Zach Behrens

Downtown | Photo by @sevenphoto via LAist Featured Photos In an attempt to woo Conan back to New York City, Gawker delivered pizza to the writing team here in L.A. "Dear Conan Writers. New York Misses You! Come Back--There's More Pizza Where this Came From," read a note on top of one pizza box." L.A. Stormwater 101: what is it, why does it matter and what you should know. Really, how prepared are Californians...

What a weird town Glendale can be sometimes. "Boxing was banned 62 years ago under the pretense that the matches would have an 'unwholesome' impact on the city," reports the Glendale News-Press in relation to the recent lifting of the ban. However, professional mixed-martial arts and kick boxing are still verboten and "closely monitor" boxing events and ban it again if things become unacceptable. Last week, Glendale's silly news was about an Easter Bunny...

Looks like the tradition of divorce is safe for now. The initiative to place a proposition on the ballot to eliminate the law allowing married couples to divorce failed to qualify, the Secretary of State's office announced yesterday. The 2010 California Marriage Protection Act was "the brain-child of concerned Christian and political activist John Marcotte, who felt strongly that Prop 8 did not go far enough in protecting traditional marriage." Touché! According to the...

Following Metro's "big-time" unhappiness with high speed rail plans between Anaheim and Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, the rail authority board today voted to take a second look at one of the previously-scrapped routes. At issue was the pushed-aside idea of sharing track used by Metrolink and Amtrak instead of using $2 billion build a new route, which would include condemning hundreds of private properties and razing homes. Now both approaches will be...

Aftershocks continue in Mexico where a 7.2 struck Sunday. A moderate 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck at 9:44 a.m. LAist photographer Tom Andrews said he felt it in Laguna Beach and the force was enough to make a chandelier swing. Hundreds of aftershocks have struck the region since Sunday. Here in Studio City, we didn't feel the 5.5. Did you?...

As news of a study points to California's comparative lack in disciplining doctors--the state ranked 41--the LA Times reminds us of a new law coming into effect on June 27th. A step below restaurant rankings, Doctors will have to provide notice of or post this: "Notice to consumers, medical doctors are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California, (800) 633-2322, www.mbc.ca.gov." Once on the Board's website, you can find yourself to their...

Art by David Choe The last time British art promoter Lazarides came to Los Angeles, it was a hit, to say the least. It featured the work of the famously elusive Banksy, who also left the gallery behind to hit the streets, installing a British phone booth in Chinatown and a Guantanamo Bay detainee at Disneyland. Later this month, Lazarides is embarking on four months worth of art shows. While Banksy is not part...

Before the hatching | Photo by Gavin Emmons, National Park Service Just a month after two condors laid an egg within Pinnacles National Monument, news came yesterday that a baby has hatched. For park rangers, this is a big deal because it hasn't happened in over 100 years within park borders. “We are thrilled that after being involved with the Condor Recovery Program since 2003, the park has its first condor chick from the...

The credit rating agency that downgraded Los Angeles in February is doing it once again. Moody Investor Services today announced a downgrade on the city's $3.2 billion of debt, reported the Daily News, which notes "a lower credit rating means the city would have to pay more to borrow money." Yesterday, Fitch withdrew its positive rating from the LADWP. The actions stem from a budget standoff over the controversial carbon surcharge. Meanwhile, Mayor Antonio...

Ever since HOWS Market announced the closure of its NoHo Arts District location, people have been praying for a Fresh & Easy takeover of the space. Fresh & Easy, for their part, have been diligent in not giving any specifics. Last month, a spokesperson said "We’re looking at sites in NoHo, but not that site at this time." Yesterday, the same spokesperson had a variation: "We’re looking at sites in NoHo, but cannot confirm...

Photo by GarySe7en via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr The fact that Los Angeles will be out of money on May 5th if leadership doesn't do anything is making heads turn around the nation. So what to do? Make the media rounds. Here's Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's schedule for today (the last one is about the Census) in case you want to hear him talk about it: 9:00 AM -- LOS ANGELES -- Mayor Villaraigosa...

A partly noshed on Blueberry Grilled Cheese ( blueberries, cheddar cheese, on walnut raisin bread) | Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist Hey, it's National Grilled Cheese Month (you've been celebrating daily, right?), so what better time to visit dessert eatery than now? Syrup Desserts in downtown is a cafe that focuses on lattes, cappuccino, coffees and teas along with a melted chocolate, waffles, crepes, ice cream sandwiches and more. The last page of their menu,...