How To LA

#274: L.A. is often called the street vending capital of the country, and for good reason. Our street food has so much diversity, whether it's served out of a truck or a puesto. And it's not just food — people sell sunglasses, clothes, groceries... It can a great hustle for people who want to be their own boss, but it's also a LOT of work. To get a sense of what's involved, we're hanging out with some street vendors in mid city. Plus, we're talking with LAist correspondent Leslie Berestein Rojas to get up to speed on the latest news and legislation for vendors. Featured Vendor: Daniel Martinez, co-owner of Tacos 5 y 10 on Hauser & Apple, just north of Adams Blvd in West Adams / Mid City.

#273: Leslie Liao is an L.A.-based stand-up comedian, actress and writer who went from working at Netflix (in the HR department) to now being on Netflix. For a long time she was juggling both her corporate job and stand up, but she went full time with comedy this year. She was featured in the streamer’s series called "Verified Stand-Up," she’s been on "The Tonight Show," and she’ll be performing in the Netflix is a Joke Fest starting this Thursday (May 2) in L.A. A lot of Leslie’s comedy focuses on dating in L.A., and what it was like growing up in a predominantly white suburb of Orange County as a Chinese American. She sat down with How To LA at The Hollywood Improv to talk about how she got started, what it’s like being a working comedian in L.A., and even shared some dating tips too.

#272: We're back with another episode in our How Not To Be Lonely in L.A. series. Brian is out but, today, How To LA producer Megan Botel takes over the mic and explores these questions: What does it mean to connect to yourself, and why is it important for warding off feelings of loneliness? How do you do it? And in a group setting? One way is to do the things you loved as a kid and connect with that "inner child." For Megan, that was ballet, so we are checking out Studio A, a funky little dance studio tucked behind the Hyperion Arts Building in Silver Lake. Guests: Cati Jean, dance instructor and choreographer at Studio A; Cat Moore, director of belonging at USC, dance student. For more on the importance of moving in sync with others while connecting to oneself, read her LAist article here: https://laist.com/news/how-to-la/in-a-social-funk-pickleball-dance-and-other-physical-group-activities-could-be-a-solution

#271: We love LA over here, but perhaps no one is a bigger fan of our city than Evan Lovett, the guy behind the LA history and discovery show: "L.A. in a Minute!" Today, How to LA host Brian De Los Santos sits down with Evan to talk about how he stumbled into his career as a content creator, what truly makes L.A. special AND some of his favorite spots around town that really reflect the city's flavor. Guest: Evan Lovett, host of "L.A. in a Minute" PLEASE NOTE: Evan Lovett has previously worked as a paid influencer for LAist to expand the reach of our voter and gift guides, and other civic engagement work.

#270: Today, we’re coming to you once again from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, where we had the chance to speak with some local authors about their work. In this episode: Michael Arceneaux, the New York Times-bestselling author of “I Can’t Date Jesus,” “I Don’t Want To Die Poor,” and his latest book, “I Finally Bought Some Jordans"; and Amy Price, former general manager of the Cecil Hotel in downtown L.A., and author of "Behind the Door: The Dark Truths and Untold Stories of the Cecil Hotel."

#269: Today, we’re coming to you from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, where we had the chance to speak with some dope local authors about their work, about Los Angeles, and how it all connects for them. In this episode, my conversation with Héctor Tobar, the Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and novelist.

#268: HTLA is checking out some more movie history with a spotlight on the world tour, The Art of the Benshi, coming to L.A. on April 19-21. In this episode, HTLA producer Victoria Alejandro comes on to chat Japanese silent cinema and L.A. history with host Brian De Los Santos. Benshi were the narrators of Japan's silent film era. These artists introduced films and also provided live narration, portraying characters, and articulating the on-screen action, filling theaters and enthralling audiences. Including in L.A. It's an art form with roots in this city that a lot of people don't know about, so join us as we dive in with lead benshi Ichiro Kataoka and professor of Japanese literature at UCLA Michael Emmerich! You can find tickets and more information online at https://artofthebenshi.org/ And check out our LAist article here. Guests: HTLA producer Victoria Alejandro, UCLA professor of Japanese literature and tour organizer Michael Emmerich, lead benshi Ichiro Kataoka

