Julia Barajas
explores how college students achieve their goals, whether they’re fresh out of high school, pursuing graduate work or looking to join the labor force through alternative pathways.
Published December 6, 2023 5:00 AM
Grande grew up in Los Angeles' Highland Park neighborhood, less than 5 miles away from Pasadena City College.
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Photos courtesy of Reyna Grande; Samanta Helou Hernandez; WikiCommons
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LAist
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Topline:
Community colleges have a reputation for being a last resort instead of a first option. But for many, they aren’t just fallbacks — they’re lifelines.
The writer without a home: Growing up, Reyna Grande never thought someone like her — an immigrant who endured poverty in Mexico — could become a published author. At Pasadena City College, an English professor convinced her that she had the capacity to write professionally.
Where is she now: Today, Grande is an established author who’s published several award-winning books, including novels and memoirs. She has also co-edited a collection of poetry, prose, and artwork about what it’s like to live as an undocumented person in the United States. Soon, she’ll publish an essay collection, tentatively titled Writing Home, about immigration, motherhood, and the craft of writing.
More coming: LAist is launching a series on professionals who began their higher ed journeys at a local community college.
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Community College Can Often Be A Fresh Start. For Author Reyna Grande, It Was A Lifeline
Reyna Grande was 9 years old when she came to this country from the mountainous Mexican state of Guerrero in 1985.
She came from Iguala, a town that would become infamous in 2014 after 43 teachers’ college students were taken by armed men and never seen again.
Grande’s parents emigrated before her, hoping to give their children a life without the poverty they’d endured.
“We were afraid that our parents would forget about us, that they would not come back,” she told LAist. “It was a childhood full of fears.”
Today, Grande is an established author who’s published several award-winning books, including novels and memoirs. She has also co-edited a collection of poetry, prose, and artwork about what it’s like to live as an undocumented person in the United States.
Soon, she’ll publish an essay collection, tentatively titled Writing Home, about immigration, motherhood, and the craft of writing.
But none of this came easy. In fact, it wasn’t even part of her plans, which would be upended in ways big and small, until she enrolled at Pasadena City College.
English, books, and band
Grande and her siblings didn’t see their father for eight years. When he first moved away, he worked in California’s Central Valley, harvesting crops and sleeping in an abandoned car to save as much as possible. His goal was to build his family a home.
With the help of a coyote, Grande and her siblings joined their father in the United States. They settled with him and their new stepmother in Highland Park, before the neighborhood gentrified.
Grande became a fifth grade ESL student at Aldama Elementary School, an experience that clawed at her sense of worth.
Her classmates looked like her and had Spanish surnames. But they spoke English fluently, “and sometimes they were the ones making fun of me and my siblings, making fun of our ‘wetback’ accent,” she said.
Grande learned to play the alto sax at Luther Burbank Junior High School, where she also read voraciously and won a short-story contest. At Franklin High School, she joined the marching band and proudly donned a navy blue and gold uniform at parades, football games, and pep rallies. Her father, who was forced to quit school when he was 9, demanded academic excellence. Grande kept good grades. And when she was admitted to UC Irvine, she celebrated with her family.
But there were a lot of conflicts at home. Both of her older siblings had started college and quit, and her sister had just left the house without their father’s consent. Ultimately, he didn’t let Grande go to UCI.
Grande was still underage when she graduated from high school. All she knew was that she wanted to keep studying.
Reveling in campus life
Grande enrolled at Pasadena City College. And for the next two and a half years, she fully immersed herself on campus.
She prioritized her general education courses, but also made room in her schedule for drawing and painting. She worked as a tutor, wrote for the school paper, signed up for swimming lessons, played the alto sax in the marching band, and represented her college at the annual Pasadena Rose Parade.
Grande also loved to write. For her, it was a kind of therapy, a tool that helped her sift through what was going on at home. Her father drank heavily and was often abusive. He beat her and her stepmother.
Grande kept a journal and filled hundreds and hundreds of blank pages. Still, she didn’t envision a career in writing.
“I never thought, ‘Oh, I'm gonna grow up to be a professional writer,’” she said. “Part of that was because, all through my experience in school, I hadn't been exposed to any authors who look like me.”
That changed in the summer of 1994. Grande enrolled in Dr. Diana Savas’ English class, and she introduced her to a host of Latina and Latin American authors: Helena María Viramontes. Sandra Cisneros. Isabel Allende. Julia Alvarez. Laura Esquivel.
