Exploring places beyond one's designated comfort zone can be particularly daunting for Angelenos. For some people, it's a chronic case of AWOL (Always West of Lincoln); for others, leaving and entering the valley presents an emotional challenge. These self-imposed geographical limitations preventing us from cruising yonder aren't just based on the distance—they're because we wouldn't know where to go and which places we belonged at even once we got there. More»

Chants heard on the Venice boardwalk this past Sunday included: "Free your boobies, free your mind!," "Nobody likes tan lines!" And my personal favorite, "put the 'tit' back in 'Constitution!'" It was all party of "Go Topless Day," celebrated by a UFO cult. Yes. You read that correctly. MORE>>>

[Photo via] Yesterday, Venice went European-style the for the fourth annual Go Topless Day, an event wherein ladies expose their boobies to fight for their right to bare breasts. The cause may seem as simple as female exhibitionists wanting to flaunt their tatas freely in public—something wholeheartedly supported by men as roughly 60% of the straight man's life is spent trying to get women to take their tops off. More»

I have friends, respectable people, who raise their children in Venice, and insist that Venice is a great place for anyone to do the same. "It has great schools," they tell me happily, "and everyone is so friendly." I do not doubt either of these points, and I see nothing wrong with raising a child in a progressive, non-traditional environment. But, um, let's hope Parenting Magazine doesn't show up on Go Topless Day on August 21st, when hundreds of women will display one or both of their breasts in honor of a so-called equality movement sponsored by a UFO cult. Honey, tell the kids we're moving tomorrow! More»

Belgian-born L.A. transplant Chase Marielleska, or Chase as he's known in his professional sphere, has been throwing up local street art since the 90s and recently completed "The Campaign for the Absurd" project in Venice. Maybe you've seen it? It covers an entire block along the boardwalk so it'd be hard to miss. More»

• Yesterday's police raid and seizure of "boxes and bags of evidence" made for a very bad 420 for three weed shops on Venice Boardwalk operated by Kush Dr., LLC. [KTLA]
• Two acclaimed journalists, Oscar-nominated Restrepo director Tim Hetherington and Pulitzer Prize-nominated photographer Chris Hondros, killed in Libya in fight [HuffPo]
• With Steve Soboroff vouching for him, Frank McCourt clings to the Dodgers despite MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's announcement to appoint a trustee. [LATimes]
• Theodora Richards, daughter of the legendary Keith, gets a prettyyy prettyyyyy prettyyyy sweet deal in court for possession of weed and hydrocodone charges. [TMZ]
• Good morning, everyone. Simon van Kempen of "Real Housewives of NYC" has just dropped a single. Enjoy your day. [PE]

Go HERE for more photos by Kulumi Kato and tag yourself and your friends!

It only makes sense that the top destination for L.A.'s fun-loving hippies/beach bums have it's own music fest inspired by the original celebration of peace love and music that is Woodstock '69. On Sunday, Venicestock 2010 took over the boardwalk's Windward Plaza for an all-day seaside music festival all its own. More»

[Photo via] On Sunday, a parade of topless ladies (and men who are there to "show their support") will march down Venice Boardwalk to fight for their equal right to go shirtless. GoTopless, the organization "committed to helping women perceive their breasts as noble parts of their anatomy" will be arranging similar marches in other cities around the country on Sunday, the 22nd, in honor of the anniversary of women's suffrage. More»

Go HERE to see more photos from the all weekend's parties and tag yourself and your friends!

This weekend, L.A. was filled with various BBQs, pool parties and music-fueled events to celebrate the 4th of July in style.  We sent our team out to canvas the city, from the beaches to downtown, documenting everything from the Friday night "Pre-Indepence Day" events to the post-fireworks Sunday night fiestas. Keep reading for our complete roundup of L.A.'s 4th of July Weekend festivities! More»

Venice has been a Mecca for vagabonds and granola-types far and wide since the counterculture of the 1960s.  Dirty hippies young and old flock to the sun-baked, seaside community with their rusty RVs and VW Buses to set up shop on small streets and hit the boardwalk while the sun's out, something which has troubled residents -- the ones who actually own (stationary) property there -- for years. More»