Lindsay William-Ross

Hope Floats, one of the cocktails from the menu at Playa, designed by mixologist Julian Cox Last year, Angeleno Magazine's furtive food critic, Brad A. Johnson, revealed the publication's picks for their "Best of the Best" restaurants Tweet by Tweet. This year, word is out via an exclusive preview on Feast, and the winners of the 9th annual awards revealed. Here are the winners: Best New Restaurant: A-Frame Best New Dish: Porcetto from Sotto...

One locally-based website and blog, BargainBabe.com, has been giving consumers tips, tricks, and opportunities to save some bucks through a number of discounts, coupons, and savings hints. With her third annual Frugal Festival (& Food Swap) happening this Saturday, we got in touch with the Bargain Babe herself, former Daily News reporter Julia Scott, to talk about the event, her site, and saving a few bucks while living in the big city.

Before you set your DVR to record Chef Ludo Lefebvre's new Sundance Channel show about taking his pop-up restaurant adventure on the road around the country, set yourself a reminder to make a reservation for his L.A. LudoBites pop-up, which, as announced yesterday, returns to DTLA's Gram & Papa's August 3 to September 10th. The site of two previous pop-up rounds (4.0 and 5.0, for those who are keeping tabs), this 7th version of...

Photo by pink_fish13 via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr The Los Angeles Public Library’s Silver Lake Branch is one of--if not the--innovative of the system's branches, and now they are getting ready to launch a mobile app that will allow patrons to use their own smartphone to check out materials from anywhere within the library. MyMobileLIbrary will be available in August, and will be unveiled to the public for the first time...

Check out the Modern Living Showhouse at Dwell on Design this weekend (Image via Dwell on Design) Dwell on Design, the annual event focused on green, conscious, and innovative design, decor, and lifestyle, returns to the Convention Center this weekend. A multi-dimensional event, from home tours to panels and demos, to a full exhibit space with opportunities to investigate and interact, it definitely takes some planning and a do-it-yourself approach to making sure you...

Shoppers at the Santa Monica Farmers' Market, Oct. 2009 (Lindsay William-Ross/LAist) Life is simply going to have to go on for thousands of people the weekend of Carmageddon, when the 405 Freeway is closed down completely near the Sepulveda Pass to accommodate the demolition of the Mulholland Bridge. One of the most beloved farmers' markets in the nation will be up and running in Santa Monica on Saturday July 16th, but the 405 is...

Remember (former) UCLA co-ed Alexandra Wallace and her "racist rant" video about Chinese students on their cellphones in the library? While for one creative man, her ignorant (or faux-ignorant?) take on the Chinese language translated into "I love you," a new food delivery business serving the campus is embracing Ching-Chong-Ling-Long and hoping it means cash in the bank. The delivery service is an off-shoot of the Palace Restaurant Seafood & Dim Sum. The restaurant...

Crews begin work on Archwood and Laurel Canyon (Photo courtesy CD2) A North Hollywood intersection is getting its streetlight ahead of schedule thanks to the efforts of City Councilmember Paul Krekorian and Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Tamar Galatzan, who helped fast-track the construction after a fatal accident in the crosswalk that killed 12-year-old Emely Aleman in November. Construction began this morning at the intersection of Laurel Canyon and Archwood Street. The...

Giovanni Ramirez is shown in this undated photograph obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Photo) Giovanni Ramirez, the Los Angeles Police Department's "prime suspect" in the brutal beating of Bryan Stow, is headed to court this morning for a parole hearing, and, depending on the results, could be released from police custody soon. At issue is if Ramirez violated the terms of his parole. "Police say they found a gun in the laundry basket...

Giovanni Ramirez (AP Photo) He still hasn't been charged yet for his alleged role in the beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow, but Giovanni Ramirez has been ordered to stay behind bars during a parole hearing today. "A parole official determined that Ramirez should be ordered back to prison for 10 months," explains NBC Los Angeles. The only matter up for discussion today at the closed door hearing at Men's Central Jail...

Inside Red O (Lindsay William-Ross/LAist) The sun-dappled back room of Brentwood's Tavern, the retro-chic game room vibe of the Spare Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt, the resort getaway relaxation of Red O, the exposed brick-chic of the recently-remodeled Osteria La Buca...these four and eight other L.A. restaurants (or bars) have made a reader-nominated list of 14 venues up for the Best Designed in a poll run by California Home + Design. Also on the...

In today's Extra, Extra we've got Phelps diving in and coming up a winner, Hollywoodland history, Hef's ex hanging with Heidi, jail sharing, and more news bites of the day. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports.