How To LA

#237: Today we’re talking about Lunar New Year and how it’s celebrated in this city — from the 125th anniversary of the Golden Dragon Parade to a student-run lion dance team at UCLA. Guests: Jenny Lin, board member of the Chinese American Museum ACA Lion Dance team coordinators: Kristine Ly, Laura Kubiatko and Samuel Lu Alexis Wong, former ACA Lion Dance team coordinator Scarlett Yen, event manage...

#236: Sick of dating apps? It's almost Valentine's Day, so How To LA is mixing things up...and going speed dating!  It's part of series we are running with every Tuesday, over the next 4 weeks, that examines feelings of loneliness in this town and how people are dealing with it by making new connections in the city. Given this time of year, we are going with romantic connections. In a city that's...

#235: It’s an election year folks and Los Angeles has a primary coming up March 5th — just a month away! 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 criminal justice, homelessness and affordable housing. Today, we're ta...

#234: Wanna catch a late show with us?  As we continue our series "Revival House," How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to a midnight movie at the historic Nuart Theatre. The Nuart Theatre's art deco marquee lights up Santa Monica and Sawtelle — so head west with us to a screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and discover cult cinema past and present.  Guests: Austin Fresh and...

#233: Independent movie theaters are having a moment. Many just turned — or are turning —  100 years old and several have reopened after extensive remodels. This matters because movie history is LOS ANGELES history. Some of these older venues can tell us a lot about the early days of Hollywood and this city. But what’s cool is that they continue to create spaces for community, to come together and...

#232: Here is the last installment in our series of places in LA that help establish a neighborhood's rhythm. This time we head to Str33t Records and talk to owner Angelle Laigo.  Guest: Str33t Records founder Angelle Laigo Music from this episode:  What’s His Name - Joey Quinones, Thee Sinseers Running Away - Thee Sacred Souls Pacific Ave - Pearl & The Oysters Hippy Provider - The Intelligenc...

#231: Simply put, a lot of people are lonely in L.A. It’s a huge city, and whether you’re a transplant or a homegrown Angeleno, people all over this town are trying to find their place, and their people. Every Tuesday, over the next 5 weeks, How to LA producer Megan Botel explores these feelings of loneliness – which has recently been declared a nationwide epidemic by the U.S. Surgeon General  – a...

#230: It’s an election year folks and Los Angeles has a primary coming up March 5th — just a month away! There are candidates running for L.A .City Council, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, and L.A.’s District Attorney. And there are also local and statewide measures on the ballot that you should get familiar with. We realize it's a LOT but don't trip — we got you. LAist has a new Voter Game...

#229: Did you miss our event celebrating 100 years of cheeseburgers in Pasadena? Well - don't feel TOO bad - we got the recording right here for you. Check it out! And make sure to keep an eye on our events page so you don't ever miss another evening of food and fun with the LAist crew at the Crawford.  Laist.com/events Guests: Historian Hadley Meares dishes about the Pasadena past of the cheesebu...

#228 - We're continuing our exploration of music in L.A. Today, we head to San Fernando to check out the sounds of punk, cumbia, boogie and rock at the musical hub The Midnight Hour Records . It's part two of a three-part series. You can check them all out in the feed.  Guest: Sergio Amalfitano, owner The Midnight Hour Read more here: The Midnight Hour Records Shop Is A Love Letter To Northeast Va...

#227: Today, we’re once again enlisting some local independent booksellers to help us understand L.A. better. This time we headed to Tía Chucha's Centro Cultural & Bookstore in Sylmar, Octavia's Bookshelf in Pasadena, Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena and Reparations Club near West Adams. Books mentioned: "Ask the Dust" by John Fante "Mercurochrome: New Poems" by Wanda Coleman "Always Running" by...

#226: Today we're exploring the past and present music of our city — from West Adams to Leimert Park — through the lens of musical hubs High Fidelity Records and The World Stage . It's part of a three-part series.  Read more in LAist: In West Adams, High-Fidelity Record Store Serves The Historic Jazz Community Guests: Ray Limon and Stanley Swinger, co-owners of High Fidelity Records in West Adams,...

