Elise Thompson

Last week Universal Studios unveiled its newest attraction, The Creature from the Black Lagoon: A Raging Rocking Show". The show is a "Broadway-level contemporary musical adaptation" of the original Universal horror film. It features an original score and will be featured exclusively at the Hollywood Universal Studios. LAist was there at the press event along with Julie Adams, the original "Kay" in the 1954 film to witness the arrival of The Creature. But as the...

The LA Zoo's annual Beastly Ball is known to be one of the hottest tickets in town. The benefit held this year on Saturday, June 20th raised $1,226,000 for the zoo. This year, the 39th Beastly Ball, honored philanthropist and GLAZA Trustee Laura Z. Wasserman. Guests were encouraged to dress in "safari casual" attire and were gifted with handmade tote bags crafted by artisans in a co-op for widows of genocide in Rwanda. Vans carried...

Los Angeles' only working winery, with its mediterranean/mission architecture was the perfect setting for a tasting of Super Premium Tequilas matched with 6 courses de Nueva Cucina on June 19. San Antonio Winery was founded in 1917 by Santo Cambianica. It is still owned and run by his nephew Stephano Riboli, wife Maddalena and children Santo, Cathy and Steve as well as Santo's son, Anthony.

In spite of being well off the beaten path, the San Antonio Winery has long been a destination for locals and tourists alike. Now in addition to their famous tour, popular restaurant, banquet facilities and wine shop, the winery is offering special events. Last night A Summer Tequila Tasting was held at the winery. In addition to innovative and delicious food and a wide array of quality tequilas, guests were treated to an informative lecture....

It was the best of fests; it was the worst of fests. Last weekend Mountain View was home to the Great American Music Fest. It was a grand idea - combining music and food, much in the way that blues and barbecue have successfully married, bringing in the best of local cuisine from all over the country. You want pastrami? Only Katz's from New York will do. Cheesecake? We got Junior's iconic red and white...

OK, it's a promotion. And for a reality show at that. It's all about MC Hammer’s new show “Hammertime” which will air on Sundays on A&E. But they're still dang cool. The Hammer pants dancers who flash-mobbed the Sunset Live store last week were back to entertain club-goers on Santa Monica Boulevard. Now if they really wanted some publicity, they would put MC Hammer in the line-up. Woah woah woah woah!...

Thursday night was the premiere of the two-week Secret Policeman's Ball Film Festival. Festivities at the Egyptian were rolicking fun, with a Q&A between Martin Lewis and "Seventh Python" Neil Innes, clips from the decades of fundraisers, and various musicians getting up to rock the house at the after-party. The film festival's purpose is to raise awareness of Amnesty International. It is strange to watch the musicians of thirty years ago self-rightously look down their...

Post by Greg Thompson/Special to LAist Last Saturday's LA Winefest brought a number of vintners to Raleigh Studios. We have already checked out some of our favorite products from the event. Here are some of our favorite wines. 2004 Cobblestone Napa Cabernet was my first taste chosen among 500 wines, spirits, beers and other beverage offerings. It was a bold garnet Cabernet Sauvignon from a family estate vineyards high atop Atlas Peak. A blend of...

Driving around Anaheim after an Angels game or a concert at The Grove of Anaheim can feel like you are driving around a ghost town -- wide, empty streets with nothing but Taco Bell signs as evidence of life. But there is a haven for your beer-soaked belly. Cruise on down Katella to the strip mall lights of Taqueria Mexico. They are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In fact, one patron...

Shoreline Ampitheater in Mountain View, just outside of San Jose, will be the site of the national Great American Food and Music Fest. The one-day event kicks off on Saturday at noon and runs until 10pm. All ages are welcome. Featured chefs are Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri, who will be signing books and presenting cooking demos. Local San Francisco chefs like Nate Appleman (A16), Nancy Oakes (Boulevard), Bruce Aidells, June Taylor (June Taylor...