'Kobe Up Close' Charity Event Features Kobe Bryant And Jimmy Kimmel Coming Together To End Homelessness

LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant will sit down with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for a conversation at the Nokia Theatre on Aug. 15 to raise money toward eliminating homelessness in the Los Angeles area.
"Kobe Up Close" will feature the NBA star talking about his career and sharing some of his favorite stories with Kimmel. Tickets for the event range from $25 to $200.
All proceeds will benefit the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, which is partnering with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Sports Spectacular to help underserved communities.

Kim Kardashian Is a Mom!

The most eagerly awaited addition to the Kardashian clan has arrived – and she was apparently early to the party!

Kim Kardashian, 32, gave birth to her first child – a daughter – with boyfriend Kanye West, 36, on Saturday morning, a source confirms to PEOPLE. Her due date was widely reported to be in July.

West was by Kardashian's side for the delivery, according to sources, despite a busy travel schedule leading up to the birth.

The youngest Kardashian will already have playmates her age. Kim's big sister, Kourtney has two children with boyfriend, Scott Disick: Mason, 3½, and Penelope, who turns one on July 8.

Keep up with Kim Kardashian in the pages of PEOPLE Magazine by subscribing now.

"I'm so excited we're having a girl," Kim said on a recent episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, when she learned the sex of her baby. "Who doesn't want a girl? I think they are the best. I know that's really what Kanye has always wanted – he wanted a little girl."

West publicly broke the news of his girlfriend's pregnancy mid-song at an Atlantic City concert the night before New Year's Eve. Kim later confirmed the news, posting on her website, "It's true!! Kanye and I are expecting a baby. We feel so blessed and lucky and wish that in addition to both of our families, his mom and my dad could be here to celebrate this special time with us."

Since announcing her pregnancy, Kim experienced some bumps in the road, including criticism for her expectant outfit choices and a seemingly never-ending divorce from Kris Humphries – that was eventually finalized just earlier this month.

Samsung pays Apple $1 Billion sending 30 trucks full of 5 cent coins

PaperBlog – This morning more than 30 trucks filled with 5-cent coins arrived at Apple’s headquarters in California. Initially, the security company that protects the facility said the trucks were in the wrong place, but minutes later, Tim Cook (Apple CEO) received a call from Samsung CEO explaining that they will pay $1 billion dollars for the fine recently ruled against the South Korean company in this way.
The funny part is that the signed document does not specify a single payment method, so Samsung is entitled to send the creators of the iPhone their billion dollars in the way they deem best.
This dirty but genius geek troll play is a new headache to Apple executives as they will need to put in long hours counting all that money, to check if it is all there and to try to deposit it crossing fingers to hope a bank will accept all the coins.
Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, told the media that his company is not going to be intimidated by a group of “geeks with style” and that if they want to play dirty, they also know how to do it.

Fathers Day Ideals~~~DTLA

 

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - When it comes to finding the right gift for dad on Father’s Day, it’s easy to pick a tie or cologne.

Those, however, are boring, and dear old dad probably wants something more. Fortunately, Downtown Los Angeles has a lot to offer the old man on Sunday, June 16. Below are some great meals, highflying adventures and more. 

Feed the Man 

A Grand BBQ: A backyard barbecue is a classic way to celebrate Father’s Day, and the Omni Hotel’s Grand Café is doing just that on June 16. The Father’s Day barbecue lunch will be on the patio and options including ribs, chicken and tri-tip will be served from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dad will leave with good memories, a full stomach and a savory souvenir, as all fathers at the barbecue get a jar of Executive Chef Christopher Tunnel’s housemade BBQ sauce. 

At 251 S. Olive St., (213) 356-4155 or omnihotels.com. 

Double Deal: It’s good to go out for a nice meal once in a while. It’s even better to go out twice in a while. Dads can get a second helping at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse after celebrating Father’s Day with the family at the L.A. Live restaurant. The June 16 Father’s Day special is $36.95 and includes a three-course meal with items such as lobster bisque and prime rib. All dads receive a $25 gift card for their next visit to Fleming’s. 

At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-9911 or flemingssteakhouse.com. 

Meat Man: Does your dad like steak? Of course he does! He’s a dad! Morton’s The Steakhouse is warming up the grill on June 16 with a $69 three-course special that starts with a salad and ends with a choice of desserts such as chocolate mousse and key lime pie. In between are selections from entrees such as pork chops, filet mignon and beef short ribs. There are also other meats on the menu too. 

At 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-4566 or mortons.com. 

Big Deal: A lot of kids think their dad is a big deal. At The Counter on Seventh Street, they’ll have to announce it out loud in order to score some free food for pops. On June 16, everyone who says, “My dad is a BFD” when ordering their food will get a one-third pound burger on the house. We have no idea what the F stands for. Probably “fantastic.” 

At 725 W. Seventh St., (213) 228-7800 or thecounterburger.com.

Adventure

Flyby: Look, up in the sky. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is that dad in a WACO YMF-5C biplane flying over Downtown? Why yes, it is. To celebrate Father’s Day, a company called Skythrills is putting the paterfamilias in a 1935 replica biplane. The 35-minute flight takes off from Fullerton Airport and cruises by Downtown landmarks like U.S. Bank Tower. A flight suit and helmet are provided, and so is a parachute, just in case. Rides are $365-$425.

