Jessica P. Ogilvie

If you've ever wondered what inspires local chefs, your curiosity can be sated -- at least briefly -- by popping over to HuffPo, where local restauranteur Susan Feniger has posted a short essay about foods from her childhood.

If you forgot to move your car before leaving town for the holidays, you might be in luck: NBC Los Angeles reports that the city won't be issuing tickets to vehicles parked illegally because of street cleaning.

It's almost Christmas, and that means presents, trees, (Chinese food for us Jews), and marathon viewings of "It's a Wonderful Life," the 1946 classic starring James Stewart as as building and loan operator George Bailey. To celebrate the 65th anniversary of this yuletide favorite, City News Service reports that a ceremony will be held on the Walk of Fame at 10:30 a.m.

Taylor Armstrong had already left her husband Russell by the time he was found dead from suicide back in August of this year. But it turns out that what prompted her to leave wasn't his alleged physical and emotional abuse -- it was Bravo and NBC execs deciding to kick the couple off the show.

Folks, do us a favor this holiday season and keep your marital problems off the airplanes. One woman from Lynwood got her husband's plane grounded after calling the airline and telling them that he was planning to blow up the aircraft he was on.

Good news, uber-trendy hotel aficionados -- soon you won't have to travel all the way to Palm Springs to get a taste of the Ace Hotel. The hospitality company just bought the old United Artists building in downtown, and plans to open their first L.A. boutique there. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the hotel will resurrect and feature prominently a movie theater that was used for premieres in the early to mid 20th century.

The Hollywood and Highland mall is going to be the site of the next naked-lady PETA demonstration, set to take place at noon tomorrow. The organization announced in a statement today that they'll be unleashing three "sexy PETA supporters" dressed in nothing but body paint (is that legal?) as a leopard, a snake and a cow.

Wondering what book to bring with you on your holiday vacation? LA librarians have you covered -- our friends at Fishbowl LA report that the local literary ladies and gents have released a list of the top books of 2011.

In tonight's Extra, Extra, Steve Jobs is being given a posthumous Grammy Award, Pasadena hears from residents about Windpocalyse, and the FBI has a theory about the Geezer Bandit. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports.

Nearly 2,000 nurses are striking today at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. They began their walkout at about 7:00 a.m. and won't be allowed back in the hospital until Tuesday. City News Service reports that the group of nurses, who are part of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, haven't had a contract for months, in part because they say that their employer is trying to jack up the amount that they pay for health insurance when the rate that the hospital pays isn't going up at all.

After sexually assaulting at least 14 underage girls, some as young as twelve, 19-year-old Michael Downs has been arrested and faces 29 felony charges, reports KTLA. Downs, who lives in Santa Clarita, allegedly met the girls on Facebook, and lied to them by saying he was 16. He then arranged times and places to meet them, and that's when the attacks occurred.

Bryan Stow's friends spoke publicly for the first time last night about the day their friend was attacked outside Dodger stadium. In an interview with NBC, Corey Maciel and Jeff Bradford described what happened.