All stories about "Defamer"

When we wrote about downtown's Trifecta we were like "sure they're douchebags but at least they're douchebags running a sports bar in downtown LA." And then when we wrote about the Grand Sports Bar we were like "they kind of suck but at least they're running a sports bars in downtown LA." And then both of them went out of business. And then the Flower Sports Bar went out of business. And now downtown is more or less bereft of watering holes servicing both man's need for alcoholic nourishment and his need to drunkenly declare that he's about to fight that out-of-town sports fan over there. Luckily downtown still has a few bars and restaurants where you can catch the occasional game. If you show up at just the right time. If they happen to be open that day. If they haven't closed early. If you're lucky. Fuck. (photo)

Here are some ways to celebrate May in LA: buying a fresh set of skimpy clothes for what promises to be another long, hot summer; investing in a UV lamp (for the June gloom) and a window air conditioner (for those days when the gloom burns off and you think you're going to fry to a perfect golden-brown finish just sitting next to a window); getting a head start on a summer fling or six. Or you could check out our guide to May events in the city of angels. Nothing will be as fun as actually cashing your economic stimulus check, but we've got some good ideas as to how you can spend it.

Hollywood is a tough town. Your typical night out involves waiting in lines, bribing self-important bouncers and dodging paparazzi, which means you'll wake up the next morning, or mid-afternoon, famished. We've already discussed some of the best places to get your morning-ish food in West Hollywood, but should your plans (or one night stand) find you a little farther east, it does help to arm yourself with lots of options.

We recently discussed where to get blitzed in Culver City, so today we will embark upon a discussion of where to line your stomach beforehand. The restaurant scene in Culver City has been getting ever more impressive over the last few years, so yes, there is some attitude present, both among the restaurateurs and the patrons who think they're awesome for "discovering" a restaurant and/or a neighborhood. But the food's good -- in some cases excellent -- so just ignore that and concentrate on your steak. I'm sure a few dear readers with be outraged by the inclusion/exclusion of some place or another, so just leave it in the comments and try not to pop a blood vessel. Happy eating!

Mexicans call it la Gran Mancha, the Big Stain. It's a filthy, chaotic mess. It's crowded, polluted and loud. In short: Mexico City is a wonderful place.

This and a dozen other essays are the semifinalists in the Corolla Dream Destinations Contest. Your vote will help determine which essay goes on to the final round, where a round of celebrity judges determine which entrant gets to make his trip a reality. After the jump, quotes from the other twelve, and info on how to vote. (pingnews/flickr)

Although not always apparent to the Los Angeles newcomer, there are plenty of nightlife options available around town in places other than Hollywood or West Hollywood. East you'll find downtown, west gets you to Santa Monica, and North gets you to the Valley. But what about South? You may think the only real reasons to head in that directions is an airport run or road trip to San Diego, and you'd be correct. However, if you do find yourself on the wrong side of the 10 in search of some nightlife, you will find some pretty good options in Culver City. I've come up with a list to get you started, but add your own notables in the comments.

Have you ever said to yourself, "Maybe tonight, instead of eating out at an overpriced LA restaurant with vaguely Asian decor, I'll just stay home and have ramen, then donate the difference to a worthy cause?" Um, yeah. Me neither. Fortunately, there are periodic occasions when you don't have to choose, one of which is fast approaching. DineOut LA, which happens on Thursday, April 17, is an excuse to eat out while actually doing something nice for others in the process: at least twenty percent of all participating restaurant proceeds will be donated to AIDS research. So check out our guide to saving the world by having a bite to eat -- we've chosen some highlights, but a full list is available here. Don't forget to order dessert.

When you hear a person say that they love Los Angeles but wish it had more "culture," you have to realize that it is really just a more acceptable way of saying, "I would live in New York, but I am a huge pussy about the cold." We've brought you guides to classic museums and some unusual museums, as well as downtown's culture district. This Thursday through Sunday also marks the first LA Art Weekend open for public consumption, giving everybody a chance to get a little more cultured. We've listed some of the top draws for this year's weekend to help you get started, but make sure to check out the website for the full list of events and exhibits.

