Lindsay William-Ross

Richard Wagner Angeleno Opera enthusiasts have been anticipating the long-planned Ring Festival LA, which will span multiple venues between mid-April and late June of 2010 and boast numerous performances by different organizations, each "providing its own unique point of view on the influences of [composer Richard] Wagner's art and philosophy from the 19th century to the present day," explains the LA Opera. But one area politician thinks Wagner's influence is not something to celebrate:...

Photo by Scani - Salina Canizales via LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr The annual Echo Park Lotus Festival fared pretty well this weekend--despite the lack of, well, lotuses. Preservation of the work of well-known architects is a respected pursuit...unless you're looking to preserve a set of tract homes designed by Paul Williams in Rancho Palos Verdes. A Garden Grove woman went from being a part-time social worker to a full-time lotto winner when...

Authorities revealed this morning that missing Van Nuys resident and violinist Robert Korda, 54, "was found dead on July 12 by LAPD Missing Person Unit detectives at the Los Angeles County Coroner," according to the Daily News. However, "the cause of his death is under investigation." Korda's son Noah was actively using the internet to spread the word about his missing father, in the hopes that someone might come forward with information to help the LAPD locate the man. Late last night he posted this message on his blog: The final update for now. 7/12 11:55pm

Following his well-received gig as host of the Tony Awards in New York earlier this year, actor Neil Patrick Harris has been booked as the host of the upcoming 61st Primetime Emmy Awards. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences made the official announcement today, confirming speculation that the onetime Doogie Howser, MD wunderkind and current How I Met Your Mother star, will be the telecast's emcee. Viewers and attendees can expect the unexpected...

An LAPD officer is recovering from the injuries he sustained when he apparently shot himself "by accident while off duty at his home in Valencia," according to the Daily News. Few details are known about the incident, which reportedly took place Saturday evening at the officer's home in Valencia. Investigators from both the LAPD and the Sheriff's Department were called to the scene to look into the case, and the officer, whose name has...

Marcus Gilmer/Chicagoist Chicagoist visited The Ledge at the Sears Tower, the building's newest attraction that allows visitors to step out into glass boxes that jut out from the Tower's west side, allowing you to look straight down. All 1,353 feet.Phillyist nominated the administrators of the suburban pool club that allegedly kicked out a number of urban youth on basis of their race as its assholes of the week.Shanghaiist took a in-depth look at the...

Photo by staceyviera via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr The Theme Restaurant Building has been virtually synonymous with LAX since it opened in 1961. In 2001, the rooftop observation deck was closed in reaction to the September 11th terrorist attacks in the US, and in early 2007, when a hefty piece of plaster fell down as patrons ate nearby, the landmark building was closed for renovations. Now, as the "web of scaffolding...

Street smarts came in hand for the 19-year-old CSUN student who fought off a would-be rapist. A divorcing couple's lives ended tragically after the husband bludgeoned the wife to death then hung himself last night in Santa Clarita. LAPD Chief William Bratton and his wife have listed their Los Feliz house for $1.2 million. They plan on buying another home in the City of L.A. The grunion are running, the grunion are running! In...

Photo by Julie Wolfson/LAist Here in the Golden State we perfected the art of the fast food burger, but at the eatery The Golden State they may have perfected the art of the Lamb burger. LAist's Lifestyle Editor Julie Wolfson happened to hit up the restaurant on a day when their special was the Lamb Burger and a Greek Salad. Before she could dig in she paused to take this Eye Nosh snap of...

Photo by katcentric via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr It's the 75th Anniversary of LA's historic Farmers Market (you know, the really big one at Third & Fairfax) and as part of the celebration, they're having an event on Tuesday night where guests can pay a single price to taste the best of the market and enjoy live entertainment. At least 39 Farmers Market Restaurants will be serving guests a variety of...

Sacha Baron Cohen's latest character-star-turn as the "flamboyantly gay Austrian fashionista," Bruno opened on movie screens all around the country yesterday, and now The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has come out in objection to the flick, saying it "reinforces negative stereotypes and decreases the public's comfort with gay people," according to the Huffington Post. While some of the movie's moments "hit the mark," Cohen's cavorting "hit the gay community pretty hard...

AV's avatar If you follow (the person who ghost-tweets for?) the Mayor of L.A. on Twitter, you may have noticed, as LA Observed did, that he was happy to be at home after his vacation in Africa. "Good to be back in LA!" he remarked. While he was gone, Antonio Villaraigosa missed the mega-memorial that brought in some mad tourism cash, some LAPD overtime, and some raised eyebrows--although there were still a few Twitter-style...