At (714) 402-4888 or skythrills.com. 

Big Bad Daddy: One of the lessons Mr. Miyagi taught Daniel in the 1984 The Karate Kid was that you learn to fight so you don’t have to. So get Dad some self-defense tips at Unyted Fitness. The Main Street spot offers training in krav maga, the famous Israeli military self-defense and hand-to-hand combat system. It can give the average guy some confidence and, since there’s a lot of physical work involved, it can help get pop in shape too. There is another plus with this gift: Unyted Fitness offers a free class before you commit to the gym, so dad can try it out. If he doesn’t like it, you can get him those Richard Simmons DVDs next year. 

At 334 S. Main St., (213) 223-6233 or unytedfitness.com.  

High Society: Pedro Shanahan will be your father’s “spirit guide” through the world of bourbon, rye, Irish and Scotch whiskey as a member of the Seven Grand Whiskey Society. An annual membership costs $120 and includes monthly tastings at Seven Grand’s Jackalope Room. The tastings usually take place on Tuesdays and are helmed by master distillers or brand representatives. The classes offer a look at the history of each whiskey, how it’s made and what flavors to look for when sipping. There are also a few special events mixed in, like a recent one that included poetry reading. Shananan, Seven Grand’s whiskey expert, organizes the gatherings. 

At 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrandbars.com. 

Strike Out: Downtown now has two places where dad can go bowling on Father’s Day. For a family-friendly event, there’s XLanes in Little Tokyo. Located on the third floor of the Little Tokyo Galleria, X Lanes has a 24-lane bowling alley, an arcade, pool tables and a restaurant. A clubbier atmosphere can be found at Lucky Strike. There are 18 lanes at the L.A. Live venue. There’s a bar and lounge, but no arcade, so the place tends to cater to a more college and adult crowd. 

X Lanes is at 333 S. Alameda St., (213) 229-8910 or xlanesla.com. Lucky Strike is at 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 542-4880 or bowlluckystrike.com.

Spring Street Park to Open Monday

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The complaint that Downtown lacks parks will get knocked back even further next week. On Monday, June 17, the Spring Street Park will open at 9 a.m.
The June 17 opening of the $8 million facility — $5 million for land acquisition and $3 million for construction — is happening about a month earlier than originally planned because Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wanted the park to come online before his term ends July 1, said Patti Berman, who heads the nonprofit that is set to operate the park.
The park at 426 S. Spring St., between the El Dorado and Rowan lofts, features a fountain, a lawn, trees, a playground and curved benches. Work on the project began in 2009 after Downtown Properties, which developed the condominium buildings on either side, sold what was then a parking lot to the city.
Berman’s organization Friends of the Old Bank District Gardens is slated to run the park, which will be a public facility. Guidelines on how the park is to be operated are set by the city Department of Recreation and Parks.
Mike Shull, a superintendent with the Department of Recreation and Parks, said a three-year agreement with the nonprofit group is going to the department’s Board of Commissioners for approval June 19. The Monday ceremony is open to the public.
©Los Angeles Downtown News.

Ronald Wagenhoffer, Suicidal Building Inspector, Said Collapse 'Wasn't My Fault' In Video Message

A Philadelphia official says a building inspector left a videotaped message before his apparent suicide saying a deadly building collapse wasn't his fault.

PHILADELPHIA — A building inspector who had visited a demolition site before a brick wall collapsed onto an adjacent thrift store, killing six people, left a cellphone video message before his apparent suicide this week saying the collapse "wasn't my fault," the mayor's spokesman said.
However, inspector Ronald Wagenhoffer also said he wished he'd been more diligent, spokesman Mark McDonald told The Associated Press on Friday.
Wagenhoffer inspected the downtown site before and after demolition work began in February and visited an attached, related job site on May 14 following a complaint.
A four-story brick wall collapsed at the site June 5, burying 19 people inside a one-story Salvation Army thrift shop next door. Besides the six people who died, 13 were injured.
Wagenhoffer, a veteran inspector, was found dead in his truck Wednesday night, hours after finishing his last shift. Police said they believe he shot himself in the chest.
According to McDonald, Wagenhoffer first secured his cellphone on the dashboard and made two brief videos, each 20 to 30 seconds long. The first was for his wife and young son, McDonald said, and the second described his thoughts on the collapse.
"He says that he can't sleep," said McDonald, who said he viewed both videos Friday afternoon. "He says that he was devastated by the deaths and injuries at the scene."
McDonald said Wagenhoffer then says briefly on the videos he "wished that he'd been more diligent."
"He wished that he'd gotten out of a truck at some point in time," he said, "but it's not connected to any particular event. There's no mention of May 14. And he never says that he never inspected the site."

Father's Day Quotes: Words Of Wisdom About Being A Dad

Ahead of Father's Day on June 16, we thought it was a good time to remember what we love about fatherhood. And while it's often a running joke in many households that 'every day is Father's Day', HuffPost UK Lifestyle still loved looking through inspirational quotes about being a dad.
From quotes by Barack Obama to Sigmund Freud, these words of wisdom words span the centuries to remind us that this has always been one of the toughest jobs around. (Apart from being a mum that is!)
Here's the best selection of quotes we could find, but we'd love to hear your suggestions.
Please email your ideas to uklifestyle@huffingtonpost.com.