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The Brief

The most important stories for you to know today
  • We interviewed Nury Martinez. Here's why
    A close up of a white protest sign that reads Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon resign now. We cannot let latinidad divide us. It's being held by a person with a medium skin tone who's standing outside City hall with a group of people.
    Protestors demonstrate outside City Hall calling for the resignations of L.A. City Council members Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo in the wake of a leaked audio recording on Oct. 12, 2022.

    Topline:

    With today's debut of Episode 1 of Nury & The Secret Tapes, the latest series for the LAist Studios podcast Imperfect Paradise, host Antonia Cereijido shares her thoughts on why we decided to explore last year's L.A. City Hall tape scandal, how she landed an interview with former city council president Nury Martinez, and why the podcast includes her point of view.

    About that exclusive interview: Cereijido writes, "There are people who think that Martinez shouldn’t be heard from again given what she said. I understand that point of view. My intention with this series is to continue to address the thorny and difficult issues at the heart of the scandal, to not let them go."

    Keep reading... for more on what to expect in the four-part series — and how to listen.

    Almost immediately after the L.A. city council tape scandal broke last fall, a team of us at LAist knew we wanted to tell the story in a narrative long form podcast. But what would that podcast sound like? What issues would we examine?

    It’s the kind of story where most people have heard about it, but the details are often hazy. I’d bring it up and people would say, “oh yeah… what did they say on those tapes?” “What happened to those people?” We wanted to make a series that could help people make sense of the scandal, a year later.

    We gravitated to the story of former city council president Nury Martinez. Prior to the scandal she was considered a homegrown success story for Pacoima and the San Fernando Valley. She was known as a champion for the working class and immigrant families. And then, she sabotaged her career with her own words. She became a prime example of anti-Blackness and colorism in the Latino/x community. We wanted to explore the tension between what she represented before and after the scandal as a way of understanding the limits of representational politics.

    As current L.A. city councilmember Eunisses Hernandez told me, “I think identity politics in that way can constrain us from meeting the needs of our district and the people who live there. Because time and time again, we've seen reflections of leaders who look like us, who are supposed to represent us, making decisions that totally throw our communities under the bus.”

    Examining anti-Black racism, colorism and Latino political power

    My interest in the tape leak scandal came from my experience covering Latino/x identity for the past decade both at LAist and previously as a producer at NPR’s Latino USA. I produced an episode about the scandal shrouding the American Dirt novel. And I was the executive producer on our series about former L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, which delved into a similar tension between what the Sheriff represented prior to his term in office, and during. I saw how the conversation about the L.A. City Council tapes was playing out in Latino/x spaces, bringing up the most difficult and painful issues in the community — anti-Black racism, colorism, and what Latino political power even means.

    When I first heard audio from the leaked tapes, I felt a shame similar to when a family member says an off-the-cuff racist remark in front of a friend who’s meeting them for the first time. I was unfortunately familiar with the kind of language Martinez and the other Latino leaders had used. My family is from Argentina and when I was growing up, I never questioned certain turns of phrase that, looking back now, I understand are rooted in racist and prejudiced thinking.

    We have always called my great uncle, who is white, El Tío Negro because he is slightly darker than his brother. When I visit Argentina, I hear people referring to all Asians as chinos, regardless of their actual country of origin. And until two years ago I would use the word quilombo to refer to “a mess,” until I learned that the original meaning of quilombo was a hideout for escaped African slaves in Latin America. I wanted this series to really explore a lot of these racist attitudes that are still rampant in our communities.

    Why Martinez agreed to speak

    We had assumed that Martinez would not agree to be interviewed. She had not done any interviews since her resignation in October 2022. Initially, we approached the series as what’s commonly referred to in journalism as a “work around” — tracking down people close to her, including fellow politicians, friends, and critics, to fill in the details of her life. And so, when our senior producer, Emily Guerin, called Martinez and left a message to alert her to the project and ask for an interview, we were shocked when Martinez called back.

