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 ›

9/11 was six years ago today. And didn't we make a mess of things? Speaking of that mess... And The Mess, Part II... Subcutaneous wireless identification tags may cause cancer. And they're creepy. Alex, the African grey parrot who could tell colors and shapes, is dead. Britney's lousy VMA performance blamed on margaritas and quick rehearsals. Ex-almost-first-lady Jane Wyman died yesterday.... more ›

Sadly, it is upon us. We'd say they saved the best for last, but the whole darn fest has been great from start to finish. Along those lines, all of the offerings these last several days look to be par excellence. Here're just a few. The Blue Screen International Program, Part I, curated by Lisa Kaselak. (Read Lisa's interview with Refraction Arts' Ron Berry here.) This 1.5 hour program, tonight only, 8pm at the Blue... more ›

I'm troubled, I'm dissatisfied. I'm Irish! - Marianne Moore Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice has carried quite a weight the past four years. Ever since his debut release, O, in 2002, critics and fans have wondered how the tortured troubadour would follow up one of the most highly-regarded albums of the past five years. “For me, it was like a challenge to make something that I felt was better than the first record,” Rice recently told... more ›

TUESDAY [31] party • "Pirate Booty" featuring Lila's Medicine and Sangre del Sol at the Enchanted Forest (Gates at 8pm, Show 9pm, $10, BYO Everything) music • Swedish "retrodoompsychfolk band" Witchcraft and Danava at The Parish (9pm, $10/12) music • Sideshow Burlesque, with Mistress Stephanie and Her Melodic Cat, Six Gun Republic (NYC), Tall Shadows at Emo's music • Trey Anastasio Halloween Show at Stubb's music • Halloween-themed show: Strange Boys as the Mummies,... more ›

Our common pitch to the non-theatre-goer: Hey, you’re a fun looking guy/gal. Wanna give something new a try? You know that persnickety twitch in the back of your head, reminding you that you feel disconnected from friends, neighbors and co-workers? You know how, in a quiet moment, alone in your apartment with the sinking feeling that there just isn’t anything imaginable that you could possibly want to do, you wish that you’d felt one... more ›