Zach Behrens

The Westside's Alias Books on Sawtelle Boulevard is expanding, opening a second location in Atwater Village, the store announced today. Expected to be open by May 1st, the store will emphasize its collection on film, literature and the arts. "Even in the age of the Kindle there's no substitute for holding a book in your hand and flipping through the pages," said Co-owner Patrick Paeper. Alias Books East will be open 10 a.m. to...

LAPD officers Wednesday night served three arrest and six search warrants after an investigation into a medical marijuana dispensary operating near a school. Launched in February based on community complaints, officers were directed to “Medco Organics” at 326 North Vermont Avenue. Soon after, the investigation revealed a second dispensary--"The Relief Co." or "TRC" was located at 5669 West Pico Boulevard--that was selling illegally, according to the department. Search warrants were served on both facilities...

Tom Andrews/LAist Following in the footsteps of West Hollywood (and South Tahoe), the city of Hermosa Beach unanimously approved an ordinance banning the sale of cats and dogs in the first of two hearings, according to the Daily Breeze. The second and final hearing--ordinances must be voted upon twice--will be in April. No pet stores are currently within city limits so there will be no immediate effects. "This is thought to provide the beginning...

At the Day of Decision Protest in May 2009 (see more photos here) | Photo by Tom Andrews/LAist For the first time, after asking the question in surveys for over 10 years, the Public Policy Institute of California has found that Californians are more likely to favor gay marriage than oppose it. "Today, a record high 49 percent of likely voters favor same-sex marriage and 45 percent oppose it," the report stated. "Support among...

Will the Hollywood Sign get new neighbor in the form of luxury homes or will the land to the left of the "H" be preserved and become part of Griffith Park? That depends on fundraising efforts by the Trust for Public Land, which struck a $12.5 million deal with the land owners to pay up by April 14th. If the money is not in hand by then, the land goes back on the market,...

Do you love L.A.'s public transit system? | Photo by stephenfalk via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr Oh, this should be good. On his "Which Way, L.A.?" program tonight, KCRW host Warren Olney will talk to LA Times business columnist David Lazarus, who today slammed Metro and other public transit agencies with his pieced titled, "L.A. mass transit agencies make only a token effort to get people onboard." Lazarus's main gripe is about transfers,...

A Metro committee Thursday is poised to vote on a move that would fully fund the first of two phases extending the Gold Line along the 210 Freeway. If the $690 million transfer is approved, Phase IIA would extend the light rail line 11.3 miles from Pasadena to Azusa, mostly along the 210 freeway, by 2014. There would be six stops in the cities of Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale, and Azusa. The vote is...

We've had a couple tsunami scares in Los Angeles over the past year, most recently with the earthquake in Chile, but it potentially could happen here with devastating effects. Now the recently released series of inundation maps covering the most vulnerable areas of California's coast (here are the L.A. maps) have been released in conjunction with Tsunami Awareness & Preparedness Week, thanks to the California Geological Survey along with California Emergency Management Agency and...

For the second year in a row, Los Angeles earns number eight in a poll of worst tax procrastinating cities, according to Turbo Tax, which apparently has been keeping score for the last nine years. San Diego came in at seven and San Francisco at five. You've got three weeks until April 15th, so however you do it, good luck!...

In the race for California's Attorney General, one of L.A.'s top politicians has chosen to support San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris. "District Attorney Kamala Harris has a proven record of innovation and success, demonstrating that the best way to keep our communities safe is to be both tough and smart on crime," L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti said. Harris most recently made headlines when she told the Sacramento Bee that she does...

Gilroy may have its Garlic Festival and Los Angeles may have lost its Tofu Festival (and let's not forget the upcoming Asparagus Festival in Stockon and Artichoke Festival in Castroville), but out in neighboring Ventura County, the California Strawberry Festival continues to rock on, bringing out hordes of people. This year, the sweet fête will take place on the third weekend of May and will, as always, include strawberry-infused foods of every kind: kabobs,...

A proposal to create a Business Improvement District (BID) in Echo Park heads to a City Council committee (.pdf) this afternoon. Submitted by Councilman Eric Garcetti in January, it "would serve the local business community by providing increased security, homeless services, beautification, and streetscape maintenance. Establishment of the BID is expected to revitalize the local economy and is a positive step towards neighborhood renewal." Not everyone is on board, though. The Eastsider LA spoke...