Time Out Los Angeles Officially Launches

It’s been a busy time at the Time Out chain since Oakley Capital Investments Ltd. acquired a majority stake in the spring of 2011. The company has made dozens of hires, re-branded Time Out New York, launched Time Out Paris, Time Out Mexico and today, Time Out Los Angeles.

The LA editor is Lisa Sweetingham (pictured). Her impressive credentials include the 2009 book Chemical Cowboys, a thoroughly researched look at the U.S. black market for the drug ecstasy, and a Master’s degree from Columbia Journalism School. She has also worked as an editor-in-chief for Angeleno magazine, as a senior staff writer for Court TV and as a copy editor, reporter and technology editor for the old Time Out New York.

“Back then, Time Out New York was a wonderful, scrappy little magazine,” Sweetingham tells FishbowlLA via telephone of her 2001-2004 stint. “Today, it’s part of a worldwide digital brand. The new owners really understand the Internet and have created a tremendous amount of synergy across the different websites.”

Sweetingham works out her west LA home as part of a full-time team of five, alongside three section editors and a photo editor who came from Time Out New York. And whenever necessary, her abode doubles as “Time Out central.”

For her team of freelancers, Sweetingham has the benefit of an extensive Rolodex. Brad A. Johnson for example, who penned this review of the remodeled Hotel Bel Air, previously contributed to Angeleno.

By the way, Sweetingham kindly spoke to us this afternoon from Dodgers Stadium, as she was settling in to watch a match against the Giants that no longer matters. If that doesn’t prove her commitment to the far-and-wide LA beat, we’re not sure what does. To the current Time Out U.S. outposts of LA, Boston, Chicago and New York, she says the next location being eyed is Miami.

Check out her new editorial domain here.

[Photo credit: Dennis Mukai]