The Brief

It’s been four years since James Oreste started Ubefest, a festival meant to highlight the purple yam that’s become beloved not just in the Filipino diaspora but across the country. In that time, the food festival has grown in the number of vendors and become a broader appreciation of Filipino cuisine.

The restaurant:

This year's event is happening Saturday April 11 and Sunday April 12 in Cerritos. One of the festival’s vendors, Emerson Baja, owner of Long Beach Lumpia, has been involved with the event for years, and he came into the studio to talk to host Austin Cross.

The food:

Baja’s pop-up menu was inspired by a variety of things, with the traditional aspects of his menu coming from his family and other aspects by food he experimented with while attending Long Beach State. He became a probation officer after he graduated college, but his heart was always with food, specifically lumpia, which he served at a potluck.

“People were like ‘you’re in the wrong business,’” Baja said.

For the segment, Baja brought in a variety of lumpias: traditional Shanghai; pork chile verde; veggie pancit pizza; and ube cheesecake turon.

The verdict: 

When Emerson mentioned the Shanghai lumpia being a homemade recipe, Cross added, “Home is delicious! You have a home like this?”

“It’s finger-licking good over here,” Cross said after his first bite of the ube cheesecake turon lumpia. He added: “It’s really special because it has an aftertaste of a very heartwarming pastry…feels very homey.”

Listen to the full conversation here:

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Westlake has never been an easy neighborhood to summarize.

At its center sits MacArthur Park — a landmark that has come to embody the city’s sharpest contradictions, a place of beauty and crisis, history and neglect, that now anchors one of Los Angeles’s most contentious debates over how to address its unhoused crisis.

The neighborhood’s development arc is long. In the mid-19th century, it drew newcomers chasing California’s promise — the Gold Rush, the weather, the mythology of the West. Over time, the neighborhood evolved through many identities: home to members of the Hollywood and business elite, a more affordable enclave for middle- and working-class Angelenos, and later, a refuge for immigrants fleeing political unrest in Central America during the 1980s.

That layered past now finds expression in an unlikely form: art. 

But what truly sets Westlake apart from the many other artsy L.A. neighborhoods is how friendly it is to up-and-coming artists of all ages and backgrounds. Admittingly, that that ecosystem is fragile: Astralab, a cultural hub serving Southwest Asian and North African diaspora communities, was recently forced out of the neighborhood where it has operated for nearly two years. 

With Astralab’s loss, it becomes even more important to highlight four other institutions anchoring it, each operating on the conviction that creative life should be available to artists of every age and background, not just those who can afford a trendy address. 

Frida Kahlo Theatre — Moisés Rodríguez Ovidio González and Christopher John Magallanes en Ruben Amavizca-Murua’s “Ayotzinapa Situacion Desaparecido.”

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Courtesy Ruben Amavizca-Murua

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Mexican Center for Culture & Cinematic Arts

There is no shortage of Mexican artistry represented throughout the City of Angels, and few places offer a stronger starting point than the Mexican Center for Culture & Cinematic Arts.

Located within the Consulado General de México en Los Ángeles (Mexican Consulate General in Los Angeles), the venue showcases a wide range of work by Mexican and Mexican American artists, as well as creators whose work explores Mexican culture more broadly.

With both a gallery and theater space, the Mexican Center hosts art exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, conferences and cultural programming throughout the year, serving as a bridge between artistic expression and community identity.

Art Division

A painting class at Art Division.

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Courtesy Art Division

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Founded in 2010, Art Division was created by Dan McCleary, who recognized a critical gap in arts education for young adults over the age of 17.

This nonprofit is dedicated to supporting aspiring artists ages 18 to 27 — particularly those from underserved communities — as they continue developing their craft beyond high school.

Art Division’s campus includes a library of more than 10,000 books, studios for multidisciplinary workshops, a printmaking studio — where students learn linoleum and woodblock techniques — and a gallery space that hosts exhibitions throughout the year. 

