LAist

Thanks to This Week's Advertisers

tien mao — 2009-11-20T16:00:00-08:00

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on LAist.

Virgin America, with its new non-stop route from LAX and SFO to Ft. Lauderdale.
John Mayer, find tickets for his Battle Studies tour with the AMEX early on sale.
Ray LaMontagne, playing Sunday at The Orpheum Theater.
American Apparel, with 8 stores in LA, you can look your best after dark.
GroupOn, using collective buying power to bring you one ridiculous coupon each day.

If you're interested in advertising on LAist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.

Nearly $10 Million Owed to LAUSD by Teachers Who Were Mistakenly Overpaid

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-20T15:45:32-08:00

Remember in 2007 when a major LAUSD computer glitch caused thousands of teachers to go without a paycheck while other teachers, including former ones six feet under, got paid extra? That's all fixed now, but the school district is still seeking $9.4 million from 2,400 current and former employees.

“Thousands of honest employees voluntarily paid back the money. We are aggressively pursuing the hold-outs who are, in effect, stealing dollars that should be spent on instruction or to save jobs,” said LAUSD General Counsel Dave Holmquist in a statement.

Some 35,000 employees were overpaid $60 million the Business Tools for Schools (BTS) payroll system royally screwed the district and employees. Some teachers earned a few hundred extra dollars with others earning close to $100,000.

“Most employees either have repaid the District or have made arrangements to have the amount withheld from their paychecks,” said Megan Reilly, Chief Financial Officer. “The money must be paid back. It is also urgently needed at this time to stop some layoffs.”

An LA County Superior Court judge is "poised" to grant the district judgements against two employees--one who received $96,000 and another who got $52,000, according to a news release. A third teacher has settled for the full amount of $40,000. Teachers who owe smaller amounts--the average is $5,000--will be referred to a collection agency and if payment is still refused, ore lawsuits will be filed in 2010, he district promises.

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TV Junkie: 'Curb' Finale Looms; Bon Jovi on Conan + Video

Tom Lewis — 2009-11-20T15:00:12-08:00

The season finale of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is Sunday night at 9pm on HBO

Weekend Edition

We're very much looking forward to Sunday's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" season finale. The "Seinfeld" reunion has been played perfectly - not overemphasized and very realistically positioned for the best comedic effect. A comedian on the circuit told me that "Curb" wasn't funny, and he's right that it's not funny in a stand-up comedy kind of way but it's sure as hell funny through the use of exploiting the most embarrassing and awkward situations you could ever put human beings into. It brings truth to the statement that comedy can be gleaned from observing someone else's tragedy. The close of this excellent seventh season is on Sunday at 9pm on HBO.
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Ok ok, so Oprah is ending her show in 2011. Can we move that date up?
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Bon Jovi performs on Conan tonight - we covered Jon Bon Jovi's acoustic performance at Lincoln Center earlier this week, check out the 45 minute of music in the video at the end of this post.

The TV Junkie Plan: Tonight - Jonathan Ross, "The Soup", Conan (Bon Jovi performs), Ferguson. Saturday - "The Dish", "SNL". Sunday - "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "Californication".

Tonight

9:00pm Monk USA - Monk's return to the police force becomes more challenging than he anticipated when he becomes involved in investigating a serial killer.

9:00pm Friday Night With Jonathan Ross BBC America - Michael McIntyre; Sarah Harding; Gerard Butler; Arctic Monkeys

10:00pm Stargate Universe Syfy - Lt. Scott and Camile Wray use the communication stones to visit Eart

10:00pm The Jay Leno Show NBC - Actor Kellan Lutz; actor Ed Begley Jr. (interview with Ed next week here on LAist!)

10:00pm NUMB3RS CBS - When robbers strike a diamond exchange and take hostages, the team thinks the culprits are copying a convict's criminal strategies.

10:00pm White Collar USA - After an expensive portrait is stolen from a young woman, Neal tries to uncover the secret behind its origin

10:00pm The Soup E! - Time to get Joeled

10:00pm Sanctuary Syfy - Dr. Magnus is charged with murder, Will must go up against the heads of the Sanctuary Network to defend her.

10:00pm Crash Starz - During a blackout in LA Jocko Sims returns to help Dennis Hopper track down the drug dealer who may have murdered his daughter

11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - Actor Viggo Mortensen; comic Paula Poundstone; Lyle Lovett performs.

11:35pm The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien NBC - Actress Eva Mendes; Bon Jovi performs - see video at the end of this post.

12:00am Live at Gotham Comedy Central - Host Doug Benson; Moshe Kasher; Jarrod Harris; Brent Sullivan; TuRae; Harris Wittels; Donald Glover.

12:05am Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC - Actors Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner; Death Cab for Cutie performs.

12:35am The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS - Actor Neil Patrick Harris; David Gray performs

12:35am Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC - Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt; Elvis Costello performs.

Saturday

9:00pm Robin Hood BBC America - Robin tells the Outlaws Gisborne is joining them so he can honor his father's dying wish and save his half-brother.

10:00pm The Dish Style - American Idol Kris Allen guests

10:00pm The Graham Norton Show BBC America - Dawn French; Rod Stewart

11:25pm Saturday Night Live NBC - Host Joseph Gordon-Levitt; the Dave Matthews Band performs.

Sunday

8:00pm The Amazing Race 15 CBS - Tempers flare when a team breaks a promise; a stolen taxi leads to a team falling to last place.

8:00pm 2009 American Music Awards ABC - Fans votes determine which musical acts are honored at the annual ceremony at Nokia Theater in Los Angeles; featuring performances by the Black Eyed Peas, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Adam Lambert, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and more.

9:00pm Dexter Showtime - Hungry Man

9:00pm Curb Your Enthusiasm HBO - A returned favor costs Larry quality time with Cheryl.

10:00pm Storm Chasers Discovery - Reed pushes too close to a tornado and finds no place to hide.

10:00pm Californication Showtime - Hank's exploits are exposed; Charlie struggles to keep Marcy away from Rick Springfield.

Jon Bon Jovi acoustic at Lincoln Center NYC 11/16/2009 from Thomas Attila Lewis on Vimeo.

"An Evening With Jon Bon Jovi and Friends" was a performance offered only to American Express card holders. Proceeds from the $50 ticket went to charity and after the performance (which included audience Q&A) everyone was presented with a gift bag containing Bon Jovi's new album, a DVD of a documentary on the band called "When We Were Beautiful", and a hardcover book to accompany the film. Perhaps you aren't a Bon Jovi fan, but you should be aware of this series that American Express is involved with producing as an artist you are interested in might be their next featured performer. Word was spread on Twitter via the @AmericanExpress account and sold out in hours. For you Bon Jovi fans, you'll have to enjoy the band on Conan tonight and/or be one of the 50,000+ at the next concert instead of being one in a few hundred like this last Monday.

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LAist Interview: Chris Crisci of Old Canes

Molly Bergen — 2009-11-20T14:30:00-08:00

Chris Crisci I Photo courtesy of Cobra Camanda Publicity

In 2001 The Appleseed Cast found themselves in a sticky situation in Germany. Their booking agent had told some promoters at a record store that the band would do an acoustic set. Lead singer, Chris Crisci explains, "Prior even going over to Europe we had had this discussion with our agent. He wanted us to do an acoustic show. We said no. He asked again. We said no. So we get to this record store in Germany, and they were like "So you're playing this acoustic thing?" I was so pissed. How much more clear could we be? But it turns out that people really liked what we were playing." Crisci decided to try out some of the new material he had been writing on the side, and it went really well. So well, he decided to form his own folk side project, Old Canes.

Old Canes released their much anticipated (seriously, it took three and a half years for this sucker to be released) sophomore disk, Feral Harmonic, this fall, and believe me it was well worth the wait. Filled with an exuberant energy the album is filled with loud bright folk that expands upon the initial energy from his first album, Early Morning Hymns, and explodes in your eardrums. We caught up with Crisci before his show on Sunday. Here is some of what was said.
Old Canes - Little Bird Courage

What made you pick up an instrument? How old were you?
God, I don't even know. My dad had guitars all over the house. I used to bang on those things all the time, but the first thing I played with any kind of training was the clarinet, which I played up until junior high. Then in high school I played the trumpet and the trombone.

