Elise Thompson

When is a week not a week? when it's two weeks. Err, make that three weeks. dineLA Restaurant Week is being extended Oct.18-23! The list of participating restaurants has also been reconfigured. It is much more readable now, and you are able to see which restaurants are offering lunch without having to click on their page.

Photo by Naquib via Flickr It's finally here! Tomorrow Union Station will be the site of "Jonathan Gold's Union Station Cocktail Party", which makes the name just perfect. The event is a benefit for Zócalo, "a non-profit organization that builds community by broadening access to civic discourse". Here is the third and final interview in our series with Jonathan Gold: I see Rivera is on the list of participating restaurants. Do you know if...

This Saturday sees the much-anticipated benefit for Zócalo, "Jonathan Gold's Union Station Cocktail Party". Participating restaurants like Rivera and Providence, along with Cedd Moses' signature cocktail pairings makes for an exciting event. Here is part two of our three-part interview with Jonathan Gold:

Last Friday Universal Studios premiered its Halloween Horror Nights which will run from 7pm to 1am on weekends and the occasional weeknight. It is a special after-dark event that requires separate tickets than the daytime entry. The regular rides and attractions, including The Simpsons Ride will remain open. Check out the schedule here.

Rarely has an event caused as much buzz as the upcoming benefit for Zócalo. And who can resist? The restaurants are hand-picked by Jonathan Gold, LA's patron saint of good eats. Just check out a few of the participants -- Rivera! Perrier Jouet! Church & State! Providence! All this and one of the most beautiful locations in Los Angeles, art deco landmark Union Station. It definitely makes for a night to remember. How much would you pay? But wait!

Today L.A.’s most-awarded winery will hold a " “Taste of the Americas ” Food and Wine Festival. It is the second of three festivals held at the San Antonio Winery this summer. Lunch will include food from North, South and Central Americas. Almost a dozen wines of the Americas will be available for tasting. The event runs from 2pm to 5pm today and is priced at 50. per person, reasonable, considering the amount of...

Another winner from the world of retail. This little tableau comes courtesy of the toy section in the local Target store. Children are so imaginative. They just do the most adorable things. But I think a child psychologist might find this scene interesting during their role playing. Did some little girl read Hansel and Gretel one too many times? Is the dolly the evil witch? Or is it a scene straight out of suburbia? Daddy doll ran off with his secretary doll. Mommy doll has run out of her little yellow doll pills

"OUT OF SERVICE" was also spray-painted by hand all over the side windows. They really meant it. It must still be an official vehicle. I mean, before they would re-sell a sheriff's vehicle, wouldn't they do a little more than that? Maybe it was the most ingenius car thief ever. He could just spray-paint "NOT A STOLEN CAR" and hey, no questions asked. So this vehicle is temporarily out of service and they really...

Your dream has come true. You finally meet that special guy. It's the third date. Time to seal the deal. He takes you out for a fancy dinner, or maybe he even cooks for you. Maybe a walk under the moonlight, or along the beach. He takes you back to his place. Soft music low on the stereo, a bottle of wine. The making out is hot and heavy. You look deep into his eyes. This could be the one. You both stumble, undressing into the bedroom. And then you get a good look at the sheets.

Last night we couldn't get to the valet parking stand outside of Mozza because there were paparazzi all over the place. Naturally I jumped out of the car and joined them. Jerry Seinfeld was waiting for his car and good-naturedly chatting with the paps about how long some of them have been around. So I joined in the conversation. Me: You're my very first street paparazzi-ing. May I take your picture? (He poses for...

Today Pizza Fusion, a fresh, organic, and vegan-friendly pizza chain will celebrate the grand opening of its new location in Santa Monica. The chain boasts hybrid delivery cars, in-store recycling, LEED certification, wind energy offsets and organic kid's classes (Yum! They serve children? Bet that's not on the vegan menu). What more could you want? Howzabout free beer? And food too, of course. The official grand opening of Pizza Fusion's new home at 2901...

Photo by Elise Thompson for LAist Put on your sneakers and suncreen! Fill your pockets with Tums! Today marks the opening day of the LA County Fair, which will run from Sept. 5-Oct. 4th this year, a week longer than usual. You can sample 300 "culinary delights" at the Fair. This year the ever-popular Chicken Charlie is creating the "Zucchini Weenie". It's a zucchini hollowed out, stuffed with a hot dog, then battered and...