Guest Contributor

Don't feel like hosting your own shindig this year, or dealing with crowds at the beach? Here are some fabulous Los Angeles restaurants and bars offering patriotic fare to help you celebrate the holiday in style.

The season that L.A. lives for is now well underway. While pleasure-seekers will be hitting the beach all summer, there's another free way to get your endorphins flowing and tone up your beach bod.

Before we all enter into full-on hotdog-and-firework mode, let’s take a little time to relish the workings of our legislative process. Here’s a sampling of some California laws that are coming into effect today.

Get out so you can listen to Van Hunt or Ben Harper, play Connect Four for a cause and watch some LGBT films.

Get out so you can watch some movies from the Outfest, see some pictures of old rock 'n' roll stars or hang out in the Arts District.

As one of the most famous American painters, abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock has enjoyed a certain longevity in the American public consciousness as well as popular culture (including nods in the MTV show "Daria," the films "Mona Lisa Smile" and "Miami Vice" and Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Bluebeard").

If Walmart’s plan to put down roots in Chinatown got you worried, then this map from Frying Pan News should make you downright terrified.

Ah, sweet, sweet summer in Los Angeles. Despite our airheaded La La Land rep, we've got plenty of events going on to please your inner Bill Nye the Science Guy (or even Bill himself, as you'll see below). Expand your mind with visits to planetariums, aquariums and more.

After over 40 years in business, Silver Lake piano bar and mainstay of the Los Angeles gay community The Other Side closed its doors for a final time Sunday.

There’s no shortage of free music events coming up this summer, but leave it to our good ol’ county government to bring us free shows this summer showcasing local musicians. The L.A. County Arts Commission has chosen a broad array of artists, slated to play 55 free concerts beginning June 30 and ending October 27.

What more can you ask for than days followed by nights at the pool, late night movies, and a continuous flow of refreshments? Los Angeles is determined to bring this to its favorite people (that's you!) throughout the entire summer.

More than two weeks have passed since a photographer filed a criminal claim against pop singer Justin Bieber. Today the Los Angeles Sherriff’s Department finally completed their investigation and handed documents over to the District Attorney’s office. The DA will now decide whether or not Bieber will be prosecuted for the alleged attack.