Why did you switch to the trumpet?
My older brother played trumpet pretty much from second grade on, and I think I wanted to play because of him. I never liked clarinet that much anyway. Then in high school I was in a jazz ensemble class that needed a trombone, so I switched over to trombone. Then at sixteen I decided I wanted to play guitar.

So when did you decide to take on Old Canes as a side project?
Well, that was the first time that I had played it for an actual audience and people really dug it and were encouraging me to record it. So when Appleseed went on hiatus I started recording the first record. Old Canes was kind of be a an outlet for me to do whatever I wanted it to. There were definitely much appreciated contributions that my friends made but 95%of it was mine.

Why was there a three and a half year gap between your first album and this one?
Well, I wrote a song when I had time. It's not like I was huddled in my basement for three years, working tirelessly. Every weekend I would put in a couple hours until a year ago when I actually start getting everyone over and recording parts. I would say for the first three years, I worked on it about a month's worth a time a year.

Where did you record it?
In my basement on some cheap recording equipment. It sprung from having a budget. A really small recording budget. It was slightly bigger than last time, though. The last time the deal I had with the record company was, "Buy me an eight track tape machine. If you don't like what I give you then you can resell it. No risk to you." (laughs) So that's where it stemmed from. I really enjoy recording in my basement. I also enjoy not paying $500- $700 dollars a day for a studio. It's nice to be able to tinker around and not have to worry about achieving a vision in a week.

What lessons did you learn recording the first record that you applied to the second?
Well, I've been recording since I was fifteen, but it was the first time that I had really produced a record. It was nice to record a record just for itself and not because I was trying to achieve something.

Where did you get the name the Old Canes?
There is a band called Ten Grand and this guy named Bob, who's in that band, named it. I was pretty far along in recording the four song demo and I didn't have a name yet, so I was asking everyone what would they call their folky side project. I got a lot of really stupid names, but Bob came up with Old Canes. I made sure he was cool with me taking the name...twice and he said yes.

Chris Crisci I Photo courtesy of Cobra Camanda Publicity

How did you end up at Saddle Creek?
About a year and a half ago, I decided that I wanted a new label. Not because I don't love Second Nature as a label, but I owed him money for the first record. We were kind of at an impasse. He had bailed me out on the road and he couldn't afford to print CDs. I wasn't going to tour without CDs, so I started shopping around for a new label who could take on the debt and the compensation. He'd still make money off the CDs too it would just also be attached to someone else. The first label that I asked was Saddle Creek. They're just such a wonderful label, and I was really lucky and they agreed to do it.

What inspired "Little Bird Courage"?
I wrote it in my basement. There is a cute little story that's going around in a few different reviews that says that I was singing it to my wife when I wrote it. Which is adorable, but completely untrue. It is a lot about her, but it's not like I was singing to her as she was standing in the corner. She's on it, though.

She's singing in that song?
Yeah, she hates when I tell people that. She doesn't like the attention. She told me when I was writing the credits, "Don't put my name in there." But I was like, "You have to be in there. You're a singer. You deserve props for what you did."

"Trust" is a very dark song about how you can't trust anyone including your own family. Who did you write that about? What sort of day were you having?
I have a son. He just turned one last month and and I was writing the first few lines with him in mind. It's just kind of a warning. It shouldn't be taken too seriously. The song kind of took a very paranoid point of view. It's written by someone who is so paranoid that they missing out from the positive things in life. The song is a warning about not letting fear control your life. You've also got to understand that my songs are written with heavy dose of fiction.

Old Canes - Trust

What was the worst show you ever played?
That's easy. Baltimore, 2004 right when the album was coming out we played at this place called Autobar. The two other bands that played didn't promote the show at all. They didn't bring anybody and they were local! There's no excuse for that. So I got very drunk and it was just me and Junior playing drums. At one point Junior threw a stick at me because I wouldn't shut up.

What were you saying?
I told everyone to turn around and play pool. I got really surly for no good reason. It was ugly.

What is the weirdest thing you ever seen in the audience?
Does the shows I've played with Appleseed count?

Sure.
We played a show in Utah. It was pretty early on in our touring days. We had just finished playing and there was this kid that collapsed on the floor screaming. Apparently his girl had just left him and he was so distraught that he lay on the floor and starts screaming. So we stop playing, because we thought he was injured. He was making the most bloodcurdling noise you've ever heard and writhing on the floor. It was horrible.

Jesus. No wonder she left him. Do you have a favorite local band at the moment?
Muscle Worship. They sound somewhere between Polvo and Braid and surf rock.

Okay final question, if you were going to book a gig in Heaven and in Hell who would you have headline?
For Hell I would have Glenn Beck headline, just because I want him there. Him and his whole crew. They can do whatever they want down there. And for Heaven? My family can play that...and everyone else. Fuck it. Everyone else in the world can come to that gig minus Glenn.

Fair enough. Well thank you for talking with us.
Thank you!

Be sure to catch Old Canes at the Viper Room. Tickets are $12.

Set Times:
Boom Boom Satellites at 12am
Old Canes at 11pm
I Will Never Be The Same at 10pm
Sol Giant at 9pm
The Salutation at 8pm

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Weekend Movie Guide: Edward or Jacob? Nic Cage!

Josh Tate — 2009-11-20T14:00:00-08:00

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Is it just me or do the weird, little Mormon books by Stephanie Meyer not exactly qualify as a "saga"? And why does no one discuss the awful examples of social behavior (e.g. how awesome it is to date violent, distant men) that the books promote? Nevertheless, here comes Twilight Saga: New Moon. It will make close to a hundred million dollars this weekend, and in a few years people will barely remember it. I'm much more excited about Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. Werner Herzog + a fully-caffeinated Nic Cage + a sleepwalking Eva Mendes = awesome. Yes, I am dead serious. Michael Oher has a great story which I'm sure will be watered-down and simplified in The Blind Side. Hey Hollywood -- less accents, more story!

I can't be certain of it, but by all estimations Planet 51 will probably suck incredible balls. Maybe it's time for everyone else to give up making animated films and just give their money to Pixar. Yes, I am dead serious. In Defamation, director Yoav Shamir explores the question, "What is anti-Semitism today?" I am willing to bet that anyone who sees Defamation will not see New Moon. Whatever happened to John Woo? He's back in China directing movies such as Red Cliff, a historical epic covering the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. The question is -- were there slow-motion doves in ancient China?

Tickets, Showtimes, Reviews and Previews after the jump!

Tickets & Showtimes

New Moon
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
The Blind Side
Planet 51
Defamation
Red Cliff

Reviews

New Moon
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
The Blind Side
Planet 51
Defamation
Red Cliff

Previews

New Moon

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

The Blind Side

Planet 51

Red Cliff

Presented By:

2009-11-20T14:00:00-08:00

Gasol Was Well Received at Chavez Ravine

Zack Jerome — 2009-11-20T13:30:00-08:00

Pau Gasol works it in the post in a game versus the Golden State Warriors. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)

LA Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke wrote an article describing the lackluster reaction of Laker Nation last night as Pau Gasol made his first appearance of the season. Coming off a hamstring injury that sidelined the Spaniard for the first eleven games of the season, Gasol was back to his usual self, contributing 24 points and 13 rebounds in a 108-93 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Plaschke felt the crowd did not give Gasol the welcome he deserved. Watching the game at home, I noticed a similar reaction. I think I know why.

The Lakers and their fans are focused on another championship run. There is a certain psychosis to being a perennial winner. When I was an undergrad at USC during the heyday of the Pete Carroll years, I experienced only three losses from my sophomore year through my senior year. It became so commonplace to win, so critical to keep the party going, that players could get lost in the shuffle. The tight end is out? Run the ball. That was the mentality.

There is typically one player that represents a championship team. With the Lakers, this is Kobe Bryant. If Kobe was out for 11 games and came back, he'd get the roars of a returning Roman emperor. Gasol might be the most important general, but he is not the emperor.

