The Brief

You don’t need to live here long to know that Los Angeles is massive and complex. There is a lot to understand about the city and the greater county, and how it works.

To help you get a clearer picture of the place, might we suggest a book?

How to LA spoke to eight local independent booksellers to get a few recommendations of the best books to read about this place.

Here are their picks:

Tía Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore, Sylmar

Luis J. Rodriguez, co-owner of Tía Chucha’s, a bookstore and cultural space in Sylmar.

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Co-owner and author Luis J. Rodriguez (also a former poet laureate of L.A.) says L.A. often doesn’t get the credit it deserves for its literary contributions.

"I find L.A. to be a great literary town, a great poetry town, that people don't pay attention to,” Rodriguez says. “San Francisco is known for it, New York is known for it, but L.A. shouldn't be forgotten for the great amount of literature and poetry that comes out of these communities."

Rodriguez’s own books — like his 1993 memoir Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A. — often appear on lists of best books about Los Angeles, but he offered these picks from authors who’ve inspired him:

Ask the Dust by John Fante

Rodriguez considers it “the seminal L.A. novel.”

Mercurochrome: New Poems by Wanda Coleman (who Rodriguez calls “the quintessential L.A.writer”):

“She’s from Watts and she’s very fierce, she’s very strident. But she’s also — of course like any poet— she’s got a sensitivity to things,” Rodriguez says. “When you read her poetry she pulls you into a world that I don’t think this city appreciates.”

Octavia’s Bookshelf, Pasadena

Octavia's Bookshelf in Pasadena, CA. March 7, 2023.

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Owner and founder Nikki High offered these two recommendations written by the store’s namesake, author (and Pasadenan) Octavia Butler.

While Butler is often described as a science fiction writer, High says the label doesn’t really fully encompass Butler’s work:

“I think when Octavia Butler started writing these stories they were so different than anything anyone has ever written, no one really knew what to do with her, so they just said ‘Sci-Fi.’”

High’s recommendations:

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

While the story is technically set in a fictional Southern California city called “Robledo,” High says there are many clues that it’s meant to be Pasadena.

Kindred by Octavia Butler

In this 1979 novel, the main character Dana lives in Altadena, right next door to Pasadena.

Vroman’s Bookstore, Pasadena

Books on L.A. and California and L.A.-themed gifts on sale at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena.

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Bookseller Grant Hoskins echoed the importance of novelist and short story writer John Fante, but wanted to also offer some more recent works.

His picks were both published in 2023:

The Lost Cause by Cory Doctorow

Set in Burbank, 30 years from today, the novel is about the climate emergency and Hoskins says, “in a lot of ways it mirrors the politics of now,” but it ultimately has a hopeful outlook on the future.

“You could write a book like this to inspire doom and fear,” Hoskins says. “But Doctorow does it in a way that inspires a lot of hope.”

KAOS Theory: The Afrokosmic Ark of Ben Caldwell by Robeson Taj Frazier with Ben Caldwell

“A really incredible book” about influential arts educator and independent filmmaker Ben Caldwell that Hoskins says features a lot of great art: “It’s just a treasure.”

Reparations Club, near West Adams

Customers at Reparations Club. March 11, 2023.

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Jazzi McGilbert, the founder and creative director of Reparations Club (or “Rep Club”) also mentioned Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower,” as well as Paul Beatty’s 2021 novel "The White Boy Shuffle" and “South of Pico: African American Artists in Los Angeles in the 1960s and 1970s” by Kellie Jones, but she wanted to highlight a local first-time author:

There Goes the Neighborhood by Jade Adia

This young adult novel is a story about gentrification which McGilbert says is something that she herself grapples with every day at the bookstore.

It’s about a group of friends with a “half-baked” idea of starting a fake gang to scare off newcomers to the neighborhood, but McGilbert says that at its heart, the story is about “community and coming of age in Los Angeles.”

Chevalier’s Books, Larchmont Village

Bookseller Miles Parnegg's picks for books that help readers better understand Los Angeles. At Chevalier's Books in Larchmont Village.

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Around the holidays, we headed to Chevalier’s Books which has the claim to fame of being the oldest independent bookstore in Los Angeles.

Bookseller Miles Parnegg highlighted these books as ones that would help transplants understand L.A. better and also “conceive of the city as a whole”:

She by Michelle Latiolais

Written by local author Michelle Latiolais, Parnegg describes “She” as one of his favorite books ever. Classified as neither a novel nor a collection of short stories (instead it’s labeled simply as “fiction”), Parnegg says the story “shows us a way of being in this big, sprawling city in a way that is actually reinforcing care and mutual aid.”

