How To LA LAist Studios

#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 Lab
U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives
2021 Worker Cooperative State of the Sector Report
Yes, 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/paradiseSupport for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.