The Lakers have won four titles this decade and are looking to start off the 2010s on the right foot. There will be a time when the Lakers come back to earth when these years are dissected and analyzed. At that time, Gasol will be exalted. He made the team great. He's the only player I have ever seen that Kobe seems to enjoy playing with (or passing the ball to). I agree with Bill Plaschke when he referred to Gasol as the "glue" holding the Lake Show together.

Down Figueroa and a few blocks west on Sunset sits Chavez Ravine. It's empty and Dodger fans everywhere are wondering what the future will bring them. Unlike the Lakers or the Trojans (or even to an extent UCLA in basketball), the Dodgers haven't won a title in over 20 years. They don't expect to win the World Series every season. They hope to. They dream to.

The Dodgers and Lakers fan bases are the same people, but lately the Ravine and Staples are two very different prisms through which to watch sports.

I recall a warm night in June when Pau Gasol came to Dodger Stadium to toss out the opening pitch. The Spaniard wore a white Dodgers home jersey and towered over everyone shaking his hand. He was cheered. Gasol watched most of the game with the same intensity and joy he exhibits when he plays his own sport.

Sometime late in the game, Gasol stood up to leave early in the oldest of Dodger fan traditions. That's when it happened. A deluge of applause. The world stood still for the Spaniard. I was so close it was impossible not to notice. This was his personal victory lap. Dodger fans know what Manny did to change the culture of his young team. They knew Pau did the same thing in the most subtle of ways. Pau crafted the contenders into champions.

Maybe Pau noticed his subpar receiving last night at Staples Center. Maybe he didn't. I'm not sure it matters. He was at Dodger Stadium that night when fans of a different team playing a different sport rose to let him know how much they cared.

Believe me when I say it: Gasol knows how Los Angeles feels about him.

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Pencil This In: White Russians and Dostoyevsky Discussion, Santaland Diaries Opens

Christine N. Ziemba — 2009-11-20T13:00:39-08:00

Nicholas Brendon in The Blank Theatre Company Production of The Santaland Diariesby David Sedaris

THEATER TALK
A Noise Within is hosting White Russians and Discussions tonight following the 8 pm performance of a new adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. The Russian-themed reception features guest speaker Ed Bacon, Rector for All Saints Church in Pasadena, who will discuss the story of Lazarus, and the ways in which its tale of rebirth intersects with the central figure in the play. Tickets: $44.

THEATER
Previews start tonight for David Sedaris’s The Santaland Diaries at The Blank Theatre Company. The one-man play is based on Sedaris’s experiences as an unemployed writer taking a job as an elf at Macy’s, where he oscillates between humiliation to bitterness. The Blank Theater brings a tale of “mass marketing, stressed out sales clerks, drunk Santas, screaming kids and the general insanity of the holidays is hilarious, witty, sardonic and unpredictable; mercilessly cutting through the Christmas spirit to point out what crazy things we do as human beings during the holidays.“ The play officially opens next week (Nov. 27) and runs through Dec. 20. We just learned that a lot of shows--including tonight’s--are already sold out, so get your tickets fast. $25.

DRINK+DRAW 
Hint Mint hosts an evening of drinking and drawing with Gary Baseman, who’ll introduce his new tinplate prints, made from his 2006 Limited Edition Artist Series tins. At tonight's "Drinking & Drawing" party--held at the Hint Mint pop-up house in Venice--guests will be given art supplies to sketch a life-sized cast of Baseman characters and live models. There’s an open bar provided by Blue Ice Vodka and Izze Soda. DJ Marcin Nadolny is projecting interactive video art in the yard, and the mint bar will be keeping you fresh all evening. The first 20 guests to arrive will receive a Hint Mint Limited Edition Artist Series tin. The event begins at 6 pm. Free admission, but RSVP (one per person) required. E-mail sue@hintmint.com  

THEATER
Sacred Fools Theater Company presents Hamlet Shut Up tonight at 8 pm. Adapted & directed by Jonas Oppenheim, it’s being billed as Hamlet... “without all those pesky words.” What the dialogue-free adaptation lacks in words, it makes up for in slapstick, music, clowning, vaudeville and sharks. The play runs on Fridays and Saturdays and runs through Dec. 19. Tickets are $20.

DANCE 
Reggie Wilson and His Fist & Heel Performance Group premieres The Good Dance tonight and tomorrow at UCLA’s Royce Hall. “Created jointly with Congolese choreographer Andreya Ouamba, The Good Dance-dakar/brooklyn examines the metaphoric, historic, and real-world parallels between the Mississippi and Congo rivers and their respective cultures.” 8 pm. Tickets $24-$48. ($15 UCLA students).

Want more events? Follow me on Twitter.

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Oprah Talks About her Show Coming to an End

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-20T12:40:56-08:00

Talk-show host Oprah Winfrey during this morning's live broadcast (AP Photo/Harpo Productions, Inc., George Burns)

This morning Oprah Winfrey spoke about stopping her show in September 2011, reports Chicagoist. There's no mention of what's next, such as the rumors of moving to Los Angeles to produce a show on her OWN network, but speculation will continue.

"For some of you...you have literally grown up with me...I want you all to know that my relationship with you is one I hold very dear...and has brought me the greatest joy I have ever known," she said. "So why walk away: here is the real reason. I love this show, this show has been my life and I love it enough to know when it's time to say good-bye. 25 years feels right...the perfect time."

Tonight In Rock: Jon Brion, Ray LaMontagne, Delta Spirit, Neon Indian

Joshua Pressman — 2009-11-20T12:00:00-08:00

The Parson Red Heads will be playing tonight at the Bootleg Theater | Photo by Koga for LAist

Our Pick: Neil Young Tribute w/ Delta Spirit, Jason Simon (of Dead Meadow), Ferraby Lionheart, The Parson Red Heads, Leslie Stevens (of Leslie And The Badgers), The Chapin Sisters, Family Of The Year, Justin Gordon, Restavrant, Shakey Graves, Dark Horse House Band feat. Andy Creighton, Brian Whelan and Dan Iead (of The Broken West), John Hoskinson, Rob Douglas, Josh Charney (of Le Switch) @ Bootleg Theater

Tonight, as always, local multi-instrumentalist/producer extraordinaire Jon Brion (LAist Interview, #2, Review) will be jamming with friends at the Largo at the Coronet. Maine-bred folk singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne is taking on a three-night stint at the Orpheum Theatre in Downtown with LAist favorite, Rock Island-based alternative country singer-songwriter Lissie. And, lastly, Austin/Brooklyn-bred electro pop duo Neon Indian will be gracing the Echoplex with none other than Northampton's own electro-infused indie rock act Tigercity. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Bootleg Theater to catch San Diegan rockers Delta Spirit (LAist Interview), who will be performing as a part of When You Awake's Neil Young Tribute. LAist favorites, Jason Simon of psych rock outfit Dead Meadow, indie pop outfit the Parson Red Heads (LAist Review, #2, #3), alt-country songstress Leslie Stevens of Leslie and the Badgers, folk troubadour Ferraby Lionheart (LAist Interview, Review) and many other talented local artists will be chiming in to celebrate the music of Neil Young, of course, but also to support the Children’s Music Fund.

You can find these listings as well as the rest of the week's in our weekly Week In Rock post, which goes up every Sunday.

