Much like the Olympics and presidential elections, we get this extra day known as Leap Day on the calendar once every fourth year which doesn't really mean much to me but a prolonged February. And although not a festive holiday since it's essentially a day created for calendar maintenance, our culture has deemed it cause for celebration. Far be it for us to deny any excuse to celebrate, so we've gathered the various things happening in and around the greater Los Angeles area in honor of this addition to the calendar for you to join in observing its specialness. Please note that there is absolutely no theme, sentiment or commonality between these events other than the day they on which they fall. Happy Leap Day, everyone. More»

Public transportation: always an adventure! As can be expected from a universally accessible service, a ride on the bus or the subway often involves exciting interactions with deranged loners, unique new smells, and mystery puddles! All in all, it's the kind of thing that really makes you want to take your pants off. Check out NYC's no pants subway ride HERE and LA's version HERE.

Public transportation: always an adventure! As can be expected from a universally accessible service, a ride on the bus or the subway often involves exciting interactions with deranged loners, unique new smells, and mystery puddles! All in all, it's the kind of thing that really makes you want to take your pants off. At least, that's the contention of the thousands that took place in the international No Pants Subway Ride, which went down yesterday in cities across the world, including right here in L.A. More»

Summer has arrived, and the calls and Facebook messages have started to roll in. Everyone and their mother wants to visit you in New York.  Beyond the mild annoyances that come with any house-guest scenario, you’re saddled with the extra-special burden of traveling around the city. This year, instead of letting “little” things go until you lose patience, help your friends and loved ones prepare with this guide to appropriate New York travel etiquette. More»

NASA discovered life on other planets, some dudes recreated a frat box and call it "art," and we dissected James Franco's bookshelf. Also, why goth is the new hipster, why delusional marriages are most the most likely to succeed (whaa?!), Mardi Gras from NOLA, and what Frank Falcinelli baked me for my bday. Plus! Someone with tons of money please buy the Gatsby mansion before they tear it down ok? More»

• Subway franchise takes over the skies. Literally. [NYT]
• Four seasons can't even get fake Rothko paintings. [WSJ]
• Designer Julien Macdonald calls plus-size models a "joke." [NYDN]
• Han Solo and Ally McBeal just got married! [TMZ]
• The best Chinese restaurant menu misspellings. [Village Voice]

• Next year, new Whitney Museum will be built in the Meatpacking District. [NYT]
• The men in blue will be providing 24-7 protection to the Jersey Shore cast. [TMZ]
• In case you haven't heard, the Superbowl is here in 2014. Start stocking up on body paint and foam fingers. [Post]
• Good Samaritan rescues woman from subway train, then promptly disappears. [NYDN]
• Duchess Sarah Ferguson swirled through NYC yesterday in a cloud of financial panic and disgrace. [Post]
• Bryant Park has its own sex guru. [WSJ]

COSMOPOLITRAIN   A Moscow subway car is transformed into a moving museum featuring reproductions of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts’ watercolors.  (Photo: Andrey Smirnov / AFP-Getty Images via the San Francisco Chronicle)