The organization functions not only as a creative incubator but as a launchpad for emerging artists navigating professional pathways.

Heart of Los Angeles

For younger artists looking to develop their skills, Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) has served children in grades K-12 since 1989 with programming that spans academics, athletics, music and visual arts.

HOLA has partnered with respected institutions such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Eisner Foundation and the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, offering students access to high-quality musical instruction and mentorship.

For visual artists, the organization provides classes, public artist residencies, exhibitions, field trips and additional creative opportunities that nurture both artistic growth and personal development, including classes, public artist residencies, field trips, exhibitions and more.

Frida Kahlo Theater

At the Frida Kahlo Theatre, Ruben Alejandro and Dina Jauregui in Ruben Amavizca-Murua's “Frida Kahlo.”

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Courtesy Ruben Amavizca-Murua

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The Frida Kahlo Theater is where the Grupo de Teatro SINERGIA hosts its groundbreaking productions in both English and Spanish, all of which shine a spotlight on stories and voices from Latin America.

Beyond its performances, the theater functions as both an incubator for rising talent and an educational platform for young creatives seeking a welcoming environment to explore storytelling and performance.

Programming includes the annual 10-Minute Play Festival (as well as the Theater Youth 10-Minute Play Festival), the Staged Reading Series and on-site workshops that foster artistic development across generations.

Frida Kahlo Theatre — Daniel Mora, Itzel Ocampo and Eden Vera en “Yellow” by Jose Henrickson.

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Courtesy Catherina Cojulun

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I spent the weekend in my other favorite LA — Louisiana, that is, at the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Seeing Stevie Nicks in the rain and the Pine Leaf Boys in the sun was worth the trip. But the jazz love doesn’t have to end now that I’m back home, because the first annual Santa Monica Jazz Festival kicks off this Friday at venues around the Westside (and one downtown).

If you’re not festivaled-out yet post-Coachella/Stagecoach/Jazzfest/wherever you got to in the past few weeks, BeachLife takes over Redondo Beach all weekend long. Headliners are Duran Duran, The Chainsmokers, James Taylor and The Offspring. Beyond that, Licorice Pizza has more music picks, including Health at the Hollywood Palladium and Helloween with Beast In Black bringing the darkness to the YouTube Theater on Friday.

Saturday, Lewis Capaldi is at the Hollywood Bowl, the Wedding Present performs their classic album Seamonsters in its entirety at the Lodge Room, Pup with Illuminati Hotties will be at Pomona’s Glass House and Shoreline Mafia plays Ontario’s Toyota Arena. Also on Sunday, L.A. club impresarios and drag pioneers the Boulet Brothers will bring their Dragula to the Fonda.

Elsewhere on LAist, you can take a look at the Natural History Museum’s new orca exhibit, read about a shipping container turned into art and get your tickets to celebrate 100 years of the L.A. Public Library with us on Saturday.

Events

L.A. TACO: Taco Madness

Saturday, May 2, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
Gloria Molina Grand Park, Downtown L.A. 
COST: $25; MORE INFO 

Get a taste of L.A.'s best tacos from favorites like Taqueria Frontera, Tire Shop Taqueria, Evil Cooks, LaSorted's and many more — so come hungry and support our fellow non-profit media friends at L.A. TACO. There’s also craft beer from Boomtown Brewery and DJ sets from Slow Jamz, Ambiente Central, Camilo Lara (Mexican Institute of Sound), Spiñorita, El Marchante and Sonrisita.

Irene Tu

Saturday, May 2, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. 
Hotel Cafe
1623 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood
COST: $30; MORE INFO 

Irene Tu will do two shows at Hotel Cafe.

