Labor Day

Hollywood Stabbing Leads to Another Death on Tourist Strip

LAPD statistics say violent crime in Hollywood is down 24 percent in since 2011, but in the last 12 months there has been enough high-profile mayhem to create shocking headlines. At the beginning of summer three panhandlers were fingered for allegedly stabbing a 23-year-old woman to death in broad ... More >>

Pleasure in the Rubble: Why the Summer's Last, Smallest Blockbuster Was Its Best

6 Free Things to Do in L.A. This Week

South Bay Bliss Twice a year, Hermosa Beach gives adults and their kids a chance to escape work, routine and, if they play their cards right, even one another, for three days of art, live music and street food, all in the downtown blocks of this laid-back, party-loving suburb. During its 40 years of ... More >>

Labor Day Weekend Traffic in L.A. Will Be Much Worse Than You Think

This just in: Your commute tomorrow is going to blow. That's according to the good people at INRIX, who use complicated but oh-so-precise forecasting to explain what's happening on L.A.'s roadways (and, OK, sell their traffic app, too). See also: Los Angeles Reclaims Title as America's Congestion ... More >>

All That Jazz

DUI Checkpoints in Malibu, Santa Monica

Updated at the bottom with additional operations, including checkpoints in Koreatown, Los Feliz and more. First posted at 9:09 a.m. The L.A. County Sheriff's Department says an end-of-summer DUI crackdown, involving the California Highway Patrol and local police, is coming to a roadway near you. T ... More >>

Los Angeles Times The Taste Coming Labor Day Weekend

Not for nothing have our summers become a season of feasts -- whether it's Lucky Rice Feast taking place this Saturday, July 27, or our Pancake Breakfast coming up on August 11. It's almost fitting then that The Taste, a three-day food festival hosted by The Los Angeles Times, should close the summe ... More >>

Los Angeles River Opens to Boaters For First Time Since 1930s

See also: Grand Opening of the New L.A. River Recreation Zone. For the first time ever -- well, not really ever, but almost -- the Los Angeles River will be open to kayakers and fishermen (and women). This new era of openness starts Monday, Memorial Day, and lasts through Labor Day. This welcome m ... More >>

Earthquake Measuring 3.3 Jolts Beverly Hills, Westside

A strong jolt of an earthquake hit L.A.'s Westside early on the Labor Day holiday. The temblor at 3.26 a.m. measured 3.3, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It felt strong in some parts of Los Angeles early Monday:

Tap Takeover at Steingarten LA: All the Dogfish Head You Can Drink

With the Labor Day holiday weekend approaching, you are undoubtedly destined to have a few lowest common denominator beers with your barbecue. Even those of us who tend toward craft are destined to live the High Life. You can start the weekend on a much higher note by attending the Dogfish Head tap ... More >>

5 Labor Day DIY Projects: Build a Winery, Plant a Rooftop Garden Make Moonshine

Holiday traffic, bars reeking of stale beer, hoards of people intent on their last beach fling. Ah, Labor Day weekend fun. Actually, it's the perfect excuse to stay home and channel your inner Euell Gibbons and forage for backyard cattails. Or, if you're not swamp-adjacent, build a mini-winery in ... More >>

Good Girl Dinette's Labor Day Pie Pop-Up

Diep Tran, chef-owner of Highland Park's Good Girl Dinette, isn't taking the day off on Labor Day -- instead, she turning her restaurant into a one-day-only pie shop, which will offer homemade pies baked with local produce. You know, just in case her customers need something to serve after their bar ... More >>

Food News Roundup: How to Roll Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Jamie Oliver's New TV Series 10 Labor Day Grilling Dishes

Ecosalon: "Ask Foodie Underground," ecosalon's new advice column for foodists. (On Mason jars, radish tops, cheese sprinkles, etc.) Channel 4: Jamie Oliver's new TV series, Jamie and Jimmy's Food Fight Club. Slate: Burning Question #147... What do Swedes think of the Swedish chef?? Smithsonian Fo ... More >>

Butchers: Richard Schwartz of Bob's Market For Your End of Summer Grilling Personal Sausage Recipe Requests

BBQ pork shoulder, carne asada, fresh sausages, mesquite turkey, chicken under a brick, a really good steak. If you haven't gotten your summer fix beyond burgers, the four week grilling countdown to Labor Day has begun. Time to check in with your small local butcher. Of course we're thrilled with ... More >>

