Matt Vannucci

"LA Tigers" Photo by atomicshakespeares via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Smoking is down 41% in California since the state enacted the California Tobacco Control Program 20 years ago. Even youth smoking is at 14.6%, one of the lowest rates in the nation. What gives? Is it mom & dad setting better examples, the in-our-face anti-tobacco campaigns, or just the steady decline of public places to puff? The campaign for city attorney...

"Out of balance, lacking focus" Photo by jakerome via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr "OK," is this the best named restaurant in LA? Behold a migration of beauty. Thousands of Painted Lady Butterflies have temporarily shacked up in the South Bay on their journey up North. All of the more eco-friendly travelers on Metrolink may see a hike of up to 5.5% in their fares. There also may be a cost associated...

"One day this will all be yours" Photo by jakerome via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr LA Metblogs reminds us that the sales tax will increase to 9.25% tomorrow (10.25% in some parts). So you have one more night to buy that TV, car, or whatever else it is you want, because it will be officially more expensive tomorrow. You could be the next drummer for Smashing Pumpkins. LA Snark has the...

"only in my neighborhood" Photo by jek in the box via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr It's Taco Madness, baby! With a capital, T! LATACO is holding Sabrocho! Taco Madness 2009, and they're down to the Elite 8. Make sure to get your vote in. Lookin' for a home, buckaroo? Well, mosey on down to Culver City and belly up to the saloon, grab some chow and put a down payment on...

Photo Robbie by via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr There's some things that is just pure music to anyone's ears, and this is one of them - $1 sushi & $1 drinks at Lucky Fish in Beverly Hills all day today. Happy 1 Year Anniversary! AOL has never been known for hard-nosed reporting, but they will be now. New Editor, Melinda Henneberger of Slate, and formerly of the New York Times and...

Photo by Lord Jim via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr In "Stay Safe Tonight" News - Here's some tips on the proper way to break up a bar fight from Esquire (via NBCLA). Let us guess, you got a warranty with the laptop you bought from Office Depot? How'd we know? They only sell laptops if you agree to buy a warranty. No warranty, no laptop! Torontoist has an Obama-war going on....

"Los Angeles Theater" Photo by sfxeric via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Knock, Knock SoCal - it's me, Barack. Barack Obama is making a trip to our area next Wednesday to discuss (what else) the economy. Will you camp out and wait for B.H.O.? Have you seen this man? He is one of the suspects in a botched abduction that took place in Redondo Beach in January. Quick, you're locked in a...

"Waiting for the evening bus" Photo balmes by via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Robin Williams needs heart surgery. Not funny All you folks who want, but can't justify purchasing Amazon's Kindle2, just go buy an iPhone or iPod Touch. Amazon opened their e-book libraries to the devices. When Congresswoman Diane Watson (a UCLA Alum) made a resolution to honor USC's football team for its 2008 season, things got a little... heated....

Photo by Ca-los! via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Starbucks began their value meals "breakfast pairings" today. Anybody get one? When you go to vote on May 19th, make sure you know everything about the Propositions. For instance, some ballot pamphlets do not have information about Proposition 1A extending billions of dollars in temporary tax hikes just signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, for two years. Keep your eyes peeled for...

"This Road Leads Downtown" Photo by Alberto Cueto via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr WeHo residents, a heads up on upcoming power outages & road closures. If we build it, they will come, I tells ya. The City of Industry unanimously passed a ballot proposing the building of the new football stadium. What recession??? LA Metblogs asks us, "Can We Learn From New York?," and their plan on transforming Broadway in Midtown...