The Parson Red Heads - "Raymond"

Jon Brion @ Largo at the Coronet
Solomon Burke @ Club Nokia
Dethklok, Mastodon, Converge, High on Fire @ Hollywood Palladium
Deftones @ Avalon
Ray LaMontagne, Lissie @ Orpheum Theatre
Julian Casablancas, The Strange Boys @ The Palace Theatre
Neil Young Tribute w/ Delta Spirit, Jason Simon (of Dead Meadow), Ferraby Lionheart, The Parson Red Heads, Leslie Stevens (of Leslie And The Badgers), The Chapin Sisters, Family Of The Year, Justin Gordon, Restavrant, Shakey Graves, Dark Horse House Band feat. Andy Creighton, Brian Whelan and Dan Iead (of The Broken West), John Hoskinson, Rob Douglas, Josh Charney (of Le Switch) @ Bootleg Theater
Iglu & Hartly, Jaguar Love, Pop Noir @ Troubadour
Neon Indian, Keenhouse, Tigercity, Little Red Radio, Short Circuit @ Echoplex
Moonrats, Jaguar Love, Brother Reade @ The Smell
Pollyn, Divisible @ The Echo
Very Be Careful @ Juanita's Bar & Grill
Tearist, Peler Kolovos, Graham Forest @ Pehrspace
Dustbowl Revival, Coyote, Son Ark, 1921a @ Echo Curio
Sammy Dee, Anthony Collins, Lee Foss, Droog @ TS2 (4658 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles)
It Came From Left Field closing reception w/ Big Whup, Moses Campbell, Freaky Mountain @ L'KEG Gallery
Manhattan Murder Mystery, Kill Kill Kill, Meho Plaza, The Ross Sea Party, The Downtown Train @ Mr. T's Bowl
Boomkat, Golden Years, Kelly Dalton, The Smart Set, Chris Velan, Ryan Smith & the Voyage @ The Hotel Café
Spacehog, Sing Orpheus, The Moor @ Spaceland
Death House Chaplain, The Terrapin @ Silver Factory Studios
Gina Villalobos @ Taix Lounge
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers @ Keyclub
Erin McKeown, Jill Sobule @ McCabe's Guitar Shop
The Big Pink, Crystal Antlers, IO Echo @ Detroit Bar

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It's Outdoor Ice Skating Season in Santa Monica & Downtown [Updated]

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-20T11:23:59-08:00

ICE at Santa Monica

Other big (and colder) cities get ice rinks, so what's there to stop us? Great weather might be one factor, but it hasn't stopped the likes of the cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles.

A few weeks ago in Santa Monica, the city and the Bayside District opened ICE on 5th Street, which runs through the end of January. $10 gets you in and a pair of skates, if you need. It's open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and to midnight on Friday and Saturday. On opening day, the city broke the world record for tallest ice sculpture--since removed--which promoted the DVD release of Ice Age 3. (complete details about ICe can be found in this PDF)

In downtown Los Angeles, the rink at Pershing Square opened last night and will remain so until January 18th. It's a $6 admission with a $2 fee for skate rental. It's open noon to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays (the schedule is very specific with various half hour ice resurfacing periods).

And if one ice rink wasn't enough for downtown, L.A. Live will host one throughout December. Starting hours vary, but it will close at 11 p.m. every night. $10 will get you in with a pair of skates.

Update: Thanks to LA Bargain Hunter, we now know of three more ice rinks in Woodland Hills. Redondo Beach, Thousand Oaks!

Guerilla Public Art Fork to be Site of Food Drive

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-20T10:37:26-08:00

Our favorite recent piece of guerilla public art--that giant fork placed, well, at a fork in the road--will be the site of a food drive this weekend, says the LA Times.

Benefitting the Union Station Homeless Services, volunteers will collect nonperishable food at the fork, located at Pasadena and St. John avenues, both days this weekend, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The sculpture was a birthday present/prank for Bob Stane, founder of the Ice House comedy club and current owner of the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena. Stane always thought it would be funny if someone did that and his wish was granted by his friends. Now people want to see the piece be a permanent part of the city's public art collection.

Travis Pastrana to Attempt World Record in Long Beach on NYE

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-20T10:14:38-08:00

Come New Year's Eve, motorcross superstar Travis Pastrana will attempt to break the world record for longest jump in a car. He plans on jumping 171 feet from a pier in Long Beach Harbor onto a barge. "Everyone always jokes about launching off a pier and Red Bull was able to pull it together where we have a barge to land on, which I think is going to be absolutely insane," he told the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Because of the jump's location, it should be viewable from a variety of angles.

Witness Says Two Students Were Tasered at UCLA Yesterday

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-20T09:30:08-08:00

Student Rustin O'Neil, center, is stunned with a taser gun as Vianney Vargas, left, looks on they and others sit on a road on the UCLA campus where vans holding attendees where driving leading away from the Covel Commons | (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

UCLA is no stranger to Taser Gun use. After a horrible video in 2006 surfaced of a student, who was already retrained by officers, being tasered several times, the school suffered a good amount of drama and settled with the student for $220,000.

During protests over the past two days, at least a few students were tasered. UCLA officials said two were tasered on Wednesday and photos show that at least one student was on Thursday.

A witness to Thursday's incident tells LAist that two people were tasered during a scuffle captured in photos. "In fact with this particular incident," said the student, "there were actually two students who were tasered, the girl lying down next to Rustin O'Neill on the right in the first photo posted was also tasered, once, in the arm, and Rustin was tasered multiple times over the heart."

UCPD officials were not immediately available for comment. An updated press release from UCLA did not mention the use of tasers on Thursday.

A memo and training bulletin from Taser that gained media attention last month warned agencies that "if a stun gun is discharged to the chest, a lawsuit likely will follow, charging that police used excessive force," according to CNN in an aricle called "Taser makers say don't aim at chest."

BART Cop Murder Trial to Move to Downtown L.A., Lawyer Predicts More L.A. Riots

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-20T08:55:24-08:00

Johannes Mehserle

Last New Year's Eve, the San Francisco Area rung in the New Year with a bad start. A police officer working for the BART transit system shot and killed an unarmed man already restrained and facing down on the ground. Now that former cop, 27-year-old Johannes Mehserle stands trial for murder.

With all the media attention and community reaction--some crazy riots--the climate in Bay Area was too intense to hold the trial there. Therefore a judge ruled to move it to downtown Los Angeles. The family of the victim, Oscar Grant, is happy with the decision. Mehserle's lawyers are not.

"Citing the reaction to the 1991 police beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles, [defense attorney Michael] Rains also argued that the trial could drag that city back in time, and into 'the boiling cauldron we wanted to get out of in Alameda County,'" explained the San Francisco Chronicle. Rains also argued that with L.A.'s backlog of cases, the trial won't happen for some time and that it would be better to move the case to San Diego. Others argue moving it to San Diego would result in a not guilty verdict.

The incident was caught on tape. If you wish, you can watch it below:

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Unemployment Still Growing: California Reaches 12.5%

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-20T08:35:46-08:00

Although California added some 25,700 jobs last month, the state's unemployment rate increased three-tenths to 12.5%. That puts the state with the fourth highest rate and as one of thirteen above the national average of 10.2%. The addition of jobs is a first since April 2008. In October 2008, California's rate stood at 8%.

LAst Night's Action: Pau Returns

Jimmy Bramlett — 2009-11-19T22:45:00-08:00

Pau Gasol returns big for the Lakers. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

LA Lakers defeat Chicago Bulls 108-93. In Pau Gasol’s first game with the Lakers this season, the team looked completely different. It helped that Gasol played like he missed no time scoring six of the Lakers’ first seven points. He led all scorers with 24 points and 13 rebounds. It did cut into Andrew Bynum’s numbers a little who scored 11 points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes. Kobe Bryant scored 21 points overtaking Kareem Adbul-Jabbar for second place in franchise scoring in the process. The Lakers dominated the paint and played a very balanced game.

Anaheim Ducks defeat Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 (OT). Ducks fans showed their class when the Captain Scott Niedermayer gave his stick to a little girl in the stands when being announced as the first star of the game. Being in the bottom of the Western Conference, the Ducks really needed to start winning after an abysmal road trip. The Ducks took a 3-0 lead a third of the way through the second period but couldn’t hold on. The Lightning scored two quick goals a minute after the Duck’s last goal within 18 seconds of each other. The Ducks started the third period down a man with their best penalty killer Todd Marchant in the penalty box which led to the tying goal by Martin St. Louis. But in the overtime period an iffy cross checking violation by Tampa Bay’s Ryan Malone led to the game winning goal by Niedermayer. While it’s early in the season, the Ducks really need to start focusing on getting in good shots while they are playing even handed.

Tonight’s Action

Denver Nuggets at LA Clippers. 7:30 pm FS Prime Ticket, ESPN, AM 980 KFWB.

CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners at UCLA Bruins. 7:30 pm FSWest, AM 570 KLAC.