She would often tell Grande a variation of this refrain: “If Alvarez, Cisneros, and Viramontes can publish their stories, so can you.”
“Little by little, she convinced me that I had the talent, that I had stories that mattered,” said Grande. “Thanks to her, my relationship to writing changed.”
Savas was surprised that, in a city like L.A., “which was predominantly Latino and Mexican,” Grande “had never read a book by a Latina or Latino author.”
“That just absolutely boggled my mind,” she told LAist.
“I just wanted her to know about them,” Savas added. “Part of that was that they were Latino, Latina writers. But they were also just wonderful writers.”
A new home
Savas also supported Grande through an especially challenging moment. One evening, her father beat her stepmother so severely that she had to go to the hospital. Then, the police came to their home.
“They arrested him right in front of me,” said Grande. “I watched the cops take him away. And then, the next day, I still had to go to class, turn in my homework, pay attention.”
Resources for Students Experiencing Violence
At Pasadena City College, students can get help securing short- and long-term housing through the Lancer Care Center.
The mental health support hotline (855) GO-TO-PCC is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students can also email gotopcc@pasadena.edu.
The Title IX office can also provide students experiencing domestic violence with off-campus support, including referrals to community-based resources that can provide a victim advocate, case manager, emergency housing options, free legal resources, and community-based therapy options.
Across the U.S., anyone can get support by contacting the National Domestic Violence Hotline, a 24-hour confidential service for survivors, victims and those affected by domestic violence, intimate partner violence and relationship abuse. You can reach them by calling (800) 799-7233 or by texting “START” to 88788.
She moved in with her estranged mother and slept on the floor of her tiny apartment. Grande used public transportation to get around, and it now took her three hours to get home from Pasadena. She had a class that ended at 7 p.m. One night, a group of men followed her home. Grande ran all the way to the apartment. When she told her mother about what happened, she suggested dropping the class.
“I felt so helpless and hopeless,” said Grande. “I needed to talk to someone.”
She went to Savas’ office hours, hoping for some advice. Savas listened carefully. Then, she offered her a room in her home.
Savas lived across the street from campus. And aside from being convenient, the professor’s home made Grande feel safe. At her father’s house, she’d grown accustomed to being holed up in her bedroom, lest she run across him in a moment of ire. In The Distance Between Us, one of Grande’s memoirs, she describes how different it was to live with Savas:
“[I]t was a rare feeling to be out in the living room and not be afraid that someone would yell at me, beat me, or put me down. Diana graded papers, and I did my homework while we listened to melancholy Greek music.”
“I'm really grateful,” said Grande. “She didn't have to do that.”
Savas doesn’t think she did anything remarkable. She offered Grande a place to stay, she told LAist, out of “basic human decency.”
When it came time for Grande to transfer to a four-year university, Savas also provided support. Together, they researched schools with strong creative writing programs. Savas also proofread her personal statements and encouraged her to apply for scholarships.
Today, nearly 30 years later, Savas thinks Grande gives her “too much credit.”
She confirmed that she helped Grande with the transfer process, but she underscored that Grande was “very industrious.”
“She was always finding scholarships here and there and everywhere,” Savas told LAist.
When the acceptance letters arrived, Grande had to choose between UCLA or UC Santa Cruz. Savas encouraged her to explore someplace new.
Grande took her advice and moved up north. She fell in love with the redwood forest, made new friends, and gained independence. Soon after, she became the first in her family to earn a college degree. When she graduated with honors from UC Santa Cruz, her father, mother, siblings, and extended family were in the audience.
Savas was there too.
“I think we all need somebody to tell us ‘Yes,’” she said. “Most of us hear: ‘No, that's impossible. No, don't do that. No, that's the wrong career.’ I think that's the message most students get ... My role was to say: ‘Yes, you can do this, you should do this.’”
Author Reyna Grande with her former English professor, Diana Savas, at a scholarship dinner in 1996.
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Courtesy of Reyna Grande
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Grande credits her community college experience with transforming the trajectory of her life.
“I have so much love for [Pasadena City College],” she said. “It was there that I started to take the steps I needed to become the person I am now.”
She’s returned to the campus repeatedly, including in 2008 to deliver a commencement speech, and in 2012 as the college’s first writer-in-residence.
