LA LA Land Blogged: The best L.A. sites for everything
by GillianS - December 21, 2008
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Some time ago, I decided to love Los Angeles. I know that it's been en vogue for quite sometime to hate on Los Angeles: pretension, shallowness, all those human vices that the "cool" purport to be immune to. But once I started to RSS LA blogs, I found my calling as a Los Angeles aficionado. There are so many knowledgeable, good writers who are eager to share their Los Angeles experiences and scoops. These are some of my favorites and therefore, some of the best.
LAist
LAist is the archetypal Los Angeles blog. It’s part of the Gothamist network that supports blogs on multiple cities including L.A., New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Boston. Started in 2004, it’s the most popular Los Angeles blog around with about 1.6 million page views per month!
I love LAists rigorous coverage of everything local: new restaurants, new bars, tons of music events — all in a tone that is just barely on the blog side of journalism. No “ZOMG!” here, just like, actual news, tons of pictures and a site design that isn’t offensive to everything aesthically pleasing in the universe.
Good Luck Bar
1514 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
This is where I saw Tarantino drinking Mai Tais…or something similar.
This is where I saw Tarantino drinking Mai Tais…or something similar.
Losanjealous
With a focus on the local music scene, Losanjealous is a great site to check out if you want to seem in the know with that girl with the sideswept bangs at Intelligentsia.
TMZ
Everyone knows TMZ. Sure, it’s not quite in the spirit of this blog, but so many of their items are about local establishments it’s a good site to check out if you want to do some celebrity spotting in the city.
Ivy the
113 N Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
You’ll see plenty of TMZ photography outside this classic celeb hang out on Robertson.
You’ll see plenty of TMZ photography outside this classic celeb hang out on Robertson.
Eater LA
Along with sister sites Curbed LA (architecture and real estate development) and Racked LA (style and fashion industry), the Eater LA network has its cyberfinger on the pulse of everything Los Angeles. Eater is particularly useful because it track new bars and restaurants as well as the shuttering of old ones. Insider tips come from it’s scores of readers and its editors are on all the most important mailing lists. RSS this blog and you will never want for a place to go on Friday night.
LA's Homeless Blog
A social-conscious blog about the plight faced by the homeless in the City of Angels and what a regular blog reader can do to help.
Green Girl LA
One of the newer LA blogs to show up on my radar, Green Girl LA is passionate about all things “green” or “eco-friendly” in LA. This includes a weekly feature on an LA resident who has made the leap to carless. This feature in particular has inspired me, but she also offers tons of practical, non-hippie tips (e.g., natural lip balm alternatives instead of suggesting you use 1 square of toilet paper) to simplify your life while being conscious of your impact on your environment, all with an LA spin.
Angelenic
Another great downtown blog. What is it about living downtown that makes people want to share their experiences?
Gridskipper (Los Angeles)
Gridskipper is a great travel site in general, but it’s always interesting to see what they have to say about my fair city: best french fries, best pho, best pick up spots. Always good to know what other people think and find new places…
Franklin Avenue
The couple that write this eastside blog are practically my neighbors and though I’ve never met them, I feel like we would be fast friends. Blogging from Los Feliz about nothing more complex than the places they go and the things they hear Mike & Maria are truly passionate about Los Angeles and it shows. For the past two years they have organized a pre-Thanksgiving Santa Monica walk where they and a number of readers trek on foot from downtown Los Angeles to the beach in Santa Monica. What better way to get to know a “car” city than to get out of your car and walk.
Birds Rotisserie Chicken Cafe & Bar
5925 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Before the blog, there was Birds on Franklin. Tasty chicken and good people watching.
Before the blog, there was Birds on Franklin. Tasty chicken and good people watching.
Curbed LA
CurbedLA is another site that really defies real/online journalism classification. They have tons of news that’s often focused on real estate, design, culture and nightlife.
Upon further investigation, it seems that this site is also a part of Nick Denton’s empire. I’m not really sure how I feel about this…
Defamer
Part of the divisive Gawker Media Empire, Defamer popped my LA blog cherry…that was kind of a gross thing to say, huh?
Anyway, I’ve held a grudge against them ever since they didn’t hire me for an open blogging position. But I never would have found Guidespot if they had, so I really should be thanking them!
Anyhow.
Defamer offers a unique perspective into the subculture that is the movie business in Los Angeles, mostly through the eyes of aspiring writers and underpaid assistants. My favorite series is “Privacywatch”: celebrity sightings submitted by readers. It made me feel like I was a celebrity when they ran my Quentin Tarantino sighting.
blogdowntown
Just what it sounds like: a blog of life in downtown Los Angeles. It’s no longer enough to call downtown “burgeoning.” Overflowing with nightlife and culture it is now officially a hot spot for entertainment and as a neighborhood. Blogdowntown along with the now defunct viewfrom a loft is an insider’s view of what it’s like to be at the heart of the downtown revolution. The blog has a newspaper-style front page and is the work of a number of contributing authors, all of whom know their way around a keyboard as well as they know their way around downtown.
Nokia Theatre La Live
777 Chick Hearn Ct, Los Angeles, CA 90015
The downtown blogs had great coverage of the opening of the Nokia Theatre and LA Live. That was where I first heard about Britney Spear’s appearance at the big tree lighting. What do you mean you didn’t hear about that?
The downtown blogs had great coverage of the opening of the Nokia Theatre and LA Live. That was where I first heard about Britney Spear’s appearance at the big tree lighting. What do you mean you didn’t hear about that?
Los Angeles City Hall
200 N. Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Local political coverage is a great reason to follow an L.A. blog since they tend to be much more in depth and have a much more interesting and practical perspective than “old” media.
LA Observed
The kind of blog that gives “old journalism” a bad name. Great writing and always up to date on local politics and goings on. With its journalistic bent, it’s been the blog to watch when it comes to the Tribune company and LA Time layoffs.
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