Photos: At Least One Student Was Tasered at UCLA Today (and a Protest Recap)

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T20:31:15-08:00

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It was a busy, loud and raucous day at UCLA as emotions ran high before and after a vote to increase tuition by 32 percent. Shortly before 1 p.m., the Board of UC Regents voted in favor of the increase, with only one dissenting vote from student regent Jesse Bernal. The extra money will help reduce layoffs, stop course reductions and put money away for financial aid.

Protests began yesterday morning before a Regents' finance committee voted to push the tuition increase to the full board today. At yesterday's meeting inside Covel Commons, 14 were arrested, 12 of them students. Outside, protesting students gathered around the building resulting in various quick scuffles with police caught on video. A UCLA statement said two officers used tasers "in light stun mode" against two protesters, though they were not hurt. Two other students sustained minor injuries for unknown reasons.

With a tent city on campus, protests began early today when a group of about 25 entered Campbell Hall around 12:30 a.m., renaming it "Carter-Huggins Hall, after two Black Panthers who were murdered there in 1969," according Angus Johnston at the blog Student Activism. Three other UC buildings across the state were also occupied: Kresge Town Hall and Kerr Hall at UCSC and Mrak Hall at UC Davis. The Carter-Huggins Hall students made no demands, but those occupying the UCSC buildings released a list of 35 demands.

Protests grew outside Covel and in and around campus after today's vote, even at one point marching on Westwood and Wilshire boulevards. Regents and other officials were blocked in the building for hours with those trying to leave immediately accompanied by police.

A UCLA Police Department representative told LAist tonight that one student was arrested, cited and released for obstructing a police officer. Another was taken into custody, but was later released with no arrest. She was unaware of any taser use, but photos from the Associated Press indicate that it was used at least with one student, Rustin O'Neil (see above). It is unknown if he was the arrested student.

Not all students will see the increase. "Low income families are not affected by this tuition hike," reported ABC. "Low income is considered families making $70,000 or less and tuition is free for them. Really, it is the middle class that will feel a pinch because they will have a $2,500 increase a year and some middle class families don't qualify for financial aid."

The money for low income families will come from UC, state and federal grants, explained the LA Times, which said it will cover basic education fees.

By 7:30 p.m., the students in Campbell Hall dispersed.

Background: UC and CSU Seek Combined $1.797 Billion From State to Recover Budgets

Extra, Extra

Manny — 2009-11-19T20:25:00-08:00

LA Train | Photo by kilajules via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr<

An elderly woman took her motorized wheelchair... on the freeway... IN THE WRONG DIRECTION... as her husband was chasing behind her... AND SURVIVED. You can't make this stuff up.
A teenager was sentenced to 82 years to life for the murder of a 14 year old girl who wasn't even the intended target. He was 16 at the time of the crime.
The long wait for a high school in Castaic is now one step shorter thanks to a decision to test two sites for "environmental impact".
From schools on the way to school administrators on the way out... An Inglewood school board member was charged with embezzling several thousand dollars from the Inglewood Unified School District.
Stalkers, spammers, weirdos all lurk on social networks like Facebook. You can now add gangsters to that list. Yes... Cyberthugs. *sigh*
With the local MLS team, the LA Galaxy, in the championship game. It's nice to know that we have the best player in the league on our side. Landon Donovan was named MLS MVP for (amazingly) the first time in his career.
According to a report hate is down... somewhat. Hate crimes targeting African-Americans, Asians and Middle Easterners were down while hate crimes against gay and lesbians were up. Hate crimes against Jews and Latinos were virtually unchanged.
Finally... LA Superior Court judges are donating a day's pay each month to offset the pay cuts to furloughed court staff. That's awesome!

Jason Segel Sings His Phone Number at the Swell Season Last Night

Christine N. Ziemba — 2009-11-19T16:30:09-08:00

Here's a little something something for people (like this LAist poster) heading for the Swell Season concert at the Wiltern tonight. Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) asked for songwriting advice from the band, and Markéta Irglová told him to "write a song from the heart" and "include as much personal information as you can." Here's the result, which he performed at last night's show.

And if you call his number (315-329-6673) to apply for the chance of making love to Mr. Segel, you get voicemail. So leave a message.

Bouchon Amuses Our Bouches

Elise Thompson — 2009-11-19T16:04:17-08:00

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Glamour was the order of the evening at Bouchon's opening event Monday night. After ascending the staircase, we were greeted by servers offering champagne near a caviar station with caviar quenelle and whipped cream cheese-topped bagel crisps surrounding the biggest ice volleyball in the world. Gliding down the elegant hallway, we came across a full bar on the right serving Bouchon's signature drink of Grey Goose vodka, Lillet Blanc, and Brizard Peche with an Orange Baton/Lemon Twist. A raw bar around the corner was shucking oysters at lightning speed.

The room is reminiscent of a bistro, but on a grander scale. Whimsical murals line the walls and high ceilings keep the rococco touches from overwhelming the eye. The use of space for the event was practical and imaginative, with cheese and charcuterie being offered in the main dining room, hot appetizers in the kitchen, and cookies in the prep room. The only space that was not being used were the walk-in freezers, but quite a few people were peeking. It was fun to hang around the back corridors where the sommelier was offering a tasting. To add to the fun, there was a bake-your-own-bread station where they taught you to snip leaves of dough with scissors, forming beautiful baguettes.

The raw bar offered oysters, shrimp, clams, and mussels. The Beau Soleil oysters were ruffled, like in The Walrus and the Carpenter, and they tasted briny but clean. They went down gently with a dose of mignonette sauce. You know you are in a great hall of gastronomie when the shrimp cocktail is getting the least attention. The charcuterie table held an inviting array of salami, pickled vegetables, marinated olives, tapenade and olivade, Pate de Campagne and toasted breads. The cheese table was laden with a selection of imported cheeses including Red Hawk and Fourme d'Ambert to enjoy with fresh Bouchon breads.

But in spite of the high quality, these were all cold apps -- where was Thomas Keller's delicious food? Slip down the hall into the kitchen, and voila! Cue "Fanfare for a King's Supper". The first taste was a butternut squash soup that was comforting, but not memorable compared to the luscious morsels to follow. Perhaps the most delicious "doot" (as James Beard called them) was Keller's take on a BLT -- pork belly with pesto between two slices of butter-soaked grilled sourdough bread. Rich short ribs in a dark demi glace were another favorite. The little squares of short ribs may have been on a mashed potato and parsnip puree, but the meat was so intense that anything else on the appetizer spoon was overshadowed.

The pommes frites were a hit with the crowd, and the paper cones were set in an adorable tiered display as well as offered around the dining room in a carnival-like cigarette girl tray. In fact, isn't that a (truffled) popcorn machine over there? Along with the accordian player and chanteuse Morganne Picard's silky voice, Bouchon was conjuring up memories of Paris' Île de la Cité.

Other notable bites turned out by the kitchen were teensy croque monsieurs, croquettes, delicate pastries filled with mushroom duxelles, petit cod brandade, and canapés topped with foie gras quenelles, smoked salmon, or roast beef.

Down the hall as we were juggling plates, someone mentioned dessert. Dessert? Oh my God! Could there be any more delicious food left out there in the world? Or was it all here in this one building on this one night? Turning the corner into the prep area, we were dazzled by a delight of cookies. Signature TKOs, Keller's interpretation of an Oreo, were shaped like adorable little daisies. Their macarons are light as air. The crackle as the fragile outer shell barely breaks between your teeth and sucks up into a little ball of sugar is as satisfying as breaking the top of a creme brulee with the tip of your spoon.

The last room was the bakery, where people were learning to fashion baguettes, a lucky few under the guidance of Thomas Keller himself. Comaraderie built as people waited in anticipation for their loaves to be turned out of the oven. It was a friendly crowd all around, and we chatted with Jay Leno as easily as Cheryl Tiegs. Walking out into the early winter cold with our gift bags, Don Johnson flashed us a peace sign. Eliza Doolittle could not have felt any more glamorous leaving her very first ball.

Presented By:

2009-11-19T16:04:17-08:00

Goodbye, Oprah

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T15:59:39-08:00

So Oprah will officially announce tomorrow that her show is coming to an end in September 2011. So much for the rumors of Oprah moving her show to Los Angeles... Or is it that after her show is over, she'll do a new one based here on the Oprah Winfrey Network?

