The sign for The Conga Room at LA Live, its second location in Los Angeles. The nightclub closes March 27 after 25 years.
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Diana Connolly via Flicker
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Topline:
After 25 years of headlining Latin and international acts from all over the world, the Conga Room closes its doors this week.
Why it matters: Other Latin music clubs existed in L.A., but the vibe of the Conga Room was new to the city in the late 90s. The LA Times described it as having “two things most [salsa clubs] didn’t: money and taste.” Founded by real-estate developer Brad Gluckstein in 1998, Jennifer Lopez, Sheila E., Jimmy Smits, and Paul Rodriguez were among the initial investors,
Why now: A closing night party will be held on March 27th, hosted by Smits and Rodriguez. The music-filled event will include performances by Salsa legend Gilberto Santa Rosa, and a jam session led by Jerry Rivera, Andy Vargas, and Reggaetón sensation BLESSD.
What's next: The music of the Conga Room lives on through the non profit Conga Kids, which provides dance and music throughout 18 school districts in the L.A. area.
“We're into this thing called the Conga Kids, which is serving many Los Angeles schools with bringing music and culture to young people,” Smits says. “So it's like another generation passing down to another generation.”
A place to discover Latin artists and dance salsa or bachata all night, the Conga Room, founded by entrepreneur Brad Gluckstein, became a Los Angeles institution, backed with some major star power.
Jennifer Lopez, Sheila E., Jimmy Smits, and Paul Rodriguez were among the initial investors and at least two of them occasionally performed in the space.
Conga Room founder Brad Gluckstein stands between early investors in the nightclub, actor Jimmy Smits and comedian Paul Rodriguez
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Eddie Sakaki
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Conga Room
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The backstory
Other Latin music clubs existed in L.A., but the vibe of the Conga Room was new to the city in the late 90s. The L.A. Times described it as having “two things most [salsa clubs] didn’t: money and taste.”
It first opened on Wilshire Boulevard in 1998 with Celia Cruz headlining the intimate venue with the hit “Que Le Den Candela.”
Celia Cruz performs at the Conga Room
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Courtesy of the Conga Room
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Attendees over the years could catch acts ranging from Tito Puente to Ivy Queen to Bad Bunny, and performers of other genres also came across the stage. The venue shifted from salsa club to pan-Latin and world music.
In the 90s, you might have seen South African trumpeter Hugh Masekala, as well as Prince play the Conga Room. Private events included the post-Grammy win party for Carlos Santana, where a dinner of 125 attendees sang “Las Mañanitas” to Edward James Olmos for his birthday.
The space was “old Havana for the new millennium,” Gluckstein says.
By 2008, the Conga Room had outgrown its Miracle Mile location and moved to a larger space, downtown, at LA Live. More artists, including Black Eyed Peas rapper and producer will.i.am were brought on as investors. The new venue was nearly three times as large, with a VIP area, and a lot more parking. Food was “nueva Latina” cuisine and the “pan-Latin” interior was designed in collaboration with artists Jorge Pardo and Sergio Arau.
The venue was all the rage.
“You get 1100 people in a room listening to some beautiful Latin sounds…It's going to be more than lively,” says actor and Conga Room investor Jimmy Smits with a laugh.
The Conga Room was a place to be in L.A. LAist’s Cynthia Covarrubias, senior human resources generalist, says she would go to the Wilshire location as “a young, professional Latina trying to find [her] place in the club world.”
Besides, her roommate at the time “really wanted to meet Jennifer Lopez.”
Why it's closing
The reasons this beloved venue are closing are two-fold.
As Gluckstein puts it, some of the reasons behind the venue’s closure are obvious — the effects of the pandemic and the economy. Rising rents at LA Live coupled with changes in music booking trends also meant the Conga Room wasn’t seeing the numbers it was used to.
“A staple of our venue was being able to attract international artists in a small venue,” says Gluckstein. But post pandemic, Gluckstein says, “royalties and other means of survival for the artists were tougher.” Artists who would normally stop by the Conga Room couldn’t afford a smaller stop on a tour, and there weren’t enough private events coming through the space to make it profitable.