Grande has also lectured at other colleges and universities and will soon be a visiting faculty member at Randolph College in Virginia. These experiences have given her a chance to see how higher ed institutions across the country are working to help meet students’ basic needs.
“I believe there is more awareness now than when I was a student, of how students may be suffering from housing or food insecurity,” she told LAist via email. “I know some colleges even run a food pantry where students can come and grab what they need. But community colleges could provide more support in terms of emergency housing. When I visit colleges, sometimes I hear stories of students living in their cars, for example, because they have nowhere else to go."
She added that more counseling would help students with their mental health: "All these things would help students have a better chance of succeeding.”
'Maybe I’m not really a writer'
Grande completed her first novel, Across a Hundred Mountains, in the early 2000s. At the time, she was back in Los Angeles, working as a teacher at Edison Middle School. She was also a single mother with a little boy. At night, she’d stay up late writing, hunched over her kitchen table.
“I don't even know how I managed to find the energy to work on that novel,” she said. “But I had this desperation of making sure that my dream didn't die.”
When the book was published in 2006, a friend called her to say he saw it at Vroman’s bookstore in Pasadena.
Grande got in her car and drove over to see it. She found her book on display and snapped a photo. Part of her couldn’t believe her eyes.
Writing a second novel was even harder, she said.
“I kept thinking, ‘What's my agent gonna think about this book? What’s my editor gonna think about this book? What are the readers gonna think about it? What are the book critics gonna say?’ I had all these voices in my head.”
“Maybe I’m not really a writer,” she thought. “Maybe I just got lucky. Maybe the first book was a fluke.”
Bridget “Biddy” Mason became one of Los Angeles’ first Black woman landowners, building wealth through real estate.
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LaMonica Peters
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The LA Local
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Topline:
From the city’s Black founders and their fight to be free from slavery to a Black architect who designed thousands of buildings throughout the city, L.A.'s first Black residents has had lasting influence.
Why it matters: Los Angeles is often celebrated for its warm weather, Hollywood glamour and championship sports teams, but the city’s foundation has a powerful Black history that is often overlooked.
Read on ... for a look at seven key Black history sites you can visit.
Los Angeles is often celebrated for its warm weather, Hollywood glamour and championship sports teams but the city’s foundation has a powerful Black history that is often overlooked.
From the city’s Black founders and their fight to be free from slavery, to a Black architect who designed thousands of buildings throughout the city, L.A.’s first Black residents have had lasting influence.
The LA Local traveled around the city to unearth some of the intriguing Black history facts. Here we highlight seven sites in Los Angeles that show the contributions of Black people in Los Angeles.
Bridget ‘Biddy’ Mason Memorial Park
Situated behind an office building on South Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles is a tribute to Bridget “Biddy” Mason. She was born enslaved in Mississippi and was brought to California by her owner Robert Marion Smith — even though slavery was illegal in California. After being enslaved in the state for five years, Mason won her freedom in 1856 by challenging her enslavement in court. Thirteen other family members were also freed, according to the National Park Service..
She became one of L.A.’s first Black woman landowners building wealth through real estate. Her net worth was said to be about $3 million in the 1860s, which would equate to nearly $60 million today. She also provided housing and food for the poor, acted as a midwife and helped establish the city’s first Black church, NPS noted.
The memorial park stands near property she once owned.
First African Methodist Episcopal Church
The First African Methodist Episcopal Church, also known as First AME or FAME, was co-founded in 1872 by Mason and other Black leaders. It was first located on Spring Street in Los Angeles, according to the National Park Service. The church was then moved to Harvard Boulevard, where it still stands today. It became a spiritual, political and organizing hub for Black Angelenos during segregation, according to the church’s website.
Most recently, the church was pastored by the Rev. Cecil Murray from 1977 to 2004. Under his leadership the church grew from 250 members to 18,000 at the time of his retirement, according to the Los Angeles Sentinel.
The first home built by architect Paul R. Williams
Though he faced racial discrimination, Paul Revere Williams became one of the most celebrated architects in L.A., whose legacy reshaped the city’s skyline and luxury design culture.
He was the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects. He designed thousands of buildings during his career, including The Beverly Hills Hotel and homes for Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball. Williams was also part of the team that designed the iconic Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport, as reported by LAist.