3 of the Busiest Days at LAX Approaching

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T15:55:48-08:00

Waiting at LAX | Photo by mahalie via Flickr

As Thanksgiving approaches, the airports fill up. Officials at LAX today are warning passengers of the expected increased traffic at the airport for a ten day period, beginning tomorrow. Of those ten, the three busiest are expected to be tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 25; and Sunday, Nov. 29 because "airlines are forecasting passenger load factors approaching 80 percent on most flights and some flights fully booked."

Airport officials say passengers departing LAX during the daily peak travel periods -- from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; or from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. -- to be in their airline's ticketing lobbies two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.

Compared to last year, officials are expecting a 1.1 percent increase in people passing through the airport. That amounts to about 1.5 million passengers.

TV Junkie: A Very Sunny Night in Philadelphia; John Oliver Scores

Tom Lewis — 2009-11-19T15:00:38-08:00

"It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas" is out on DVD and Bu-ray this week

We've reached Thursday which means it's comedy night topped by "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" on FX at 10pm providing some insight into how Dennis manages to score with so many women. We also had a chance to see the "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" Holiday special, "A Very Sunny Christmas": a 43 minute featurette that's been getting a lot of promo on FX the last couple weeks. If you're a fan, you have to get a hold of it, no question there, it's on DVD & Blu-ray at Amazon. What do you get: Danny DeVito nude and greased up; a supporting role from veteran actor David Huddleston; brilliant casting of "young" Mac, Charlie, Dennis, and Dee (they appear to have used cloning!); classic animation in the style of Rankin/Bass; a disturbing and surreal Christmas sing-a-long with the gang from Paddy's.

Unfettered by even the somewhat lax broadcasting rules of basic cable, there's more swearing, gore, and just plain bad behavior in this twisted take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. As a TV bonus tonight, the "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" cast appears on "Free Radio" on Comedy Central at midnight.
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Congrats to our friend John Oliver who scored a new show, "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show", to begin broadcasting on Comedy Central January 8th at 11pm. Featured comedians include: Janeane Garofalo, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Brian Poseh, Nick Kroll and Kristen Schaal [Click the links to see our interviews with them]
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The TV Junkie Plan: "Community", "Parks and Recreation", "The Office", "30 Rock", "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia", "The League", Letterman (Steven Colbert guests!), Fallon (Katey Sagal guests!!).

8:00pm Community NBC - The gang nominates Jeff to talk some sense into Chang when he assigns an absurd amount of homework

8:00pm Survivor: Samoa CBS - A clever castaway jeopardizes the success of a scheme to ensure safety in the game

8:00pm SoCal Connected PBS/KCET - Economic hardship has caused an increase in middle class homeless families

8:00pm FlashForward ABC - Believe Bryce searches for the woman in his flashforward; Tracy's odd behavior concerns Aaron

8:30pm Parks and Recreation NBC - Leslie invites herself on Ron's annual hunting trip to prove that she can hang with the guys

9:00pm The Office NBC - When David Wallace invites Michael to the Dunder Mifflin shareholder meeting in New York, Michael brings Oscar, Dwight and Andy along

9:00pm Fringe FOX - A peculiar abduction in Boston leads the Fringe team to uncover details of the mysterious man known as The Observer

9:00pm American Chopper TLC - Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle's wife commissions OCC to build him a surprise chopper

9:30pm 30 Rock NBC - Liz must make a drastic change to her living arrangements when her apartment building is converted to condos

10:00pm It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia FX - Dennis reveals his full proof system for seducing any woman to the rest of the gang, but they don't grasp the concept.

10:00pm Project Runway Lifetime - Season Finale

10:00pm The Real Housewives of Orange County Bravo - It Ends in Coto de Caza

10:00pm The Jay Leno Show NBC - Actress Dakota Fanning; actress Jane Krakowski.

10:00pm The Mentalist CBS - Faced with a violent crime in its own office, the CBI team must work the case despite the alarm of who may be behind it

10:30pm The League FX - Kevin enlists Taco to scare Ellie off her toy; the guys join Pete on what was supposed to be his 5th anniversary spa trip.

11:30pm The Colbert Report Comedy Central - Elvis Costello

11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - TV host Stephen Colbert; John Mayer performs.

11:35pm The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien NBC - Actress Nicole Kidman; journalist Anderson Cooper; Leona Lewis performs.

12:00am Free Radio Comedy Central - Lance is slow to accept the truth about his superfan; James is jealous of Anna's new Internet boyfriend; "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" cast guests.

12:05am Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC - Carrie Underwood performs; TV personalities Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt.

12:35am The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS - Actress Sandra Bullock; actor Ben Foster.

12:35am Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC - Actor Taylor Lautner; actress Katey Sagal; Obits perform.

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2 New Local Half Marathons Announced for 2010

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T14:40:01-08:00

Photo by TheNickster via Flickr

Okay, it's time to stop munching on that mac and cheese.

On the heels of a major makeover to the Los Angeles Marathon route , two new half marathons for Los Angeles were announced today by separate companies. Come this January, the 13.1 Los Angeles Marathon will run through the Westside and next October, the popular Rock n' Roll Marathon will make a debut in Los Angeles, replacing the City of Angels Half Marathon.

The Inaugural 13.1 Los Angeles, scheduled for January 10th, will begin and end in Santa Monica with a there-and-back course starting on the boardwalk, up Venice Boulevard and back to the finish line on Main Street.

Later on in the year, the popular Rock n' Roll Marathon Series, seen in cities like San Diego, will also make its Los Angeles debut, scheduled for October 24th. Of course they'll keep to the theme of live bands, themed water stations and cheerleaders along the point-to-point half marathon route from Griffith Park to downtown via the L.A. River and Sunset Boulevard. The LA Times notes that there are no current plans to include a full marathon in the event.

Recession Obsession: Mobile Japanese Burgers

Caleb Bacon — 2009-11-19T14:00:00-08:00

Japanese Pork Burger

A Recession Obsession is, 1) a meal so great that it sticks in your mind long after digestion's end, and, 2) plays nice with your sensitive wallet. Is there a better place than Los Angeles to eat a wide variety of amazing food that so happens to be inexpensive? Probably not. We're as lucky as we are well fed. We last obsessed over A Great New Indian Spot, and Sky's Gourmet Tacos. Today, we obsess...

I’ve been following Marked5 (one of the children of the post-Kogi mobile foodscape boom) on Twitter for a few months. Doing so kept reminding me, in 140 character bursts, that their Japanese burgers were roaming the city, awaiting my taste buds.

Finally, myself and some friends (who wonderfully documented our journey,) checked out one of Marked5’s two trucks. It was parked outside of Myspace, in Beverly Hills, serving the area’s lunch crowd. (I wonder if they were denied at parking spot out front of Friendster.)

My group delighted in Marked5’s Japanese burgers, each costing but $5 a piece. You guessed it (I hope,) the mobile Marked5 is LAist’s latest Recession Obsession.

Where’s The Beef?

Marked5’s menu is just what my high school teachers called me: simple. They offer one main product, in four combinations: Torraku Beef (100% Angus Beef,) Katsu Pork, Chicken Curry and Torakku V (tofu.)

Served on homemade ricebuns -- made from stuck-together rice -- these aren’t your average burgers. In sticking together, the teamwork these pieces of rice exhibit is admirable (the Dodgers could take note.) Of my lunchbunch’s three burgers, only one of our buns didn’t make it until meal’s end.

My Katsu Pork burger was as tasty as it was interesting. I had never had anything like it before, but my enjoyment wasn’t sheer novelty. This light-ish bite was pretty good. However, I wasn’t left without complaint because the burger didn’t seem to live up to its potential. The teriyaki sauce was a little too thick and this dish might’ve soared with a different cut of pork. It was a lightly breaded piece, which was a little lacking.

I didn’t try chicken curry but my friend seemed to like it. That’s the one I’d like to try next, because there will be another visit, only I probably won’t revisit them at Myspace. Having recently canceled my account I’m afraid they’ll chase me off the property.