    Former L.A. city council president Nury Martinez stands with boxes of personal belongings she removed from her office at city hall after resigning in October 2022. The boxes are now stored in the living room of her home.
    Former L.A. city council president Nury Martinez stands with boxes of personal belongings she removed from her office at city hall after resigning in October 2022. The boxes are now stored in the living room of her home.
    (
    Brian Feinzimer
    /
    LAist
    )

    Martinez, Emily and I met in person soon after. We sat in the former city council president’s kitchen for four hours, talking off the record. We made it clear that it was not our goal to redeem her, or help her seek forgiveness — that that would be for the public to decide for themselves. We were interested in the part of the story that was still unknown — how she experienced the scandal and the aftermath. And we also wanted to ask her difficult questions about the specific, racist things that she said on the tape. After a month and a half of deliberation, she agreed to be interviewed.

    I knew there would be skepticism, even criticism, of the decision to interview her at all. We discussed this extensively among our team, including with editors and reporters who had covered Los Angeles politics for decades. I also read extensively. The books I drew on included We Will Not Cancel Us by adrienne maree brown and Which Side Are You On? by Ryan Lee Wong. Both books underscore the message that real progress is made not through walling off part of our communities, but rather through consistent accountability and honest, sometimes uncomfortable, dialogue.

    That dialogue included lengthy interviews with those who were spoken about directly on the tapes — former councilmember Mike Bonin, current councilmembers Marqueece Harris Dawson, Nithya Raman and Eunisses Hernandez. And I spoke to those who were impacted, including Odilia Romero, who heads CIELO, an Indigenous human rights organization. And finally, I sought context from the scholar Tanya Hernández, who has studied the history of anti-Blackness in Latino communities. All of these interviews were conducted before we spoke to Martinez herself, and deeply informed specific questions that were asked.

    Difficult conversation

    But I knew the most difficult conversation was going to be with Martinez herself. I was hopeful that she would show deep reflection on why her words were so hurtful. She placed no limits on the interview, and for three of the six hours we recorded, we focused on repeated questions about every derogatory comment she made and the underlying deeper systemic concerns about them.

    There are people who think that Martinez shouldn’t be heard from again given what she said. I understand that point of view. My intention with this series is to continue to address the thorny and difficult issues at the heart of the scandal, to not let them go. I want Latinos to do better.

    Listen to Episode 1

    Listen 40:45
    We take you behind the scenes of the L.A. City Council tape scandal, a year later. The secret recordings of the conversation among four of the city’s most powerful Latino leaders making racist, derogatory insults — exposed thorny, unresolved issues of race and politics.
    We take you behind the scenes of the L.A. City Council tape scandal, a year later. The secret recordings of the conversation among four of the city’s most powerful Latino leaders making racist, derogatory insults — exposed thorny, unresolved issues of race and politics.

    How To LA covers the making of the podcast

    Our How To LA podcast talked to Cereijido about the making of this season of Imperfect Paradise .

    How To LA logo (graphical text) with LAist Studios logo (graphical text) with 6th street bridge in the background; with red to orange vertical gradient as background color
    Listen 15:56
    Our colleagues on the 'Imperfect Paradise' podcast team, including host Antonia Cereijido, challenged Martinez to account for the racist, hurtful things she said in that conversation. In today's episode 'How To LA,' Antonia talks with Brian about the making of the podcast.
    The Making Of The 'Nury And The Secret Tapes' Podcast
    Our colleagues on the 'Imperfect Paradise' podcast team, including host Antonia Cereijido, challenged Martinez to account for the racist, hurtful things she said in that conversation. In today's episode 'How To LA,' Antonia talks with Brian about the making of the podcast.

  • 10 takeaways from a historic, chaotic night

    Topline:

    Another Grammy Awards telecast is in the books, and it was a night of historic wins, chaotic performances and viral moments, as well as speeches that frequently addressed this moment in American history. Here's a rundown of some of Sunday's highlights.

    Bad Bunny's historic win: The season of Bad Bunny is playing out as planned. The Puerto Rican superstar had long appeared primed for a big night at this year's Grammys. After all, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS was a blockbuster, and Bad Bunny himself is headlining next weekend's Super Bowl halftime show. In the end, he ended up sort of headlining this show, too: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS picked up album of the year - the first time a Spanish-language album has won album of the year - and best música urbana album. "EoO" won best global music performance earlier in the day.

