A sad week for LAist as they lose their trusted and amazing editor Tony Pierce to the LA Times, but what a blast his last week was. He shared his 25 Favorite CDs of 2007 and wrote a great review of just a good movie, No Country For Old Men. At UCLA, thousands of students celebrated the end of their quarter by running around campus in their undies (lots of photos in a two-part photo essay, one, two). That wasn't the only photo essay either: Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy friends and Star Trek actors all joined in at the Writers Strike and KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas brought two nights of amazing bands that included Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park (Part I), Modest Mouse, Muse, Spoon and The Killers (Part II). Not only is L.A. a great music town, it has just been named the best city for bookish types. For those who are looking for something a little more active, American Gladiators are back (yes!) and if that's not enough, how about a Christmas gift of action and adventure? more ›

Image from nbc.comAustin's favorite high-school football drama, Friday Night Lights, could be changing networks. Radar is reporting that ESPN is in talks to bring the critically-acclaimed, but little-watched, show into its lineup of original programming. Friday Night Lights, which follows the lives of the fictional Dillon High School Panthers, films in and around Austin. Despite winning critical awards and having a loyal following, the show has moved time slots three times and has struggled in... more ›

LAist began the month with a new food series exploring the popular and unknown late night eats around town. If a Top Chef winner opened up a late night spot in Los Angeles, denizens would flock it, yet the LA Times and other media might be wary. Turning to sports, the Dodger season was quite memorable in the way that it imploded and the LA County Sheriff's Department made some games of their own such... more ›

When Ruby Kincaid spots her estranged daughter, Violet, in a TV ad, she promptly fires up the Winnebago and, with two friends and the two wily grandchildren her daughter abandoned in tow, sets out for Hollywood. It's just another adventure for Ruby, a Texas widow left in charge of her husband's bowling alley. Amy Wallen's debut novel, Moon Pies and Movie Stars, is a feisty piece of fiction about an equally feisty cast of characters.... more ›

UPDATE: Congrats to Jeff Orr, who won a pair of tickets to the show! more ›

It appears as though the TRMPAC scandal isn't going to slide off of Tom DeLay as slickly as he wish it would. (He's no Reagan, folks.) Evidence (in the form of mysterious "documents") has come to light putting DeLay much closer to the ethical conflict (his reciept of $500,000 from corporate lobbyists) than his people would have you believe. From the LA Times: more ›

While Tom DeLay (R-Texas...duh) poses for cameras outside of Terry Schaivo's hospice, the LA Times has happened across a timely anecdote from DeLay's past. Since we at the Austinist love to point out politicians and their hypocrisy, we wanted to share it with you: more ›