Lindsay William-Ross

Season 6 contestants (Food Network) The 6th season of The Next Food Network Star doesn't hit the small screen until June 6th, but there's already reason to celebrate in Los Angeles, since three of the Food TV stars-in-the-making call our city home. The Food Network's most-watched series, TNFNS follows 12 contestants aiming to be named the next on-screen food-tastic personality. During the competition they are offered mentorship from Giada De Laurentiis, and face the...

Fans of Michael Jackson, and French-Canadian acrobatics, rejoice! Cirque du Soleil and executors for the estate of the late King of Pop have inked a deal for two upcoming shows, according to TMZ. The first show will be a traveling show employing Jackson's songs and an emphasis on dancing, slated to debut in the fall of 2011, with a stop planned for LA's Staples Center, which also served as the venue for Jackson's massive...

Photo by Moto@Club4AG via Flickr After several days of complete air travel stoppage between global destinations and Europe due to the spread of volcanic ash in the airspace, a combined 22 departing and arriving flights will take place between Los Angeles International Airport and airports in London, Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt. The airspace over Europe began to open gradually yesterday, which benefited about 2,000 passengers who were able to depart on aircraft already...

Just announced: Vampire Weekend will make their Hollywood Bowl debut on September 26th, headlining a show that will be opened by Beach House and The Very Best, both of which will also make their bow on the famed Bowl stage. Touring in support of their successful sophomore effort Contra, Vampire Weekend joins the ranks of several other high-profile alt-rock outfits who will make a stop at the Bowl this season. Tickets for this performance...

You didn't think we meant that actress and animal advocate Betty White herself got naked, did you? It's her hot dogs that 88-year-old White likes to keep to a bare-bun minimum, which is how the "Betty `Naked' in the City' Hot Dog" came to be at the new Pink's at Universal CityWalk. White was on hand to participate in both the launch of her namesake hot dog and the new outpost of the long-time...

Shoppers at the Santa Monica Farmers' Market, Oct. 2009 (Lindsay William-Ross/LAist) If you were looking to find one of the best farmers' markets in the nation, luckily you don't have to look further than right here in Los Angeles County, says Travel & Leisure. A list released this month names the Santa Monica Farmers' Market as one of America's best, citing the Wednesday installation of the weekly market for its star chef clientele and...

With rains beating down on us thanks to the arrival of a late season storm, this afternoon is just right for a cup of hot chocolate. Maybe you haven't thought about that hot, comforting, chocolate-y treat in a while, but we can't forget some of our favorite places to pick up a cup. We're wild about Lamill's $3 not-too-sweet hot chocolate, deep into Intelligentsia's ganache-intense offering, and sweet on NOLA Ice's red velvet inspired...

Photo by @sevenphoto via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Chilly temps and rain are bound for Los Angeles today as a "late season storm" system moves through the area, according to the National Weather Service. Rain could hit Los Angeles and Ventura counties as early as this afternoon, say forecasters. The band of moisture paired with gusty winds will continue to move through Southern California from tonight through Thursday, and while it...

Photo by mares8 via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr More than half the people polled recently believe legalizing marijuana would have no effect on creating jobs in their community, and just under half of those interviewed said it would have no impact on the economy, according to the Daily News. An Associated Press-CNBC poll conducted in early April indicates that while "about a quarter of those polled said legalized pot would lead...

It was the end of a long journey today for traveler Nadine Kay Hays, a 58-year-old Camarillo woman who faced a misdemeanor battery charge for an incident last year at Burbank's Bob Hope airport centered around applesauce, explains the Burbank Leader. Hays, bound for Nashville with her 93-year-old mother, refused to surrender the applesauce and snacks she'd brought to serve to her mom during the long flight. TSA agents accused Hays of striking them...

Photo by Paul Keleher Bostonist went gay for Palin at the Tax Day Tea Party. DCist was stunned by a new video of Prince George's County police officers beating a Univ. of Maryland student during a post-game celebration that got out of hand in College Park. Chicagoist celebrated what they love about Spring but forgot to include giant fireballs in the night sky and Tax Day Tea Party protests. Torontoist found it a little...

Photo by Eazylanish via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr A CSUN Econ prof was outed for running a website focusing on sex-based tourism in Thailand. The Librarians Guild held a rally outside Mayor Villaraigosa's Hancock Park home this morning to protest the City's cuts to library services. The body of a presumed suicide victim was found last night in Pasadena under the Colorado Street Bridge. Police in Santa Ana tasered a naked...