    Steven Spielberg's big night: Spielberg became the entertainment industry's latest EGOT winner. Thanks to his role as a producer of the 2024 documentary Music by John Williams, Steven Spielberg has added a Grammy to his previous wins at the Emmys, Oscars and Tonys.

    Read on . . . for more highlights from the 2026 Grammys.

    Another Grammy Awards telecast is in the books, and it was a night of historic wins, chaotic performances and viral moments, as well as speeches that frequently addressed this moment in American history. Here's a rundown of some of Sunday's highlights.

    1. The season of Bad Bunny is playing out as planned. The Puerto Rican superstar had long appeared primed for a big night at this year's Grammys. After all, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS was a blockbuster, and Bad Bunny himself is headlining next weekend's Super Bowl halftime show. In the end, he ended up sort of headlining this show, too: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS picked up album of the year and best música urbana album during Sunday's telecast, while "EoO" won best global music performance earlier in the day.

    In the process, Bad Bunny made history — this was the first time a Spanish-language album has won album of the year — while also giving speeches that addressed both ICE raids in American cities and the humanity of the people affected. ("We're not savage," he said during his speech for best música urbana album. "We're not animals, we're not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans.")

    The parallels between Bad Bunny's wins and Kendrick Lamar's wins last year felt undeniable: Both won major Grammys right before they were scheduled to perform the Super Bowl halftime show, and both seized on moments bigger than themselves. For Lamar, it was the wildfires that had recently devastated the Los Angeles area. For Bad Bunny, whose Super Bowl booking helped place him at the center of the culture wars (and, more specifically, national conversations about immigration policy), this was an even timelier win.

    2. Kendrick Lamar's momentum from last year carried over. Lamar won five Grammys last year, including song and record of the year for "Not Like Us." This year, he picked up five more trophies — and leapfrogged Jay-Z to become the winningest rapper in Grammys history. Jay-Z has 25 wins; with Sunday's awards, Lamar now has 27.

    Lamar's wins this year included biggies in the rap categories — best rap album for GNX and best rap song for "tv off (feat. Lefty Gunplay)" — and one of the biggest of all: record of the year, for "Luther (feat. SZA)." It's Lamar's second year in a row winning in that category.

    The win for "Luther" even came bundled with a surreal moment: Tasked with giving a speech for a lifetime achievement award, Cher was then supposed to hand out the Grammy for record of the year. So she gave a speech, began to wander offstage and had to be summoned back, at which point she announced that the winner was "Luther Vandross" — referring to the singer, who died in 2005.

    Fortunately, it quickly became clear that the winner was "Luther," which was inspired by Vandross and samples his song "If This World Were Mine." The gaffe helped compel the winners to pay tribute to Vandross, which is never a bad idea under any circumstances.

    3. The category of best new artist spawned an impressive field — and an obvious winner. Give the Grammys credit for pulling together a solid assortment of best new artist nominees in The Marías, Addison Rae, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, Lola Young, Olivia Dean and sombr. And give the telecast bonus points for smooshing all eight nominees into a medley that gave each enough room to breathe.

    But there could never be much doubt that this was Dean's category to lose: She's got the most commercial momentum of them all — The Art of Loving is still in the top 5 on the charts — and she might as well have been bred in a laboratory to win Grammys. Listen to "Man I Need" and you'll hear a song that would have won Grammys in 1976, 1986, 1996, 2006 …

    In fact, Dean will likely be a player in next year's Grammys, as well: The Art of Loving came out shortly after the cutoff for 2026 Grammy eligibility, and it's already yielded other chart hits. In 2027, it wouldn't be a shock to see her compete for album of the year, among other categories.

    4. No one hoarded all the trophies this year. Some years, a single artist ends up sweeping the major categories — as Billie Eilish did in 2020, when she won album, record and song of the year, plus best new artist. That's a flashy outcome that's often richly deserved, but it can be deadening to watch after a while.

