The Brief

Two L.A. music things caught my eye online this week. The first is an interview with Elton John and Brandi Carlile about their new joint album, filmed at the Troubadour for Apple Music. It’s a lovely look into our collective rock history with one living legend and one incredible performer who just has a knack for bringing out the best in everyone, from Elton John to Joni Mitchell.

Also on the music front, local favorites Dawes — who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire — have been a source of inspiration to so many these past few months. This week, they released a new version of their L.A. love letter, “Time Spent in Los Angeles,” with some help from Andrew Bird and Alan Hampton. Have a listen (and maybe a cry) here.

For more to explore, visit LAist.com, where you can check out the latest SoCal James Beard nominees, join the debate over whether L.A.’s official cocktail is the margarita, and remember Top Gun actor Val Kilmer.

Events

Tuesday, April 8, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Impact Investor Night: Building a Sustainable Future 
1149 S. Hill St., Ste. 900
Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

It’s been hard to find bright spots these days, so if you need a dose of good news and have some ideas of how to innovate around climate change, head to this Los Angeles Climate Week event to get inspired — and shoot your shot. Designed to foster collaboration and actionable outcomes between climate funders and founders, the evening also includes a special screening of the upcoming docuseries How to Change the World, a panel addressing climate investing, and a live student pitch competition for L.A. wildfire relief.

Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m.
Wet Leg
The River 
2929 Knox Ave.
Frogtown 
COST: $49.37; MORE INFO

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Iris Luz

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The Grammy-winning indie rock band Wet Leg is playing their first show in L.A. in two years. The “Chaise Longue” duo are bringing their quirky brand of indie girl power all the way from the Isle of Wight to The River, a unique new venue in Frogtown. The intimate space is a far cry from their last L.A. gig — opening for Harry Styles at the Forum.

Tuesday, April 8, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Stacy Nathaniel Jackson in conversation with Dan Lewis
Octavia’s Bookshelf 
1353 North Hill Ave.Pasadena
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

Afrofuturist Stacy Nathaniel Jackson, author of The Ephemera Collector, will join the Huntington Library senior curator for science and technology, Dan Lewis, for a talk about his timely new book at Octavia’s Bookshelf. Jackson’s novel is set in L.A. in 2035 amid a wave of wildfires, a protagonist suffering from long COVID, and other of-the-moment references.

Wednesday, April 9, 8 p.m. 
An evening with Gretchen Rubin (in-person, virtual broadcast on 4/16)
Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center at Vista Del Mar
3200 Motor Ave.
Culver City
COST: $25 - $44; MORE INFO

The Happiness Project creator Gretchen Rubin is back to tell us how to make it all better. Rubin’s latest book, Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives, breaks down adulting by looking at aphorism — “the ancient literary discipline that demands that a writer convey a large truth in a few words” — to help overcome indecision in our lives. The event will also be available virtually for $42 with a signed book starting Wednesday, April 16.

Wednesday, April 9, 7 p.m. 
India Ramey 
Gold-Diggers
5632 Santa Monica Blvd.
East Hollywood 
COST: $19.57; MORE INFO 

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Stacie Hubecka via Brooklyn Basement

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Nashville comes to L.A. when India Ramey hits the stage at Gold-Diggers with her honky-tonk vibes. Her new album, Baptized By The Blaze, came out last summer and explores her journey out of addiction — and her love of horror and b-movies — with a country kick.

Through April 19 
'Toys as Art, Art Inspired by Toys'
Corey Helford Gallery 
571 S. Anderson St.Arts District
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Inspired by Barbie and Matchbox and every type of kids' plaything in between, dozens of contemporary artists draw from their childhood memories in this unique show at Corey Helford, celebrating Mattel’s 80th anniversary.

Outdoor Pick

Every Monday, 7 p.m. 
Koreatown Run Club 
Meet at the corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Oxford Ave.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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sporlab

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via Unsplash

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Koreatown may have just won the “worst parking in L.A.” award, but that’s no matter if you’re running. Koreatown Run Club, like many others around town, has grown in popularity and takes joggers through the historic neighborhood while meeting new people and getting those steps in.

Viewing Pick

April 8-9, 7:30 p.m.
French Film Festival 
Fullerton College Campus Theatre
321 East Chapman Ave.
Fullerton
COST: $12.51; MORE INFO 

Get a little bit of je ne sais qua at Fullerton College’s annual French Film Fest, dubbed the “Paris of Orange County” — I know, I know. This year’s picks are Louis Garrel’s crime-comedy The Innocent and the heartwarming comedy Les Petites Victoires. Both nights also feature French food, art and music on the Campus Theater patio area.

Dine & Drink Deals

Monday, April 7 Food Day in WeHo
Fiesta Hall
7377 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Plant Based Treaty and the City of West Hollywood are hosting a full day of panels with climate experts, plant-based breakfast, lunch and dinner, and climate-focused activities. Plus, the first 25 attendees will get a free swag bag from SoCal VegFest.