The venue will be closing up in style, however, with a friends and family celebration on March 27th, hosted by Smits and Paul Rodriguez. The music-filled event will include performances by Salsa legend Gilberto Santa Rosa, and a jam session led by Jerry Rivera, Andy Vargas, and Reggaetón sensation BLESSD.
“I opened the Conga Room because I was a salsa aficionado, you know, I lived and died for it,” says Gluckstein.
Tito Puente performs on stage at the Conga Room
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Courtesy of the Conga Room
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Despite the sadness and nostalgia conjured up around the closure, Gluckstein is still finding joy in salsa, and in bringing music to classrooms around Southern California.
There’s a passing of the torch with the non profit Conga Kids, also founded by Gluckstein in 2016.
“We're into this thing called the Conga Kids, which is serving many Los Angeles schools with bringing music and culture to young people,” Smits says. “So it's like another generation passing down to another generation.”
LA students that are part of the Conga Kids program
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Eddie Sakaki
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Courtesy of the Conga Room
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What's next
Conga Kids brings music and dance from the African diaspora, where Latin music has roots, to 18 school districts across Southern California. That includes dances and genres like merengue, cumbia, salsa, and hip-hop. It’s got programs specific to 4th and 5th grades but includes school assemblies and family workshops for students in both elementary and middle school. Schools can request the Conga Kids program online through its website.
Working with the dancers, musicians, and artists in the Conga Kids program means “it's hard to be sad,” says Gluckstein.
And Smits adds that the Conga Room will "live on because music lives on, and music transcends everything.”
Construction sites in the hallways of the Keyes Elementary School in Keyes on Nov. 15, 2023. Multiple projects keep going on at the campus due to lack of funds to continue.
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Larry Valenzuela
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CalMatters/CatchLight Local
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Topline:
Last week’s election was full of surprises, especially for California school districts seeking to fix leaking roofs and broken air conditioners. Although election officials are still counting votes in many parts of the state, the preliminary results show that nearly half the school bonds on California ballots are failing.
The backstory: Eighty-six school districts put bonds seeking to do school repairs and modernization on last week’s ballot, totalling $12.4 billion, a relatively low amount of money compared to other big election years. Two years ago, school bonds totaled almost four times that and most of them passed.
Why it matters: As of late Tuesday, 50 bonds had either passed or were leading, with the rest failing. Bonds need 55% to pass.
Read on... for more on what this means for school repairs.
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.
Last week’s election was full of surprises, especially for California school districts seeking to fix leaking roofs and broken air conditioners.
Although election officials are still counting votes in many parts of the state, the preliminary results show that nearly half the school bonds on California ballots are failing.
“It’s a shocking outcome,” said Sara Hinkley, director of policy and research at UC Berkeley’s Center for Cities and Schools. “This leaves some school districts with very few options. I’m sure they’re sweating.”
Eighty-six school districts put bonds seeking to do school repairs and modernization on last week’s ballot, totaling $12.4 billion, a relatively low amount of money compared to other big election years. Two years ago, school bonds totaled almost four times that and most of them passed.
As of late Tuesday, 50 bonds had either passed or were leading, with the rest failing. Bonds need 55% to pass.
School bonds in LA and Orange County
While school bonds performed poorly on the ballot in many parts of California, they succeeded in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Votes counted so far show almost every measure is poised to pass, and those races that haven't been called are still leaning yes as of November 11.
In L.A. County: 10 school districts sought about $1.2 billion.
In Orange County: 2 school districts sought $211 million.
School district officials blamed the shaky economy.
“Everyone wants what is best for the kids, but when gas, groceries and utilities are cutting into people's budget, they have to find places to save,” said Mays Kakish, superintendent of Beaumont Unified School District near Banning in the Inland Empire. “In the short term, this loss of funding will be painful.”
Beaumont, one of the few districts in California where enrollment is increasing, desperately needs the $86 million the bond would have brought in. Last year, its schools had 138 roof leaks, district spokesman Thomas Guzowski said. In addition, the district needs to replace 81 portable classrooms.
