Jessica Ritz

Few people in Los Angeles are as plugged into the urban and cultural planning scenes and other fascinating areas of overlap as James Rojas. In addition to his 9-to-5 as a project manager at the MTA, James's irons in the fire include helming the Latino Urban Forum and lecturing on various planning and cultural issues at venues that range from the university to the community grass roots level. He's also co-owner of the Gallery...

While the rain has stopped, some Halloween celebrants might find their parade rained on. As Angelenos far and wide get psyched to observe Halloween this weekend, the authorities are making it perfectly clear: partiers along Hollywood Boulevard better watch it. Shooting off that can of Silly String might cost you $1,003.95. The City is out to prove that relatively minor Council motions still mean serious business. Folks can make fun of the Silly String...

While the rain has stopped, some Halloween celebrants might find their parade rained on. As Angelenos far and wide get psyched to observe Halloween this weekend, the authorities are making it perfectly clear: partiers along Hollywood Boulevard better watch it. Shooting off that can of Silly String might cost you $1,003.95. The City is out to prove that relatively minor Council motions still mean serious business. Folks can make fun of the Silly String...

With the redesign and reconstruction of Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood still a fresh memory, West LA residents, commuters, businesses, and a handful of pedestrians are bravely tolerating another major improvement project now taking place along a westerly swath of the Boulevard. A $68.5 million dollar Santa Monica Boulevard Transit Parkway Project attempts to transform the idiosyncratic (some might say disjointed) 2.5-mile long streetscape that follows the spine of the Century City corridor...

With the redesign and reconstruction of Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood still a fresh memory, West LA residents, commuters, businesses, and a handful of pedestrians are bravely tolerating another major improvement project now taking place along a westerly swath of the Boulevard. A $68.5 million dollar Santa Monica Boulevard Transit Parkway Project attempts to transform the idiosyncratic (some might say disjointed) 2.5-mile long streetscape that follows the spine of the Century City corridor...

Rachel Mayeri is the founder of Soft Science, "a collection of video-curiosities created by artists and scientists. Behind laboratory doors are some of the most astonishing outsider art projects around. Autopoetic bacteria, tethered flies, ebullient nanogears - these data gems create wonder, beauty - not to mention knowledge." Los Angeles Filmforum hosted a screening of films curated by Mayeri at the Egyptian Theater yesterday. Read Margaret Wertheim's review in the LA Weekly. Let's hope...

Rachel Mayeri is the founder of Soft Science, "a collection of video-curiosities created by artists and scientists. Behind laboratory doors are some of the most astonishing outsider art projects around. Autopoetic bacteria, tethered flies, ebullient nanogears - these data gems create wonder, beauty - not to mention knowledge." Los Angeles Filmforum hosted a screening of films curated by Mayeri at the Egyptian Theater yesterday. Read Margaret Wertheim's review in the LA Weekly. Let's hope...

City Council approves the Hahn - Miscikowski "compromise," two-phased LAX expansion plan in a 12 - 3 vote. They're already in it for $130 million, so what's another $10,870,000,000? Organized labor - whose endorsements are heavily coveted come next year when eight City Council seats are up for grabs - throws its weight behind the plan. The Fourth Floor blog errs on the side of caution and professional self-preservation, bidding a bittersweet farewell following...

City Council approves the Hahn - Miscikowski "compromise," two-phased LAX expansion plan in a 12 - 3 vote. They're already in it for $130 million, so what's another $10,870,000,000? Organized labor - whose endorsements are heavily coveted come next year when eight City Council seats are up for grabs - throws its weight behind the plan. The Fourth Floor blog errs on the side of caution and professional self-preservation, bidding a bittersweet farewell following...

Los Angeles based-editrix Laurie Pike shares her insights about living in Los Angeles and how she manages to tirelessly explore the city. Laurie is singularly well qualified to share the scoop about what's damn good in this town, given her extensive resume which includes editorial stints at Glue magazine and Movieline, as well as freelance contributions to Los Angeles Magazine, Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, and British Vogue. In addition to writing for print...