Seventy-Two and One Half Miles Across Los Angeles by Mark Ruwedel

A book of photos that Parnegg says “celebrates the complexity and the grittiness of L.A. and also tries to make an argument for getting out of our bubbles — and an argument for walking the city.”

Koreatown Dreaming: Stories and Portraits of Korean Immigrant Life by Emanuel Hahn

"For someone who lives in Koreatown and didn’t know much about it before I moved here, this book has been a revelation,” says Parnegg.

Book Soup, West Hollywood

Book Soup in West Hollywood.

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We also got some recommendations for books that help you better understand Los Angeles from Book Soup.

Store manager Jess Amodeo, who is from L.A. and grew up in the Valley, suggested these books, which both feature some great art and photography, and also have the potential to make good gifts:

Ed Ruscha/ Now Then: A Retrospective from MoMA Press

A photo collection of influential artist Ed Ruscha’s works spanning over 65 years that Amodeo says helps you see Los Angeles through Ruscha’s eyes.

The Cobrasnake: Y2Ks Archive by Mark Hunter

Amodeo says that Hunter’s photos encapsulate an era of L.A.’s nightlife scene, before smartphones social media, “when there was this convergence of culture and fashion and all these things just starting to take off.”

Skylight Books, Los Feliz

The Los Angeles section at Skylight Books in Los Feliz.

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Skylight Books’ general manager Mary Williams suggested:

Everything Now: Lessons from the City-State of Los Angeles by Rosecrans Baldwin

“It synthesizes so many different ideas in pursuit of his thesis that L.A. is a modern city-state,” Williams says. And it features interviews with several writers that are fixtures of L.A.’s literary community.

“For somebody who’s going for their first book about L.A., I think it’s a great pick because from there you could go down a real rabbit hole of all the different authors that he mentions and people that he interviews.”

Skylight Books also has a large L.A. regional history and culture section and a local travel guide section. From those sections, Williams highlighted:

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

Writing Los Angeles: A Literary Anthology edited by David Ulin

Dear Los Angeles: The City in Diaries and Letters, 1542 to 2018 edited by David Kipen

The Iliad Bookshop, North Hollywood

Lisa Morton, a long-time bookseller at the used bookstore, suggested City of Quartz by Mike Davis, the non-fiction classic about L.A., but because it’s so well known, she also added some of her favorite fiction — leaning toward horror, fantasy and science fiction — about Los Angeles:

The used bookstore The Iliad in North Hollywood.

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Amnesiascope by Steve Erickson

“It actually takes place in an L.A. that is so divided that each little different district has its own different time zone.”

The Dog Park by Dennis Etchison

A horror genre author whose stories are often set in L.A., Etchison’s short story “The Dog Park” is about two people “who meet taking their dogs into a park up in one of the canyons and soon realize there’s something very wrong in that canyon.” Like with “Amnesiascope,” Morton says, “You read it and you’re like ‘Oh, this is almost too close to reality.’”

It’s almost time for the Oscars, my favorite Sunday of the year. Whether you’re prepping for your watch party with Ham-net and cheese sandwiches, a Sinners-ful dessert display, Blue Moon pies or If I Had (Crab) Legs I’d Kick You, settle in for several hours of yelling at the screen and obsessing over dresses. If you’re not of the Oscars persuasion and are heading out to one of the many fun events on this list (or can score me an invite to the Vanity Fair party), be aware of street closures and diversions if you’re anywhere near Hollywood.

That’s doubly true if you’re catching any of the great music on tap this weekend. Our friends at Licorice Pizza suggest Miguel at the Forum, Black Label Society featuring Zakk Wyde at the YouTube Theater, Band of Skulls at the Teragram, the California Honeydrops at the Bellwether, Chicago indie rockers Whitney at the Lodge Room and Jon Brion going back to his roots at Largo — all on Friday. On Saturday, Indonesian rapper and singer Rich Brian is at the Palladium, London techno duo Bassvictim is at the Fonda (they’ll also be there Sunday) and ex-Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes plays the Troubadour (also playing on Sunday). Or, if you’re really in a truly madly deeply romantic mood, you can ride your pony over to the Peacock Theater for “The R&B Lovers Tour” with Ginuwine, Keith Sweat, Joe and Dru Hill.