His first home sits in South Central and is designated as a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. He lived in this home for about 30 years until racial covenants were outlawed in the 1950s.
African American Firefighter Museum
On Central Avenue in South Central sits the historic fire station and museum that honors the Black firefighters who broke racial barriers in the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The museum “resides inside Fire Station No. 30, one of two segregated firehouses in Los Angeles between 1924 and 1955,” according to the museum’s website. The museum also notes that Sam Haskins was the first Black man to join the L.A. Fire Department in 1892 and died three years later fighting a fire.
The museum was founded in 1997 and is a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument. It is also registered with the National Register of Historic Places.
Before taking office, he worked as a janitor for the city’s Department of Water and Power, according to LA City Parks.
Elected in 1963, Lindsay represented District 9 for nearly 30 years. He supported civil rights and fought for economic investment, infrastructure improvements and services in historically underserved Black neighborhoods. He also served on the board of directors of the NAACP.
28th Street YMCA
The 28th Street YMCA building was designed by Williams, the renowned architect.
It was originally constructed to serve Black residents in L.A. who were banned from other facilities during segregation, according to the LA Conservancy. It won a Conservancy Preservation Award in 2013.
It became a hub for housing, community programs and social gatherings. Today, it serves as affordable housing for low-income adults and is listed with the National Register of Historic Places.
The Ralph J. Bunche House
The former home of Ralph J. Bunche, the first Black person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, is located in South Central on East 40th Place. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bunche played a key role in negotiating the 1949 Arab-Israeli armistice agreements through the United Nations. He also helped organize the civil rights march in Montgomery, Ala., in 1965, the Nobel Peace Prize organization said.
Born in Detroit, he moved to L.A. with his family and later became valedictorian at Jefferson High School. He attended UCLA on an athletic scholarship and “graduated in 1927 summa cum laude, valedictorian of his class, with a major in international relations,” the Nobel Peace Prize organization said. He also received a master’s degree in political science from Harvard in 1928. The Ralph J. Bunche Center was established in 1969 at UCLA in his honor.
Soccer Shots, a kids soccer program, is hosting a Game Day at the Americana.
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Courtesy Discover Los Angeles
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Topline:
There are plenty of World Cup-related things to do with kids and a list of activities around L.A. to help you get in on the tournament action. Here's a guide to help you plan without spending a fortune on tickets.
Why it matters: The World Cup already is a massive undertaking for organizers. So imagine what it would take for families to brave the traffic, parking and crowds for one of the eight tournament matches at SoFi Stadium this summer.
What to expect: There's plenty to do at the California Science Center and at parks across Los Angeles for kids. Programming is available around the tournament and most events are free.
Read on ... to find out what to do with the kids this summer.
The World Cup already is a massive undertaking for organizers. So imagine what it would take for families to brave the traffic, parking and crowds for one of the eight tournament matches at SoFi Stadium this summer.
But don’t worry: There are plenty of World Cup-related things to do with kids and a bunch of activities around L.A. to help you get in on the tournament action.
L.A. County Library's Summer of Soccer starts now
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Courtesy LA County Library
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LA County Library Summer of Soccer
LA County Library is celebrating the World Cup being in town with a “Summer of Soccer” at its branches. Activities include storytimes, movie nights and craft-making activities for kids of varying ages.
California Science Center's new exhibition celebrates the transformative power of play and the joy of the human body in motion.
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Courtesy California Science Center
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California Science Center ‘GAME ON!’ exhibit
The California Science Center has a new 17,000-square-foot exhibit, “GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play,” full of interactive activities to explore the science behind sports. The exhibit includes a practice batting area and a mini-field to practice soccer kicks.
When: Now, through the LA 2028 Olympics
Cost: Admission is free, but groups of 15 or more require a timed reservation.
The city is hosting a series of family-friendly watch parties across the city during the World Cup. The parties will have youth soccer clinics and “family fun zones” with interactive activities and arts. Other cities, like West Hollywood and Pasadena, are also hosting local family-friendly watch parties.
Soccer Shots, a kids soccer program, is hosting a Game Day at the Americana.
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Courtesy Discover Los Angeles
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Soccer Shots Game Day
Soccer Shots, a kids soccer program, is hosting a Game Day at the Americana on June 27 for children 5-8 years old. Players will be split into teams to play round-robin style games.
