One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Why We Love L.A. Summers: Chinatown Summer Nights
Summer has arrived, and we're ready to celebrate all that screams 'tis the season in Los Angeles. From sand to summit, from sips to snacks -- we love L.A. summers.
The plazas of L.A.'s historic Chinatown are converted into a dance party and mini-food festival on a handful of Saturday nights during the summer. Chinatown Summer Nights is one of our favorite ways to experience the city and the neighborhood this time of year.
After you soak in some local color via cultural workshops and cooking demos you can chow down at some of the city's favorite food trucks and then hit the dance floor to groove to beats supplied by DJs from KCRW and shake your cares away under the night sky lit up with Chinatown's neon and lanterns.
This summer, Chinatown Summer Nights is on every other Saturday--July 28, August 11, and August 25--from 5 p.m. to midnight. Admission is free (you'll just pay for food, drink, and any shopping you do) and the live entertainment is free, too.
Here's the official breakdown of what you'll find at Chinatown Summer Nights:
- DJ's from acclaimed Los Angeles public radio station KCRW (Anthony Valadez, Jason Bentley, Jeremy Sole, Valida and Aaron Byrd)
- Live music stage with a hot lineup of local LA music acts
- Amateur cooking competitions based on three elements: Earth (vegetarian cuisine), Water (soups) and Fire (spicy dishes)
- LA's best gourmet food trucks & Cooking demonstrations by Chinatown Chefs
- Cultural workshops for all ages
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
