Web Sites in Los Angeles

Web Sites

LAVoice.org (www.lavoice.org) is an independent blog with news, observations, and unscripted rants about all things L.A. Check out www.la.com for insiders' guides to bars, restaurants, concerts, and other forms of entertainment. An editor's blog opines on everything from new billboards to movie premieres.

L.A. Observed (www.laobserved.com) is a must-read for many Angelenos, who want its daily media and political updates. It's also good for L.A. history references and links to other local media sites.

TV personality Huell Howser's Web site (www.kcet.com/programsa-z/huells) revisits unusual L.A. places he has covered on his show, from a menudo (tripe stew) factory to a museum for African-American firefighters. For L.A.-centric gossip, check out Defamer (www.defamer.com), which tracks movie deals, celebrity sightings, and the activities of A-list stars with snarky honesty. Curbed L.A. (la.curbed.com) is a straight-talking source for news on local lifestyle news, real estate (learn how much J.Lo is asking for her Sunset Strip mansion), and links to other L.A. sites.

The city of Los Angeles government site (www.lacity.org) has various entertainment and cultural links. The Central Library's Web site (www.lapl.org) has sections on books set in L.A. and regional history resources. There are several community Web sites that will give you a closer look at particular neighborhoods and often include events listings; a few of the best include Echopark.net (www.echopark.net), Venicebeach.com (www.venicebeach.com), and Santa Monica's LookOut newsletter site (www.surfsantamonica.com).

The Los Angeles Conservancy site (www.laconservancy.org) includes info on the preservation of local historic buildings, as well as the latest on its walking tours. For information on festivals, exhibitions, performances, and special events, visit the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department site (www.culturela.org). The city's Department of Recreation and Parks (www.laparks.com) posts info on all kinds of sports facilities, parks, and even dog runs. Through Gallery Guide.org (www.galleryguide.org) you can check on upcoming openings, shows, and events in the city's fine-arts community. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences rolls out scads of Academy Awards info at www.oscars.org, plus details on other Academy events. Get more celebrity scoop on where stars shop, dine, and play at www.seeing-stars.com.