Did you know that the American Youth Soccer Organization, or more commonly known as AYSO, was founded in Torrance? Well, the museum there is hosting a curated collection of soccer memorabilia to celebrate the World Cup.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published June 7, 2026 5:00 AM
A selection of wings and fries at Wings 2 Go in Inglewood.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Topline:
Tens of thousands of international soccer fans are about to descend on Inglewood for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. SoFi Stadium is one of the tournament's premier venues — but the best reason to spend time in the neighborhood has nothing to do with what's happening on the pitch.
Why it matters: Inglewood's food scene reflects a city where Black and Latino residents make up nearly 90% of the population. These aren't tourist traps — they're the spots locals have been eating at for years, from a James Beard-recognized soul food diner open since 1983 to a carnitas truck with roots in Michoacán.
Why now: The World Cup runs through July. Matches at SoFi mean game-day crowds and long waits elsewhere. These eight spots — spanning BBQ, Jamaican, Mexican, Italian-American, and more — are worth knowing before you go.
Thousands of international soccer fans are about to descend on Inglewood for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. SoFi Stadium is the tournament's premier venues — but the best reason to spend time in the neighborhood has nothing to do with what's happening on the pitch.
Inglewood's food scene reflects a city where Black and Latino residents make up nearly 90% of the population. These aren't tourist traps — they're the spots locals have been eating at for years, from a James Beard-recognized soul food diner open since 1983 to a carnitas truck with roots in Michoacán.
Here's where to eat before the whistle blows.
Wings 2 Go
Lemon pepper chicken wings from Wings 2 Go in Inglewood.
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Cesar Hernandez
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LAist
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Wings 2 Go is a small but mighty wing shop that sits in a tiny strip mall along Crenshaw Boulevard, attracting wing fanatics from far and wide looking to get a fiery bite. The menu at Wings isn't huge by most standards but it still manages to pack a punch when it comes to offering a variety of tastes and flavors.
Opt for the six-piece ATL Special with hot lemon pepper seasoning, $10.91. Upon the first transformative bite of a wing, suddenly you're Jordan after clinching his first NBA finals win in 1991, celebrating in ecstasy. The sticky, crunch-fried wing is drenched in the perfect amount of sauce, then sprinkled with galactic bits of salty, citrusy lemon pepper seasoning that will leave your lips tingling.
If you're looking to broaden your flavor horizons, there are also jerk BBQ, aji verde, and Cajun rub as sauce options. Whichever fiery selections you choose, wash them down with lemonade or sweet tea, or go for a hole-in-one with an Arnold Palmer to quench your thirst.
Location: 10925 Crenshaw Blvd. #101, Inglewood Hours: Open Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Sat 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Country Style Jamaican Restaurant
The exterior of Country Style Jamaican Restaurant.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Our love for Jamaican-style take-out restaurants knows no bounds, and the city of Inglewood has some of the best Jamaican food in Los Angeles.
This particular casual walk-up counter establishment has a particular place in our heart. The welcoming, joyous atmosphere is infectious as soon as you enter. The walls are painted the same dark green as the Jamaican flag. Images of Black luminaries are featured next to maxims extolling a virtue-filled life.
To get the most for your buck, we recommend choosing any of the mini plate options. Our personal favorite is the curried goat ($14.50). Stewed bone-in pieces of goat have been cooked in a dark yellow curry full of aromatic spices. The chunks of meat are spicy, juicy, and fatty, and fall off the bone onto a bed of rice and beans that's also saturated with maximum curry flavors.
Location: 630 N. La Brea Ave., Suite 111, Inglewood Hours: Open Mon, Tue, Thu–Sun 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Closed Wednesdays.
Carnitas El Artista
Plates of tacos at Carnitas El Artista.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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While it might be easy to pledge one's allegiance to the culinary wonder that is carnitas, how often do you take it upon yourself to dive deep into the different parts of the pig? Each has its own unique textures that delight with every helping. Carnitas El Artista is where such dreams can come true, thanks to the hard work of owner Gustavo Chavez and his family, who are from Michoacán, the Mexican state known as the birthplace of carnitas.
With Mexico entering the World Cup as one of the tournament's most celebrated footballing nations, this is where to eat in their honor. Their tacos de carnitas ($4.95 each) are the best option: choose the mix that includes all the different cuts of pork.