    This year, the prizes were spread to a nice assortment of acts. In fact, the first seven trophies given out during the telecast went to seven different artists: Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Dean, Bad Bunny, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga, Lola Young and Eilish, who picked up song of the year for the third time in seven years. That helped preserve a sense that the night's two biggest awards — record and album of the year — were still in play until the moment they were handed out.

    5. "Messy" was the word of the night. From Cher giving record of the year to "Luther Vandross" — see above — to a chaotic In Memoriam segment headlined by Ms. Lauryn Hill's first Grammys performance since 1999, it was a messy, chaotic night. The performances could be overstuffed-but-heartfelt (In Memoriam), strobe-lit and retrofitted to rock (Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra," ROSÉ and Bruno Mars' "APT."), theatrical and funny (Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild") or theatrical and arty (Tyler, the Creator's audacious medley), with many points in between.

    For the most part, it was the right kind of mess, and if nothing else, you never quite knew what might happen next. When Lola Young picked up a Grammy for best pop solo performance — for "Messy," natch — her speech was a fireball of unregulated emotion. Messy, sure, but it fit on a night ruled by big, fervent feelings.

    6. The speeches weren't just heartfelt — they were often political, too. Sometimes, awards shows can feel hermetically sealed off from the world around them; that, in turn, can make their participants feel self-infatuated and out-of-touch, especially when the country is suffering from the effects of national disasters, political strife or both.

    Even in milder times, it can be a tough balance to pull off. At the Grammys Sunday, many winners leaned in to address ICE actions and U.S. immigration policy. Olivia Dean described being the granddaughter of an immigrant. Bad Bunny opened his speech by saying, "Before I say thanks to God, I'm gonna say, 'ICE OUT.'" And Billie Eilish gave the fieriest speech of all, as calmly delivered pronouncements ("No one is illegal on stolen land") gave way to a phrase that was dropped from the telecast's audio feed but soon revealed to be the words, "F*** ICE."

    Other notes of protest were more muted; Carole King was one of many attendees who wore "ICE OUT" pins, for example. But you couldn't watch these Grammys without knowing that there's a world of conflict beyond the music industry.

    7. In the performances (if not the awards themselves), rock staged a comeback. As noted, both Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra" and ROSÉ and Bruno Mars' "APT." were enlivened by grand signifiers of rock and roll: strobe lights, guitars and a generalized sense of mayhem. But they weren't the only ones.

    As part of the lengthy In Memoriam segment, Post Malone presided over a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne that also featured Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, Slash and Andrew Watt. And even Justin Bieber stripped "YUKON" down to the singer and an electric guitar, which he used to create a looped riff.

    With rock still largely relegated to the margins of the awards themselves — though Turnstile did win best rock album and best metal performance, giving the Baltimore band its first two Grammys — it seemed unusually prominent in the night's many live sets.

    8. As always, records were set and milestones were reached. Yes, Kendrick Lamar became the Grammys' most decorated rapper, while Bad Bunny notched the first-ever win for a Spanish-language album. But there were also notable firsts and record-setting wins in some of the less widely discussed categories.

    In the category of best children's music album, the father-daughter duo Fyütch & Aura V set a new record, as Aura V became the youngest-ever individually named Grammy winner. (She's 8; the previous record-holder, Blue Ivy Carter, was 9 when she won in 2021.) Their speech was a highlight of the Grammys' Premiere Ceremony on Sunday.

    Then there's the latest EGOT winner: Thanks to his role as a producer of the 2024 documentary Music by John Williams, Steven Spielberg has added a Grammy to his previous wins at the Emmys, Oscars and Tonys. It's about time that kid caught a break.

    And, speaking of kids catching a break, the 14th Dalai Lama finally snagged the Grammy that had eluded him for more than 90 years. In the process, he's become the first-ever recipient of the coveted GWHRT: Grammy Award, Wallenberg Medal, Holder of the White Lotus, Ramon Magsaysay Award, Templeton Prize. In your face, Spielberg!

