Paul Rogers

Credit: Mitch Viquez

The Disneyland of Stoned Gaming

Paul Rogers
Considering that millions of people have been enjoying faded gaming since Pong first flickered into arcades in the mid-'70s, it's remarkable that a stoned gaming tournament didn't happen sooner. But when it did, its first iteration, as well as its second two months later, was, predictably, a huge hit....
Credit: Paul Rogers

Best Places to Revisit the Cold War

Paul Rogers
As the Cold War fades into history, physical reminders of its very real menace still exist here and there throughout Los Angeles. Begun in 1953, Project Nike consisted of rings of Hercules anti-aircraft missile batteries built around major U.S. cities as defenses from Soviet bombers. L.A.'s 16 decommissioned Nike sites......
Credit: Bobby Forsyth

Best Antidote to Guitar Center  

Paul Rogers
With neighborhood mom-and-pop music stores increasingly being barged out of business by soulless big-box behemoths like Guitar Center and online outlets, Mugzey Muzic flips an unfashionable finger in the face of pure-profit maximization. Opened in 2012 by 25-year musical instrument retail veteran, and former Guitar Center employee, Louie Concotilli, it......
Credit: Renee McAlonis

Best Burger Worth Driving 30 Miles for

Paul Rogers
Perched cliff-top at Santa Clarita's eastern extreme, between Interstate 14 and the Santa Clara River, Bergie's serves namesake burgers (actually named after a previous owner) worth setting the sat nav for. If its strip-mall exterior, padded vinyl bar and sports channel–tuned TVs suggest a stereotypical suburban dive, the menu is......