The sizable taco manages to pack all the flavor and texture of each aspect of the protein, providing an extremely nuanced bite that combines sticky, fatty, and chewy elements. Serve the meat on a fresh tortilla with crisp-tasting salsa, topped with thin shards of red onion, for the right amount of acidity to cut the richness of the pork.
It's a showtime taco for the masses, if ever there was one. Pro tip: they offer a 2-for-1 deal on tacos Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to close.
Location: 510 N. La Brea Ave., Inglewood Hours: Open Mon 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; Tue, Thu–Fri 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sat–Sun 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Closed Wednesdays.
Woody's Bar-B-Que
The inflation fighter (3x) lunch special at Woody’s Bar-B-Que.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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If you've spent any time in Inglewood, there's a good chance you've seen Woody's Bar-B-Queon Market Street. If not, you've definitely smelled it. The unmistakable aroma of delicious grilled and smoked meat is the unofficial scent of that part of town. It's not uncommon for lines to wrap around the small business, spilling into the moderately sized parking lot.
It's never not a joyous occasion at Woody's as you wait in line to place your order at the walk-up window, where overhead speakers play booming deep cuts from the '80s and '90s R&B or Madlib's Shades of Blue, helping set the mood.
Our favorite aspect of Woody's is the lunch special menu, which feels like a trip back to when the restaurant opened in 1975. Names like Inflation Fighter, Business Man's Lunch, and Lady's Lunch all add to its charm and cost $10.95.
All plates come in a brown paper bag, giving the vibe of the school lunch that your mom used to pack, along with two slices of white bread and a small container of a side of your choice.
Location: 475 S. Market St., Inglewood Hours: Open daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
El Capitalino
Quesadilla fritas from El Capitalino MX food truck.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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What if the quesadillas from your youth were, in fact, a gateway into a large quesadilla universe that's actually larger than what you might have originally considered? El Capitalino achieves just that. Owner Ivan Gomez was inspired by the quesadillas he saw prepared during a trip to Mexico City and by his mother and grandmother, who grew up making the meal. For $5, each thick corn tortilla is made by hand, usually by Ivan's mom, Norma Ramirez. She takes the raw masa and forms it into a flat disk, then stuffs it with cheese.
The tortilla is then folded and fried in oil. After it's done cooking, the quesadilla is removed, pulled apart, and packed with a filling of your choice — chicken tinga, hongos, rajas con queso, carne asada, or chicharrón prensado — then fried with guajillo salsa and stuffed with lettuce and cream. No matter what the filling is, you'll get a unique griddled cheesiness, accented by expertly flavored fillings, that makes for one of the best-tasting quesadillas we've ever had.
The Serving Spoon has been an Inglewood cornerstone for four decades, dishing up grilled corn bread and fried turkey chops.
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Isaiah Murtaugh
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The LA Local
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Founded in 1983 by Harold E. Sparks — a young man from Hamilton, Ohio who traded a steady foreman job at General Motors for his dream of opening a soul food restaurant in Inglewood — The Serving Spoon is now in its third generation of family ownership and a recent recipient of the James Beard Foundation's America's Classics award.
The Foundation called it a "vital social and cultural anchor," which feels right the moment you slide into one of the red leather booths or take a seat at the wooden counter.
Go for breakfast: the catfish and waffle, the salmon croquettes, the grits. Plates run $15–25, depending on your protein. Come early on weekends or expect a wait.
If you're visiting from out of town and want to understand Inglewood's cultural legacy in a single meal, this is the place to start.
Cheesy garlic bread at Sunday Gravy, the Italian-American spot on Centinela Avenue in Inglewood.
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Courtesy Sunday Gravy
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In the early 1970s, the Bashirian family opened their first restaurant, Jino's, in this very same Centinela Avenue location — aiming to give the people of Inglewood something different from the big chains.
Their children Sol and Ghazi have continued building on that foundation with Sunday Gravy, a modern red-sauce Italian-American spot serving fresh pasta from Florentyna's and artisan breads from Cadoro Bakery, both made in Inglewood.
Italy is one of the world's great football nations, and this is about as close as the neighborhood gets to a proper Italian-American Sunday table: meatballs with whipped ricotta, short rib ragù, Caesar salad with Calabrian pepper aioli.
South L.A. hasn't traditionally been known for its vibrant restaurant scene, but that's slowly changing — and Somerville, opened by actor and entrepreneur Issa Rae along with partners Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan of GVO Hospitality, is one of the reasons why.
