LA has a well-earned reputation for being the land of health and exercise. From sports to yoga, find the health and wellness plan thats right for you.

I love to cook, but not all the time. Alas, there are crunch days when Im still craving a gourmet multi-course meal but dont have the time to whip one up from scratch.

Thats why I was excited about the discovery of this inventive short course at UCLA Extension: Dinner Without a Kitchen.

In it, LA culinary scribe and shopping cart chef Joan Vogel (69 Quickies in the Kitchen) teaches her class how to properly shop, prep and serve up no-sweat gourmet meals--as the name states, without a kitchen.

Her theory is that, with so many excellent ready mades, and prepared foods at farmers markets, it takes just a bit of ingenuity to cook by assemblage without sacrificing quality cuisine.

The course is open to Osher members and costs $79. It consists of four sessions in late July and early August.

What better candidate to be a matchmaker than a heartthrob? Thats the thinking of the folks at West LA Animal Shelter and Much Love Animal Rescue.

The shindig celebrates a weekend of discounted animal adoptions at all LA County shelters. So, adoption counselors, trainers and groomers will be on-hand at the event to help in the adoption process.

And, adding to the spirit of love and giving, Much Love has offered to pay for the first 20 dogs and cats.