Guest Contributor

Eighteen years after Kurt Cobain committed suicide in Seattle, former Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson is releasing Letters to Kurt, a 52-chapter collection of poetry and prose dedicated to the Nirvana frontman. Set to hit bookshelves on April 8, Letters to Kurt is a candid reflection of Erlandson’s time spent as friend/unofficial caregiver for Cobain during his rapid rise to grunge rock fame, tumultuous marriage to Hole’s Courtney Love, and untimely death in 1994.

The park sits on a plateau at about 2,000 feet above sea level, and it supports a diverse habitat including oaks, eucalyptus trees, spring wildflowers and more. Interesting geology and wide-ranging views (on clear days) that include the Santa Ana Mountains are among the highlights here.

It's known as “Dripping Cave,” for the way the sedimentary rock seems to drip from the ceiling, and also as “Robber’s Cave,” owing to its history as a hideout for gangsters. Whatever you call it, this cave in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park in south Orange County is well worth a visit, and there are three different ways to get there.

My friends and I had our epiphany at breakfast at Cinnamon Bear Inn in Mammoth Lakes. While our Weekend Warrior compatriots had returned to L.A. the day before, my friends and I had chosen wisely to take March 19—a Monday—off. The Inn owner placed our omelette plates in front of the four of us that morning, greeting us with, "Welcome to The Day of the Year!"

More than 65 years after her mysterious murder in Los Angeles, “Black Dahlia” Elizabeth Short’s unsolved case is now part of the “Elizabeth” exhibit at the Los Angeles Police Museum. The mutilation slaying of 22-year-old Short, nicknamed "Black Dahlia" by reporters, has captivated the public since her bisected body was found on a vacant lot in Leimert Park on January 15, 1947. The exhibit is sponsored by bestselling crime fiction author James Ellroy, who penned The Black Dahlia in 1987.

It’s not exactly a mystery what kind of recreation is king in Huntington Beach, but hikers and nature lovers can also find places to do their thing in “Surf City.” Huntington Beach might not have the longer, more challenging hiking trails found near Orange County’s foothills, but there are a few spots that are well worth a visit.

Currently, some foods may carry the label "non-gmo" and may be certified by third party organizations. However, this is a voluntary measure. We wandered around town this week asking what regular folks think about the prospect of seeing foods labeled "non-gmo." Here's the word on the street.

While oranges, lemons and grapefruits might not quite command the value that gold does, these commodities have quietly done their part to shape California life. At Riverside's California Citrus State Historic Park, visitors can stroll around the grounds, learn about how fruit helped influence life in California, and enjoy the fragrance of the orchards nearby.

If Coachella and Burning Man had a bass addicted, illegitimate love child that creation would be the Do LaB's Lightning in a Bottle. Taking place a short 40 minutes from L.A. in the remarkably desolate Oak Canyon Ranch, the festival is a mix of art, culture and music.

There is one part of Saint Patrick's Day celebrations here in the US that fill me with anger and disgust: The drink (and now the cupcake) named "The Irish Car Bomb."