Technically a short drive from SoFi, the name refers to Hotel Somerville, a focal point for the Black jazz scene on Central Avenue in the 1930s and '40s that regularly hosted Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Billie Holiday. "I just wanted to be able to dress up, hang out, and eat well in my neighborhood," Rae has said.
The menu honors the spirit of the original hotel: start with Parker House rolls with truffle butter ($19) or the fried chicken and caviar sliders ($29), then move on to the collard green lasagna ($36) or paccheri pasta with short rib ragù ($36). It's a dressed-up night out in a neighborhood that's long deserved exactly that.
Location: 4437 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles. Hours: Open Wed–Sat 6–11 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–2 p.m. (brunch) and 6–11 p.m.
Tiffany Ujiiye
is an editor on LAist's mighty and nimble daily news desk, leading coverage from bald eagles to local government.
Published June 7, 2026 5:00 AM
Griffith Observatory at night (Photo by m3th0s via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. Tag #LAist on Instagram if you want to see your photo featured here)
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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Topline:
When the sun goes down it’s easy to spot the bars and clubs where the parties happen in Los Angeles. But summertime is (possibly) the best time to explore the region’s not-so-obvious nightlife offerings.
What to expect: Want to explore the cemetery through music or take a night ride with thousands of bicyclists? What about joining citizen scientists to study urban bats or stare at the stars (not the ones in Hollywood)?
Read on... for LAist's handy guide to help visitors and locals alike.
When the sun goes down it’s easy to spot the bars and clubs where the parties happen in Los Angeles. But summertime is (possibly) the best time to explore the region’s not-so-obvious nightlife offerings.
Want to explore the cemetery through music or take a night ride with thousands of bicyclists? What about joining citizen scientists to study urban bats or stare at the stars (not the ones in Hollywood)?
LAist prepared a handy guide to help visitors and locals alike make the most of our summer nightlife.
Gear up with citizen scientists
Yuma myotis is another possible bat candidate and one of the bats recorded in the Backyard Bat Survey.
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Courtesy of L.A. County Natural History Museum
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The Natural History Museum of L.A. County conducts its annual Bat Roost Count, a community led science project where teams study bat roosts and give biologists, policymakers and activists information about bat populations and activity in the region.
Registration is open for those 14 and older. You need to RSVP to join the June 13 survey or the June 14 survey. If you miss out on June, you can register for the July survey in August.
For families, the museum plans to offer separate bat roost events sometime in August or September. People of all ages will be able to learn about bats, roosting behavior, watch a bat and learn how scientists are studying them. Those interested should fill out a form for details.
Concerts in the cemetery
The sun sets at the Hollywood Forever cemetery on Dec. 4, 2025.
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Ronaldo Bolaños
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Getty Images
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Hollywood Forever is one of the most iconic cemeteries in the world and it’s more than just a resting place for the famous. The sprawling 60-acre grounds also host cultural events, film screenings and evening concerts. Big names such as Olivia Rodrigo, Tame Impala and Lana Del Rey have performed at the cemetery.
Grab a flashlight and go on a night hike in Griffith Park.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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The Griffith Observatory is considered one of the most visited public observatories on the planet and offers plenty of things to do for night owls.
Once a month, the Observatory partners with local telescope groups and hosts a Star Party. Dozens of telescopes set-up on the lawn and the observatory says there’s always something to see. Check out the dates here.
If you can’t make a Star Party, the observatory is open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 10 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The observatory is closed on Mondays.
Cyclists gather for the monthly Critical Mass rides in Koreatown on Nov 8th, 2025.
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Steve Saldivar
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The LA Local
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Join thousands of bikers in one of the largest community bicycle rides in the U.S. The evening ride happens on the last Friday of every month on the corner of Western and Wilshire. Check the routes, they change each month.
Aboard the Queen Mary
The Queen Mary is lit at night on Nov. 2, 2025 in Long Beach.
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Getty Images
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Los Angeles Times
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At sunset the Queen Mary in Long Beach provides a host of spooky experiences. The ship is rumored to be haunted and there are tours and ship walks to investigate the claim.
The cheapest ticket is the Haunted Encounters Tour with general admission costs around $58 with Graveyard Tours starting at $89.
VIP Tours are also available starting at around $200.
