Guest Contributor

How about a trip to Aspen this weekend? Even better, you don't have to get on the plane or pack your skis or fight your way through the crowds at an overpriced hotel.In the San Gorgonio Wilderness, near Big Bear Lake, a rare grove of quaking aspens provides spectacular colors in October. It's unusual to see the trees this far south, but with a long drive and a short hike, residents of the L.A. area can do just that.

Known for her iconic Beastie Boys photographs during their "Licensed To Ill" tour, Hold Up Art will present "Boys and Dogs," a retrospective of rock photographer Sunny Bak, with an opening reception this Saturday. Sunny's love of animals, especially dogs, led her to create a best-selling People magazine parody and both collections will be on display through November 1.

We're rolling out a new weekly feature here at LAist that relies on reader participation. Overheard in L.A. will feature the humorous, puzzling or just plain weird quips you hear around our fair city.

Fall is fire season in southern California. People who are thinking of getting out into nature for a hike may be intimidated by dramatic reports of devastating wildfires on television and online, and obviously, a healthy respect for fear can be a life-saver. That being said, there are several easy precautions that can make exploring the outdoors in SoCal safe and enjoyable, even during fire season.

What goes nicely with beer and other libations? Pizza, of course! Urbano Pizza Bar, conveniently located next to Library Bar at 6th and Hope streets, offers a great food option. With pizza crust that’s perfectly chewy and crisp at the same time, as well as good side dishes and respectable beer and wine lists, Urbano is a new go-to for downtown revelers.

In 2012, Californians may have the opportunity to vote on a grassroots ballot measure requiring food purveyors to label food when it contains genetically-modified organisms, or GMOs. GMOs are organisms that have been genetically engineered to include genes from other organisms.

Angeleno cocktailians, start your engines. The five finalists of the 2nd Annual L.A.’s Best Bartender Competition have been announced. Now, we knew last week that Joseph Brooke of Next Door Lounge won as People’s Choice and therefore automatically earned a spot as a finalist. But who are the other four he’ll be going up against in the final showdown?

Staying true to its theme of Childhood Items We Miss The Most Month, Gallery1988 will debut its Old School Video Game Art Show tonight with an opening reception in Venice. More than 90 artists will give their creative spin on ‘80s favorites, including Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Donky Kong, MegaMan, PacMan, Metroid and many more.

We are all members of the church of beauty. We worship the long legs and skinny waists of Vogue models, and while maybe 2 percent of the general public can look that way, the quest to gain this unattainable appearance drives people to buy the newest diet book or eye shadow.

Bony Joanie, Snotwich Sandra, Charred Chad…Garbage Pail Kids were all the rage for kids in the ‘80s. This Friday, Gallery 1988 is hosting a tribute to “the grossest trading cards ever” with more than 100 artists giving their individual spin on the iconic stickers as part of their Childhood Items We Miss The Most Month.