Zach Behrens

Tom LaBonge poses for a photo on a Autumn Equinox Hike in 2008 | Photo via LaBonge's Flickr Councilman Tom LaBonge hikes Griffith Park daily, inviting the community to come out in large numbers with him at each change of season. But instead of a Winter Solstice hike, he leads an annual New Year's Eve hike. The two hour hike begins at 4 p.m. in the north end of the Griffith Observatory parking. The...

It's a slow week for TV--yet dramatic!--but LAist's TV Junkie Tom Lewis still has some picks, which he listed on Monday's week round-up. Two shows are recommended: "Everest: Beyond the Limit" on Discovery at 9 p.m. and "The Imploders" on TLC at 10 p.m. Also, contributor Anjali Taneja recommends "Dream of Life," the documentary about rock legend Patti Smith (it's her Birthday today, by the way)....

It's been a shaky day. The Death Valley area had a nice 3.6 earthquake earlier this morning, but the U.S.-Mexico border takes the cake. A 5.8 earthquake struck at 10:48 a.m. on the Mexico side some 20 miles from Mexicali in Baja Mexico and Calexico in California. It's been followed by various aftershocks: a 4.9 at 10:53 a.m., a 4.0 at 11 a.m., a 3.4 at 11:04 a.m., a 3.0 at 11:12 a.m. and...

Some were hoping Los Angeles would see under 300 homicides this year, but by December 26th, 308 had occurred, according to the latest LAPD COMPSTAT report. That number is still considerably lower--18.1% lower to be exact--than the 376 homicides of 2008, which was considered low back then. Countywide, there had been 721 homicides through December 14th, according to the Homicide Report. The challenge of 2010 for the new LAPD Chief Charlie Beck will be...

Downtown's skyline during L.A.'s famous "golden hour" | Photo by JsonStone via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr A sacked employee of a gaming commission in San Diego County walked into his former office with a shotgun and killed an employee before killing himself. Christmas Tree Surfing: fun and dangerous. About that five-hour standoff in Van Nuys this morning. The mural outside the Little Joy divebar in Echo Park has been painted over, as well...

At the 2009 Rose Parade | Photo by Jonathan Alcorn (Sundogg) via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr As Southern California's major parade of the year approaches, Tournament of the Roses officials have launched a new feature in which people can text questions through Thursday for an answer. "I saw an article in the paper announcing the text messaging for guests, making people aware that it existed," Acting TofR President Jeff Throop told the Pasadena...

The Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival, which happens next June | Photo by chip morton via Flickr Thanks to the fun daily e-mail newsletter, The Rundown, we were treated yesterday to a bounty of naughty activity ideas--you know, doing it at Leo Carrillo State Park or on Mulholland Drive--but one especially caught our eye and made us giggle. It was doing it in the air: If a fear of heights and a two-hour...

Breakfast at Kings Road Cafe | Photo by optionthis via Flickr In a nice addition to Studio City's growing stock of quality eateries, Kings Road Cafe of Beverly Boulevard fame opened its second location on Ventura Boulevard earlier this month. Located just east of Whitsett Avenue, parking is complimentary with the valet, which is shared with the cafe's neighbor, Good Earth Restaurant. Kings offers a solid menu of breakfast and lunch items including huevos...

Carne Asada Sandwich (it's vegan) at the Veggie Grill | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist Food blogger Lauren Harb over at the Huffington Post today lists out seven Los Angeles restaurants where vegetarians, even vegans, and meat eaters can all find satisfaction. Her list is spot on. From chains like Z Pizza (the vegan cheese) and The Counter (the vegan burger patties) to original sit downs like mainstay Real Food Daily and Gordon Ramsay-featured Sante...

Bike Talk has been around as an online show for awhile now (podcast link), but tonight it will receive it's live broadcast debut as part of the KPFK 90.7 FM's efforts to pilot new shows. If it does well, Bike Talk could be a regular feature on the station. Guests on tonight's 11 p.m. show include Streetsblog LA's Damien Newton, Aurisha Smolarski from the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and Jeff Mapes, author of...

LAist has learned that Pacific Theatres Paseo 14 in Pasadena may be on deck to become the third ArcLight Cinemas location, possibly opening next Summer, according to a source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity. ArcLight Cinemas is owned by Pacific Theatres, which in turn is owned by Decurion. Representatives, however, deny such a rumor. "ArcLight Cinemas has always been open to exploring new sites," read a statement e-mailed to LAist. "A third...

An autopsy is scheduled for the 28-year-old drummer who was found dead yesterday morning in his Huntington Beach home, according to the LA Times. James Owen Sullivan, knows as The Rev, was found around 11 a.m. in an unresponsive state. The cause of his death is under investigation. Sullivan's death will change the band's sound forever, says MTV. Avenged Sevenfold formed in 1999 and combined "high-speed punk and theatrical metal," noted the music network.