Zach Behrens

Avi Buffalo at The Echo in 2009 (more photos here) | Photo by Jeff Koga for LAist There's so much new music out there, it's sometimes hard to pick who to check out. Today UK-based music news magazine NME released it's 50 Best News Bands of 2010 list -- as they describe it, "the 50 bands who've blown our minds over the past few months." Since we're Los Angeles, a good number of local...

Long awaited by academics every year, U.S. News and World report today unveiled their 27th list of college rankings for universities and liberal arts colleges. And lots of applause should go locally. Among the top 50 universities were six in Southern California: CalTech (#7), USC (#23), UCLA (#25). UCSD (#35), UCSB (#39) and UC Irvine (#41). And there were six liberal arts colleges in their category's top 50: Pomona College (#6), Claremont Mckenna (#11),...

Happy Nisei Week! | Photo by TheHapacalypse via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr How nerdy and cool: there's now a wiki dedicated to Venice. In remembrance of urbanist John Chase. Dig Villains Tavern in the Arts District? Here's one mixology recipe for keeps. In Orange County: he said he didn't kill her, but he did admit to keeping her body in the freezer for over two years. A deep look into city salaries in...

The L.A. River in the San Fernando Valley (see more photos here, here and here | Photo by Tom Andrews/LAist Now that the L.A. River is deemed navigable, meaning it is subject to the 1972 Clean Water Act, by the federal government, it should in theory be accessible by the public. But that's not exactly the case right now. Cautious government agencies are trying to figure it out and one Los Angeles city councilmember,...

93-year-old actress and socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor was given her last rites by a priest last night at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, according to the LA Times. Gabor broke her hip in July and stayed in the hospital until last week only to return again after developing blood clots. She was reportedly talking through Saturday, which was her 24th wedding anniversary with Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, but her conditioned worsened Sunday morning when...

With high temperatures expected today and tomorrow, L.A. County public health officials issued a heat advisory this morning. “While people don’t need to be told it’s hot outside, they do need to be reminded how to take care of themselves, children, the elderly, and their pets when the weather gets hotter,” said County Health Officer Jonathan E. Fielding. Temperatures in the San Fernando Valley are expected to be in the high 80s and low...

George's Shoe Comfort & Repair in Eagle Rock | Photo by TooMuchFire via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr In case you missed it yesterday, this weekend is going to be heat wave hot! California almond farmers, who supply nearly all of the type of nut to the country, are in a fight against the feds about proposed rules. In Venice there's a proposal to bring “mechanical automobile lifts and robotic parking structures” to Electric...

About 2,000 people are expected to attend a noon jobs rally in downtown this afternoon. Some 50 buses will head to City Hall and drop off attendees who will be calling for decisive action by the federal government to create good jobs that will move the country forward, not backward. One key example that will be used is the 30/10 plan, which would give money upfront to be paid back in full later to...

A permit given to a Homeowners Association to rid their neighborhood of rabbits by allowing hunting has drawn some international attention. An online petition signed by 720 people around the world was delivered to Mission Viejo authorities this week. In it was one argument often heard about moving to Southern California. "If they don't want their plants to be destroyed, and they choose to live in an area where there is wildlife that has...

L.A. at sunrise | Photo by @sevenphoto via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Have you been complaining about how this Summer has been cooler than usual? Alright, then get ready for a heat wave this weekend! What's going on with development at Fountain and La Brea? Here's what. Move over Bell? Maybe not, but there's a movement to recall the mayor of Compton over corruption allegations. Back to Bell: "We have a simple message...

Well, to be exact, 255 years and eight months. When he was 15, Eric Antonio Benites, now 17, killed one man and attempted to kill five others to avenge the death of his little brother, according to the LA Times. Jose Cano was 13 when he was allegedly killed...

Photo by A.C.Thamer via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Down 2.5%: "Here’s another sign the economy is struggling: the personal income of California residents dropped last year for the first time since World War II." Parkman Triangle Park in Silver Lake will be dedicated this weekend. There's a pretty sweet A-frame house in the Hollywood Hills that's for sale right now. Low-tide brought in a lot of shells to Venice beach yesterday. Yo! Venice...