A 2024 state bond — Proposition 2 — that provided $10 billion for school construction, is an alternative source of money for some school districts. But districts need to provide matching funds to get Prop. 2 money, and if the bond fails Beaumont will not qualify, Guzowski said.
Regardless, most of the Prop. 2 money set aside for school repairs is already spoken for. There’s still money available for new construction projects and emergencies, but there’s a long waiting list for the remaining money to fix leaky roofs or make other maintenance repairs.
Rich get richer
John Affeldt, managing attorney at the public interest law firm Public Advocates, said he wasn’t surprised at the outcome of the school bond elections. Many bonds in wealthier areas like the Bay Area and Orange County tend to be for more money and usually pass, enabling those districts to get Prop. 2 money using matching funds. Bonds in lower-income areas, meanwhile, tend to be for less money and fail.
“Those who have more, get more,” Affeldt said. “It’s an unfair system, and part of a long pattern of the state’s failed system of financing facilities.”
Affeldt’s firm sued the state over the alleged inequities in Prop. 2 and is awaiting a judge’s decision on whether to grant the state’s request to throw out the case. Earlier this year, a judge denied the plaintiffs’ request for an injunction but said they had a “reasonable chance of succeeding” on at least part of the case.
Windfall in San Diego
San Diego Unified is on the other end of the school bond fortunes. Voters said “yes” to its $3.4 billion bond, the largest in California, ushering in a windfall for swimming pools, new performing arts venues, staff housing, new air conditioners, security systems and other upgrades. Homeowners will pay an average of $294 a year.
“It was a great night. I’m still on a high,” said school board vice president Sabrina Bazzo. “This means that all students in our district — not just those in wealthy neighborhoods — will get access to high-quality facilities.”
Basso attributed the bond’s success to plenty of community support. Labor unions threw their weight behind the measure, in part because the district agreed to hire local union workers for much of the work, Bazzo said. Even the local taxpayers association supported the bond, largely because it wasn’t a new tax; it replaced a previous bond from 2022.
Repair and replace
Visalia Unified near Fresno doesn’t look to be so lucky. Its bid for a $158 million bond is trailing and expected to lose.
“The economy is challenging right now for a lot of folks,” said Superintendent Kirk Shrum. “I’m disappointed, thinking about what we could have done — upgraded bathrooms, new furniture — and now we have to wait.”
More than 70% of the district’s buildings are 50 years old or older, and are in dire need of repairs, Shrum said. A few years ago, the district assessed the condition of its buildings and the total for repairs came to $600 million. That seemed too high for a bond, so the district went with $158 million, the amount needed for only the most urgent projects.
Without the bond money, the district will shift funds around to pay for repairs when needed, but “we’ll never be able to get ahead of it,” Shrum said.
“You get stuck in a cycle of replace and repair when things break,” Shrum said. “But you can patch a roof only so many times.”
'The Importance of Being Earnest' is at the Wallis.
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Courtesy The Wallis
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In this edition:
Get $1 churros, see the Grove tree lighting, Sheryl Crow live and more of the best things to do this week.
Highlights:
What better way to get through the rest of the week than with $1 churros to celebrate International Churro Day? Mexico City institution El Moro now has three L.A. area locations where you can score a deal on the fried treat all day long.
It’s that time of year again. The annual Christmas Tree lighting at the Grove happens next Monday — just 39 days till Santa gets here, folks. This year’s party features performances from Nicole Scherzinger, Jason Mraz, Mark Ambor and more.
Sheryl Crow will play 'til the sun comes up on Santa Monica Boulevard (well, more likely 'til just after it goes down) at the free concert on the Sunset Strip, Live on Sunset. The nine-time GRAMMY Award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee joins a host of other performers, including Local Natives and Empress Of, at the block party show.
Elsewhere on LAist, you can learn about one couple who chose the LAUSD coffee cake for their wedding, come hang out with us at CicLAvia in Pasadena and grab tickets for FilmWeek’s screening of Sideways.