    Six women wearing matching outfits stand on a stage during a musical performance. They are wearing black shorts, green tops and tall black boots
    KATSEYE, a girl group styled after K-pop (but not technically K-pop), lost in its bid for both best new artist and best pop duo/group performance.
    (
    Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
    /
    Getty Images North America
    )

    9. K-pop scored a Grammy breakthrough, but not in a big way. For the first time ever, a K-pop song has won a Grammy Award, as HUNTR/X's inescapable "Golden" picked up a trophy for best song written for visual media. That's a significant milestone for the genre, which had been shut out in spite of five nominations in the past for the boy-band juggernaut BTS.

    But Sunday was still a bit of letdown for those hoping for a major K-pop win at the Grammys. HUNTR/X didn't win anything else — it was up for song of the year, among others — while ROSÉ of BLACKPINK went 0-for-3 with her Bruno Mars duet "APT.," which was nominated for record and song of the year. And KATSEYE, a girl group styled after K-pop (but not technically K-pop), lost in its bid for both best new artist and best pop duo/group performance.

    Still, those nominations are significant — especially in the major categories — as the Grammys look to be growing more hospitable to K-pop music going forward. Among other things, that's good news for BTS, whose new album is due in March.

    10. The Tiny Desk is a Grammy-winner … sort of. Okay, so technically the Tiny Desk has never been up for a Grammy, seeing as how it's a venue and not a performer. But it's already racked up a bit of history with the Grammys.

    First, two different winners of NPR's Tiny Desk Contest have won Grammys: Inaugural winner Fantastic Negrito has won three, while former best new artist nominee Tank and the Bangas picked up a prize in spoken word just last year.

    This year, the milestones came in the form of the first-ever Tiny Desk performances to be directly nominated for Grammys. The more visible nomination, in the category of best R&B performance, went to Leon Thomas for "Mutt (Live From NPR's Tiny Desk)." But, though he won twice Sunday — for best R&B album and best traditional R&B performance — he lost best R&B performance to Kehlani's "Folded."

    The Tiny Desk's less-noticeable nomination came in the category of best Latin rock or alternative album. CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, a duo from Argentina who won five Latin Grammys last fall, put out an album last year called Papota. Of its nine songs, five were recorded at its viral 2024 Tiny Desk concert, which has racked up more than 48 million views on YouTube.

    On Sunday, Papota won best Latin rock or alternative album, making the Tiny Desk a (sort of) Grammy winner. But again, because the Tiny Desk is a venue and not a performing artist, we don't get a cool li'l gramophone statue. Life is monstrously cruel that way.

    Copyright 2026 NPR

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  • 'Sweeney Todd,' classic cars and more
    A group of Black dancers wearing black outfits perform on stage.
    'MAJOR' is at USC's Bovard Auditorium this Wednesday, February 4.

    In this edition:

    This week, see Sweeney Todd in La Mirada, check out classic Mustangs, enjoy a chamber music premiere, catch a screening of National Theatre’s Dr. Strangelove at the Wallis and more of the best things to do this week.

    Highlights:

    • American Icon: A Ford Mustang Immersive Experience is “a multisensory journey through six decades of Mustang legacy.” The exhibit brings you on a journey through American car history, from Motor City to Sunset Boulevard, with rare Mustangs from films like Gone in 60 Seconds
    • Chamber Music Palisades (CMP) will perform a world premiere of Due Voci for flute and cello, composed by Lolita Ritmanis, a Grammy, Emmy and SCL Award-winning composer and faculty member at the USC Thornton School of Music.
    • Attend Sondheim’s tale of the demon barber of Fleet Street with a star-studded Broadway vet cast (including Will Swenson from A Beautiful Noise and Rock of Ages) and a famous director (Jason Alexander of The Producers and Seinfeld fame) at the La Mirada Theatre.. 
    • Hot off two premiere performances at the SF Sketchfest, comedian Kristen Schaal (Last Man on Earth) brings her new stage show to Dynasty Typewriter. Her out-there comedy is sure to shine through in this one-hour production that co-stars John Roberts (Bob's Burgers), with music by Schaal and Big Black Delta.