Elsewhere on LAist, you can get composting tips from science reporter Jacob Margolis, learn about the potential fate of a Newport Beach sculpture park, and follow teens at East L.A.’s Garfield High as they head to the state Academic Decathlon.

Events

Brazilian Oscars Watch Party

Sunday, March 15, 3 p.m.
Dusty Vinyl
11326 W Pico Blvd., West L.A.
COST: $50; MORE INFO

Wagner Moura poses at the "The Secret Agent" green carpet during the 21st Zurich Film Festival.

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There are many, many places to watch the Oscars with other movie fans this Sunday. But why not celebrate with the Brazilians and their nomination for (the excellent film) The Secret Agent? Dusty Vinyl is being turned into a 1977 secret-agent-themed hideout for the occasion, with a bespoke menu (food is included) and live music before the show starts; '70s costumes encouraged.

Honour

Through Sunday, March 22
Ruskin Group Theatre
2800 Airport Ave., Santa Monica 
COST: $45; MORE INFO 

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Courtesy The Ruskin Theatre

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Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives) is getting rave reviews for her performance in Honour, Joanna Murray-Smith’s examination of marriage and betrayal. Directed by Max Mayer, it’s the first show in the newly renovated Kaplan Stage at Ruskin Group Theatre, and Broadway World called it “a meaningful return to the material and a powerful way to inaugurate the Kaplan Stage.”

KCRW PieFest & Contest

Saturday, March 14, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Autry Museum
4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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It’s 3.14, so that means it must be Pi Day. With it comes the annual Pie Contest from KCRW. I entered once, and while my apple-pomegranate pie was delish, it sadly did not win. Perhaps I will try again someday, but in the meantime, I can eat and admire everyone else’s creations at the Autry. There’s pie, of course, but there’s also baking demos, food trucks, music and more.

Los Angeles Vintage Paperback Show

Sunday, March 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Glendale Civic Auditorium
1401 Verdugo Road, Glendale
COST: $10; MORE INFO 

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Pulp fiction is alive and well at the L.A. Vintage Paperback Show in Glendale, where over 100 dealers will show their wares. From sci-fi to mysteries and everything in between, the annual event features free author signings and hours of fun poring over books of the past.

East L.A. Women’s Day Fest

Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
East L.A. Civic Center
4801 E. Third Street, East L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

Celebrate Eastside women’s organizations like Mujeres de Maiz and The Goddess Mercado at the longest running women’s day celebration in East L.A. The event features art and advocacy workshops, music, poetry, local vendors and more.

Free pitas at Miznon opening

Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
8370 W 3rd Street, Beverly Grove 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Popular Israeli dining spot Miznon’s new West 3rd St. location is opening this weekend and celebrating with free pitas — Lavan, Broken Chicken or Candy Steak — for the first 100 guests. The new location expands on their Grand Central Market stall, with a full bar and indoor and outdoor seating. Get there early!

Santa Monica Bay Audubon Field Trip

Saturday, March 14, 8 a.m. 
Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve
6350 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

Birdwatchers of all experience levels, get ready for some next-level spotting — there are more than 200 bird species in the Sepulveda Basin — with a free field trip from the Santa Monica Bay Audubon. Join guides for a walk that ensures a peek at many different waterfowl, like pied-billed grebes, great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, American coots, Anna’s hummingbirds, cliff swallows and blue grosbeaks.

ArtNight Pasadena

Friday, March 13, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Various Pasadena locations
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy ArtNight Pasadena

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ArtNight Pasadena is back! Free shuttles take you around to all kinds of art and theater experiences for a special night out along Colorado Boulevard and beyond. Head out and see all that Pasadena has to offer, from dance performances to art and photography workshops to gallery and museum installations to free classical music.

Angel City FC Opener vs. Chicago Stars

Sunday, March 15, 4 p.m.
BMO Stadium 
3939 S Figueroa Street, Expo Park
COST: FROM $38; MORE INFO

Sarah Gorden of Angel City FC prepares to kick the ball during a game between Portland Thorns and Angel City.

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No need to wait for the World Cup — we already have first-class women’s soccer happening this weekend, with the Angel City FC season kicking off against the Chicago Stars. Star forward Casey Phair is back from a stint in Sweden, and the team is ready for the new season. (Plus, they have the cutest gear.)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is all about people with superpowers living in a world very much like our own.

And there’s a lot of real Los Angeles mixed into the recent MCU series “Wonder Man,” now on Disney+, which makes for a version of the MCU that feels a little more grounded in reality, especially for Angelenos.