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Michael Tullberg

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Getty Images

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Comedian Irene Tu takes the stage for two shows at the intimate Hotel Cafe — one is a taping for a TV special, the other a late show. Tu’s relaxed comedy style often goes viral in social media clips; her stories focus on everyday life and her experiences as a lesbian Asian American woman. Tu was featured as one of Vulture's "Comedians You Should and Will Know,” and will also perform during the upcoming Netflix Is a Joke festival as part of the "Asian Nation" show hosted by Margaret Cho.

Cinco de Mayo at UCLA Spring Game 

Rose Bowl 
1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

UCLA's spring game this Saturday will be the first for new coach Bob Chesney.

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Luke Hales

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Getty Images

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The Bruins head across town for their Spring Game — less of a game game and more a preview of the upcoming fall football season under new head coach Bob Chesney. The free day includes a Cinco de Mayo Marketplace featuring handmade jewelry, clothing and local resources, plus lots of food and drink options. There’s also a boxing tournament in the Court of Champions and live music.

Teen Beat Live: '80s Movie Mixtape

Through Sunday, May 17 
CineVita 
1248 District Drive, Inglewood
COST: FROM $59; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Teen Beat Live

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The '80s come alive at this immersive music experience at the new CineVita theater at Hollywood Park. The mirror-lined Spiegeltent brings the action to you, with jams from your favorite classic teen movies like Footloose, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future and more. Totally rad.

Master Harold and the Boys 

Through Sunday, May 10 
Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood 
COST: FROM $45; MORE INFO

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Jeff Lorch

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Geffen Playhouse

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South African playwright Athol Fugard’s now-classic 1982 play takes a deep look at race, power and betrayal during apartheid. The Geffen’s revival got a rave from the L.A. Times, where Charles McNulty noted the relevance of its message of hope in times of political darkness.

Khorus Harmonia

Through Saturday, May 2
Hudson Theatres 
6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
COST: $65; MORE INFO 

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Courtesy Shelter PR

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Fans of Sons of Anarchy will want to book in for this latest collaboration between the show’s masterminds (and married couple) Katey Sagal and Kurt Sutter. Khorus Harmonia is a 66-minute-long choral concert that Sagal conceived following the L.A. fires to build community. The result is an event that combines artists and instrumentalists performing music from favorites like Bon Iver and U2, with choral arrangement and direction by Steven Argila. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights & the Wounded Warrior Project.

HERITAGE BARBECUE X Genevieve Taylor Guest Chef Dinner 

Friday, May 1, 5 p.m.
31721 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
COST: $200 per person; MORE INFO

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Courtesy FWD PR

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British barbecue expert and cookbook author Genevieve Taylor pays a visit to San Juan Capistrano’s Heritage Barbecue to celebrate the release of her newest book, How to BBQ: The Definitive Guide to Fire Cooking. The evening will feature a five-course menu prepared by Taylor using recipes from the book, including dishes like maple-cured cold-smoked bass crudo with lime and tequila dressing, smoked honey carrots, ribeye tagliata parmesan and more.

World Labyrinth Day 

Saturday, May 2, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Various locations, including Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens
3500 West Adams Blvd., West Adams
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

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Courtesy Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens

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Avid walkers and hikers in L.A. have been charmed many times over by the peaceful labyrinths amid the hiking trails and gardens in our fair city. Discover new ones and celebrate the world of meditative walking on World Labyrinth Day. The annual event includes time slots at the Peace Awareness Labyrinth in West Adams (which is designed after the one at Chartres Cathedral in France), as well as many others marked throughout the region on this map.

Topline:

Why it matters: The program allocated anywhere from $200 to just over $1,000 to help taxpayers with economic relief. You were eligible if you hit certain income criteria. Some amounts were sent through bank direct deposit, others through debit cards. But many debit cards haven’t been used or have funds remaining.

Look for your card: It has the bear from the California flag printed on it, as well as the Seal of California and the phrase Middle Class Tax Refund above the Visa logo.