    We all need some fun things to look forward to, and even though it’s only February, it’s not too early to start planning a Rose Bowl float for next year’s parade. If you have an idea for a float, you can pitch it to a team of Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students by Feb. 5; they'll help bring one big creative idea to life for the 2027 event.

    Licorice Pizza’s music picks for the week include starting your week with former Little Mix star Jade and her That’s Showbiz, Baby revue at the Hollywood Palladium, or Midwife (aka multi-instrumentalist Madeline Johnston) at Highland Park’s Lodge Room, both on Monday. Tuesday, Andrew Bird is at the Largo, and Wednesday is a big night for hip-hop icons with pioneering Bronx rapper, producer and DJ Pete Rock at the Lodge Room. Meanwhile, Wu-Tang Clan founder GZA and his live band play the first of two nights at the Blue Note. Thursday, you could see Latin legend, bombshell and guitar great Charo, in all her sequined glory, as she brings her flamenco fabulousness to the Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University.

    Elsewhere on LAist, you can get the lowdown on L.A.’s World Cup fan festival, visit Porkchop at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s sea turtle restoration project and mark off how many of the best L.A. films you’ve seen with this definitive list.

    Events

    American Icon: A Ford Mustang Immersive Experience

    Through Sunday, February 8 (closed Tuesdays)
    Ace Mission Studios
    516 S. Mission Road, Arts District
    COST: VARIES; MORE INFO 

    Several people gather around an old blue Mustang inside an art exhibition.
    (
    Sean Wehrli
    )

    American Icon: A Ford Mustang Immersive Experience is billed as “a multisensory journey through six decades of Mustang legacy,” taking you through American car history from Motor City to Sunset Boulevard with rare Mustangs from films like Gone in 60 Seconds. It’s closing soon, so don’t miss your last chance to bask in some true American muscle car history. There’s an interactive gallery, 360 projections and a 4D sequence featuring the Mustang GTD. Vrrrrooom! For its final weeks, the exhibit is offering a 2-for-1 promotion on adult tickets, but if you drive a Ford, just show your key and you’ll get a free ticket; kids 12 and under go free as well.


    Sweeney Todd

    Through Sunday, February 22
    La Mirada Theatre 
    14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada 
    COST: FROM $19.80; MORE INFO

    A side-by-side promo of a light-skinned man on the left and a light-skinned woman on the right.
    (
    Courtesy La Mirada Theatre
    )

    Attend Sondheim’s tale of the demon barber of Fleet Street with a star-studded Broadway vet cast (including Will Swenson from A Beautiful Noise and Rock of Ages) and a big-name director (Jason Alexander of The Producers and Seinfeld fame). The La Mirada Theatre is an underrated gem for theater lovers, especially those in the Anaheim area, but it's worth the trek for anyone who wants to check out their consistently great performances and ability to attract high-level talent. Swenson plays Todd as more sexy and brooding than Johnny Depp’s oddball outcast in the film version, and Lesli Margherita shines as an over-the-top Mrs. Lovett.


    Queer Mountain

    Thursday, February 5, 7:30 p.m. 
    Lyric Hyperion Theater & Cafe
    2106 Hyperion Ave., Silverlake
    COST: $15 Pre-sale // $20 Day of; MORE INFO

    Already through your second viewing of Heated Rivalry? Head to this queer storytelling show for more funny and heartwarming stories at Greetings, from Queer Mountain. The evening already has sister shows in New Orleans and Austin, but this is the inaugural L.A. event.


    Taschen Art Book Sale 

    Through Sunday, February 8, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily 
    Beverly Hills and Hollywood locations 
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO

    A picture of the front of a bookstore, the sign says "Taschen."
    (
    Unspecified
    /
    Courtesy Taschen
    )

    I aspire to a living room that looks like the lobby of a hip hotel, and the next step after a fancy candle is a stack of Taschen art books. For the next week, you can score titles on Virgil Abloh, NASA, Atlantic Records and more for as much as 75% off at Taschen's biannual sale at their Hollywood and Beverly Hills stores.