#267: This is our second episode exploring downtown L.A. — part of our series on L.A. neighborhoods. Last time (episode #266), we covered some of the history of the area, and the ups and downs it's experienced over the years. Today, we’re looking at its present and possible future, largely through Oliver Alpuche's story. Oliver has lived in downtown L.A. for 16 years and he's a sort of ambassador to the neighborhood. He's also the founder of DTLA Proud and founder of the new, soon-to-be-open gay bar KISO in downtown's historic core.

#266: It’s been a minute since we explored a L.A. neighborhood on How To LA. We’ve been to Little Tokyo, West Adams and Sylmar before. Now, we’re in downtown. But we’re not going to try to boil down the entire area in one episode. Today, we’re going to get into the history of the ups and downs the area has seen over the years, and learn a lot from a walking tour of downtown put on by the Los Angeles Conservancy (led by docent Robin Holding). Stay tuned for episode two, where we’ll focus on one Angeleno’s experience of present-day DTLA — living there and opening a new bar in the historic core. (This episode was engineered by Hasmik Poghosyan and Donald Paz.)

#265: It's time for another Food Fridays! And that means Gab Chabrán is hitting the streets with HTLA host Brian De Los Santos to grub on our favorite food: PIZZA. LA is going through what many artisans are calling a pizza renaissance right now. Hundreds of gourmet pizzerias have popped up around L.A. in recent years, taking advantage of the abundance of fresh produce in the region and marrying uniquely SoCal flavors and influences. HTLA sets out to capture that unique L.A. flavor! Still hungry? Well - Gab's got even more places to check out in this month's edition of Cheap Fast Eats. Locations: LaSorted's, Quarantine Pizza Co, Apollonia's. Guest: LAist food editor, Gab Chabrán

#264: Go back to the movies with us! We're still profiling LA's repertory theaters in Revival House cause there are SO MANY to check out! In this episode, we explore a cool space with some deep, messy history. Fashion label Brain Dead has taken over a site that some would consider....a little cursed. Originally opened in the 1940s as The Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax, the venue was home to premieres and parties. Until a theft and murder shut the theater down. In the 2000s, it was taken over by Cinefamily, which programmed in that space until allegations of abuse came to light in 2017. But today, Brain Dead Studios is keeping the lights on for nerds, artists, and skate punks in Los Angeles -- aiming to create an eclectic community space to inspire creatives and show good movies. Take a listen as we explain the history and present of this theater. Guests: Professor and historian Ross Melnick, Brain Dead founder Kyle Ng

#263: When it comes to historical design, Los Angeles doesn't top a lot of people's lists. Compared to a San Francisco or New York, L.A. can feel a lot... newer. But we do have those cities beat in one category: our streetlights. Los Angeles has the most examples of historical designs of any city in the country. So today we're going on a Streetlight Safari... and we're doing it with India Mandelkern, author of the new book, Electric Moons: A Social History of Street Lighting in Los Angeles. Check out the book here for a field guide to LA's streetlights. Or follow India on instagram where she posts pictures of her favorites throughout the city.

Part 4: Half a year after Star Garden reopens as a union club, the dancers are still negotiating a contract. LAist producer Emma Alabaster brings you the latest. Plus, some of the dancers have set their sights on a different dream: a worker-owned cooperative strip club. Here are some resources that informed our reporting: LA Co-op LabU.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives2021 Worker Cooperative State of the Sector ReportYes, A Stripper Podcast For more resources Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

#262: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about new and interesting happenings in the city. Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and TV and podcast host Dexter Thomas Here’s what each person pitched: flute albuma live performanceGuillermo Martinezlike André 3000 didlibraryOlympic SpaCrystal Spalo-fi album Let us know what’s on your social calendar and drop us a note. We’d love to read your suggestions on the podcast: howtola@scpr.org