It's an action-comedy about two struggling actors also dealing with superhuman forces and secret government agencies. Think The Studio meets Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Sir Ben Kingsley reprises his Iron Man 3 character Trevor Slattery, the messy British actor hired to play a bad guy called The Mandarin. And Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays Simon Williams, aka Wonder Man.

Through their adventures trying to book the gig-of-a-lifetime while surviving the perils of the MCU, L.A. landmarks and cultural references abound, and ground the series in a relatability for many Angelenos, including lots of inside jokes for those working in the entertainment industry.

3 cultural references that make Wonder Man feel like real Los Angeles

Historic places, some we’ve had to part with

There’s a series of roughly 100-year-old small, independent movie houses used as locations in Wonder Man — the Eagle Theatre now home to Vidiots, Westwood's Village Theater now operated by American Cinematheque (with views of The Bruin Theater across the street), and the Highland Theatre which closed in 2024.

A scene from 'Wonder Man' on Disney +.

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Marvel Television

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Speaking of iconic L.A. spots breaking local hearts, the vintage bar within Echo Park’s Taix French Restaurant was used as an interior location for the series. Taix is closing at the end of the month to make way for new development.

“Taix, the Highland Park Theatre — these places that it was only three years ago were there,” Wonder Man showrunner Andrew Guest told LAist, “a lot of these establishments sadly, are not surviving. And this town is in a rough, rough place.”

(Though actor/director Kristen Stewart recently said in an interview with Architectural Digest that she bought The Highland Theatre and is restoring the building.)

L.A. traffic (especially around the Hollywood Bowl on a performance night)

Traffic is part of life in Los Angeles and with so many scenes shot in Hollywood, even the main characters of Wonder Man must experience that bumper-to-bumper frustration.

Though, because it is a TV show, they were able to indulge in the fantasy of beating that traffic in a way that in reality would be highly dangerous (and illegal).

“We got to shut down Sunset Boulevard for a little while to shoot a car going onto the sidewalk in front of the Palladium,” said Guest. And surprisingly, he explained, they didn’t have to shoot in the middle of the night to make the shot happen: “That was Friday night…. We didn't close all lanes of traffic. The street was open. We were shooting while Los Angeles was still going strong.”

The scene also references the frequent traffic back up during big shows at the Hollywood Bowl, even earning the show a social media repost of the scene from Chaka Khan.

Having family and friends 45 minutes away, who you rarely visit

Wonder Man includes an episode titled Pacoima where the main character visits his family and childhood home.

“My wife grew up in Chatsworth, and one of the things I found fascinating about her experience growing up there was that many of her friends and their families never went to Los Angeles,” said Guest.

“The idea that Simon grew up close to, but far enough away that Hollywood and Los Angeles did not feel like they were part of his life…so when he moved to the city, Pacoima is not a place he goes to a lot. And I feel like that's a part of L.A. that is true to this city. That doesn't get explored a lot and felt like it was another detail that we got to sort of throw into the show.”

There’s lots of other Southern California. references to enjoy from the Talmadge Apartments, an historic renaissance revival building on Wilshire Blvd., a mural of Danny Trejo, and even a cameo from Gisellle Fernandes, real-life L.A. broadcaster for Spectrum 1 News.

Should you get lost in the multi-verse, at least this L.A will be pretty familiar.

BONUS: Could there be a Season 2 of Wonder Man? And would it still be set in L.A.?

Guest couldn’t confirm anything about a possible Season 2, but told LAist, “It’s still on the table as an option, potentially."

As for whether a potential Season 2 would also film in Los Angeles and continue to highlight the city in new ways, Guest said it’s occurred to him that one of the best ways to write about Hollywood could be “ to send our show somewhere else because everybody in this town who's working has to move — whether it be Budapest or London or Ireland or Vancouver — very little is actually happening in this town. And that’s a story that I don’t think is being told right now about L.A.”

Season 1 of ‘Wonder Man’ is now streaming on Disney+.

As part of his sentence for a corruption scheme that diverted millions of tax dollars from feeding needy seniors, a federal judge ordered former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do to pay the county $878,230 as restitution for his crime.

“He has the ability to pay a fine,” U.S. District Court Judge James V. Selna wrote last June, listing Do’s net worth at about $1.5 million, with a negative monthly cash flow of $8,400.

At an Aug. 11 restitution hearing, the judge ordered Do to pay the first installment of $250,000 within 30 days.