#225: Today, what you need to know about the current state of COVID-19 in LA County, and a recent loosening of state guidelines around “isolation periods”  — the length of time COVID positive people are advised to stay away from others. Guest: LAist senior health reporter Jackie Fortiér

This is How To LA , the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos. This week, we're featuring Imperfect Paradise: The Castle: Part 3. For the next few weeks, we’ll be dropping episodes every Friday. Imperfect Paradise: The Castle takes us inside LA’s exclusive Magic Castle through the lens of a queer hobbyist magician, who pushed for more inclusion. Read and listen below....

#224: 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 Matthew Brinkley, a licensed psychotherapist, doctor of psychology, relationship and queer life coach. His work empowers queer folks to embrace their identity and have vibrant relationships. You may have seen h...

#223: The cheeseburger turns 100 this year - we're pretty, anyway. (There's a few conflicting dates here) But more convincing is its birth place: Pasadena, California. That's where The Rite Stop first slapped some cheese on a patty - and it's also where Cheeseburger Week is celebrated every year. And this year's Cheeseburger Week is extra special, since it's recognized as the cheeseburger's centen...

#222: LA actually has a pretty solid bus network. But how easy (and fast) is it to ride the bus in LA? Well - that definitely depends. With more than 100 routes traveling all over L.A. County, it can be a little intimating to figure out where to go but if you're looking to save a little green for your wallet AND the planet, it's worth trying out! HTLA's Aaricka Washington recently rode her second-...

#221: Today, we’re talking about the state of shelter pets in our region and what we can do to help cats and dogs — and even some other kinds of critters — in need. Guest: Dia DuVernet, president and CEO of Pasadena Humane

This is How To LA , the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos. This week, we're featuring Imperfect Paradise: The Castle: Part 3. For the next few weeks, we’ll be dropping episodes every Friday. Imperfect Paradise: The Castle takes us inside LA’s exclusive Magic Castle through the lens of a queer hobbyist magician, who pushed for more inclusion. Read and listen below....

#220: Back in 2020, when George Gascón was elected to serve as the top prosecutor in Los Angeles County, his win was considered a victory for the criminal justice movement. It was the height of the pandemic, and the racial reckoning that followed the police killing of George Floyd. Gascón campaigned as a progressive alternative to incumbent Jackie Lacey, who local activists had criticized for year...

#71: For the 30th anniversary of the deadly Northridge Earthquake, we are re-airing an episode about earthquake preparedness with a few updates. This episode originally aired on February 28, 2023.  L.A. could get get hit with a big earthquake any time within the next 30 years. Maybe even tomorrow. Preparing for such an event may seem overwhelming (or like the LAST thing on your to-do list) but we'...

#219: Have you seen those Metro Micro vans around the city? Metro's pilot rideshare program has been offering $1 rides in eight zones around the city since 2020. This year, the fare may be rising. In this episode, host Brian De Los Santos talks with LAist reporter Makenna Sievertson about the Metro Micro program and what she's been hearing from the public. We also hear from Metro about why they wa...

#218: Hey there How To LA listeners! Your host Brian De Los Santos here. We are off today for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but we're still bringing you a fun chat. It's one I had back in November as part of On Air Fest's Open House at dublab here in L.A. It was a very cool, day-long immersive sound and storytelling event, free and open to the public, and Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido an...

This is How To LA , the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos. This week, we're featuring Imperfect Paradise: The Castle: Part 2. For the next few weeks, we’ll be dropping episodes every Friday. Imperfect Paradise: The Castle takes us inside LA’s exclusive Magic Castle through the lens of a queer hobbyist magician, who pushed for more inclusion. Read and listen below....

#217: Little Tokyo is losing legacy businesses, and the neighborhood gets a little less Japanese-American with each one. The latest to leave is iconic restaurant Suehiro Cafe - which opened in 1972. Second-generation owner Kenji Suzuki joins us to talk about his family's history with the restaurant, and what's next for them and for the rest of the Little Tokyo community. Suehiro Cafe is now operat...