Los Angeles

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

What better candidate to be a matchmaker than a heartthrob? That's the thinking of the folks at West LA Animal Shelter and Much Love Animal Rescue.

The two organizations are holding a special 'pet owner > pet' matchmaking event tomorrow (May 12th) from 9 to 4 p.m. at 11361 W. Pico Blvd. And actor Zach McGowan of Shameless will help do the honors of pairing pets and people.

The shindig celebrates a weekend of discounted animal adoptions at all LA County shelters. So, adoption counselors, trainers and groomers will be on-hand at the event to help in the adoption process.

And, adding to the spirit of love and giving, Much Love has offered to pay for the first 20 dogs and cats.

Related:
Animal Rescue Resources in Los Angeles
Dog-Friendly Restaurants in LA

Photo of Omelette (A1279905) Courtesy of West LA Animal Shelter

On Monday, May 7th friends of the Hollywood Bowl, Deborah Borda, and high profile maestro Gustavo Dudamel assembled for a private annual fete to celebrate the kick-off of the new 2012 summer season.

The man of the hour mentioned some highlights from this summer's program including Chaka Khan's inauguration into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. The event will take place on June 22nd in spectacular ceremony, presided over by everyone's favourite cinematic singing nanny, nun and cabaret sensation Julie Andrews. And, this will publicly launch the 2012 summer season.

At the season launch party, Dudamel also went on to promise a diversely exciting program this year, which includes the introduction of more Latin sounds (clearly of personal interest as he is from Venezuela).

There's loads to look forward to such as the Mel Brooks musical The Producers and a performance by Liza Minelli. But I'm personally most excited about the LA Phil's presentation of the haunting Carmina Burana during the end of August.

Related:
The Hollywood Bowl in Profile
Profile of Gustavo Dudamel

Photo: Miranda Chiu

I'm so sad to report that legend and hair guru to the stars Vidal Sassoon has died in his home on Mulholland Drive in Beverly Hills. He was 84.

The British hair stylist extraordinaire's iconic name was a part of my childhood growing up in LA. Some of you may be old enough to remember their tagline: 'If you don't look good, we don't look good.'

I recall hearing him a few years back on the radio being interviewed by Steve Jones (on Jonesy's Jukebox); he had wit, class and a subtle kind of humor.

The LA Times does his life's work more justice than my feeble attempts. Its obit starts with:

With one high-profile haircut on the Paramount Studios lot, Vidal Sassoon vaulted to fame in Hollywood.

Read Vidal Sassoon's full obituary on LA Times.

Related: Local Celebrities and LA Movers and Shakers

Photo of Vidal Sassoon Doing His Magic in 1965 From Hulton Archive/Stringer/Getty Images

Plein air painting is a style that is often associated with Southern California and with Laguna in particular. However, some plein air works will be making their mark on the San Fernando Valley as well this month and next.

Gallery 800 in the Historic Lankershim Arts Center (5108 Lankershim Blvd.) will be the location of the San Fernando Valley Art Club's Spring juried show this year. It takes place between May 12th and June 9th.

The exhibition will feature art in a variety of media including oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel and pencil.

If you're up for a party as well, the opening reception, taking place from 5-8 p.m. on May 12th, is open to the public.

Related: The Annenberg Space For Photography

Image Courtesy of the San Fernando Valley Art Club

On such a Summer Olympics year, the spirit of sports is alive and well, everywhere, including LA County.

In fact, an Olympic cyclist (and Long Beach Bike Ambassador), Tony Cruz, will be leading kids and families on the first Kidical Mass bike ride in Bixby Knolls on May 20th.

The event begins at Los Cerritos Park at 1 p.m. (and also ends there). It will span four miles, heading to Georgie's Place (3850 Atlantic Ave.) where participants can buy lunch and enjoy complimentary ice cream.

Highlights include music, free tune-ups and yoga demonstrations. Helmets are required. The ride ends at approximately 3 p.m. at Los Cerritos Park.

Related: Cool Kids' Activities in Los Angeles

Photo Courtesy of Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association

Fire, hot liquids, knives...these are just some of the dangers chefs encounter in the kitchen. And LA Weekly has gone to the pains of uncovering the pains of some of LA's most successful chefs.

In a blog post that ran on Wednesday, famed LA culinaires like Jet Tila (Charleston) and Eric Greenspan (The Foundry) talk about their worst kitchen injuries.

The tales are all pretty grisly but the grossest, in my humble opinion, comes from David LeFevre of Manhattan Beach Post. His finger got caught in the blade compartment of a hand blender...yikes!

Go on LA Weekly's site to read about more LA chefs' kitchen nightmares.

Related: Los Angeles Restaurant Reviews