The next day, Do transferred all of his ownership of his family home — estimated by Zillow to be worth $2.2 million — over to his wife, OC Superior Court Judge Cheri Pham, according to a real estate record.

That Sept. 10 due date for the first restitution payment has long since passed, but federal and county officials say Do has yet to pay it.

“He did not make that payment,” said Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the federal prosecutors’ office that oversaw the case, when asked by LAist about it on Monday. McEvoy said the prosecutors’ office understands “there was no money left in assets” that could be seized.

Leon Page, Orange County’s top lawyer, said county officials are “not aware of any such payment from Andrew Do.”

Do’s attorney, Paul Meyer, declined to comment, saying it would be “inappropriate” to do so.

“It’s hard to believe that so much time has gone by without the restitution being paid,” said Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor who served decades ago as a senior federal prosecutor at the office that later prosecuted Do.

“It certainly raises questions — if not eyebrows — as to what happened here. Because ordinarily the U.S. Attorney's Office would take victim restitution orders quite seriously.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office can file a court motion if they discover a significant change in the defendant’s economic circumstances that affect their to pay restitution, according to a federal Justice Department guide. The prosecutors’ office also “is required to certify to the Court that victims who are owed restitution are notified about such material changes,” the guide states.

The court’s official online records show no filings regarding any changes in Do’s financial circumstances, or his apparent failure to pay the court-ordered restitution that was due six months ago.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s spokesperson has not responded to a follow up request for comment. They previously declined to answer any further questions about the situation.

Do turned himself into federal prison on Aug. 15, three days after transferring ownership of his family home to his wife. Meanwhile, he continues to collect about $7,300 per month from his county pension, according to the pension system. In addition, this January he received a $12,771 refund from the pension system of all the contributions he made as a supervisor, from when his crime began in June 2020 until he resigned in October 2024.

What happened?

Federal authorities say their understanding is no money was available for them to seize.

“When a defendant fails to pay a restitution order, our office’s financial litigation unit gets involved and completes a thorough financial investigation to find … any assets that could satisfy the outstanding restitution balance,” McEvoy wrote in an emailed response to LAist.

“We cannot comment on what that investigation found, but our understanding is there was no money left in assets that the government could levy to satisfy that order.”

McEvoy declined to answer follow-up questions.

In response to LAist’s questions, county officials say they’re looking into their options if Do refuses to pay restitution as required.

“We do not believe that he has complied with this order, but we’re verifying that is the case at this time,” said the spokesperson, Molly Nichelson.

Property ownership transferred just after restitution order

Do signed a deed on Aug. 12 transferring to his wife all of his ownership in the North Tustin family home they purchased in 2002, according to an official copy of the document LAist obtained from the county clerk-recorder.

Do's attorney declined to comment on the transfer.

An FBI officer at Andrew Do's house in North Tustin.

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Adolfo Guzman-Lopez

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LAist

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LAist obtained permit records showing substantial renovation work on the house was managed in 2021 by the leader of the same nonprofit from whom Do admitted to receiving kickbacks. The work included a bathroom addition and remodel of the master bathroom and kitchen.

Do also was investigated multiple times by the O.C. District Attorney’s Office, going back to 2015, over allegations he was living at the home illegally outside of the district he was representing as supervisor. No criminal charges were filed.

Pham was the court’s second highest-ranking judge when her husband’s corruption scheme came to light. Their two adult daughters received bribe money for their father as part of the scheme, according to Do’s plea deal.

The corruption scheme

After an LAist investigation prompted a criminal investigation, Do admitted to taking bribes as part of a scheme to divert nearly $8 million from feeding needy seniors during the coronavirus pandemic. He is now serving a five-year sentence in federal prison.

The county alleges its losses from the scheme were much higher — more than $13 million — and is trying to recover it through a lawsuit that is expected to take a long time to work its way through the court.

The restitution Do was ordered to pay is separate from the $3.7 million authorities obtained from properties and bank account money held by others accused of involvement in the scheme. That did not come from Do’s assets. Instead, it came from assets owned by his daughter, as well as a business and nonprofit Do had no formal role at.

The total restitution amount

After the first $250,000 installment due in September, Do is required to pay $25 per quarter while in prison.

When Do entered prison in August, his release date was listed in November 2029 — about 85% of his five-year sentence. Seven months in, his expected time in prison has been shortened by two months, with a new release date in September 2029.

A spokesperson for the federal prison system said they cannot comment on specific people’s confinement conditions but that incarcerated people can earn additional time off of their sentence by completing specific classes and programs.

