Guest Contributor

At times, the LA River can look more like a dump than a storied waterway, due largely to the litter that amasses in it. Fortunately, an effort is underway to help beautify and revitalize the river. Tomorrow from 9am to noon, Friends of the Los Angeles River, along with support from Mayor Villaraigosa, will host the annual River Clean-Up day, and the public is welcome to sign up and participate.

Jerry Sands is a lucky man. A baby in the Dodgers starting line-up, Sands is fortunate to have his crib placed in the most exciting location in Dodger Stadium, left field. Unlike other position players surrounded by empty seats, in left field, Sands is not alone.

As gas prices keep rising and pollution levels are at their worst (congrats again to greater Los Angeles for having the lousiest air quality in the U.S. according to the American Lung Association) it’s time to get out of your car and get back on a bike. What better way to spend a Saturday then by the beach and on a cruiser in the name of something good--beer and bikes good.

This week’s adoptable pets are from the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, an independent, donor-supported, non-profit agency that provides care for abandoned and homeless animals. PHS welcomes and cares for all animals in its service area regardless of age, medical condition, breed or any other criteria.

They’re watching you! Two years after Yahoo! pledged to protect its users privacy, the company is now backpedaling. Rather than dumping search records after just 90 days, Yahoo! will keep tabs on your browser’s tabs for six times as long, according to the Daily News.

Is there room on the road for another food truck? With everything from pancakes to pupusas, what’s left to vend? K9s Only, a doggie resort that provides daycare, grooming and training for their customers has the answer. But the treats they’re giving away are exclusively for your furry friends.

Every Saturday, LAist will feature an adoptable cat and dog from a different local shelter or accredited 501c3 rescue organization. Take a look at these furry bundles and consider giving them a home, or forward their faces to your friends who may be interested. This weekend, meet Staples the cat and Doogie the dog(gie).

Set times have been released which means you are most likely coordinating frantically with your group of friends about when to arrive and in what order you’ll race from stage to stage over the course of the three-day festival. Amidst the arguing over whether to see Gogol Bordello or Foals (answer: Gogol Bordello*) or The National or Duck Sauce (answer: Duck Sauce*) you’ll need to stop and eat some food right?

While USC may have been getting plenty of negative press as of late, it didn’t stop the Trojans from celebrating over the weekend when Flying Lotus came to the campus as part of this yea's KXSC Fest, a free outdoor concert put on by USC’s independent student-run radio station. Students and friends gathered at the small grassy knoll in Founders Park to watch eight acts including sets by Dublab and KXSC DJs.

Are you Spring Cleaning? Those old blankets, towels or sheets you’re tossing can find a new life at your neighborhood animal care center! They’ll also take newspapers, dog and cat toys, treats and food, so when you're buying food for your pet, think about getting an extra bag or can to donate to the homeless pets of Los Angeles. These LAist Pets of the Week are from Los Angeles Animal Services with six facilities...