Santa Monica

Andy Grammer Got Turned Down By His College Acapella Team. Now Look at Him!

In the day of the Internet-made superstar, Andy Grammar is a rarity. The 29-year-old has made a name for himself the old fashioned way: through hard work. For every YouTube sensation, a guy like Grammar is being lost in the shuffle. The son of singer-songwriter Red Grammar, Andy started playing guit ... More >>

[Exene Says . . .] DIY Till I Die

Exene Cervenka is a writer, visual artist and punk-rock pioneer. The OC transplant is the lead singer for X, the Knitters and Original Sinners. Contact her via askexene@ocweekly.com. In 1976, Nancy Kaufman lent a friend money to rent a 125-square-foot store on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard ... More >>

[UPDATED with Toothy Praise:] Will the Graphic 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival Trailer Mandible Be a Floss Leader?

See the update at the end of this post about the positive public, critical and dental reception to the NBFF trailer.ORIGINAL POST, APRIL 12, 1:43 P.M.: I--swear to God--have a teeth cleaning appointment Monday morning. It will not be a pleasant experience. It's not because I am a wuss in the chair o ... More >>

You are Here: Orange County in the House at the LA Times Festival of Books

I especially like the title of a 12:30 panel at next weekend's two-day  annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books for its helpful reminder and either existential celebration or complaint. "You are Here:  Perspectives on Life in Southern California," featuring Times columnists suggests tha ... More >>

Everclear

City National Grove of Anaheim

[BREAKING:] California Coastal Commission Denies PG&E Seismic Studies Off Central Coast

See the breaking news update at the end of this post on the Coastal Commission's denial of PG&E's seismic studies proposal and foe Surfrider's reaction.ORIGINAL POST, NOV. 13, 12:02 P.M.: As the Coastal Commission considers Pacific Gas & Electric's Fukushima-inspired plan to fire underwater ... More >>

Good Writing Will Be Recognized: Best This, Best That, and Nonrequired

The charmingly obnoxious rejection note I inherited in taking over editorship of Santa Monica Review says it all, if frustratingly for recipients: We hope you will find some consolation in the individuality of editorial tastes and in the assurance that, with persistence, good writing will be recogni ... More >>

Babe Ruth Stars in Film Footage Found in Orange County and Rolling Tonight in Orange

Newly discovered film footage of baseball legend Babe Ruth is scheduled to roll in Old Town Orange this evening.Author and baseball historian Chris Epting hosts the free 6 p.m. screening at Moonlight Graham, the Americana and pop culture retailer next to the historic Orange Circle at 401 W. Chapman ... More >>

[UPDATED with Details on Funeral, Arrests:] Jensen Gray is Fatally Stabbed; Childhood Pal Ryan Bright Held

See the update at the end of this post with details on the funeral and the arrest records of the victim and suspect.ORIGINAL POST, JULY 12, 1:37 P.M.: Two apparent friends and former classmates at Laguna Beach High School were partying in an apartment near Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade early ... More >>

Best of the LA Times Book Fest: New California and Old, and Bruce, too!

Mr. Bib caught up with friends, and met new ones, at last weekend's Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC. I'd like nothing better than to do that every weekend. Imagine: a world where the value of literacy, poetry, science, the arts, civic participation is assume, despite or in opposition to t ... More >>

Newport Beach Film Fest Goes Freeway Dancing

​Every spring, the Newport Beach Film Festival exposes hidden cinematic gems to local audiences, and the 13th run coming up April 26-May 3 will no doubt provide many more of the same. But, let's face it, clunkers do somehow make it into the lineup, something that is bound to happen when you are sh ... More >>

Daniel Edward Becerril II, Huntington Beach Investor, Allegedy Robbed-Murdered Artist

​A Huntington Beach financial consultant and his wife are being held in the 2008 murder of a Santa Monica artist who was fleeced out of more than a half million dollars.Santa Monica police investigators also believe others may have been involved in the complex financial scheme, but so far it is on ... More >>

The Toledo Show

Harvelle's

Irvine Mitsuwa Marketplace Food Court To Host Santouka Ramen

​It would've seemed a safe bet to assume that the new Irvine Mitsuwa Marketplace going into the 13,800 square feet space at Heritage Plaza that was formerly Ace Hardware would contain a Santouka Ramen. At every single Mitsuwa Marketplace in the US (Costa Mesa; Torrance; Los Angeles; Santa Monica; ... More >>