What you can do: While the California Franchise Tax Board oversees the process, the company Money Network administers the debit cards. If you were eligible, you can check if you have any money left in the refund and hear options for how to use it if you can’t find your card. The automated customer service number is (800) 240-0223.

The backstory: Sacramento set aside billions of dollars in 2022 from a surplus to help taxpayers as the cost of gas and groceries rose.

What's next: Money that is not used by the deadline will go back to the California general fund.

More and more people are switching over to a gluten free-lifestyle: by 2032, the market is projected to be valued at $14 billion. That's a lot of would-be buyers looking for gluten-free sanctuaries, especially bakeries.

But finding stomach-safe eateries still poses a significant challenge — I say this as a gluten-free person who is rarely ever able to eat once I leave my apartment. Even trying to find recommendations on where such fabled gluten-free bakeries and restaurants exist is a Herculean task in and of itself.

But never fear, friends: in honor of all the kindred souls out there with dietary woes, I’ve rounded up my favorite bakeries in the city that cater to the gluten-free crowd. So kick back, grab a coffee and prepare to rejoice in the magic of a well-made baked good.

Baked Bar LA (Culver City)

An array of baked goods, including muffins, bagels and breakfast sandwiches, from Baked Bar LA.

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Janelle Lassalle

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LAist

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Chances are no matter what time of day it is you’ll find a small crowd of people jonesing outside Baked Bar LA — and for good reason. The spot was founded four years ago by pastry chefs Anthony Nigro and Thomas Velasquez, who wanted to take their extensive experience working at places like Rockenwagner and Farmshop and set up their own neighborhood bakery.

They’ve now developed a loyal following, not just for their conventional offerings, but also — hurrah — a strong selection of gluten-free baked goods.

Nab yourself a coffee and indulge in a decadent in one of the many house favorites like the gluten-free Marscapone Cake, a more decadent chocolate cake or go full Monty and say yes to a breakfast sandwich made with GF bread buns and the works. There’s also delicious, freshly baked gluten-free bread options available for a steal at $12 a loaf. Be warned: it gets packed in here pretty quickly, so you may want to enjoy your treat on the go.

WOW Bakes (Santa Monica)

The gooey, rich chocolate cookie from WOW bakes.

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Janelle Lassalle

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LAist

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In all of my years of being gluten-free, I never dared to dream of eating cookies as crispy, chewy and melty as their glutinous counterparts — but here we are. Founded by Sharon Overfield in 2020, WOW Bakes specializes in producing “without wheat, gluten-free artisan sourdough” as it says on its site.

Overfield was initially inspired to set up her endeavor because of her daughter’s gluten allergy. Frustrated that she had to sacrifice either taste or quality when she went shopping, she turned to her own kitchen.

Choose from a variety of tantalizing options including the cutest gluten-free “Happy Tarts” you’ve ever laid eyes on, cakes, cookies, bagels, pre-made mixes and even pizza dough. Everything is incredible — I don’t think I’ve ever had a gluten-free pop tart before — but be sure to get the chocolate chip cookies no matter what you do as they are simply far too heavenly to be missed out on.

WOW Bakes is technically a cottage based bakery, so there’s no physical storefront, but guests can place orders for local pickup via their website here. You can also contact Sharon to inquire about arranging delivery via Uber courier for customers in Santa Monica as well. Delivery requires a minimum order of $50.

Erin McKenna's Bakery (Larchmont Village)

Gluten-free bagels at Erin McKenna's bakery.

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Courtesy Erin McKenna's bakery

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Can gluten-free folk dare to dream of a world where all the offerings are up for grabs? Erin McKenna's Bakery takes that dream and manifests it into a delicious, sweet reality with her Larchmont Village bakery. Founded in 2005 by a desire to “create more than just a bakery,” Erin viewed her bakery as the start of “a movement — a delicious rebellion against the notion that 'free-from' meant free from flavor.”

