Carolyn Kellogg

Gothamist posts on the capture of a NYC perv thanks to Little Brother and a camera phone. They also scour the city for vodka martinis and Shamrock shakes and spot the friend from the Wonder Years at a city law firm. New York police think that Littlejohn is their man. Houstonist is no stranger to megachurches or stripmalls or mega-strip-churchmalls. The children of Houston are under assault by unknown forces as this week a playground...

The marathon is coming! Don't say we didn't warn you....

This week, a rare occurrence for LA: a preservation battle was won! The Derby is saved, unless City Hall undoes the work of the Cultural Heritage Commission. Hats off to all involved. (via Blogging.la) In 2005, the South Bay saw a 9.1% drop in crime. You're less likely to get beat up, your car is safer and the stuff in your house is safer. But that iPod you're carrying? Hang on tight. LA Times...

Tomorrow is the 21st Los Angeles Marathon — but you don't have to be a runner to participate. In fact, you can be a total non-athlete. For the 7th time, members of the LA Cacophony Society will "support" the marathoners with a rest stop on Fairfax. No Gatorade and oranges for these guys: they're known for offering beer, bacon, donuts and even lapdances to the tired, sweaty runners. They're happily putting the idea of...

Morning traffic in downtown was a nightmare as two freeways (the 10 East to the 110 South) were shut down and harried commuters shunted off onto clogged surface streets. Don't blame the St. Patty's parade — an 18-wheeler packed with cotton collided with a minivan and, as the truck toppled into the crash refuse, its cargo burst into flames. Amazingly, no one was injured. The freeways weren't reopened until 2pm. (We would have posted...

For now, it's safe to keep searching for "donkey porn," "D-lysergic acid diethylamide" and "discount plutonium" on Google. Yesterday a judge ruled that Google does not have to hand over search records to the Justice Department, which, some lawyers say, is on "a fishing expedition." Is there progress in addressing homelessness in LA? Mayor Villaraigosa has gotten the police, downtown businesses and the ACLU on the same side for a skid row cleanup-but-not-sweep plan....

The James Beard Foundation award nominations (the Nobel Prizes of food) are out today. And two out of three nominated cookbooks "From a Professional Point of View" are from chefs who've made their names in Los Angeles: Nobu Now from Nobu Matsuhisa and Sunday Suppers at Lucques by softspoken Suzanne Goin. Together the books total just about $50, which is less than you'd pay to eat in either place. In fact, those two chefs get...

He just beat it: Michael Jackson has closed the house at Neverland Ranch. Apparently the ranch part of the ranch, where the giraffe and elephants live, is still operating at the expense of a generous veterinarian. Jackson's action came as the property's bills were piling up and state officials were making moves to come after him for back pay for staff. Jacko has settled in Bahrain where, we assume, laws aren't so strict for people...

Act quick to grab your tickets for tonight's Urb Magazine 15th anniversary party at the Avalon. Everyone's favorite vegan tea entrepreneur Moby is coming in from NY to DJ. Local hero Jason Bentley will also be spinning and we'd wager you can count on some surprise guests. Doors open at 10pm and advance tickets are available online for $20 or $25 at the door. That is, if there are any left when you arrive....

Paul Frank has been fired from Paul Frank Designs, and he's pissed. Pissed to the tune of a multimillion-dollar lawsuit. The South Bay designer started by sewing a monkey, Julius, onto a wallet. We remember hearing that Julius was something his mom or grandma designed first, but we can't find that online. Is maternal credit due? Anyway, one bright vinyl monkey led to another, and another, and the next thing you know 12-year old...