The Huntington Beach Surf Riot: A New Perspective

An English photographer unearths his shots of burning cop cars and surfboards from 1986, then brings them back to SoCal

Big Sean, Now Really Big

The Detroit rapper lives the dream on his debut album

[UPDATE: A Statement From Tovar] Goldenvoice's 30th Anniversary Fest: Social D, Bad Religion, Descendents Headline

​UPDATE, NOV. 7, 9:52 A.M.: Founder Gary Tovar explains the lineup in a statement: "The artists and lineup for these special shows were chosen to reflect the bands that embraced and were instrumental in building Goldenvoice from day one. Like us, they had just the right screws loose. Because of th ... More >>

Drunk After Work: The Counter

​The Place: The Counter, 6416 Irvine Boulevard, Irvine, (949) 336-7272; www.thecounterburger.com.The Hours: Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

John Cole, Paroled Sex Offender, Accused of Fleeing Ankle Monitor and Jerking Off to Pilates Class

​Police arrested a wanted Santa Ana parolee who allegedly jerked off while watching a pilates class in Santa Monica.John Cole was originally popped for suspected indecent exposure, but police in Santa Monica later discovered the 54-year-old was also wanted in Orange County for allegedly failing to ... More >>

World's Most Expensive Bowl of Pho Goes for $5,000

Edwin Goei/OC WeeklyAnQi's basic $9 pho. Pretty good, but will $4,991 in gourmet ingredients (and some cash for charity) make it better? We would hope. ​The pho experience is anything but fancy, and that's just fine for all of us at SAFII. Tarnished napkin holders, murky ice water, tattered booths ... More >>

KCRW Global Street Food Fest SOLD OUT--But Win a Pair of Tickets NOW

Piaggio on Wheels will be there this Sunday, and so can you!​SOOOOO...remember that panel I'm going be on this Sunday in Santa Monica, alongside KCRW-FM 89.9's Evan Kleiman, celebrity chef Jet Tila, and Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold? If you're interested, tough tamales--event is ... More >>

"I Used To Be a Vegan" by Zion I & The Grouch: Vegan Underground Rap Yo!

​This last Sunday, I bit the bullet and tagged along with an "amiga" to a Jersey Shore-themed family party in Walnut. It didn't really work out, but at least I got the scoop for a bad-ass underground rap song.My then-unofficial cuñado ("brother-in-law," for you non-español forkers) Kenny Segal l ... More >>

Dervaes Family Sends Out Ridiculous Press Release Claiming They're Not Trying to Shut Up Urban Homesteaders

Say what you will about the dingbat Dervaeses of Pasadena, the family that stirred a national controversy when they decided to trademark the terms "urban homstead" and "urban homesteading," but at least they're remaining consistent. They've maintained their innocence from the start, blaming a conspi ... More >>

Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches Already Planning a Second Location

Professor SaltClick here to see our slideshow of Bruxie Gourmet Waffles.​Damn, that was fast: barely a month into its existence, not even a month after Shuji reviewed it and before Edwin could make his way down there, Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches in Old Towne Orange is already looking to open ... More >>

Mitsuwa Marketplace Offers 20-Percent Off Everything Today!

​For one day only, Mitsuwa Marketplace in Costa Mesa is offering 20-percent off everything in the market--yes, that includes ready-made sushi, bento boxes, meat and seafood--and yes, the place is a fucking madhouse.

Gettin' Made: Craft Class Schedules for November

The holiday season is upon us, and the economy's not much better than it was last year. There's no better time to learn a new crafty skill so you can make fabulous, money-saving gifts for your friends and family--thankfully, there's a slew of craft classes available near you to get you started! ... More >>

Gettin' Made: BAM Fest Tomorrow in Santa Monica

Looking for something to do this weekend? How about an event that combines your love of booze, paintings and tunes? You're in luck--the first Beer, Art and Music Festival takes place tomorrow to bring you three great tastes that taste great together! ​ After the jump, details on ho ... More >>

Santa Monica: The Art of Summer

Orange County Center for Contemporary Arts

Santa Monica: The Art of Summer Opening Reception

OCCCA

Gettin' Made: August Craft Classes

The last month of summer is upon us, and if you're looking for a way to get your learn on before heading back to school next month we've got you covered with a whole slew of craft classes available in and around Orange County! Look at all the great things you can learn how to make at The Urban Craf ... More >>

Katy Perry, Reinterpreted: "California Gays"

​Filmmaker Ryan James Yezak made one of the cutest interpretations of Katy Perry's "California Gurls" we've seen. In it: hot, hairless twinks, a tribute to the movie Mean Girls, and various recognizable spots around Santa Monica. 