Everything in the bakery is gluten free , so you don’t have to worry about rifling through a menu or pastry cases looking for safe bets. Another sweet bonus? McKenna’s bakery tailors their recipes to offer vegan, gluten-free and kosher “treats for everyone” with allergen information easily available on the site.

“We're here for the health-conscious, the allergy-aware, and especially for those kids who rarely get to indulge,” McKenna says on her website.

Gluten-free products available include cakes, cupcakes, donuts, donut holes, pastries, bagels, cookies, brownie bites, cake pops and an assortment of pre-made mixes (chocolate chip cookie, cornbread, butter biscuit mix).

Sweet Lady Jane (various locations)

With several spots across the L.A. County area, Sweet Lady Jane is known for its high-end desserts using premium ingredients. There's a lavish spread of conventionally prepared baked goods, but there's also a generous amount of gluten-free offerings, including cakes (Triple Berry Cake, Chocolate Triple Berry Cake and a flourless chocolate cake), cookies (Dark Chocolate Coconut Macaroon, Coconut Macaroon, walnut cookie), a cupcake option and even brownies.

Watching your sugar levels? Enjoy a slice of their new sugar-free Triple Berry Cake.

Sweet E’s (Van Nuys)

The Rose & Macaron cascade cake at Sweet E's bake shop

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Courtesy @sweetesbakeshop

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If you’re looking for a treat that’s as visually stunning as it is tasty, look no further than Sweet E’s. Based in Van Nuys, Sweet E’s Bakeshop has it all: cakes, cookies, cupcakes and everything in between, including a generous assortment of gluten-free goods.

But the cakes are really what shine here. Each cake is more visually stunning than the last, full of fun, texture and color in a style reminiscent of Christina Tosi’s Momofuku treats.

Choose from a litany of options including a Chocolate Lover's cake, Ultimate Confetti Birthday Cake, Strawberry Shortcake Cake, a “Custom Selfie Cake” where you can upload your own artwork, a Dulce De Leche cake and perhaps the most stunning GF cake I’ve ever seen, the Rose & Macaron Cascade Cake.

While Sweet E’s began as a storefront, COVID pushed the business to pivot to its current status of pickup orders only. Nationwide shipping is also available on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays via UPS two-day turnaround time.

Toluca Bakery (Toluca Village)

Located in Toluca Village, Toluca Bakery is a small, unassuming family-owned bakery that specializes in vegan goods of all shapes and sizes. It also offers a distinct pastry case of gluten-free offerings, separate from all the other goods to minimize contamination.

Get your mitts on a number of treats including the GF house specialty, tiramisu; gluten-free tarts in a number of flavors (apple, pear and strawberry) or cookies (available in chocolate chip and sugar cookie/jam varieties). There's also pastries, cake, brownies, cupcakes, pies and muffins.

Levant Bistro + Bake Shop (Echo Park)

For the unfamiliar, ‘Levant’ refers to the countries located along the eastern Mediterranean shores, and levantine culinary culture is full of tasty surprises and classic staples. One classic is manoush, a type of flatbread that’s usually spiced and seasoned with a variety of toppings including goat cheese and fig jam, a meat r even just a humble zaa'tar and labneh (a type of yogurt).

If you have yet to try the warm, opulent bliss that is eating a manoush out of the oven, get your shoes on and head over to Echo Park’s Levant Bistro + Bake Shop. What once began as a food blog helmed by CEO Anita Khalek has since blossomed into an established sit-down eatery that caters to many types of dietary restrictions.

“A blog was not enough,” Khalek writes on her site. “My own personal experience with my health had taught me that. It was hard enough to survive without a diagnosis, but there was no reason why it should be difficult for someone with any type of dietary ailment to not be treated to quality foods and quality meals dining out.”

Everything here is organic, non-GMO, soy-Free and gluten-free. A variety of manoush is offered daily, available in both meat-free and more meat-centric options, as well as brunch items like pancakes with pistachios and garlic cheese bread with a garlic herb oil.