It's obvious that some LA restaurant locations are cursed. Ocean Avenue, La Cienega, Sunset Strip, and Wilshire Boulevard all have well-known radioactive zones where no restaurant can survive more than six months without undergoing a lingering and very public death. Yet on many of these same restaurant-killing streets there are eateries that have thrived for decades and continue to pack in the crowds. Many of these long-lived places were born in the 1980s, when LA chefs joined their SF brethren in creating what was then called California cuisine. But that doesn't explain what keeps people coming back year after year. Assuming the devil isn't a major investor, here are some possible explanations for the staying power of six still-popular restaurants.

We've all been there: you're stuck in LAX on a layover, cooling your heels with a trashy magazine and a bag of chips, when you learn your flight to Phoenix has been canceled because of poor weather in Boston. You're rebooked for a new flight ... in six hours. You'd love to get out and enjoy a little of the city, but fear straying too far from the airport environs. Well, don't fear! In other major American cities, you'd probably be screwed, but thanks to the wonders of urban sprawl, there are tons of great restaurants within shouting distance of LAX. Get out and get a taste of the city -- with ample time to cab back and hustle through security -- with our handy map.

We've already covered some of the places you can go for the best Los Angeles tacos, but there are times, like after a half-dozen margaritas, when quantity is better than quality. There are plenty of restaurants out there featuring a "Taco Tuesday" where you can grab a multitude of tacos, sometimes for less than a dollar each. They might not always be the most authentic, but you know the price is right. And even if you can't get outside on a Tuesday, this taco-crazy town will keep you awash in inexpensive Mexican(ish) eats almost every day of the week.

We've all moved to LA to be part of a bustling metropolis, but sometimes you just want to get away. Without actually having to drive for five hours or deal with Middle America (anything east of San Gabriel) or anything crazy like that. The good thing about LA's sprawling urban-ness is that there are pockets of country goodness right here in the County of Angels. Hikes, farmers, antique (not vintage) stores, quiet little hotels...we've got it all. Reveal your own quiet getaways in the comments! (photo)

Los Angeles owes a lot to the Greeks, and I'm not just saying that because we've hosted the Olympics twice in the last 100 years. I am not giving thanks because Athens might have been the pinnacle episode of Taradise. Nor am I talking about the inspiration that helped Hollywood put Gerard Butler and Brad Pitt in leather on the battlefield. I am talking about the wonders of Greek cuisine, which reminds the people of Los Angeles the olives can be used outside of martinis and lambs are even better when cooked with garlic rather than lining your Ugg boots. I've listed some of the more popular places in Los Angeles to get some Greek flavor, but please leave a comment or shoot us a tip if we've left anything out.

Ah, there's nothing like a night of debauchery and unmitigated excess, especially when all that excess is in liquid form. Of course, the next morning can be a little painful, but that's where tried-and-true hangover remedies come in handy. From hair of the dog to pure grease, here's where some surefire hangover cures can be found across LA.

There are at least two ways to locate a strip club in downtown Los Angeles. First option: read this post. The downside here is that some of the entries are less than generous regarding your probable belief that the stripper you'll be masturbating to "really liked you." Second option: wander randomly around downtown until you encounter a neon sign promising a basement filled with naked, slightly overweight women. The downside of this option is that -- at some point during your nomadic wanderings in this crack-infested den of homelessness and desperation -- you may very well find yourself stabbed to death with a rusty straight-edge. These things happen. (photo)

If you're anything like me, you're starting to notice something strange happening among your friends: they are having babies. In droves. And to commemorate the occasion, you have to venture into a domain you've always ignored or even avoided -- the overstimulating, brightly colored, nauseatingly cute world of the baby store. But never fear! LA is teeming with hip indie boutiques where you can find the perfect gift that doesn't make you want to throw up, and their helpful employees can render the most inept shopper an instant expert in all things baby. Don't waste time debating over pink and blue onesies at Target; get in and out of one of these stores in ten minutes and still wind up with the perfect present. Who knows, you might even have fun.

When most people think of malls, they think winding two-story structures filled with endless renditions of the Gap and Foot Locker, with a Sbarro or Panda Express here and there, for much-needed breaks when you get lost/abandon the will to live. For LA residents, mall can mean the same thing, but more often we're talking about a mixed-use building or an ethnic enclave or even just a strip mall that houses our favorite bar or restaurant. And it's true what you've heard: LA is full of strip malls, one after the other. But we don't disdain them. We embrace them and love them completely, as they generally hold the best of LA culture. There's about a million malls of various stripes in LA, so add your favorites below. (photo)