The LA media is having a (justifiable) field day with the County's parking ticket fee hikes.

LA Observed is reporting that--amidst job scarcity--parking enforcement is a career sector with potential in Los Angeles, as Mayor Villaraigosa is hoping to add 50 additional part-time parking officers to his brigade to police 'foot beats' in Downtown, Hollywood and North Hollywood.

LA Times tells the whole story on its site. Today, officials will unveil the new program that will increase downtown fines by 50% (to $6 an hour in busy periods).

Pasadena Weekly has the story on its own community's parking penalty fee increase to about 90 cents per ticket.

CBS has posted a video, 'Demand-Based Parking Program Takes Effect in Downtown,' on the topic on its site.

Check out my article on Los Angeles Parking Tips, Tricks and Advice, for insight into the system and how to avoid getting a ticket.

Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Sprinkles does cupcakes right! I'm personally a huge fan. In fact, I recently ordered their special birthday dozen box for my dad's big day, earlier this month.

As an adherent of the 'cult of red velvet,' I was delighted to hear that Sprinkles will be trying its hand at ice cream as well. Next Thursday, May 24, Sprinkles Ice Cream opens next door to the cupcake company's flagship store at 9631 South Santa Monica Blvd.

The ice cream will be handcrafted, slow-churned, and made of organic California dairy cream. The sundaes may well be its centerpieces; they'll be loaded with house sauces and toppings. Ice cream flavors include salty caramel, cap'n crunch and butter pecan studded with caramelized pecan dragées.

The best part (if you're a classic Sprinkles Cupcakes fanatic): the red velvet waffle cones!

Related:
Ice Cream Plus in West Hollywood
Randy's Donuts in Inglewood

Photo Courtesy of Sprinkles Cupcakes

Food trucks are getting so elaborate and sophisticated these days that some of them offer eats that are easily at par with those of their stationary restaurant counterparts.

Just when you think you've seen it all roll by, and park...here comes another amazing addition to the fleet of LA-wide grub-mobiles: Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck.

Billing itself as the only truck in town to feature fresh lobster flown in from Maine daily, Cousins will offer such foodie favorites as California lobster tacos with freshly made local tortillas prepared daily and served with Maine lobster, cabbage, pico de gallo and spicy cilantro lime sauce; and Lobster martinis with fresh Maine lobster, lemon and lobster-stuffed olives.

My mouth is watering already! I adore lobster more than anyone I know, but am not 100% sure what I think of the Maine Lobster ice cream selection (buttery lobster swirled in fresh vanilla ice cream). Could this be diving too deep into lobster culture (pun intended)? I'll reserve judgment for when I've actually sampled one.

For updates on the truck's whereabouts follow Cousins Main Lobster on Twitter.

Related: Stones Seafood Restaurant in Marina Del Rey

Photo Courtesy of Cousins Maine Lobster (Via Bread & Butter PR)

I love to cook, but not all the time. Alas, there are crunch days when I'm still craving a gourmet multi-course meal but don't have the time to whip one up from scratch.

That's why I was excited about the discovery of this inventive short course at UCLA Extension: 'Dinner Without a Kitchen.'

In it, LA culinary scribe and 'shopping cart chef' Joan Vogel (69 Quickies in the Kitchen) teaches her class how to properly shop, prep and serve up no-sweat gourmet meals--as the name states, without a kitchen.

Her theory is that, with so many excellent ready mades, and prepared foods at farmers markets, it takes just a bit of ingenuity to cook 'by assemblage' without sacrificing quality cuisine.

The course is open to Osher members and costs $79. It consists of four sessions in late July and early August.

Photo Courtesy of Joan Vogel