday that compiles all the airports in the country that have free Wi-Fi, listed by state. According to the list, the closest airport to Los Angeles that serves up free wireless is Long Beach Airport. Across the state, airports include San Diego Int'l, Lindberg Field and Sacramento Int'l. And speaking of wireless, the LADOT released a report about the feasibility of installing it on Commuter Express buses. The outcome? Too expensive for such a little audience that had little zeal regarding the perk. more ›

I hope you haven't had enough of the Great Coffee Debate that has been ROCKING the Southland ever since hip joints like LA Mill and Intelligentsia have hit the scene. (Although you all know that we prefer a cup of the working man's brew, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, over here.) A new coffeehouse, Lot 44, is set to hit downtown sometime this spring. more ›

Occasionally breakfast-time can't be a thing of luxury. Granted, it's the most important meal of the day, but it's also not something we all get to sit down for and order up a spread of tantalizing goodness, particularly if its a weekday and there are things that need to get done. Breakfast criteria then equals: Coffee, sustenance, and free wireless internet. more ›

Near the Studio City-Sherman Oaks border on Moorpark Street at Longridge near Fulton is a new spacious and clean contemporary feeling coffeehouse. M Street Coffee opened about a month ago serving the regular fare of espresso, macchiato, americano, cappucino, and chai teas. Eco and vegan friendly, they have organic frappes, soy and organic milks and fruit smoothies with raw vitamin complex add-ons. All are served in eco-friendly containers. more ›

One of my few gripes with Los Angeles is that it's not a 24-hour town. more ›

A group of enterprising young researchers in UCLA's graduate Computer Science department have discovered a fun new way of using your iPod playlist: Wi-Fi enabled software sends your music preferences to whatever computer is nearby. Then music tailored to your preferences pumps out of the speakers -- can you imagine walking into a coffee shop, and the Carrie Underwood track playing shuts off, and a Matthew Good album slides into the rotation instead? How awesome! What a great way to go about your day! more ›

Just how "wired" are we in Los Angeles? more ›

As WIRED shows off their high tech, low impact home this weekend to the touring public, two homes in West Hollywood make their debut tomorrow to the buying public. The Positive Energy Condominia at 709 and 711 Westbourne St. in West Hollywood. The first Gold LEED certified buildings in WeHo have countless energy saving features such as insulation, energy efficient lighting and daylighting, air filtration systems, non-VOC paints and finishes, and the use of recycled... more ›

Free at last! Starbucks has taken up the guise of responsible community membership by making its T-Mobile wireless access free in some Southern California stores through October 31. The reason for the change? No, they didn't realize that the 11th Commandment is "Thou shalt have free wireless" – they want to help out those who've suffered as a result of the recent rash of wildfires. T-Mobile HotSpots are ordinarily a princely fee of $6... more ›

It's too hot for C-SPAN: Bush rocks out -- slightly -- to a band playing “Guantanamera” at a Hispanic heritage month event. "It's time to end the tradition of holocaust denial that has only deepened the pain of those whose parents and grandparents suffered the unspeakable horror of ethnic cleansing," Mayor Villaraigosa said about City Council's calling the 1.5 million Armenians killed a genocide. "When we don't speak up, when we are silent, what... more ›

You're never alone when you've got your cell phone. And now, you'll never be stranded. Metro today launched a new Web site, optimized for mobile phones and PDAs. The service offers a relatively easy-to-use trip planner as well as an LA Country traffic map, although the large map image is difficult to read on smaller phone screens. The site works on 90 percent of current hand-held devices, Metro claims, so we trust the early kinks... more ›

It's better than winning the lottery. LAist is running three contests right now: a pair of tickets for Bright Eyes with the LA Philharmonic for this Saturday, a pair of VIP passes to LA Weekly's Detour Festival on October 6 and a pair of tickets for next The Crystal Method at The Roxy next tuesday. Speaking of Detour, the line-ups and stages were announced today Hopefully, citizens won't get cheated as much anymore: the... more ›

