Metromix Makes Cool Debut

Metromix Makes Cool Debut

Nightlife Hotspots, Listings, Entertainment Reviews and Features from the City’s Progressive Chroniclers Make Online Entertainment Site a Daily Must

LOS ANGELES, July 10, 2007 – The Los Angeles Times Media Group today announced the launch of Metromix http://losangeles.metromix.com/, a hip, fresh and dynamic new site for young and socially active Angelenos looking for the latest in pop culture, local trends and the newest spots to hit on the scene. Through a searchable database of up-to-the-minute entertainment listings, user-generated content and edgy coverage of the city’s hottest new restaurants, bars and clubs, events, music, movies, TV and style scenes, Metromix helps answer that burning question: “What are you doing tonight?”

Headed by Editor Deborah Vankin, who has spent much of her career covering LA’s food, nightlife and shopping scenes, Metromix features a distinctly LA-centric point-of-view from a staff that includes the area’s top tastemakers and leading experts.

“Our database is deep and current, with nearly 7,000 listings for LA restaurants, bars and clubs, as well as reviews, features, neighborhood guides, trend pieces, blogs and video tours,” said Vankin. “We have an incredible team of writers-editors who not only know the scene, but are very much of it and will provide true insider coverage — on everything from underground art events to off-the-radar sample sales to how best to get past the ubiquitous velvet rope.”

The Metromix editorial team includes:

· Deborah Vankin, Editor – Formerly both Restaurants and Books Editor at LA Weekly and Senior Lifestyle Editor at Variety, Vankin was also a freelance arts and lifestyle writer for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Swink magazine.

· Alexandra LeTellier, Managing Editor and Bars/Clubs Editor – Formerly Managing Editor at LA.com where she also covered bars and clubs, LeTellier was a celebrity reporter for In Touch Weekly and professes to have frequented every bar and club in LA.

· Alie Ward, Events Editor – For the past eight years, Ward has immersed herself in LA’s art and music scene as a former freelance columnist for LA Weekly and contributor to the Los Angeles Times. She claims to attend 2.7 events per night.

· Scott T. Sterling, Music Editor – Born in Detroit and raised on everything from Motown to Iggy Pop, Sterling has covered music for the Los Angels Times, LA Weekly, Details, BPM, Remix, Surface, Sweater, Code and URB.

· Jiyeon Yoo, Restaurants Editor – As a former freelance lifestyle writer for Los Angeles Magazine, Yoo recently maintained a fashion blog as Editor for RevolveClothing.com.

· Caroline Ryder, Freelance Style Editor – As a London transplant living in LA, Ryder brings a Euro-chic perspective on fashion and has covered style, art and music for LA Weekly, URB, Swindle, Angeleno and The Book L.A.

“Metromix is an exciting, new online addition to our portfolio of products, directly engaging younger users and local advertisers in a targeted way,” said Robertson Barrett, General Manager of latimes.com and Vice President of the Los Angeles Times Media Group. “With this launch, we’re bringing L.A. an intuitive search engine and great writing by some of the best young talent in town.”

This week’s launch of Metromix in Los Angeles and New York is part of Tribune Company’s plan to expand the web site across all of its newspaper markets. Metromix has been a staple of Chicago’s entertainment scene for the past decade, capturing the highest online engagement among local entertainment guides, per comScore, recognized with numerous awards including the EPpy Award for Best Entertainment Site and the Digital Edge Award for Best Advertising Program and is also available in Orlando and Baltimore.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times