Music
Licorice Pizza has your music picks for the week ahead — it is Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction time, after all — including:
Wednesday, Nov. 11 El Moro Multiple locations (Echo Park, Costa Mesa, La Habra) COST: $1; MORE INFO
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Foodie Flavours
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Unsplash
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What better way to get through the rest of the week than with $1 churros to celebrate International Churro Day? Mexico City institution El Moro now has three L.A. area locations where you can score a deal on the fried treat all day long, plus get a complimentary 12th churro when you purchase 11.
James Cahill: The Beverly Hills Housewife: Hockney’s Californian Muse and the World Beyond the Pool
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7:15 p.m. Book Soup 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy EJS Media
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We lost the great Brit-turned-Angeleno artist David Hockney this year, but his legacy in L.A. is remembered in author James Cahill’s new book, The Beverly Hills Housewife: Hockney’s Californian Muse and the World Beyond the Pool. The book tells the story of David Hockney’s pivotal early years in Los Angeles, his unlikely friendship with a Beverly Hills collector named Betty Freeman, and the city itself — all through the lens of a single painting, Beverly Hills Housewife (1966-67). Cahill will be in conversation with writer David Ulin.
Cj Hendry: Flower Shop
Through Saturday, Nov. 21 6 Rose Ave., Venice COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Kirsten Cox
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Maximus Communications
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Australian artist Cj Hendry has taken over churches, swimming pools and more around the world with her bright creations. Her latest installation, Flower Shop, takes over the Rose Room in Venice, where you can purchase one of her felt flowers starting at $10 — the perfect headstart on unique holiday gifts.
The Who’sTommy
Through Sunday, Nov. 15 Pantages Theatre 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood COST: FROM $45; MORE INFO
Fun fact: The Who’s Tommy was the first show I saw on Broadway in 1995 (starring the great Michael Cerveris), and now I’m dating myself by saying the revival is on tour at the Pantages. The Who’s timeless 1969 soundtrack follows the story of Tommy, a child struck by tragedy who wins hearts with his pinball prowess. Pete Townshend and director Des McAnuff reunite to tell the story again for a new generation. Tommy, you’re a sensation.
National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Earnest
Saturday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. The Wallis 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills COST: FROM $27.50; MORE INFO
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Courtesy The Wallis
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I saw the live National Theatre production of The Importance of Being Earnest in London last year, and it’s laugh-out-loud funny, with great performances from Doctor Who himself (Ncuti Gatwa) and Sharon D. Clarke as Lady Bracknell. Directed by Max Webster, the Oscar Wilde classic mistaken-identity comedy took the West End by storm, so don’t miss a chance to catch the filmed-live version at the Wallis. If you just can’t get enough "Earnest" this week, the Bardfly Theatre Co. has their last live performance of the sendup of Victorian England at the L.A. Arboretum the same night.
Sheryl Crow at Live on Sunset
Saturday, Nov. 14, 4 p.m. Sunset Strip Sunset Blvd. between San Vicente Blvd./Clark Ave. and North Doheny Drive, West Hollywood COST: FREE, RSVP REQUIRED; MORE INFO
Sheryl Crow will play a free show on Sunset.
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Erika Goldring
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Getty Images
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Sheryl Crow will play 'til the sun comes up on Santa Monica Boulevard (well, more likely 'til just after it goes down) at the free concert on the Sunset Strip, Live on Sunset. The nine-time GRAMMY Award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee joins a host of other performers, including Local Natives and Empress Of, at the block party show.
Meow Wolf: Desert Hearts and Justin Martin All Night Long
Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 p.m. Academy L.A. 6021 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood COST: $39.95; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Meow Wolf
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Art collective Meow Wolf is opening soon in L.A., but you can catch the vibe early with this DJ set at Academy L.A. The music takeover will feature some of Meow Wolf's favorite characters and oddities from their unique multiverse, alongside DJ performances from Desert Hearts and house producer Justin Martin.
