Feature Previews

In Plain Sight

By Steven Mikulan — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 19:24:00 GMT

Illustration by Sean McCabe

“Her face is just the wrong color," thought John Ruetten as he approached the supine figure of his wife on the night of February 24, 1986.

Moments earlier he had pulled up to the couple’s Van Nuys condominium after returning home from work. The garage door for Unit 205 was open, and Sherri Rasmussen’s 1985 BMW—Ruetten’s engagement gift to her—was gone. Glass fragments glittered on the asphalt. Ruetten’s mind filled with questions, but he figured that his wife was away and perhaps had done something to her car backing out. Nor did he panic when he found the upstairs door ajar. At each step Ruetten seems to have been oblivious to the gathering signs of tragedy.

That Wednesday morning Rasmussen told him she wasn’t feeling well. A 29-year-old supervising nurse at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, she was going to linger at home a bit—maybe even skip work. Why not? She had been scheduled to deliver one of those motivational HR speeches she hated giving, a pep talk titled “People Difference.” Six feet three and TV handsome, the 27-year-old Ruetten was complemented by his wife, a big-boned light brunet who stood only a few inches shorter. By 7:20 a.m. he had left for his engineering job at Micropolis, a hard drive manufacturing company 20 minutes away; he eventually called home and Rasmussen’s office five times but thought nothing of it when he couldn’t reach her. The couple’s townhouse, located in a gated complex that dominates the 7100 block of Balboa Boulevard, had three levels and a garage below. Their bedrooms, kitchen, and dinette were on the upper floors, with a short staircase leading down to a carpeted living room.

It was on this carpet, in front of the fireplace, that Ruetten discovered Rasmussen, who was wearing her red bathrobe, a camisole, and black panties…

To read the full feature, pick up a copy of the September issue on newsstands or subscribe NOW.

Let’s Hear It For The Women

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 19:23:00 GMT

This month we asked ten female leaders who impact L.A. to name other women who do the same. The resulting list of 50 ladies who inspire appears in our October issue on newsstands now.

The women we named game changers in 2011—from L.A Conversancy executive Director Linda Dishman and La Opinion publisher and CEO Monica Lozano to KCRW general manager Jennifer Ferro—still make a difference. Let’s give them a second round of applause.

View 2011’s 50 L.A. Women Who Inspire

To see this year’s list, pick up a copy of the October issue on newsstands or subscribe NOW.

Affairs of Estate

By Ann Herold — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 19:23:00 GMT

Photograph by Dave Lauridsen

In Los Angeles magazine’s September issue, editor Ann Herold and photographer Dave Lauridsen look inside three housing estates conceived as exclusive oases for the privileged—Lafayette Square, Trousdale Estates, and Colfax Meadows.

Over time the makeups of these communities changed to better reflect the variety of the city. To see why three current homeowners chose these neighborhoods—where more than a few of the past residents are household names—and how they revived their historically rich homes pick up a copy of the September issue on newsstands or subscribe now

101 Cheap Eats

Edited by Lesley Bargar Suter — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:04:00 GMT

Photograph by Misha Gravenor

Three years have passed since we scoured the city for 101 of the most delicious places to chow down—and well—for $15 or less. Since then L.A.’s economical eating terrain has only grown. We’ve built something of a reputation for being the ultimate cheap eats city, for having the most tummy-tempting selection of ethnic dives, gourmet trucks, taco stands, and burger joints in the country. With that in mind, Los Angeles magazine brings you a brand-new guide to 101 more of the most fabulous yet frugal meals our town has to offer. Wet-naps not included.

To read "101 Cheap Eats," pick up a copy of the June issue on newsstands or subscribe NOW

ALSO: Revisit our last list of 101 Cheap Eats