Judge Denies Request to Stop Japanese Garden Sale

UCLA also extended the bidding period on the Bel Air property.

UCLA is now a little closer to selling the Hannah Carter Japanese Garden after a superior court judge rejected a request to block the sale, but the university has decided to extend the bidding period on the Bel Air property. The family of Hannah Carter filed a lawsuit to stop the sale of the home and the garden earlier this month. UCLA has listed the property for sale at $4.2 million. The sale has prompted a coalition of preservationist organizations and members of the Carter family to rally against the loss of the historic garden. "UCLA is selling the garden because it serves no teaching or research purpose and lacks the parking necessary to operate it as a public asset," a statement from UCLA reads. "The campus spends more than $100,000 …

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Unemployment Rate Ticks Down in L.A. County

Number of people without jobs in Los Angeles drops to 11.6 percent in April, state employment department says.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Los Angeles County dropped to 11.6 percent in April, down from 11.8 percent in March, the state Employment Development Department announced Friday. The 11.6 percent unemployment rate was below the 12.2 percent rate in April 2011, according to the state agency. In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in April, down from 8.1 percent in March. California's jobless rate was 10.9 percent in April, down from 11 percent in March and down from April 2011, when the rate was 11.8 percent, according to the employment department. The comparable estimates for the nation were 8.1 percent in April, 8.2 percent in March and 9 percent a year …

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Sneak Peek: Burj Khalifa Developer's Wilshire Tower

Take a look at the interior of the Beverly West residences on the Wilshire Corridor.

Anyone want to dream about (or seriously consider, perhaps) owning a luxury unit on the Wilshire Corridor? The Beverly West tower has its first resident and the other 34 units are ready to go, reports Curbed LA. Emaar Properties, the same firm that designed the world's tallest building, known as the Burj Khalifa, has owned the tower since 2007. At 22 stories, the building has great views of the Los Angeles Country Club, Century City, Westwood, and Downtown on a clear day, according to Curbed LA. The price of life in Beverly West? These units range from $1.4 million to $22 million for the top floor. To read the complete post from Curbed LA and the photos, click here.

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Video Tutorial: Unlock the Power of Your Directory Listing By Claiming It!

This video tutorial shows you how to unlock the power of your directory listing by claiming your listing and also covers the benefits of doing so.

If your business needs a boost (which business doesn't, right?), consider claiming your free directory listing on your local Patch site. Each business on the Patch site that covers your community has a free directory listing. But it's not until you, the business owner, claims your directory listing that the power is unleashed. If you don't see your business listed, send an email to saraf@patch.com. Some of the benefits of claiming your listing include: It all starts by signing up for a free account and visiting your directory listing on Patch Places. Check out this video tutorial that shows you, step by step, how to claim your listing and the added benefits of doing so.

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Westwood Village Jamba Juice Closes

The Lindbrook location is now shuttered.

The Westwood Village Jamba Juice has closed, but two other locations in Westwood are still blending smoothies. The windows at the location on Lindbrook Avenue between Gayley and Westwood Boulevard are covered in brown paper. A sign invites customers to satisfy smoothie cravings at the Ackerman Student Union location on the UCLA campus. Another Jamba Juice is located on Santa Monica Boulevard near Sepulveda. The store closed at the end of April when the lease on the space expired, said Janice Duis, senior director of Jamba Juice corporate communications. Duis also said the company worked to relocate the location's employees to other Jamba Juice stores.

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Is Rent Too High in Westwood, Century City?

A USC study says rents in Los Angeles are expected to rise by 10 percent.

What drives the increasing cost of renting an apartment in Los Angeles? Foreclosures and rising demand from young people, says a study from the University of Southern California. USC's Lusk Center for Real Estate says Angelenos renting apartments may see a 10 percent increase over the next two years, but rents may level off in 2013. Is your rent comfortable or too high? Vote in the poll below and tell us what you think in the comments. The percentage of renters living in Westwood is higher than the state average of 44 percent. The data below are from 2010. In the 90024 zip code in Westwood (which covers UCLA, some of the North Village, and most of the neighborhood bounded by Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevard), 60 percent of residents …

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800 Degrees Pizzeria May Expand in Hollywood

The popular Westwood Village pizzeria is considering a new location in Hollywood.

Union, Occupy L.A. to Hold May Day Rallies

Travelers to LAX are warned of a labor demonstration and march that will temporarily close Century Boulevard while Occupy Los Angeles will converge in downtown Los Angeles' financial district.

Labor unions and the Occupy Los Angeles movement have major events planned for May Day, the annual day of celebration for the international labor movement, including a demonstration by an expected 1,200 union members inside Los Angeles International Airport. Travelers were warned by Los Angeles World Airports to expect heavy traffic between noon and 4 p.m. Tuesday due to the temporary closure of Century Boulevard between Airport Boulevard and the LAX Central Terminal area. Departing passengers were advised to add 45 minutes to their drive time to make sure they catch their flights. About 1,200 members of the SEIU 1877 - United Service Workers West will demonstrate at noon inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal and then march east …

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Patrick Meighan

9:44 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Susan, Every now and then we Culver Citizens come up with some surprises! Hope you're well, Patrick Meighan Culver City, CA   more ›

Acapulco Says 'Adios' To Westwood Village

The Mexican restaurant closed earlier this week.

Westwood Village is down one Mexican restaurant after Acapulco served its last blended margarita earlier this week, reports Eater LA. Acapulco Restaurante Y Cantina, part of the Real Mex Restaurant group that was purchased in March by a new owner, still has an open location at 4444 Sunset Boulevard near Los Feliz. Several new restaurants opened in Westwood Village close to Acapulco's former location. To read more about them, click the links below. Will you miss eating at Acapulco? What would you like to see replace it? Tell us in the comments.

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Paul Chavez

1:42 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012

Acapulco was one of our regular favorites when I was a Bruin in the late 80s. Free chimichangas and tacos during happy hour, which was great for broke college students. I celebrated my 21st birthday at Acapulco! Good times.   more ›