DUI Arrests in L.A. County For 4th of July Week Top a Whopping 1,000

A whopping number of DUI arrests for the 4th of July holiday week were racked up in L.A. County this year. Last year the number was 836, and boy did we top that. The numbers can't be compared, however, because last year's numbers span a 5-day "holiday weekend" while this year saw a midweek 4th that ... More >>

Ball-Throwing, Sand-Digging at L.A. Beaches Could Cost You Hefty Fine

Updated at the bottom: The Department of Beaches and Harbors admits the ordinance is "tremendously confusing," but promises it won't fine you $1,000 for throwing a ball. (Small corrections in headline and throughout.) Guess what? If you've ever thrown any object over 10 inches in diameter at an L.A ... More >>

Love Your Cinefamily

Food News Roundup: Donut Robots, Gingerbread Typewriters What To Do With A Million Coffee Beans

Flickr/jazzylolobaking Christmas cookies​Consumer Reports: Ways to conserve energy in the kitchen during the holidays. BBC News: Does your kid like to watch Hayao Miyazaki movies more than eating actual food? Maybe if you spent 2 hours making your kid's lunch in the shape of Totoro (or Barac ... More >>

East L.A. Backyard Punk Scene Rages On

As uninhibited and intoxicated as ever

Gumby-Costumed Man Tries to Rob 7-Eleven in SoCal, Cops Say

Gumby.​Updated at the bottom with San Diego police telling us they don't believe it was a hoax. Two suspects turned themselves in. First posted at 6:03 a.m. on Sept. 7. Gumby tried to rob a Southern California 7-Eleven. You read that right. A man dressed in a full-on, head-to-toe Gumby cost ... More >>

Flag Stop Art Fair: South Bay Lexus Dealership Becomes an Art Gallery

Gary LeonardBob Zoell's work​ The Flag Stop art fair at South Bay Lexus in Torrance over Labor Day weekend wasn't billed as an art fair, but instead as an "alternative art experience." In truth, it was both, with elements ranging from a major survey of the work of Bob Zoell curated by Howard F ... More >>

Thundercat - The Echo - 9/5/11

Ian CohenI assume he brings a change of clothes when he's on tour with Suicidal Tendencies​Thundercat The Echo September 5, 2011 See also Ian Cohen's feature profile: Thundercat Emerges With His Debut, Co-produced by Flying Lotus Better than: The Gobots' acid jazz project Remember back in ... More >>

The Spazmatics - The Dragonfly - 9-4-11

Lina Lecaro Spazzing out ​The Spazmatics The Dragonfly 9-4-11 Better than... getting the high score on Ms. Pac-Man. Recently, nerdcore '80s band The Spazmatics have been bringing their cover song chaos to L.A. clubs including Playhouse, The Key Club, and Rolling Stone's Hollywood & Highland v ... More >>

Echo Park Lake Is About to Get Drained Into an Empty, Stinking Mud Flat

The Eastsider via PicasaThe lake was last drained in 1984. Yes, it was awful.​For the new wave of borderline-eastside gentry who weren't around to see Echo Park Lake in a surly state of "stinking mud flat" in 1984 (or 1902, 1906, 1919, 1922, 1932 or 1946): We hate to be the bearers of bad ne ... More >>

Post Vacation Syndrome: Scientists Explain Why Labor Day Leaves You Feeling Like Crap

Hot-dog hangover doesn't help any.​One would think, after one whole extra day of not doing whatever it is you've signed up for, life-wise -- work, school, saving celebrity geese from massive drainings of Echo Park Lake, etc. -- that one would feel rejuvenated; autumn-crisp; ready to face the s ... More >>

Cajon Pass Fire on 15 Freeway Stalls Vegas Plans for Labor Day Weekend

Las Vegas SunView of the fire from those lucky enough to already be in Vegas.​Updated after the jump: The 15 South will reportedly be closed all night. The northbound lanes are open, but moving like molasses. Your Vegas trip: Officially a bust. Originally posted at 3:50 p.m. All those early b ... More >>

Your Weekly To-Do List

Last rays of summer

Drunk Driver Crackdown on Massive Scale to Close Out Summer in Los Angeles

dogwelder​At time when L.A.'s chief budget analyst actually suggested that more parking tickets could be one way to help City Hall's money problems, the LAPD sure seems to be doing its part. If you believe critics who argue that the department has targeted poorer, immigrant-heavy communities ... More >>

Food News Roundup: Robots Bake Cookies, Toilet as Beer Cooler Michelin Restaurant Gets Looted in London