After leaving prison, the restitution order requires Do to pay $1,000 per month or 10% of his income — whichever is more.

At $1,000 per month, the last of the restitution payments would be in late 2081, when Do would be 118 years old.

A group of Los Angeles County high school students is trying to set a world record by collecting thousands of tennis balls and pickleballs for recycling — and they want your help.

The teens are working to keep the recreational equipment out of landfills through a youth-led recycling initiative called “Another Bounce.”

An estimated 500 million tennis and pickleballs are thrown away each year worldwide, according to the organization. In the U.S. alone, 125 million tennis balls end up in landfills annually, according to Stanford University.

A dozen students are leading the charge as part of their roles in the Junior Board of Habits of Waste, a Brentwood-based nonprofit focused on changing people’s habits and systems to help combat climate change.

“There's so much waste, and nobody really pays as much attention to it as they should,” said Max Ehrman, a 15-year-old Brentwood School freshman and junior board member.

Sheila Morovati, the organization’s founder and president, told LAist the initiative aims to get the sports world involved in sustainability. Pickleball, for example, remains the fastest growing sport in America, with tens of thousands of courts across the country.

“Tennis and pickleballs are one of those things where we are just constantly engaging in wastefulness without thinking twice about it,” Morovati said. “How can we think differently? How can we look at what we're doing every day to this planet and say, ‘Hey, can I do any better?’”

The students are collecting used balls within a 30-mile radius of Pacific Palisades and accepting mailed donations to a Santa Monica warehouse. They’re also advocating for recycling improvements with ball manufacturers and elected officials in Southern California.

The campaign will host a community collection event on April 19. The goal is to gather the donations by Earth Day on April 22.

About the initiative

Morovati said the idea started when some students at her son’s school realized how many balls were getting tossed in the trash after only a few hours of use.

The tennis and pickleballs are not biodegradable and can take more than 400 years to decompose, according to Another Bounce.

The initiative is being led by teens and athletes from several L.A.-area high schools, including Crossroads, Brentwood, Loyola, Harvard Westlake and Windward.

Among the participants are Ford and Boone Casady, 16-year-old twin brothers who attend Crossroads School in Santa Monica and who are among the top ranked junior pickleball players in the country.

“There's been nowhere for these balls to go,” Ford told LAist. “It's generally such a waste, and it's terrible to see that happen in our environment.”

“It's just very sad because I've grown up in the Palisades and in the ocean my entire life, and I've noticed the trash in the ocean,” Boone told LAist. “And I'm worried about the animals that are living in that biome that are having to ingest that plastic and those toxic things that are killing them.”

Morovati, who previously set a world record for the most crayons donated to charity in eight hours, said the ultimate goal is to set a recycling record that can’t be beaten easily. However, one of the challenges is storing the balls until they can be counted.

It was easier, in terms of volume, to get up to the million mark with crayons, she said.

“I think in this instance, even if they get into the 50,000, 100,000 range, I would be thrilled,” she added.

Another Bounce is using a three-pronged approach to collect as many balls for recycling as possible:

• Working with clubs and coaches in the area for a local donation drive and accepting donations from other parts of the country with a warehouse in Santa Monica
• Speaking at city council meetings, including in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, to advocate for ordinances that would require parks, schools and clubs to recycle tennis and pickleballs
• Campaigning for major ball manufacturers to roll out nationwide take-back and recycling programs

“We’re trying to, like, change this narrative and we would like you guys to help us by supporting our mission,” said Max, the Brentwood School student. “Talking to your coaches, talking to your schools, talking to your clubs and trying to get as much involvement as possible.”

All the balls collected by Another Bounce throughout the initiative will be counted for their world record attempt before being recycled.

A Guinness World Records spokesperson told LAist it doesn’t currently monitor the title for the most tennis and pickleballs collected for recycling.

The organization is keeping an eye on the most tennis balls collected for recycling in one week, but no one currently holds it. Anyone attempting the record must collect at least 579 pounds, according to Guinness World Records.

How you can help

There are a few ways you can help the teens reach their recycling goal and set a new world record:

• You can schedule a personal volunteer pick-up by sending an email to another.bounce@gmail.com

• You can also send ball donations via snail mail to:
  C. Wiebe (HoW Donation)
  3000 31st St., Suite C
  Santa Monica, CA 90405
  
• You can send an email to major ball manufacturers, including Wilson and Penn, urging the companies to provide take-back and recycling programs online here

Learn more about Another Bounce and keep up with the students’ progress on its website and on Instagram.