Wednesday, April 9, 4 p.m. 
Experiencias de Paseo: Crudo & Tequila
Paseo
1580 Disneyland Dr.
Anaheim
COST: $45; MORE INFO 

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Courtesy Paseo

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Head to Downtown Disney for an event led by Paseo’s Executive Chef Rudy Lopez, where you can experience a culinary demonstration and tasting focused on the story behind Kanpachi crudo, plus munch on chips and salsa, and drink Paseo’s Sonrisa Margarita.

Monday, April 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
National Beer Day with Best Day Brewing 
Rivian Venice Beach
660 Venice Blvd.
Venice
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

It’s National Beer Day, but that doesn’t mean you have to have alcohol to enjoy it anymore. Non-alcoholic beer company Best Day Brewing is throwing a "brew-thru" pop-up in Venice to mark the occasion, plus they are giving away a free six-pack of their award-winning NA craft beer to anyone who stops by.

The restaurant:

Detroit-style pizza is hard to find in Southern California, given how far away it is from the Motor City.

Angelenos can consider themselves fortunate though to have a spot tucked in West Hollywood — DTown Pizzeria. The pizzeria is owned by Ryan Ososky, the 2025 Pizza Maker of the Year at the International Pizza Expo. He's received numerous honors for his pan pizzas.

The food: 

Oskosky's been all over the map during his time as a chef, and he's worked under the likes of Michael Mina, Charlie Palmer and Wolfgang Puck. After gaining all that experience, he’d eventually start a pizza pop-up in West Hollywood.

“I’m a chef by trade, but I guess I just happen to own a pizzeria and won some awards around it,” Ososky said.

What Austin tried:

• Goomba
• "Haole" aka not Hawaiian
• The 313
• The 1946 cheese

The verdict:

“Excellent puff of flavor in the middle of an excellent pizza, soft crust,” Austin said after trying the pepperoni-topped Goomba slice.

When taking a bite of the 313, Austin said “the pesto on top of this zings it up,” adding, “It stays moist … but it’s got a moist and crisp with soft dough.”

Listen:

Los Angeles Angels legend Garret Anderson has died. The team announced his death today on social media.

The cause and location of his death were not immediately announced.

"Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons," owner Arte Moreno said in a statement, "and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship."

Anderson's story is a Southern California one in so many ways. He was born in Los Angeles and graduated from Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, where he was a three-sport star in baseball, basketball and football. He won All-Los Angeles City and All-League Honors as a junior and helped lead Kennedy's basketball team to an L.A. City Championship.

The Angels drafted him out of high school in 1990, and he made his Major League debut in 1994.

He spent all but two of his 17 Major League seasons with the Halos and was a key player on the 2002 team that won the franchise's first, and still only, World Series.

After the Angels decided not to renew his contract at the end of the 2008 season, Anderson signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2009 before returning to SoCal in 2010, this time as a member of the Dodgers. He spent a single season there before retiring in 2011.

He leads the Angels all-time in a slew of statistics, including games played (2,013), hits (2,368), RBIs (1,292), doubles (489) and several others. He was a three-time All-Star, the 2003 Home Run Derby winner and All-Star Game Most Valuable Player.

But Angels fans will probably remember him best for his go-ahead, three-run double in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. It gave the Angels a 4-1 lead, which they never surrendered.

But despite all the accolades, one of the most impressive stats from Anderson's career was his reliability. He had a stretch of eight seasons where he appeared in at least 150 games and played in at least 140 games in 11 of his 17 seasons in the pros.

Shortly after he retired, he joined the Angels television broadcast team to provide pregame and postgame analysis.

The Angels will wear a special "GA" memorial patch on their uniforms for the remainder of the season. They'll also play a tribute and hold a moment of silence in his honor before tonight's game against the San Diego Padres at Angel Stadium.

This story first appeared in The LA Local.

For Koreatown resident George Chan, the appeal of public transit in Los Angeles is simple: avoiding the daily grind of driving.

“I don’t like cars, so I’m all for having more public transportation,” said Chan, who lives near Olympic Boulevard and Hobart Street and uses transit about twice a week to get to work in Culver City. “I feel like that’s one of the things L.A. really lacks, a working public transportation system. You go to any other major city and you’re able to take a train anywhere, but here you can’t.”

Even if it takes longer, he said, public transit offers something driving doesn’t.

“I don’t have to sit in traffic. I don’t have to deal with drivers at all,” he said. “I feel pretty comfortable on the train and bus, so it’s not a big deal for me.”

That’s why Chan is looking forward to the opening of the first phase of the Metro D Line extension on May 8, which Koreatown residents like him say will make it easier to reach some of Los Angeles’ most visited cultural hubs without sitting in traffic.