-- The London riots: the staff at a Michelin-starred restaurant fights off looters. [NakedSushi] -- A robot that bakes cookies. [the kitchn] -- The New Yorker's Susan Orlean is moving to L.A. Without her chickens. [LA Observed] -- Keeping your beer cold. In the toilet. [National Post via food5 ... More >>

Carmageddon Junior This Weekend as 710 Freeway Closes Overnight in Southeast L.A. County

NoiseCollusion​We're sensing a little Westside bias. Shutdown the 405 for less than a weekend and all other news must cease: The world is coming to an end. But over on the Eastside they're going to have a little Carmageddon Jr. going on this weekend. That's right, the 710 will be shut down ... More >>

Los Feliz Village Street Fair's Fashionably Funky (and Free) Fest, 7/24/11

Lina LecaroA "feliz" fest.​The period from now until Labor Day will be fest-full to say the least. Sunset Strip Music Fest, Sunset Junction Street Fair and FYF Fest will see hordes moving through the streets of LA, angling for a view of their favorite bands, gnawing on greasy grub from the foo ... More >>

FYF Line-up Announced! FYF x L.A. RECORD Booklet Released! Exclusive Semi-NSFW Excerpt of Naked LSD Jail Comic Within!

FYF Fest announced their 2011 line-up today, excellently headlined on Labor Day Weekend by Descendents and featuring the return of Guided By Voices and some interesting second-billed bands. (Dead Milkmen?!) FYF, which will be partnering with Goldenvoice and moving downtown after a short stint in t ... More >>

Top 5 Ways to Eat & Drink This Weekend: Donuts, Mezcal, Mole, Beer

We've already mentioned tonight's special National Donut Day menu, an annual tradition at Grace and now at BLD. But we can't write about donuts and bacon all the time. 5. Salad Days: To celebrate its three-year anniversary, fast-casual salad chain. Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop will be giving diners ... More >>

5 Food Events for Memorial Day Weekend: Beer, Food Trucks Ice Cream

Guzzle & Nosh​It's Memorial Day weekend. You've got three days off. (We do!) Here are a few ways you might want to celebrate. Turn the page for 5 food and beer events held over the long holiday weekend...

Nightranger: Tatted and Torn

Daglas Drive-in: Hamburger Stand By Me

Home of the West Valley, Greco-American french fry

Craigslist Pulls Plug On 'Adult Services' Ads

Craigslist​Quietly and somewhat defiantly over the Labor Day weekend California-based Craigslist pulled its controversial Adult Services advertising section, an alleged haven for prostitution and subject of authorities' ire. The move, which saw the website place the word "censored" over the l ... More >>

L.A. Police Union Blames Agitators, Leftists For Anti-LAPD Protest In Westlake Following Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting There

LAJourno via TwitpicProtesters in Westlake Monday.​The union that represents Los Angeles police on Tuesday blamed extreme agitators and even communists for the unrest that plagued the Westlake neighborhood following an officer's shooting of a man with a knife over the Labor Day weekend. Protes ... More >>

L.A. Techno Hippies Rejoice: Burning Man Attendance At, Er, New High

​As we loaf in the June-like dreariness of rare, early September gloom, let us not forget the blazing sun and whipping sand that is Burning Man -- the Labor Day weekend techno-hippie festival that is one part Angeleno, two parts San Francisco. This year's event appears to have set an attendanc ... More >>

Dance Club Pick: Slutty the Clown

THE FOLLOWING ITEM CONTAINS UNPROVOKED BURN AGAINST EAT, PRAY, LOVE

The Thursday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

SapphireBlue22stack of newspapers​What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections mid-week. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is free ... More >>

Will Work For Food: Your Labor Day Food Festival Weekend

Good thing that Labor Day weekend traditionally marks the end of wearing white -- although here in Los Angeles, many restaurants are lucky if diners wear pants, white or otherwise -- as this holiday weekend has turned into one giant food festival. Between all the food trucks, food demos, cooking com ... More >>

The Thursday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

SapphireBlue22stack of newspapers​What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections mid-week. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is free ... More >>

Short Attention Span Dinner Theater: Your Week in Food, 7/6-7/9

In which we highlight the past week in food, either at home or abroad. "The Tam O'Shanter in Atwater Village, owned by the Lawry's family, is also as ersatz as can be, a Disney version of a Scottish inn that in fact started its life as a drive-in restaurant, but something tells me it's the ... More >>

Labor & Leisure Suits

Scraping the Bottom of the Film Can

Shock Therapy

Bet the Ranchera