Second Saturday Art Walk and Film Festival
Saturday, Nov. 14, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Downtown San Pedro COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy San Pedro Film Festival
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The Second Saturday Art Walk takes over downtown San Pedro this weekend, with galleries, record stores and more opening their doors to celebrate independent artists in the harbor town. Plus, the San Pedro International Film Fest will present two ocean-themed documentary short series at the John Olguin Auditorium at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.
Hello Again public exhibit opening
Thursday, Nov. 12, tour at 11:30 a.m. UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art Segerstrom Center for the Arts 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Henrietta Shore, Mount Wilson, 1927.
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Courtesy UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art
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The O.C. Museum of Art opens its fall exhibit, Hello Again, with a public celebration on Thursday featuring a tour with curators. The show leans on “thematic fluidity” in the curation rather than chronology, with a focus on California art of the 1960s and '70s as well as more contemporary work. The first exhibit from newly-appointed director Kathryn Kanjo, it “reveals how regional landscapes, domestic spaces, and urban culture remain fertile territory for material and conceptual experimentation.” The exhibition includes work from many artists you’ll be familiar with and some to discover, including Glenn Ligon, Suzanne Lacy, Robert Rauschenberg, Betye Saar, Ed Ruscha, Narsiso Martinez and more.
25th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration
Monday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m. The Grove 189 The Grove Drive, Fairfax District COST: FREE; MORE INFO
The Grove's Christmas Tree in 2024.
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Jay L Clendenin
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Getty Images
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It’s that time of year again. The annual Christmas Tree lighting at the Grove happens next Monday — just 39 days till Santa gets here, folks. This year’s party features performances from Nicole Scherzinger, Jason Mraz, Mark Ambor, Jamie Miller, “O” by Cirque du Soleil, American Authors, Kenedi Anderson, JYT and more.
Keep up with LAist.
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Kevin Tidmarsh
is a producer for LAist, covering news and culture. He’s been an audio/web journalist for about a decade.
Published November 10, 2026 3:55 PM
The Bolsa Chica Conservancy's Interpretive Center pictured after last month's coastal flooding.
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Courtesy Bolsa Chica Conservancy
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Topline:
Huntington Beach nonprofit Bolsa Chica Conservancy is fundraising to replace equipment damaged in recent coastal flooding. It's anticipating the need for more repairs, as the flooding forecast around Thanksgiving and Christmas could be even worse.
What was damaged: Bolsa Chica Conservancy’s executive director, Carissa Macias, said that despite its efforts, a pump used for its aquarium shorted out due to water damage and needed to be replaced. (The aquarium houses a tide pool, various fish species and a shark.) The conservancy has since replaced the pump and taken measures to protect the surviving equipment.
Future risk: The organization’s Interpretive Center, which hosts its aquarium and exhibits about the region’s ecology, is in a modular trailer-style building. “The threat that we are concerned about is that if we get enough water flow underneath the buildings and saturating the soil underneath the buildings, that it's going to compromise the stability of the buildings,” Macias said. Regardless of whether that happens, Macias said she expects supplies will be needed to divert floodwater and make more repairs.
Why it matters:Current forecasts show that high tides in late November could be up to 7 feet — higher than those seen in October, without taking into account other factors that could make the tides even higher. Macias said that traditionally, their buildings haven’t been affected by coastal flooding other than water getting into some parking spaces.
About the organization: The Bolsa Chica Conservancy is an educational nonprofit that aims to protect over 1,300 acres of coastal habitat that offer up-close views of some 200 species of birds. The conservancy offers free programming to teach people about wetlands of Southern California, nearly two-thirds of which have been lost to development and parking.
How to support: The conservancy said it may need volunteers in the weeks ahead, but the best way to help is by donating, which you can do here.
Dan Shimell wins against incumbent Valerie Amezcua
Destiny Torres
covers all things SoCal, from breaking news to local government, with a focus on Orange County.
Published November 10, 2026 3:40 PM
Dan Shimell, an attorney and a new face in local politics, is Santa Ana’s next mayor after an unexpected win against incumbent Valerie Amezcua.