#261: Despite being a hub for all things film, Los Angeles doesn't have what could be described as a major film festival. But starting tomorrow, the brand new Los Angeles Festival of Movies is bringing festival highlights and world premieres to three independent venues around the city. Forget the cost of a pass, airfare and lodging in a town like Sundance -- folks in L.A. can attend screenings for just $20 a ticket. Today we're chatting with festival founders Sarah Winshall and Micah Gottlieb about what the festival will entail and what it means to them to screen great independent films in L.A. You can find tickets and more information about the festival on their website here. And don't worry, we're keeping the movies going and we'll be back next week with another episode of Revival House. Guests: LA Festival of Movies founders Sarah Winshall and Micah Gottlieb

#260: Tens of thousands of Vietnamese immigrants rely on nail salons as an economic powerhouse: a an attractive option that lets them work hard and express their creativity, all without needing to learn English. But worker pay can sometimes dip below minimum wage, depending on individual manicurists' client lists. This wouldn't be a legal problem if the manicurists were classified as "Gig Workers," and until recently that's exactly what most salons did. But advocates for salon workers – and even industry advisors representing employers – say that manicurists do not meet the criteria to be classified that way. Instead they should be hourly employees, and receive benefits like sick pay, vacation days, and at least a minimum wage. LAist's Asian American Communities reporter Josie Huang shares her reporting with us at the salon near work. To learn more about her report, check out her article on LAist.com

Part 3: The Star Garden Topless Dive Bar reopens as a union strip club, but the fight doesn’t end there. What happens after the victory? LAist Producer Emma Alabaster has the story. Here are some resources that informed our reporting: Working It: Sex Workers on the Work of SexYes, A Stripper PodcastUnequal Desires: Race and Erotic Capital in the Stripping IndustryTits and Sass: Service Journalism by and for Sex Workers Click here for more resources Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

#259: Are you ready to get dancing, Los Angeles? Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, yes, that iconic New York dance company, will be hitting the Music Center's stage here in Los Angeles. But this is more than just a tour. It's a homecoming. In this episode, host Brian De Los Santos talks with HTLA's associate editor Aaricka Washington about her experience taking a community dance class with the company, and how it felt to be at the opening night of the Alvin Ailey company's 4 year L.A. residency. Join us as we get into Ailey's L.A. history and give you a rundown of what to expect at next season's shows. Read Aaricka's piece on the Alvin Ailey residency here.

#258: Los Angeles is spending nearly $4 million to clean up and fence off the Oceanwide Towers after the three abandoned buildings were covered with graffiti. Some people are glad to see the graffiti go, but others say they like what the murals represent, arguing that their removal is a bad use of tax dollars. Meanwhile, LAist reporting shows the company who owns the Oceanwide towers has been linked to bribery and money laundering investigations. With all this drama on our mind, we wanted to talk with someone with deep knowledge of LA's graffiti writing scene. We meet up with Red Ortiz, a graffiti writer turned barber and film director. He'll tell us how painting illegal murals changed his life, and why he thinks graffiti is so important to LA's culture. If you want to share your hot take, write to us at howtola(at)scpr.org Music in this episode composed by Dexter Thomas

#257: Today, we’re saying goodbye to a space with a storied legacy in this city – the Conga Room. The Latin nightclub opened in 1998, and brought in artists ranging from Celia Cruz and Tito Puente to Maluma and Bad Bunny. The club’s star studded list of investors included Jennifer Lopez, Sheila E., comedian Paul Rodriguez, and actor Jimmy Smits. This week, the Conga Room is closing its doors. The legacy of the club will live on through a non-profit called Conga Kids, a program bringing music and dance of the African diaspora to classrooms across L.A. But it is still the end of an era. One of the Conga Room’s original investors, Jimmy Smits, talked with me about the club’s legacy. Music featured in this episode: