How To LA

#256: Today we’re gunna get moving! In our next installment of our series on How Not To Be Lonely in LA, we’re covering all the ways moving in synchrony together promotes closeness. Really, it’s just an excellent way to make friends. Luckily in LA, there are unlimited amounts of classes, courses, leagues and clubs one can join based on your particular interests. Whether it’s a dance class, sports...

#255: We're back with another episode of Revival House, but this time we're not heading to a 100 year old theater... The David Geffen and Ted Mann theaters at the Academy Museum of Motion Arts and Pictures are a new addition to L.A's revival programming. In this episode, we explore what the theaters, which only opened in 2021, have to offer our city's moviegoing landscape. And hopefully, we demyst...

#254: The National Register of Historic Places is the federal government’s official list of locations it considers worthy of preservation. There are more than 98,000 places on the register, and about 600 of them are in L.A. County. Angeleno Etan Rosenbloom is on a quest to visit them all. Since 2021, he's visted more than 200 spots in L.A., and he chronicles his journeys on his website and social...

Today on How To LA , we're dropping Part 2 of the latest Imperfect Paradise  series Strippers Union.  It's one of the hottest stories from last year's hot labor summer that features a North Hollywood strip club and its dancers' fight to unionize.  Part 2: When the Star Garden strippers go public with their union campaign, they get pushback from the club’s management and a group they didn’t anticip...

#253: Revival House is breaking format for this episode, and we’re saying goodbye to a historic first-run movie theater.   The Highland Theatre in Highland Park was one of the only movie theaters in Northeast LA. A designated historic cultural monument, the exterior will remain intact, but its future is uncertain.    In this episode, How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro chats with host Brian De L...

#252: The rain is, we hope, behind us. Although it could bring us another big wildflower bloom like last year. We all might know the popular – and overcrowded – spots to see the blooms, like Anza Borrego Desert State Park and Antelope Valley. But today, the How To LA team comes together to offer its take on best hikes to see wildflowers, and maybe even a waterfall.  P.S. Please use these tips wise...

#243: We're bringing you an encore presentation of our interview with composer Kris Bowers about the documentary short he co-directed called "The Last Repair Shop." The film won an Oscar this past Sunday. This episode originally aired on February 27, 2024. Today we’re talking to pianist, film composer and LAUSD alumnus Kris Bowers. Bowers has composed the scores for films like "Green Book," "King...

#90: We're bringing back an episode from last wildflower season to kick off this one! Last year was a very wet winter, and this one was no different. This episode original aired on April 14, 2023.  Happy wildflower season! Have you seen all the wildflowers popping up around the city and beyond lately? Our very wet winter has paid off, and SoCal's spectacular array of wildflowers is our reward. Tod...

Today on How To LA , we're dropping Part 1 of the latest Imperfect Paradise  series Strippers Union.  It's one of the hottest stories from last year's hot labor summer that features a North Hollywood strip club and its dancers' fight to unionize.  Part 1: In 2023, North Hollywood’s Star Garden reopened as the only unionized strip club in the U.S. LAist Producer Emma Alabaster tells us the behind-t...

#251: You know this podcast LOVES our food episodes, so we're teaming up with someone who loves LA's food scene as much as we do: Alex Cottrell, better known as LA Try Guy . In this new segment, Down To Feast, Brian and Alex show each other their favorite meal in the neighborhood. This first one is in Westchester, so next time you're going to LAX (or next time you're in the need of some ridiculous...

#250: As we continue our series "Revival House," How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to the South Bay of LA. We're checking out the Gardena Cinema, which pivoted to revival screenings relatively recently.  The theater has been owned by the Kim family since 1976, and is now a non-profit run by Judy Kim and a team of 40 volunteers. Kim has saved the cinema from closures a handful of t...

#249: Who needs Central Park when we have Griffith? Griffith Park is smack in the middle of LA - but did you know it's also central to LA's development as a city? The 4,200 acre park has a LOT of history, from 1960's social & political movements, to Spanish colony-era land deals, to Tongva villages. Today we're walking along the park's historic Ferndell trail with LA Explained reporter, Caitli...

