Racing for the Gold

By Daniel Lopez

Last night, the XXX Olympics came to a close after a majestic 17 days in which records were smashed and more viewers than ever tuned in to see Americans collect 104 medals in 21 events. But it could be more in four years with new sports global citizens are aching to see. Part of what makes the Olympics so unique is the spectacle of watching often obscure sports, (curling, fencing or synchronized diving come to mind) while not watching a second of such games during the regular season of sports viewing. Why, then, does the International Olympic Committee eschew one of the world's most popular sports, auto racing, for ones that few people normally care about?

Spirited Away

It’s hard not to believe Twyla, at 3.5 months old, responded to my sadness this past weekend with her smile.

My wife and I put our 14-year-old chocolate lab to sleep on Saturday after it became clear her spirit had outlived her body.

We cried a lot after it was over. And as we sought solace and distraction in Griffith Park, Twyla smiled. A lot. This week the images tell the story.

Randy's Donuts

Randy's Donuts

An iconic shot of a legendary L.A. establishment. 

If you see the largest donut in Inglewood (near LAX), then you must be at Randy's. Established in 1952 by Russell C. Wendell, a donut machine salesman, Randy's was built in 1953 as the second of ten locations of the now-defunct Big Donut Drive-In chain (only four Big Donuts still survive) This building has become a historical landmark and a true example of programmatic architecture. 

Sounds of Summer

By Matt Hale

If you're headed to the beach this summer, treat your ears right | Photo/Flickr

Whether you’re going to one of SoCal’s beaches, a community park or just jogging through your neighborhood, the weather is sunny and it’s a fine time to consider replacing the stock earphones that came with your phone or MP3 player. Even for casual listeners, picking a new set of cans to rock your tunes will not only improve your listening experience, it may even save your hearing.

How to Make Delicious Mini Raspberry Napoleons

By Sara Ibranossian

In an attempt to create a dessert for summer that wouldn't have me slaving away with hours of prep work but elegant enough to entertain with, I ended up with these mini raspberry napoleons. The size of these napoleons give you just the right amount of satisfaction and sweetness you expect from a dessert without the guilt. The puff pastry creates a perfect basket for the custard, maintaining a good structural balance when topped with the raspberries. The flakiness from the pastry dough melds wonderfully with the custard, giving you a refreshing, two-bite dessert. Just about any berry works, but I went with the raspberry because I enjoy the natural sweetness without the overpowering tartness; you could certainly substitute with blueberries or strawberries. This dessert is an entertainer's dream.

Gone Fishin'

Photo by Ren Rentz, courtesy www.LosAngelesAlleys.com

We'll be back next week with an all-new summer issue, including recipes from The Gluttonist for your backyard BBQs, tips from Technically Speaking on how best to listen to those beach tunes and tales from our other writers on these wonderful dog days. Till then, we'll feature Molly's great music every day and you can catch up on the wonderful articles you may have missed.

Travels with Twyla

By Richie Duchon

Waiting for the Red Line and still out and about with a baby in L.A. | Photo via Richie Duchon for 10thStreetLA

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me in the year leading up to the birth of my daughter, “Congratulations! You’re life’s over,” or, “Get to the bar now, cause you won’t see the inside of one for a loooong time,” I’d have about $15.

Sincere Gifts

Photo by Mark Peacock for 10th Street LA

In addition to a wonderful gift shop in the heart of Chinatown, which features lanterns, dragon heads etc., Sincere Gifts, built in 1938, features one of the more colorful neon signage display's you'll see on Gin Ling Way in this very picturesque section of Chinatown in downtown Los Angeles.

See more photos in Peacock's Pictures and contact Mark here.

Spoiled Rotten

By Ross Lincoln

Citizen Kane: Is it our fault if you don't know how it ends? 

Warning: Everything is getting hell of spoiled in this. Deal with it.

How to Create a Couch Potato Paradise

By Matt Hale

It's not as complicated as it looks | Photo via Matt Hale for 10th StreetLA

Anyone who has ever shopped for cable or satellite TV, tried to configure a broadband connection for their house or apartment, or attempted to configure a new home theater system has probably encountered an alphabet soup of cables and connections, bandwidths and bitrates. The process involves three steps, each of which must be properly executed in order to maximize your investment and enjoy your favorite TV, movies and music: selection, installation and calibration.