Gettin' Made: Craft Classes for June

How is it June already? If you're running behind on your New Year's resolution to pick up a new craft technique or two, it's not too late - sign up for one of this month's craft classes being offered around the southland! Learn how to make this babydoll dress at Home Ec in Silverlake this mon ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Crafty Classes for May

Picture from the Home Ec website Students from Jenny Ryan's Sewing 101 class show off their finished tote bags - learn how to make your own this month!​ May is here, time to scope out the craft class offerings around southern California! Get to Home Ec in Silverlake tonight for the monthl ... More >>

The Language Archive

South Coast Repertory

Oscar Winners Bust Sushi Restaurant For Allegedly Serving Whale

Did you hear about the sting operation recent Oscar winners for The Cove conducted at The Hump in Santa Monica? The covert investigation led to allegations that the popular restaurant was serving endangered whale meat. Above is the ABC 7's news clip on it. It became a national story in a ... More >>

Overheard at the Farmers' Market, Part 3

​I've always been a bit weirded out that the farmers' market near UCI is something of a tourist attraction. I understand the Santa Monica Wednesday market (it's huge) and the Hollywood market (it's in Tourist Central), but Irvine? Nevertheless, the parking lot fills up with out-of-state plates as ... More >>

Free Crap That Came In The Mail: Everclear, 'In A Different Light'

​Is there any more concrete evidence that a band is out of ideas than releasing an album full of new recordings of old songs?

Monday Night BBQs Are Back On the Menu At Ho-Hum Habana

May is National Barbeque Month (yay!) and, so far, the weather's playing ball.Good to hear, then, that Habana at the Lab recently reintroduced its Monday night BBQ (from 10pm till midnight, from now through Labor Day), held on its gorgeous, romantic patio. Assuming I could ever last that l ... More >>

Marché Moderne's Market Is A Feast For the Senses

As I mentioned recently, Marché Moderne is celebrating two years at South Coast Plaza with a two-night special tasting menu and market for diners. Last night was the first night; I attended--and also Twittered about the experience. The food was superb, the dishes showcasing top-tier produce from th ... More >>

Indie 103.1 Goes Off The Airwaves, Lives On Online

Edit: As you can see, the shock of this news has affected more than one of us here on staff...Acclaimed LA/OC radio station Indie 103.1--which attracted nationwide attention due to their deep playlists and unconventional specialty shows in the face of increasingly uniform FM radio formats--is abando ... More >>

My Bloody Valentine to Tour N. America (Fingers Crossed)

It's the musical equivalent of J.D. Salinger emerging from seclusion. A mere 16 years since their last visit to this continent, shoegazer-rock masters of the omniverse My Bloody Valentine return to feed us with their bliss. Among the eight dates [see below; ht- Pitchfork], there'll be two at the San ... More >>

KCRW, Now with Even More User-friendliness

Extraordinarily popular Santa Monica-based radio station KCRW 89.9 FM is introducing a new cutting-edge media player that, its publicist claims, “will empower online listeners to make KCRW their own.” (Does that mean we have to make the coffee, too?) KCRW’s Director of New Media, Anil Dewan ... More >>

Black and Blue at the zoo

Driving: Me Crazy!

You know what I hate most about my new life in Orange County? No, not that. That either. What I hate is that if I stay out any time later than, say, 10 p.m., the odds seem to be about 50/50 that the freeway exit I need will be randomly closed. Or even that the entire freeway will be randomly clos ... More >>

2007: Looking Back at the Year Ahead

Predictions for 2007

Slate Nailer

Conservative James Lacy plays turncoat to sway elections

Insane In the Membrane

How to cook Santa Monica Seafoods yummy shellfish

Holy Mackerel!

We came, we saw seafood, we ate it, we left

Lost Weekend

Finding the OC in LA

Letters