Justin Cross

With Christmas just days away, you may be trying to figure out how to get your buzz on without spiked egg nog, a hot toddy or an elf tea with peppermint schnapps (although, these winter cocktails all sound pretty damn good, too). Here are 12 holiday beers from local breweries that are just as tasty as they are festive. Pair them with your Christmas dinner or bring them as a gift to the beer lovers in your family. RECOMMENDED: The best beer bars in Los Angeles  

There isn't a much more quintessential California experience than having a bonfire on the beach while watching the sunset and dreaming you're in an episode of "The OC" (don't act like Mischa Barton and Adam Brody aren't alive in your memory bank). While lighting a bonfire is outlawed on several LA beaches, these five span from north to south along the coast and all offer unique experiences beyond marshmallow roasting and reenacting popular high school TV shows. 1. Dockweiler. Dockweiler has tons of volleyball courts, hang gliding and surf fishing. Get here early because the 75 fire pits go quickly. Also, don't bring your pup (there are signs everywhere and they patrol it pretty hard). Parking fees can cost up to $12.50 in the summer, so bring a little cash. This is a great place to catch a sunset, as long as you can deal with the airplanes flying directly over your head. (Playa del Rey) 2. Huntington City Beach. 200 pits that are on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're a surfer or bird-watcher, this is the place to go. Also, you can buy firewood right there on the sand, parking is $15 and dogs are not allowed. (Huntington Beach) 3. Point Mugu State Park. If you're looking to have a Mother Nature-oriented staycation, Point Mugu is where you need to be. Unlike other beaches, you can reserve a camp site and stay overnight. Dogs are allowed and if you're a runner or hiker, Point Mugu has over 70 miles worth of trails. Prices will vary based on your dates. (Malibu) 4. Leo C

Leprechauns, pots of gold, four leaf clovers...you get it...St. Patrick's Day is upon us. But how will you celebrate? In LA, there's no shortage of bar crawls, pub crawls and douche bags so drunk they may or may not be crawling on the ground by the end of the night. While there's nothing wrong with indulging in green beer at an Irish watering hole, it may be difficult to escape bros taking down Irish car bombs with shirts that read "Kiss me, I'm horny." In that same spirit, here are some other ways to ring in the green holiday. 1. Run a race. No, I'm not talking about the LA Marathon. Besides the fact that it's sold out, more than likely, you'll be too wiped out to walk to the refrigerator, nonetheless take part in holiday festivities. So instead, on Sunday at 8am, take it a little easier on yourself and head down to Redondo Beach for the St. Patrick's Day 5K Run/Walk put on by the good folks at Village Runner. Race cost is $40. 2. Sing and dance. If you want to get your Irish jig on, the Shamrock "N" Roll on the Queen Mary is the place to be. Listen to Celtic rock and Irish party songs while you eat your face off with classic Irish food the night of Sunday. Tickets are only $15 (or $20 at the door). 3. Bake some cupcakes. Even if you plan to drink yourself silly at the bars, you'll want to sober up at some point with some sweets. Duff's Cakemix allows you to do this with an instructional hour-and-a-half class where they supply all the tools to decorate your cupcakes like you

Finding an apartment in Los Angeles isn't the easiest thing in the world. Competition is fierce, and rent is high enough to ensure that you're more than likely not going to get everything you want—especially the common room tanning bed. Nonetheless, there are ways for apartment hunters to work smarter so that several of those "musts" can get checked off and extra cash will be left over to buy one of these. 1. Figure out what you want (what you really, really want). Before you get too far into navigating apartment websites and doing tons of research on restaurants and bars that are stumbling distance from your soon-to-be home, list your priorities. What's your price range? How far is your commute to work? How does the local crime report look? Is the bar really stumbling distance from your new home? All the important stuff. And I apologize for the Spice Girls reference. 2. Take advantage of the internet. There are a bunch of websites and apps you can use these days. My personal recommendations: Zumper, RadPad (started by an LA native), Hot Pads, Zillow, PadMapper and good old Craigslist aren't bad places to start. Pick a couple of these sites and get a feel of prices and location (several have an interactive map). Westside Rentals is $60 for a membership and it's more useful on the Westside than farther east, but you'll lower the number of people you're competing with and have access to some listings not on the other sites. The Rental Girl is another good site... less inventory

"Make some noise, y'all! Make some noise!" If you've ever heard these words shouted loudly over a portable PA system, over and over and over again, there's a good chance you're either watching a video of Lil Jon before he got famous or walking along the Venice Beach Boardwalk. While you may want to avoid the hype, the crowds and the overall scene, sometimes you can't help but watch one of these street acts in action. 1. The Candyman. No, he's not a murderer with a hook for a hand (at least we don't think). Instead, he's part go-go dancer, part gymnast and 100% showman. 2. Venice Beach Glass Man. If you've ever walked past a crowd chanting "hooba, hooba" in unison, then there's a good chance you've witnessed this man jumping on shards of thick glass. Even though his whole routine is scripted more than a veteran road comic, the Venice Beach Glass Man (rumor has it he goes by Perry Hernandez) is definitely worth seeing more than once. 3. The Calypso Tumblers. This group, originally formed in New York, isn't your run-of-the-mill street team. These guys (and now one girl) travel the country and have even made the top 10 of America's Got Talent. You can tell because they are a little less hype and a lot more somersaults. 4. The Dubstep Beat Boxer. This guy will make you feel like you're at an EDM concert right by the ocean. Just because he chills in a beach chair and doesn't heckle you for cash when you walk by doesn't mean he's not talented. But I suppose you could say, he is a