Link: Watch VendrTV Eat Marked5

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Wacha for el Tren, Ese: Metro Responds to Fake 'Safety' Signs

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T13:39:49-08:00

The blog LA Eastside has designed some fake signs (online only) for new Eastside Extension of Metro's Gold Line. Needless to say, it's causing some controversy within the comments section of the post as well as apparently prompting confused calls from riders to Metro. So what does Metro do? They blog:

Here’s the thing, Metro actually does takes safety very seriously and safety signage is there to inform and educate people about the risks around train tracks. You’ll find safety signage everywhere on the system, from the street running Gold Line to the underground Red Line.
The bloggers over at L.A. Eastside would do right by their readers and community by informing them that the signs are indeed a hoax. No one at Metro thinks we’re above criticism — but we would like to be criticized for things we’ve actually done.

Last week some bloggers wrote a detailed report on their view of the Extension's safety.

Video: UCLA Tuition Increase Protest Gets Testy

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T13:25:57-08:00

Today, for the most part, is much more peaceful than yesterday's protest about the move to increase tuition at University of California by 32%. Yesterday, when 14 were arrested (up from the 8 we reported) and one reportedly tasered, was a bit more out of control (see some photos)--here is one video showing that at the front lines (man, that one bicycle cop is sure angry).

One UCLA graduate tells us she paid $550 a quarter, a total of $1,650 a year, from 1986-1990. Today, some students are wondering if the new costs will force them go to community college or leave school altogether to get a job.

For some background, read this: UC and CSU Seek Combined $1.797 Billion From State to Recover Budgets.

Pencil This In: DIY Conference for Creative Types, Good Luck Bar Anniversary Party

Christine N. Ziemba — 2009-11-19T13:00:50-08:00

Photo by jvoves via LAist's flickr pool.

DRINK*
Good Luck Bar celebrates its 15th anniversary tonight with a special event that features Chinese burlesque (10 pm, 11 pm and midnight), DJ Travis Keller and the Kogi Truck in attendance. Drink specials include: $5 Stolis, Sailor Jerry, Cazadores or Jack Daniel's cocktails; selected beers for $2. The party’s on from 7 pm to close.

DIY
DIY Days::LA comes to the Downtown Independent Theater tonight beginning at 6 pm. It’s a roving conference for creative types wanting to do it themselves in the film, music, art and gaming industries. There will be case studies, lectures and roundtable discussions. Speakers include Jesse Alexander (Heroes, Lost, Day One), Scott Macaulay (producer of Gumo, Raising Victor Vargas, editor of Filmmaker Magazine), Jon Reiss (Bomb it! and author of Thinking Outside the Box(office), and Steve Peters (No Mimes Media). The event is free, but there is a waitlist right now.

DISCUSSION
Before MOCA: Two artists' perspectives of Los Angeles in the 1970s is a conversation being held at MOCA Grand Avenue, Ahmanson Auditorium, tonight at 6:30 pm. William Leavitt and Allen Ruppersberg, both of whom are featured in Collection: MOCA's First Thirty Years, will talk with independent curator Carole Ann Klonarides about the experience of making and presenting work in the 1970s. The event is free.

STORYTELLING
Beaujolais Passions is an event being held at the Petersen Automotive Museum that celebrates the wine’s release and harvest. The evening features French culinary delicacies, exhibits, live French music, DJ, silent auction, great raffle prizes. For $30 at the door, attendees get entrance to the museum, a souvenir glass and one glass of wine. Food will be available for purchase. (Sounds a little pricey to us, but hey, if you’re into Beaujolais and cars, then the night sounds right up you’re alley.)

FASHION
The inaugural Freedom and Fashion Designer Showcase and Trade Show is being held tomorrow at UCLA’s Ackerman Grand Ballroom. Freedom and Fashion will feature fair-trade clothing on the runway, while bringing awareness to the social injustices of modern-day slavery, sex trafficking, child labor and human rights violations through the vehicle of a fashion show. The show starts at 7 pm, with shopping and meet and greet with designers runs from 8-10 pm. Free, but there are premier seats and wrap party tickets available for $45 for one or $80 for two. For more information please visit FREEDOMandFASHION.COM.

Don't forget to check out LAist's Film Calendar and This Week in Comedy, too.

*Pencil pick of the day

Want more events? Follow me on Twitter.

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32% Tuition Hike Approved by UC Regents

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T12:46:59-08:00

Hundreds of students seen this morning laying down to symbolize the "Death of Public Education," as they protest peacefully outside the UCLA campus Covel Commons building, where University of California regents are meeting (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

It's official, protests be damned, the controversial tuition hike has been approved by the Board of UC Regents, according to a live report on KCAL9. The 32% increase, which would begin by Fall, will add $2,500 to tuition, bringing it over $10,000.

Earlier this morning, the Regents approved a partnership with L.A. County with a plan to reopen Martin Luther KIng, Jr. Hospital in South L.A. by 2013.

Tonight In Rock: The Swell Season, The Whigs, Ghostland Observatory, Daedelus

Joshua Pressman — 2009-11-19T12:00:00-08:00

The Dead Trees will be performing tonight at the Troubadour | Picture via the Dead Trees' Myspace

Our Pick: The Whigs, The Features, The Dead Trees @ Troubadour

Tonight the Swell Season, an indie folk duo formed by Irish musician Glen Hansard and Czech singer and pianist Markéta Irglová, will be closing out a two-night stint at the Wiltern with Idaho's own pop folk singer-songwriter Josh Ritter in tow. Austin-based electro-pop duo Ghostland Observatory (LAist Review, #2) are poised to headline the Keyclub. And, lastly, local electronic mastermind Daedelus will be performing at the Silent Movie Theatre. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Troubadour to catch Athens' own garage rock revivalists the Whigs. LAist favorites, Portland-based indie rockers the Dead Trees are slated to kick things off.

You can find these listings as well as the rest of the week's in our weekly Week In Rock post, which goes up every Sunday.

The Dead Trees - "My Friend Joan, She Never Asks"

The Swell Season, Josh Ritter @ The Wiltern
Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik, Nipsey Hussle, Hustle Boys @ Club Nokia
Dethklok, Mastodon, Converge, High on Fire @ Hollywood Palladium
Deftones @ Avalon
The Whigs, The Features, The Dead Trees @ Troubadour
Julian Plenti, I'm In You @ El Rey Theatre
Ghostland Observatory @ Keyclub
Samuel Stewart, Andrew Lynch, The Coals, Eleni Mandell Jazz Combo @ Bootleg Theater
Daedelus @ Silent Movie Theatre
Jay Nash, Ruby Friedman Orchestra, Sally Jaye, Corb Lund, Rebekah LeBeau @ The Hotel Café
Tape Deck Mountain, The Delta Mirror, Healamonster & Tarsier, Jesus Makes the Shotgun Sound @ Silver Lake Lounge
Eternal Tapestry, Pocahaunted, Sun Araw, Pearl Harbor @ L'KEG Gallery
White Fang, Boom!, Dirt Dress, Stab City @ Echo Curio
Johnny Echols, The Quarter After, Sweaters @ Spaceland
Batrider, MY DISCO, Monster @ The Smell
Black Math Horseman, Rajas, Ojos Rojos @ Bordello
Echoes de Luxe, Finland Station, Hard Riders, Deep Sleep Ops @ Mr. T's Bowl
Nneka @ Zanzibar
West Indian Girl, Gorgeous Got a Gun @ Air Conditioned Lounge (625 Lincoln Blvd., Venice)
Avi Buffalo, Eugene & the 1914 @ The Prospector
Greater California, Lemon Sun, Forcefield ON, Two Guns @ Alex's Bar
The Henry Clay People, Aushua, Kiev @ Detroit Bar

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Salary Cuts for State Legislators Approved

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T11:59:37-08:00

As UC Regents meet for a vote on increasing University of California tuition by 32%, Attorney General Jerrry Brown said today that a state panel has the authority to cut the pay of state Senators and Assemblymembers by 18 percent, which would cut pay from $116,208 to $95,291 in December 2010, according to the Sacramento Bee. At issue was if Senate salaries could be cut mid-term, which Brown said was within the law. But still undetermined is if benefits can be cut.