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Courtesy of Dan Shimell
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Topline:
Dan Shimell, an attorney and a new face to local politics, is Santa Ana’s next mayor after an unexpected win against incumbent Valerie Amezcua.
Why it matters: Aside from Shimell, progressives Sandra de Anda and Isuri S. Ramos are also projected to win City Council seats, deepening the Santa Ana City Council’s progressive bench.
Read on … for what this race says about Santa Ana politics.
Dan Shimell, an attorney and a new face in local politics, is Santa Ana’s next mayor after a shocking win against incumbent Valerie Amezcua. His win has become one of the most surprising upsets in Orange County’s general election and marks a shift for a city that previously elected its first Latina mayor.
Amezcua congratulated Shimell on social media late Monday night after the last round of election results nearly doubled Shimell’s lead. As of Tuesday night, Shimell held a 5-point lead over Amezcua. Amezcua did not respond to LAist’s requests for comment.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Santa Ana,” Amezcua said in a post. “Together, we have accomplished great things. We invested in our neighborhoods, expanded opportunity for families, and strengthened the services that make Santa Ana home. Our work was never about one person. It was about all of us moving this community forward.”
Aside from Shimell, progressives Sandra de Anda and Isuri S. Ramos are also projected to win City Council seats, deepening the Santa Ana City Council’s progressive bench.
A flashpoint in Amezcua’s re-election campaign was during the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that rattled much of Southern California, including Santa Ana, Orange County’s only sanctuary city. The raids sparked protests that drew a heavy law enforcement response from Santa Ana police, including rubber bullets and tear gas.
In Amezcua’s first public response, she accused protesters of inciting chaos and violence. She later walked back her comments in a city statement, saying most protesters were demonstrating peacefully and that she did not support the raids.
Shimell told LAist he thinks Santa Ana voters, especially young and first-time voters, went to the polls to vote for those who can't.
“Those who have been or might in the future be impacted by immigration policy and enforcement,” Shimell added. “Taking a bold stance on immigration and police accountability seemed to resonate with voters I spoke with, and stood in stark contrast to the [police]-backed candidates who remained largely silent on those issues.”
What does this say about Santa Ana politics?
Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento served as mayor of the city from 2020 to 2022, and his current district includes Santa Ana. Sarmiento told LAist that the results were surprising but reflected the change voters want to see in their elected officials.
“I think the underlying message is that money and establishment conventional politics no longer is the formula to success in a campaign in the city,” Sarmiento said. “It's really the influence of people and voters over money. That's really the theme here.”
Santa Ana City Councilmember Thai Viet Phan told LAist that the race results were somewhat surprising — but spoke to a larger trend.
“[In] the election results throughout the country … you saw a very leftward shift, with not just candidates but also just how voters voted,” Phan said. “I think that was reflected here in Santa Ana on the council.”
Amezcua outspent Shimell — by a lot
Shimell raised about $28,500 in his campaign for mayor. Amezcua raised more than $75,000 and received more than $200,000 in outside support — more than half of that came from the Santa Ana Police Officers Association.
Mike Moodian, a public policy professor at Chapman University, told LAist that in many ways, the races capture the zeitgeist of Santa Ana.
“Here we saw that there was a police union-backed group, and there was a resistance to that,” Moodian said. “People might have seen the incumbent mayor as part of a police union-backed establishment."
He explained that voters may have looked at Shimell as a fresh face who can represent more people and that the city is experiencing a deeper progressive shift.
“I find the residents of Santa Ana tend to be much more involved and engaged in local politics than most other cities in Orange County. So you also have a well-informed, engaged citizenry that showed up, and the voices were heard in Santa Ana,” Moodian said.
Moodian said Amezcua may have lost support from some voters because they were unsatisfied with her response to immigration enforcement.
What’s next?
Ballots are still being counted. The OC Registrar of Voters posts updates every day, except Sundays, at 5 p.m. Election results will be certified by Dec. 3. You can find updates on key measures and other races here.