If you've ever used Airbnb, there's a good chance you may have rented a room, apartment or house so you could have a nice place to crash while you go wine tasting for a couple days, visit a city you've never been to or sleep in the creepy rafters of a major television and movie studio. Okay, maybe just the first two... Nonetheless, the popular rental site recently held a contest where those interested can submit convincing arguments on why they should be able to sleep in the Warner Bros' rafters above the studio where Conan is taped. Unfortunately, the contest is closed but if Airbnb decides to partner with other locations around town, here's what we suggest. 1. The Samuel Oschin Planetarium at Griffith Observatory. LA's light pollution may force you to leave town to the see the stars but not when you look up at the planetarium. We only ask for balcony access, so we could watch a few real stars and get some semi-fresh air, and a helluva view of the city. 2. A spot in the front of the line at Sqirl. You might not get a complimentary breakfast or welcome fruit basket if Sqirl were on Airbnb, but being at the front of the line for weekend brunch here beats the heck out of VIP entrance to any night club in town. 3. Walt's apartment at Disneyland. Disneyland is a magical place. It's especially magical when you can stay in the secret apartment above the Main Street Firehouse where Walt himself witnessed the one-year-and-one-day project that was the original Disneyland. Plus, you ca

Yes, there's Waze, Beat the Traffic and good old Google Maps. But with all the fancy technology, sometimes nothing beats the classic traffic shortcuts that only come via word-of-mouth (or this blog post). For those who have spent years learning the hard way, some of these may be old hat. However, if you're new to town, read up as these will save you some heartache and allow you to rest your middle finger a bit. 1. Avoid the 405 gridlock. If you're going Westside to the Valley in the height of traffic, cruise down Sepulveda the whole way. PCH is also a great option if you want scenery, or do a combination of these options and take Coldwater Canyon. 2. Never take Hollywood when navigating through Hollywood. Avoid the men in capes and take Franklin or Fountain to get around the touristy chaos. If you want to avoid the hellish traffic of a Hollywood Bowl show, historic Mulholland Drive feel like a Godsend. 3. I-10 is a parking lot and you're trying to make tip off. If you're in this situation, jump off the freeway immediately and take a side street like Jefferson, Olympic or MLK. Just watch for guys on motor cycles zooming by when you're changing lanes. 4. Don't miss your flight. Oh, the dreaded LAX commute. Nothing is worse than rushing to get yourself to the airport for a long holiday flight to visit relatives than getting delayed with everyone else leaving town. Avoid the freeway and take Crescent Heights until it dead ends. Then, take La Cienega to La Tijera all the way to th

Woof, meow, chirp, whatever the sound that an iguana makes... it doesn't matter because all of your pets are accepted at these two-bedroom apartments. Not only that, these apartments are all modestly priced (at least in LA terms). If you're on the fence about shacking up with that on-again, off-again kind-of-special someone, or just looking to reduce the size of your frat house to a couple bros, take a look below. 1. Culver City-ish. (5614 W. Adams Boulevard) It's recently remodeled with hardwood floors and light shining through. You may not be in the heart of Culver City, but you're not terribly far either. If you know your way around the kitchen, it has brand new appliances. If you love shoes, the closets are big. If you love freeways, well, you may be a little weird, but you're close to those as well. Price: $1595                                     2. Glendale. (805 E. Maple Street) Granite counters, hardwood floors, right across from the park. Ideal for canine children or actual children. Plus, it's in Glendale—which means that if you love Christmas, the celebration at The Americana begins immediately following Halloween. Price: $1695                                         3. Koreatown. (333 South Catalina Street) This place is almost 1000 square feet and offers some pretty sweet amenities including a gym with high-quality treadmills that you and your dog can train on. You think I'm kidding? Price: $1897    

You don't always have to go to L.A. Live just to see Blake Griffin pull off insane dunks, or Justin Bieber headline the Staples Center. L.A. Live's new Summer in the City community events series is designed to take advantage of these moments—when the traffic isn't as crazy heading Downtown for a Clippers' game, and the "Beliebers" aren't filling Hope Street with fluorescent handwritten signs. L.A. Live just announced six other reasons to head down there this summer: for happy hour deals, flea markets like POPUP Marketplace, a comedy night, movies for the kids and even a country street party. It all starts June 12 with Downtown Dark Nights where locals can enjoy music and art, street performers and $5 food and drinks at participating restaurants. And before you take a look at the full schedule and begin strategizing when you'll be heading Downtown, here's a preview of what opening night has to offer...  Here's where you need to eat and drink near LA Live