Road to Freedom and Breach of Peace Exhibits Open at the Skirball Today

Christine N. Ziemba — 2009-11-19T11:30:08-08:00

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The Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956-1968 makes its West Coast debut today at the Skirball Center. It features more than 160 images that were taken by professional and amateur photographers and social activists to chronicle the injustice in America and helped build the momentum for the civil rights movement.

In addition to notable historical figures like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., the Skirball has also assembled photos from Los Angeles civil rights history—including the picketing of the Kress Store in Pasadena in 1960 and the Watts Riots of 1965—and a documentary on the role of Jewish Americans in the movement.

Accompanying the Road to Freedom is the Breach of Peace exhibit, which displays 40 contemporary portraits by photographer Eric Etheridge of Freedom Riders, who, in 1961, converged on Jackson, Mississippi to challenge state segregation laws. Etheridge's shots are displayed alongside the Freedom Riders' original mug shots.

The Road to Freedom runs through March 7, 2010. The Breach of Peace exhibit runs through April 11, 2010. Admission to the Skirball: $10 General; $7 Seniors and Full-Time Students; $5 Children 2-12; Free to Skirball Members and Children under 2; Free to all visitors on Thursdays

Why Scary Bald Men Invaded Hollywood Boulevard Yesterday

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T11:24:53-08:00

Don't worry, yesterday's appearance of eyebrowless bald men in black suits and fedoras is just a viral marketing campaign, but it's one of the more creative and fun ones, worthy of attention.

For those who watch J.J. Abrams' FRINGE on FOX, you know about The Observer, a mysterious fellow who appears in just about every episode in the background and occasionally more in the forefront. Apparently, tonight's episode deals with him (or them). FOX has gone great lengths in their viral campaign, placing actors in public spaces in different cities. They also placed one in the audience of So You Think You Can Dance (see the weird video below). And the most whacky, they apparently tried to get one of these fellows to stand next to Barack Obama during his inauguration.

Two years ago, Showtime installed a viral marketing "crime scene" on the famed boulevard.

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Go See This: Basil Twist & Joey Arias Team up for a Trippy & Naughty Puppet Cabaret

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T10:45:00-08:00

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Something extraordinary is happening in the basement of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. It's hilarious, it's mindblowing... wait scratch that... it's a delirious and appetizing mind fuck.

World-renown puppeteer and director Basil Twist has teamed up with the crossdressing diva and amazing singer Joey Arias (you may know Arias as the emcee "Mistress of Seduction" in the Las Vegas Cirque Du Soleil production Zumanity) for a musical adventure chock full of space aliens, burlesque and plenty of sexual innuendo (okay, the innuendo was defenestrated--this no nudity, yet NSFW play is DTF).

Arias with a Twist is a visual treat and a must see for anyone who is looking for an artsy and edgy theatrical experience. Arias and a cast of puppeteers create a magical explosion of wonder, full of familiar tunes sung by Arias, prompting the New York Times to say "Eat your heart out, Madonna."

The show, which opened last night, runs for four weeks at REDCAT (interestingly enough, it's the longest show to ever run at the theatre). If you are a fan of Twist's work, he'll be back in February at the Broad Stage with a more family friendly show.

Umami Burger to Join Ranks of Twittering Food Trucks

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T09:52:56-08:00

An Umami Burger at the recently opened location at Space 15Twenty | Photo by carlos ※ rossi via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr

With three storefronts open (and fourth in Santa Monica soon), Umami Burger is taking its popular food to the streets. Its purpose is three-fold, however, according to Eater LA.

With delays in opening the Santa Monica location at Fred Segal, the truck will park there as a temporary restaurant. This is expected to happen soon.
The popular restaurant is frequently asked to do catering gigs and a catering truck makes it easier.
With the Twittering mobile food craze in its height, why not join on in on the fun?!?!

We've recently updated our master list of Twittering food trucks--you can check that out here.

John Kerry's Daughter Arrested in Hollywood for DUI

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T09:24:16-08:00

Alexandra Forbes Kerry, 36, was arrested early this morning in Hollywood for allegedly driving while drunk.

Pulled over for a traffic stop around 12:40 a.m., Kerry failed a field sobriety test, but refused to take a preliminary alcohol screening test in the field, leading to her arrest and booking at the local area station.

"Cops took her to the station and then conducted a formal blood alcohol test which showed a level of .06," explained TMZ. "Under California law, the legal limit is .08, but a driver can still be prosecuted -- even under a .08 reading -- if the vehicle is being operated unsafely due to alcohol."

She posted a $5,000 bail and was released around 5:25 a.m. Kerry, who is the oldest daughter of Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, is a film producer and director.

AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File

'Significant Delays' at LAX Expected at Noon after Computer Glitch [Updated]

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T09:06:36-08:00

Flight cancellations appear on screens near AirTran ticketing counters at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta this morning. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, John Spink)

A problem, although now fixed, with the system that collects airlines' flight plans is causing numerous flight cancellations and delays across the country today.

"The outage and subsequent re-activation of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight plan system for pilots this morning on the east coast is expected to impact Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with significant flight delays beginning at 12 noon in some Terminals," airport officials announced this morning in a statement. "Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest information on their flights."

Continued: "The screening process has not been affected. As a result of flight delays crowd volumes will be monitored by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel and Airport Law Enforcement. LAX Operations will be working closely with airlines to inform them of any necessary accommodations they may need to make for their passengers."

This is the second time in 15 months that a problem like this has caused delays.

Update: At 11 a.m., LAX officials now say it does not appear the airport will be effected: "The outage and subsequent re-activation of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight plan system for pilots this morning on the east coast is not expected to significantly impact flights at Los Angeles International Airport. The computer glitch had no other impact to airport or terminal operations. Passengers are still advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest news."

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2009-11-19T09:06:36-08:00

UCLA Students Take Over Building in Protest of Fee Increase Vote

Zach Behrens — 2009-11-19T08:39:17-08:00

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Things got a bit nutty this morning when students reportedly "stormed" and "took over" a building at UCLA in protest of the imminent UC Board of Regents' vote to increase tuition up to 32%. About 30 students raided Campbell Hall barricading the doors with chains and bike locks, said the LA Times.

It all has to do with the failing state budget. However, many students fear the lack of affordability in continuing their education with the proposed new fees, which may be instituted as early as next fall if approved. Tuition would go above $10,000.

Yesterday, a handful of students were arrested when protesting (see above photos) a finance committee meeting.

Update: The tuition increase was approved by UC Regents.

Midnight Movie: VICE Explores LA's Hidden Urban Oil Wells

Emily Lerman — 2009-11-19T00:00:00-08:00

So that odd shaped flower-painted tower sticking up behind Beverly Hills High School is not some weird sculpture - it's actually an oil well. And there is one behind the Beverly Center as well. And at the Farmer's Market. And inside a building on Pico. And numerous others.

VBS.tv, part of VICE, and host Nate Harrington, take a look at these oil wells, and offers good insight on their history and what the implications are for LA and its residents.

Extra, Extra

Manny — 2009-11-18T19:30:00-08:00

Manhattan Beach, CA | Photo by Vintage Son via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

A woman was rescued from a ravine off Mulholland Drive and Laurel Canyon after her car dove off a cliff! Yikes!
Own a BMW? Live on the Westside? Then take extra care when leaving your car!
With California in a state of crisis and no real Democratic challenger for Governor, some people are wondering if Jerry Brown is the ANTI-Obama?
In what is viewed as "a historic measure for equal rights", the Long Beach City Council approved the draft of a measure that would require companies that do business with the city of Long Beach to offer their employees the same benefits to gay and lesbian partners that they offer to married couples.
WAIT WAIT WHAT?!?! Kellogg Company says that there will be a nationwide shortage of the popular Eggo waffles because of service interruptions at two of the four plants that make the tasty treats.
Angels' manager Mike Scioscia was awarded AL Manager of the Year. He guided the Angels to a highly successful season that included an AL West title and defeated their playoff nemesis Boston Red Sox all while trying to lead the team under difficult circumstances following the tragic death of their young pitcher Nick Adenhart.
Plans for a city sponsored academy for gang interventionist are stalled after a difference of philosophies, as well as a clash of egos, have the two groups supposed to lead the project at odds with one another. Cmon people...
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