Where things stand

The project, more than a decade in the making, will add three new underground stations along Wilshire Boulevard at La Brea, Fairfax and La Cienega, closing an important gap between Downtown Los Angeles and the Mid-Wilshire area.

From Koreatown, the new stops will put destinations like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the La Brea Tar Pits within roughly a 15- to 20-minute ride from Union Station, offering a faster alternative to driving along one of the city’s most congested corridors. 

Another view of the Wilshire/La Brea Station.

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Courtesy Metro Art

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Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

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Metro projects the new stations will add roughly 16,200 daily riders and increase foot traffic for local businesses. The opening comes more than three years behind its original 2023 timeline and about $700 million over budget, with this part of the project now reaching around $3.51 billion. 

The project is part of Metro’s “Twenty-Eight by ’28” push to finish major transit expansions before the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.

For Chan, that could mean easier trips west, whether that’s grabbing brunch near Miracle Mile or visiting museums that currently require multiple transfers.

How residents are feeling

Other residents said the expansion is also expected to reshape how often they use transit, particularly for trips that currently require driving. Davis Read, a Koreatown resident who is a part of the Wilshire Center Koreatown neighborhood council, says he uses Metro about once a week now, but that will likely change once he gets more access to the museums by La Brea. 

“I’m also excited to be able to go to Beverly Hills, where a lot of my medical appointments are,” Read said. “That’s something that was usually like a half-hour drive.”

But while many welcome the expansion, residents say the city still has work to do — especially when it comes to building housing people can actually afford, shortening timelines for major transit projects and improving bus infrastructure.

Sherin Varghese, a Koreatown resident and organizer with Ktown for All, said buses remain essential for many in the neighborhood.

“A lot of our neighbors, housed and unhoused, don’t have cars,” she said. “Building out infrastructure that isn’t car-forward is generally a good move.”

At the same time, she noted that buses, which often serve lower-income riders, have historically been deprioritized.

“I’m really excited about the trains,” Varghese said. “But I also want us to continue investing in bus infrastructure, like dedicated bus lanes that don’t get closed off that aren’t just for rush hour.”

Wilshire/La Brea Metro station remains closed off to the public as of April 14.

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Marina Peña

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The LA Local

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For Varghese, who relies on transit regularly, the D Line will open up parts of the city that currently feel out of reach.

“I’m going to be able to take the D straight to LACMA or to the Academy Museum to see a movie,” she said. “It opens up a huge amount of access to the west side.”

Metro's overall plan

The D Line extension is part of Metro’s broader plan to connect Downtown Los Angeles to Westwood through a nine-mile subway, with future phases expected to open in 2027. Additional stations will include Beverly Drive, Century City, Westwood/UCLA and Westwood/VA Hospital.

Another major project — the K Line Northern Extension — would further expand that network by linking South L.A. to West Hollywood. But with funding not expected until 2041 and an opening still years after that, between 2047 and 2049, many residents say the timeline highlights a broader frustration.

After last-minute negotiations between Mayor Karen Bass and local leaders, Metro’s board voted unanimously in late March to approve the route. The planned underground extension would tie into four major rail lines and is projected to carry up to 100,000 riders daily

“There’s a repeated trend in which these great public projects are having to conform around the needs of wealthy home ownership groups. I think that’s frustrating,” Read said. “I think at this point, we should be pressuring our elected leaders to act quicker on the Metro.”

He pointed to the K Line extension as one example, where opposition from a group of homeowners in Mid-City, particularly in affluent Black neighborhoods like Lafayette Square, raised concerns about construction, safety and property values, contributing to delays.

“That’s the most important stitch in the Metro system — it would be a game changer,” Read said. “A two-seat ride to LAX from Koreatown or downtown would make a huge difference. Right now, it takes about three lines and can take just as long as driving in traffic.”

The Wilshire/Fairfax station where the D line and K line would meet is expected to add 33,000 riders, according to Metro.

Residents ask: Why'd it take this long

Varghese, who has lived in Koreatown for 15 years, said her frustration is less about the current timeline and more about missed opportunities in the past.

“I wish we had started this 50 years ago,” she said. “But I’m glad it’s happening now.”

Alongside transit improvements, residents also raised concerns about what new development around stations will look like, particularly whether it will include housing that current residents can afford.

“A lot of the housing is built for upscale renters,” he said. “If they built low-income or cheaper housing, that would be great, but that’s not what’s happening.”

Read said transit and housing need to be planned together.

“If we don’t act drastically to construct new housing, we’re never going to dig ourselves out of this crisis,” he said.

Varghese echoed that concern, pointing to what she sees as a gap between policy goals and what’s actually being built.

“We need to build housing that people can actually afford now,” she said. “We need to be affecting the supply directly and not hoping that housing eventually trickles down in terms of pricing.”

The post ‘I wish we had started this 50 years ago’: Koreatown is ready for Metro’s D Line appeared first on LA Local.