Near perfect weather, beaches, mountains, endless farmers' markets, craft beer, living in the entertainment capital of the world... the list goes on. But while we may love our weather and our lifestyle and think others may be crazy for not picking up and moving here as well, sometimes there are certain phrases that leave us in shambles. 1. "In-N-Out is closed." So, it's been a late night, and you've just told your Uber driver that you're craving animal style. Since he's also an Angeleno, he understands that when you say this, you're not a total freak. However, you closed the bar down and now your only option is Del Taco with a side of Pepto-Bismol. 2. "Will you come to my comedy show?" What you say... "Sure, of course I want to to support you. What's the date and time, though? I might have a thing." What you're actually thinking... "Honestly, no. I really don't. I mean, I love you and all. I'm sure you're really funny. But I'd rather not drive to Hollywood on a Wednesday night to see you perform at midnight. Plus, until I see you on TV, you'll just be a waiter to me."  3. "Yo, new music, listen to my CD, just listen, it's crazy." Okay, we get it. You're the next Jay-Z. But right now, we'd rather spend the few bucks in our wallets tipping the guy on the Venice Boardwalk who jumps on glass.  4. "The Santa Anas are blowing this weekend, it's going to be hot." There's no greater reminder that we don't have seasons than when someone utters these words in mid-September. Make sure t

It's just about summer time, and just like your wardrobe, you need a change in your living space. Given LA isn't New York or San Francisco when it comes to renting, finding value can still be a challenge here. These three one-bedroom apartments, all in different neighborhoods around town, live up to those magic four words: bang for your buck.  1. Culver City. (109 Summertime Lane) This place is chock full of amenities including a fireplace in the living room (because it can get chilly on the Westside), walking paths, a pool and a sauna (because again, it can get chilly on the Westside). Also, the ad says the condo is close to "lakes," or at least a rare body of water that isn't the Pacific Ocean. Price: $1195                                          2. Koreatown. (W. 2nd Street & S. Harvard Blvd.) Let there be light! This Koreatown apartment is newly remodeled and is illuminated with lots of LA sunlight shining through it. The unit has AC, so when it heats up in August and September, you can still stay cooler than the up-and-coming neighborhood you'll be living in. Price: $1200                                           3. East Hollywood. (N. Serrano Ave. & La Mirada Ave.) It's not quite Silver Lake, but you're not far from it. You can still drink Pabst Blue Ribbon on your large (but shared) back porch. Oh, and the wood wrap-around kitchen counter is pretty sweet. Price: $1195           Fill out my Wufoo form!

Lights, lasers, DJs playing EDM and yes, an nighttime 5K. It's called the Night Nation Run, and it's basically a music festival that also involves running. The "world's first running music festival" comes to LA July 11 at the Fairplex in Pomona. As you make your way through the 3.1-mile course, you'll run past several unique DJ stages, as well as light shows, dancers, glow gear giveaways (say that five times fast) and even selfie stations. Yes, there's such a thing as a selfie station. Once you cross the finish line, you'll enter the main stage where "the real party begins" with confetti machines, cryo and fog machines, and other EDM show staples. You'll work up more of a sweat there than you did in the race. Early bird pricing is $30 until 11:59pm Wednesday. Serious runners, just note that a race that strongly encourages dancing along the course may not be the place to set a personal best. To sign up and find more info, click here. Oh, and remember to wear deodorant. If you miss this one, Night Nation Run will be back in October at the StubHub Center in Carson.   Psych yourself up for a night out with the 100 greatest songs for an epic party.  

It's a long Memorial Day weekend, and you need to break away from LA. Booking a last-minute flight home or to somewhere exotic is out of the question. But you need to escape. You're racking your brain for what to do, where to go and how to get there. Then, you realize that LA's car culture has an upside and that road tripping it to one of these seven convenient destinations will help you regain a little bit of sanity that may have gotten lost in the rat race that is LA. 1. Vegas. Yep, we know... you've done it. Maybe a lot, but of course, you only remember a little. Nonetheless, hotel rates are still fairly reasonable given the popularity of the weekend, and you can always win back what you paid for. In theory. 2. Joshua Tree. Besides the dry desert heat, this is pretty much the exact opposite of Vegas. Tap into your inner hippie, scramble up some rocks, look up at the stars—but whatever you do, don't get poked by a Joshua Tree. The damn things hurt.  3. Mammoth Lakes. Weather looks pretty good for Mammoth, and if you're the athletic type, the endless miles of trails are yours for the taking. Not to mention, if you're hiking, running or bike riding, be ready to give your lungs a workout at 8,000 feet of elevation and climbing. 4. San Diego. Okay, so this could be a road trip, or it could be your chance to avoid holiday traffic and booze it up in the drink cart on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner. For about $90, you can buy yourself a round trip ticket and not have to worry about yo