Mayor Tony stood before a media gaggle at 7th & Fig in February and announced the birth of "LA Version 2.0." Free citywide Wi-Fi for all within two years, he proclaimed, momentarily appeasing critics and activists who have called for municipal funds and programs to help bridge the digital divide. But the skeptics among us are well aware of the extensive headaches and limited progress of the once-supposed trailblazing municipal Wi-Fi proposals in Philadelphia and... more ›

When Apple announced their new iPods yesterday the big winner was LAist. Why? Because the new iPods have been equipped to work with WiFi so that people can access Apple's extremely profitable iTunes store. And in the iTunes store, for free, will be all of the LAist radio shows that we are doing on NowLive.com. And, in fact you can subscribe to all of the LAist shows as we record them. Ah, technology. Last... more ›

Were you dismayed and confounded by the iPhone madness of June 2007? Did it disgust and disturb you to see your friends and colleagues giddily wait in line to drop $600 for the most-hyped mobile phone in history? Well that sniveling trickster, Steve Jobs is back, and he may be the only one laughing this time. Jobs' announcement of a new iPod came as a surprise to nobody. It looks and functions exactly like an... more ›

As if I don't feel badly enough for shelling out nearly $600 for my iPhone. Today Apple unveils a bevy of product updates. The iPhone's touch screen, internet browsing glory was jacked for the brand new "iPod touch", a Wi-Fi ready iPod with a 8GB or 16GB capacity. This is essentially the iPhone without the phone capabilities and much more thinner. Great. So, what you're telling me is that I'm not going to be one... more ›

A Starbucks in Sherman Oaks as victim of a hit-and-run. You can't deny a blogs influence on local politics and city services these days. Who knew? Kangaroo skin is illegal to sell in California. Sorry Adidas. Celebrity stylist Stacy Young cannot add new allegations against Jamie Foxx in breach of contract case. The Feds have finally arrived to inspect 'Killer King,' or Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital. At it again with UCLA and Monkeys... more ›

After a good two weeks of bragging about being the first reviewers to test the God|Jesus|fuckme|iPhone, at least WSJ's Walt Mossberg and the NYT's David Pogue had the courtesy to post decent video reviews. Both reviewers did their best to avoid extreme gushing, while failing to really criticize the device. In fact, both are quick to blame AT&T's EDGE network for sucking without explaining why the iPhone does not connect to AT&T's faster networks... more ›

Just about every time I'm winding my way over the hill into Hollywood I pass by Solar de Cahuenga at the corner of Franklin and Cahuenga and think, "Man, I need to check this place out." Back when I lived just a hop, skip, and a jump (aka three blocks) from the cafe's corner there was no cafe there to speak of. Then again, there was no such thing as WiFi to speak of,... more ›

Last October, if you recall, LAist took a road trip around the country. For 40 days we drove an old car around the nation and slept in hotels and motels and even at our friends' homes and the first thing we asked before we booked a room or accepted a spare guest room was, "how's your connection?" And even though it was 2006, we were shocked at how many people we're all, "what connection?" Your... more ›

Ventura Boulevard tends to get all the buzz when talking up the Valley. Boutiques, restaurant after restaurant, salons, Starbucks with TV celebrities, etc. But what about the main street just north of Ventura - Moorpark Street? You can easily miss The Coffee Fix with it's anonymous facade on the inner southwest corner at Moorpark and Whitsett in Studio City. Directly across the street is the modern looking and newish Studio City library which dominates... more ›

Over the years, we've visited the Getty about a billion times. Every out-of-tonwer (that's a Chicago misspelling), friend, fam or foe, wants to come here. And don't get us wrong, it's a great place, we love it much (plus the free WiFi we're on now). The West Pavillion is our current favorite. It has one the most famous paintings in LA -- Van Gogh's Irises -- and a mixed bag of current exhibitions: the John... more ›

And, what more, to counter the old media GPaper vibe (have your e-mail sent via snail mail, complete with targeted ads), Google also announced the beta release of TiSP:Google TiSP (BETA) is a fully functional, end-to-end system that provides in-home wireless access by connecting your commode-based TiSP wireless router to one of thousands of TiSP Access Nodes via fiber-optic cable strung through your local municipal sewage lines. Finally, we can wirelessly flush our overflowing... more ›