Lindsay William-Ross

On Saturday, Mexican food enthusiasts can gather at St. Vibiana's Cathedral in Downtown for the inaugural Taste of Mexico event, which will offer attendees a taste of authentic Mexican specialties, including over 35 traditional dishes from varying regions throughout the country; premium tequila, beer, and mezcal tastings; Oaxacan dancing; a silent art auction and exhibit; and live Mexican music and mariachi band performances, all to celebrate 200 years of Mexican cuisine.

Beautiful wintry scene in the Angeles National Forest (Photo by Matt McGrath Photo via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr) If you're struggling to find a gift for the proverbial person who has everything, and that person happens to be the sort who would rather do some good for the earth than get another "thing" they don't need, TreePeople's Holiday Tree Dedication might just be an eco-friendly solution with a very local focus....

Rail carrier Amtrak be reversing a long-standing ban next month that will make it possible for some travelers to take their firearms with them on their journey, according to the Sacramento Bee. Passengers who wish to pack their heat will need to pack their unloaded guns in their luggage. Starting December 15th, Amtrak will allow the guns to be brought on board any train that offers checked baggage service.

Photo by cokeisit7 via Flickr An altercation between strangers that began on the 5 Freeway yesterday afternoon ended in a shooting on the streets of Burbank, according to the Burbank Leader. The drivers of a dark-colored van and a Mercedes-Benz sedan became involved in a dispute while driving on the northbound I-5 Freeway near the Western Avenue exit. The motorists exited the freeway at Alameda Avenue, and "stopped and got out of their cars...

Schwarzenegger delivering remarks today (Photo by Justin Short, Office of the Governor) The bill to ban plastic bags in the state of California was defeated, but today Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke at a press conference to ask lawmakers to consider reviving the bill, reports the Sacramento Bee. Cracking a "we'll be back," joke, Schwarzenegger said that after failing to pass the bill by a few votes those in favor of the ban remained committed...

The hyperlocal approach at its best: South Pasadena's Patch has published a mini-guide to the parks in their small city. There are six official community parks in South Pas (Garfield Park, Orange Grove Park, Arroyo Seco Park, Eddie Park, War Memorial Park, and Library Park), each offering history buffs, shade-seekers, playground climbers, and solitary amblers something different. For locals and picnickers with a penchant for patches of grass south of Pas, this is an...

Photo by www.voteJoeC.com via Flickr USC freshman Rachel Kim was "talking and laughing" with her roommate in their Pardee Tower dorm room on campus Wednesday night, when she suddenly collapsed, according to the Daily Trojan. Kim's roommate, Molly Keam, sought help, and both officials from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to the 8:41 Thanksgiving-eve call. The student was found "unresponsive and not breathing." Kim, a...

Photo by LU5H.bunny via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr If your commute includes a drive over one of the hundreds of bridges in Los Angeles, you can breathe a sigh of relief: Our bridges are pretty much safe! A report issued today by the city's Bureau of Engineering includes letter grades for all of our area bridges, and fortunately, none of them got an F, according to CBS2. Older bridges, built in...

December 1st* is National Bloody Mary Day, and while conventional wisdom dictates that the spicy tomato boozy beverage be enjoyed at leisure with brunch (or, as hair of the dog) this year a Wednesday it is. This raises an important question: Where can Angelenos go to get the best Bloody Mary in town? A slapdash @LAistFood poll told us that Cole's and Hungry Cat are great spots, while our own archives endorse Rush Street's...

Bruce Beresford-Redman says he didn't kill his wife Monica during their April vacation in Cancun Now, after being hauled into custody by US Marshals after a lengthy extradition process from Mexico, the former "Survivor" producer says he wants out of jail, according to an AP report published by CBS2. Surprised? Beresford-Redman has done his best to evade suspicion, and when that didn't work, evade arrest.

Shortly after 10 this morning Metrolink reported via Twitter that their Southbound train number 304 "struck [a] vehicle west of Baldwin Park station." An as-yet unconfirmed report via Twitter from ABC7 claims that one person has died as a result of the collision. The crash and the investigation are affecting traffic in the area of Garvey and Francisquito Avenues; Baldwin Park School Police confirm the street closures. More information as it becomes available....

As the Gold Line's expansion moves eastward still, one local landmark dormant for almost 40 years, could get a new lease on life. Monrovia's old train station has been "sequestered behind a chain-link fence in a nondescript parking lot at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Duarte Road," explains Monrovia Patch, in a story about the station's history.