Lindsay William-Ross

In perhaps not-so-surprising news, blogdowntown's infant weekly paper recently called it quits, though the reasons, say founder and editor Eric Richardson, don't have to do with popularity with readers, reports LA Observed. The print edition launched last summer. The website is very much up-and-running, however, though, LAO notes that Richardson "sounds unsure what the future holds." Richardson explains that the primary challenges for getting the weekly print edition to be a success were related...

Photo by douglasspics via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Green clothing? Check. Goofy green hat? Check. Shamrock-themed accessories? Check. Designated driver? Check. Well-honed pinching muscles? Check. You are ready to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Los Angeles. In order to facilitate your green-hued and brogue-sprinkled merriment, we present Your Guide to the Guides: St. Patrick's Day 2011. First, get your iTunes playlist ready for the drive, bus ride, or party you're throwing. You...

A pedestrian walks by a medical marijuana dispensary in Sherman Oaks (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) Federal agents and local authorities conducted raids yesterday on two medical marijuana dispensaries located in West Hollywood. Both of the shops, Alternative Herbal Health Services and Zen Healing Collective, are "among four that the city has authorized to operate," notes LA Now. Details about the raids were in sealed warrants, however officials said the raids were part of an "ongoing...

Long Beach born Nate Dogg (nee Nathaniel Dwayne Hale) died yesterday in his hometown at the age of 41. A cause of death has not been released, however, as MTV points out, "the infamous hook singer had been recovering from two massive strokes he suffered over the past years." Nate Dogg was a longtime friend and collaborator with prominent rappers such as Snoop Dogg, Warren G, RBX, and Daz Dillinger. In 1991, Nate Dogg,...

From the 2010 Air Sex event in L.A. (Photo via Air Sex on Flickr) Okay, you know what it means to wail on the air guitar, but how about getting it on with some hot and heavy air sex? This year marks the third season the hunt for an Air Sex World Champion is on, and the competition tour makes a stop later this month at the Satellite in Silver Lake. The organizers help...

Last week, the Los Angeles Police Department announced a new policy for handling the impounding of vehicles operated by unlicensed drivers who encounter the Department's sobriety and drivers license checkpoints. As a result, immigrants' rights groups are praising the LAPD, reports ABC7, though they believe "more needs to be done." The LAPD's new policy dictates that if they discover an unlicensed driver at a checkpoint their officers will try to determine who the registered...

Graphic by Revel & Riot (via bitchmedia) A student at Paloma Valley High in Menifee was branded a "sinner" by their teacher after the student wore a t-shirt that said "Gay is Good" to class. The teacher, whose identity has not been released, "drew an “S” on the hand of a student," to symbolize "sinner," according to CBS2, and referred to the student, whose identity is also being kept private, multiple times as such....

Students from Santee's Culinary Program, Bistro Mundo, at Artisanal LA in October 2010 (Lindsay William-Ross/LAist) Chef Joachim Splichal of Patina has been the mentor for many chefs in Los Angeles, and is poised to expand his influence through a new partnership with the culinary program at the LAUSD's Santee Education Complex, a local high school, and South LA's A Place Called Home, a youth social service center. Patina will select apprentices for the program,...

Photo by Lord Jim via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr East Hollywood resident Cristian Gheorghiu has left his mark all over Los Angeles, using his tagging name "Smear." His work has gotten him in plenty of trouble over the years, and now that he has begun to sell his art, Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich is pursuing a "one-of-a-kind court injunction," that could bar "Smear" from making a profit off anything...

Image of new driver's license by California DMV Back in December the Department of Motor Vehicles admitted that things were taking a little longer than usual on their end. Well, actually, it was taking a helluva lot longer, thanks to a new computer system, that has seen processing times for licenses and other paperwork go up and up and up. Factor in furlough days, when DMV locations state-wide are shut down each month due...

Dead fish in the harbor area of Redondo Beach, south of Los Angeles, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Millions of fish washed up dead, puzzling authorities and triggering a cleanup effort by the city. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo) Biologists from an independent team from the University of Southern California took samples from the dead sardines that choked up Redondo Beach's King Harbor last week, and found they contained domoic acid, a "dangerous neurotoxin," according to KTLA....

The LAPD is continuing to send the message to drivers across the city that drinking and driving has serious consequences. As part of their ongoing effort to educate the public, tere will be at least one DUI checkpoint tonight, located in the San Fernando Valley in Panorama City on Van Nuys Boulevard between Osborne Street and Nordhoff Street, and it will run from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. If your night out includes drinking,...