Nicholas Clark Ashbaugh

Today Jet Blue Flight 292 departed at 3:17pm from Bob Hope Airport. While in flight, the Airbus A320 (with 145 passengers) experienced a nose gear malfunction. Air traffic controllers subsequently instructed the crew the to dump fuel over the ocean. Apparently pilots were unable to do so. Instead they're flying low and burning off fuel before attempting an emergency landing (either at LAX or Long Beach Airport). Update: At 6:20pm Pacific time, the airplane...

Though not exactly LA-centric, Rockstar: INXS was filmed in town. Because of that, and our unabashed obsession with the show, we're reporting on the finale. Last night, bad boy J.D. Fortune won the opportunity to front INXS, after a very close race between Mig and Marty. We had a special place in our heart for Suzie. She was easily the best vocalist of the bunch, but it appears INXS wanted a man to front...

Tuesday is the biggest day of the week for audiophiles. We're like kids in a candy store. In the spirit of that dizzy euphoria, we're launching our weekly guide to what's hot and what's not. Since LAist is an online entity, our primary focus on Tuesdays will be digital downloads. Why? We think digital is the future of music. For instance, Warner Music recently announced plans for a digital label, dubbed Cordless; Apple, Cingular...

Monday, 9/19 Catch Neon Blonde, featuring members of The Blood Brothers, The Rakes and I Miss You tonight at The Roxy at 7:30pm. The doors open at 7pm and tickets are $10. For details, (310) 278-9457. Tuesday, 9/20 Skeleteen, Kodiak and Sibling perform at the Silverlake Lounge. The show starts at 8:30 and tickets are $7. Call (323) 666-2407. The Waco Brothers Bloodshot Revue take the stage at Spaceland at 9pm. Tickets are $12....

These tracks were in heavy rotation in our iPod this week. Fire up iTunes and take a listen. Local Run Run Run Download: Fade Into You, from Endless Winter EP. Spaceland audiophiles will recognize Run Run Run as the resident Monday night band. With songs ranging from sonic to soft, they've garnered deserved praise from critics. We've got our eyes and ears on the band as well. Modern Rock Nada Surf Download: Comes a...

Halloween-themed slasher movies are as common as buttered bread. The bad plots, gratuitous squirting blood and painful dialogue make us wonder why the flicks are so popular. But every year, our Netflix queue is filled with scary movies like Halloween, Scream, Silence of the Lambs and The Shining. Let's face it, it's human nature. We all enjoy a good scare. Here! Films is hoping to add a new twist on the horror/slasher genre. In...

Ellen DeGeneres. The name brings a myriad of thoughts to mind... comedian, talk show host, Dory the fish, and [unlikely] gay icon. Despite all these titles, DeGeneres is best known for being witty and compassionate--making her perfect for the role of emcee. After 9/11, DeGeneres hosted and wrote the 53rd Annual Emmys. Her mix of candor, humor and charm was well-received. It's not surprising that CBS called upon DeGeneres to take the helm again....

Photos (C) 2004-5 Nicholas Ashbaugh, all rights reserved To all the nay-sayers who are convinced LA is devoid of culture, architecture or serenity: you've [obviously] never visited the Getty. You can find all three items in abundance there... all for the price of parking ($7). More Photo Essays...

In 1989, the seeds for Mäni's were sown. The small Fairfax bakery began as a coffee house -- one that preceded the big Starbucks boom of the 90s. Like RFD, Mäni's has a Danny DeVito connection. The production company for Other People's Money asked Mäni's to make baked doughnuts for the film. In return, Mäni's would receive product placement. Though the placement was ditched at the 11th hour, People Magazine picked up the story....

Rockstars never grow old. They just throw another reunion tour. Fleetwood Mac, Cher and Madonna are all recent examples of America's insatiable appetite for nostalgia. Perhaps it's a way to turn back time (pardon the pun), or maybe it's just an attempt to check in with your inner rebel. Either way, music is one of the few things in life that lends itself to reminiscing. A case in point: the LA-based Eagles are still...