#248: The primary is on, L.A.! You can still fill out your ballot and drop it off or go in person to a voting center until 8pm. And to check out where the closest one to you is go to LAVote.net . Now we all know turnout for local elections is not great in L.A., even if there’s a presidential candidate on the ballot. But why? And why should you participate? (One big reason: some races – including a...

#247: The March primary is tomorrow, folks! But don't worry, we got you. LAist has a Voter Game Plan — it's super helpful voter guide with information on what’s on the ballot. It also includes shortcuts broken down by issues that really matter to Angelenos — like homelessness and the climate emergency. Today, we're talking about another one: public safety . Guest: Brianna Lee , Engagement Producer...

#246: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about the interesting, fun, new happenings in the city. Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and Frank Shyong, LA Times columnist who writes about the diaspora, culture, politics. AND he shares great food content on his social channels with some of the most interesting spots to grub in LA.   Here’s what ea...

#245   Neon! Mullets! Video stores! Relive the 80s with us... As we continue our series "Revival House," How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to Eagle Rock to check out Vidiots. The iconic video store opened in Santa Monica in the 80s, and closed its doors in 2017. But, Vidiots reopened last year in the historic Eagle theater. And yes, all of its 60,000 DVDs made the move too. Vidiot...

#244: For the next installment of our series on How to Not Be Lonely in LA, we're honing in on one demographic: Men. In all the conversations we’ve been having with people about loneliness and human connection...be it with experts or every day Angelenos …this theme kept coming up: In a nation in the midst of a loneliness epidemic, A LOT of people are lonely. But men, typically, are the loneliest. ...

#243: Today we’re talking to pianist, film composer and LAUSD alumnus Kris Bowers. Bowers has composed the scores for films like "Green Book," "King Richard" and "The Color Purple," and streaming series like "Dear White People" and "Bridgerton." But that LAUSD part of his resume is very relevant to one of his latest projects. It’s a short documentary that Bowers co-directed (along with Ben Proudfo...

#242: It’s an election year folks and Los Angeles has a primary coming up March 5th — that's fast! But don't worry, we got you. LAist has a new Voter Game Plan . It's a super helpful voter guide with information on what’s on the ballot and it includes short cuts broken down by issues that really matter to Angelenos — like homelessness and the climate emergency. Today, we're talking about another o...

Happy Friday, y'all! W're taking a sick day, but we didn't want to leave you without something fun for the weekend. So we're bringing you a recording of an awesome event last month at the Crawford: Queer Joy with Caitlin Hernandez. It's an hour of live music and Q&A with the artists. And if you wanna catch the next event in person, make sure to sign up for alerts at LAist.com/events

#181: Revival House – our weekly love letter to vintage and indie theaters across LA – will be back next week. Today, we're revisiting the episode from last fall that inspired the series, profiling the recently reopened Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. Original episode description below. The historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood officially reopened its doors after a three-year closure and extensive...

#241: California universities are supposed to provide abortion medication to students who are need of it, thanks to a law that went into effect early in 2023. But a lot of students don't know this as many of these campuses fail to mention it.   In their latest reporting, LAist senior health reporter Jackie Fortiér and higher education correspondent Adolfo Guzman-Lopez recently put the spotlight on...

#240: For the next installment of our finding community series, we're talking music!  Writer's 'Round LA is a Nashville-style, singer-songwriter showcase and hang for artists and non-artists alike. Think a 60s or 70s era Laurel Canyon open mic night. Good vibes all around.   Today, producer Megan Botel explores how people are creating strong connections and building community through groups like W...

#239: Cheap Fast Eats is back! Did you miss us? It's our monthly segment featuring LAist food editor Gab Chabrán and all his favorite spots to grab a quick and inexpensive meal throughout L.A. This time we're in Boyle Heights - the true East Side, for those who know. Come along as we eat our way through some rainy day comfort food. Restaurants featured in this episode:  Pioneer Chicken, Brooklyn A...

#238: As we continue our series "Revival House," How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to The New Beverly Cinema over in Fairfax, where movies are always on film. The theater, owned by Quentin Tarantino, has a long history as complex as LA's. Join us as we explore the building's history and discover what makes it a special place to catch a double feature today.  Guests: Theater and op...