    Chamber Music Palisades

    Wednesday February 4, 7:30 p.m.
    Brentwood Presbyterian Church
    12000 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood
    COST: $35; MORE INFO

    A woodwind quintet featuring four light-skinned women and one light-skinned man. There's a flute, an oboe, a bassoon, a french horn and a clarinet.
    (
    Courtesy Chamber Music Palisades
    )

    Chamber Music Palisades (CMP) will perform a world premiere of Due Voci for flute and cello, composed by Lolita Ritmanis, a Grammy, Emmy and SCL Award-winning composer and faculty member at the USC Thornton School of Music. Ritmanis will also speak at the concert about her new work, and KUSC host Alan Chapman will be on hand with his informative in-person program notes.


    USC Visions and Voices Presents MAJOR by Ogemdi Ude

    Wednesday, February 4, 7 p.m.
    Bovard Auditorium at USC
    3551 Trousdale Pkwy., University Park
    COST: FREE, RSVP REQUIRED; MORE INFO

    A group of Black dancers wearing black outfits perform on stage.
    (
    Courtesy USC Visions and Voices
    )

    MAJOR, a dance theater performance exploring the history and legacy of majorette dance by Brooklyn-based dance, theatre and interdisciplinary artist and educator Ogemdi Ude, will premiere at USC. Featuring a score that blends Southern rap, blues and R&B, the show also includes a digital archive of interviews with HBCU majorettes over the years, furthering the “love letter” to Black majorette culture. A conversation with Ude and the performers follows.


    Dr. Strangelove Screening

    Tuesday, February 3, 7 p.m. 
    National Theatre at the Wallis 
    The Wallis 
    9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills 
    COST: FROM $27.50; MORE INFO 

    A poster for a stage production of Dr. Strangelove, with a light-skinned man in glasses on the left.
    (
    National Theatre Live
    /
    The Wallis
    )

    London’s National Theatre production of the stage adaptation of Dr. Strangelove comes to the Wallis with this special screening. Steve Coogan (The Trip) is a national treasure in the UK and stars as the zany Dr. Strangelove — as well as 11 other characters — in the stage version of Peter Sellers’ classic satire. I saw the stage production in London last year, and what Coogan pulls off is a feat, not to mention the way the design of the infamous plane works on stage, smoke effects and all. The National always does a great job of filming these to feel like you’re at the live show, so I’m sure the effects will come through on screen.


    Kristen Schaal: The Legend of Crystal Shell 

    February 4 and 6, 7:30 p.m.
    Dynasty Typewriter 
    2511 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire 
    COST: $30; MORE INFO

    Hot off two premiere performances at the SF Sketchfest, comedian Kristen Schaal (Last Man on Earth) brings her new stage show to Dynasty Typewriter. Her out-there comedy is sure to shine through in this one-hour production that co-stars John Roberts (Bob's Burgers), with music by Schaal and Big Black Delta.


    Desert Night in Venice 

    Thursday, February 5, 7 p.m.
    Saba Surf
    12912 Venice Blvd., Venice
    COST: FROM $15.71; MORE INFO 

    A poster for an event reading "A Desert Night" over a desert background with two hands holding cocktails.
    (
    Courtesy Saba Surf
    )

    Celebrate a new poetry release, meet other artists, listen to live music and maybe even get a custom flash tattoo at the super chill Saba Surf space in Venice. They have a great garden and space to dance, plus there will be drinks (and great NA options, too, if you’re keeping dry January going a little longer).

  • Window opens today for families choosing schools
    A woman with medium skin tone sits on a small chair holding up a picture book, reading to two children sitting on a bright orange mat.
    LAUSD's regular application window closes in November. The spots available during the late application period are those left after families who applied “on time” accept their offers.

    Topline:

    The late application window for Los Angeles Unified School District opens Monday.

    What does that mean? Every fall, LAUSD opens applications for families who are interested in attending a school that is not their neighborhood school. Other options include hundreds of magnet schools, dual-language programs and some charter schools, among other options.

    The regular application window closes in November. The spots available during the late application period are those left after families who applied “on time” accept their offers.

    How do I choose a school? Families have told us the process of choosing a school for their child is often confusing and anxiety-driven. To help, LAist has our School Game Plan — a series that helps families think through and evaluate their options. Read on for our guides.

    The late application window for Los Angeles Unified School District opens Monday.

    Every fall, LAUSD opens applications for families who are interested in attending a school that is not their neighborhood school (or “resident school,” in the district’s terminology).

    The process for the largest pool of non-resident schools is called “Choices.” This includes hundreds of magnet schools, dual-language programs and some charter schools, among other options.

    The regular application window closes in November. The spots available during the late application period are those left after families who applied “on time” accept their offers.

    The application can be done online or on paper, and the selection process begins in April — and acceptances can run into the following school year.

    How do I know what schools I might want to apply to?

    Families have told us the process of choosing a school for their child is often confusing and anxiety-driven.

    Still: No one type of school is inherently better than another, and the “right” school will look different for every family.

    To help, LAist has our School Game Plan — a series that helps families think through and evaluate their options. That includes:

    Our guides are also available in Spanish. And if you prefer an easy-to-print version, we also have PDFs in English and Spanish.

    What you read is based on the experience of real southern California families, educators and other experts, including their experiences in their own words.

    Any other questions? Get in touch with us.

    Senior editor Ross Brenneman contributed to this story.

  • Those at LAX and Disneyland may be exposed
    Multiple vials of measles vaccines.
    This view shows empty vials containing doses of the measles vaccine.

    Topline:

    A second case of measles has been confirmed in Los Angeles County. The infected person also traveled to Orange County.

    Why it matters: Measles has been on the rise in other parts of the country like South Carolina, Arizona and Utah. 588 measles cases have been reported this year, the most cases reported in January since the year 2000. Two cases have been detected in LA County and two in Orange County.

    Read more on information public health officials has released regarding potential exposure.

    A second case of measles has been confirmed in Los Angeles County.

    L.A. County Department of Public Health officials announced on Saturday the virus was detected in an international traveler who arrived at the Tom Bradley International Terminal — or Terminal B — at LAX on Monday, Jan. 26, through Gate 201A on Viva Aerobus Flight 518.

    Public Health said anyone at Terminal B from 10:45 p.m. on Jan. 26 to 1 a.m. on Jan. 27 may have been exposed.

    The traveler also spent a day in Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park in Anaheim on Jan. 28 from 12:30 to 10 p.m. On Jan. 30, they visited a Dunkin’ Donuts in Woodland Hills from 3 to 4:45 p.m.

    Health officials say people who visited the above locations during those time periods may also be at risk of developing measles.

    Symptoms typically appear one to three weeks after exposure.

    Public Health recommends these individuals check if they are already protected against measles and advise getting a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine if they aren't.

    Symptoms include a fever above 101 degrees; cough; runny nose; red, watery eyes; and a rash that typically starts on the face.

    • For those exposed at LAX, the last day to monitor for symptoms is Feb. 16.
    • For those exposed at Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park, the last day to monitor for symptoms is Feb. 18.
    • For those exposed at Dunkin’ Donuts, the last day to monitor for symptoms is Feb. 20.

    Saturday's announcement comes one day after L.A. County public health officials confirmed the first case of measles in the county. More information about that case here.

    Orange County has reported two other measles cases this year, one in a young adult who recently traveled internationally and the second in an unvaccinated toddler who had no known exposure to the virus.

    Transmission, prevention and more

    Measles spreads easily through the air and can stay on surfaces for many hours. Those infected can spread the virus before showing symptoms, which can take weeks to appear.

    So far, 588 measles cases of measles have been reported in the U.S. this year, the highest number of cases in a January since the U.S. eliminated measles in 2000. Most of these cases are linked to outbreaks in South Carolina, Arizona and Utah.

    The L.A. County Department of Public Health is encouraging Angelenos to check their immunization status for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to determine if they’re protected against the virus.

    If symptoms develop, contact a health care provider via phone as soon as possible. L.A. Public Health advises people not to go physically into a health care facility before notifying them of measles symptoms.