How To LA

Episodes

Listen • 50:06

Listen • 50:06

This Old House Radio Hour: Designing for Disaster: How Los Angeles Builds Back Smarter + Saving The Outsider’s House + Four DIY Fixes: Chimneys, Circuits, Ceilings, and Steam

This week on This Old House Radio Hour—what does it mean to rebuild not just homes, but entire communities?

Sunset Magazine editor-in-chief Hugh Garvey joins us to discuss the magazine’s special issue devoted to the rebuilding of Altadena and Pacific Palisades in the wake of January’s devastating wildfires. Sunset, a voice in California architecture for over 125 years, has assembled an extraordinary coalition of architects, planners, artists, and historians. Together, they offer not just a plan, but a call to action—for fire-resilient homes, culturally grounded design, and a West that can weather what’s coming.

Then we travel from the hills of Los Angeles to the streets of Tulsa, where Danny Boy O’Connor—from House of Pain—takes us inside his remarkable second act. After bottoming out, he bought a run-down house for $15,000... and it just happened to be the house from The Outsiders. What followed was a full restoration, a pilgrimage, and a new life. We take a tour of the Outsiders Museum and meet the community that made it possible.

Later, Cheap Old Houses is back—Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein spotlight a dreamy 1870s Victorian in Fredonia, Kentucky and an off-the-grid cabin on federal forest land in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, both for under $100,000.

Plus, another round of House Rules, our listener-powered game that tests your home renovation know-how. And in The Simple Fix, we show you how to find a stud in your baseboard—without breaking the wall.

And as always, we’re taking your calls. Got a house problem, project hurdle, or just need a little advice? Call us at (877) 864-7460.

All that and more, coming up on This Old House Radio Hour.

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Listen • 19:07

Listen • 19:07

Revival House: The Nuart Theatre, LA's 'Edgy' 'Cult' Home Of The Midnight Movies

#234: Wanna catch a late show with us?

As we continue our series "Revival House," How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to a midnight movie at the historic Nuart Theatre.

The Nuart Theatre's art deco marquee lights up Santa Monica and Sawtelle — so head west with us to a screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and discover cult cinema past and present.

Guests: Austin Fresh and Nina Minnelli, performers in the Nuart's "Rocky Horror" shadow cast; longtime, retired Nuart film programmer Mark Valen; president of Landmark Theatres Kevin Holloway; and theater historian Ross Melnick.
Listen • 16:53

Listen • 16:53

Our Love Letter To LA's Indie Movie Theaters: Introducing 'Revival House'

#233: Independent movie theaters are having a moment. Many just turned — or are turning — 100 years old and several have reopened after extensive remodels.

This matters because movie history is LOS ANGELES history. Some of these older venues can tell us a lot about the early days of Hollywood and this city. But what’s cool is that they continue to create spaces for community, to come together and watch a film on the big screen.

So today we’re kicking off a new 10-part series we’re calling Revival House. We are going to take you inside these spaces — the vintage spots and some newer ones — to explore their past and their present…and help you connect with some indie theaters in YOUR neighborhoods.

Our guide is How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro. our Los Feliz girly who loves to explore entertainment and the arts in LA.

In this episode, she talks about she wants to put the spotlight on all these places, from The Vista to The Nuart to Braindead Studios, housed in The Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax

Read her love letter to LA's indie theaters: https://laist.com/news/how-to-la/revival-house-movies-hollywood-essay

Guests:How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro with tape from film theater historian Ross Melnick and programmer for The New Beverly Cinema, Jules McLean, plus moviegoers from all over L.A.
Listen • 13:08

Listen • 13:08

Finding The Beat: Music and Nostalgia in Alhambra

#232: Here is the last installment in our series of places in LA that help establish a neighborhood's rhythm. This time we head to Str33t Records and talk to owner Angelle Laigo.

Guest: Str33t Records founder Angelle Laigo

Music from this episode:

What’s His Name - Joey Quinones, Thee Sinseers
Running Away - Thee Sacred Souls
Pacific Ave - Pearl & The Oysters
Hippy Provider - The Intelligence
Dreameater - Healing Gems
Descenda - yungatita
I Could Never Hurt You Girl - Ralfi Pagan
I Want You Back - Don Julian & The Larks
PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA - Beyonce
I Wish You Love (Part 1) - Joe Bataan
Ex-Factor - Lauryn Hill
Atomic Dog - George Clinton
Listen • 31:27

Listen • 31:27

LA Can Be Lonely AF: Reframing An 'Epidemic'

#231: Simply put, a lot of people are lonely in L.A. It’s a huge city, and whether you’re a transplant or a homegrown Angeleno, people all over this town are trying to find their place, and their people.

Every Tuesday, over the next 5 weeks, How to LA producer Megan Botel explores these feelings of loneliness – which has recently been declared a nationwide epidemic by the U.S. Surgeon General – and how some Angelenos are dealing with it by creating communities and finding new connections in the city.

To kick it off part one, we speak to loneliness expert Cat Moore to understand and, in many ways, re-define our understanding of how loneliness is experienced. We'll also cover specific ways to begin building community.

Guest: Cat Moore, Director of Belonging at the University of Southern California

If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out for help and check out these resources.
Listen • 13:30
Listen • 13:30

How To Prep For The Primary Election: Homelessness
#230: It’s an election year folks and Los Angeles has a primary coming up March 5th — just a month away!

There are candidates running for L.A .City Council, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, and L.A.’s District Attorney. And there are also local and statewide measures on the ballot that you should get familiar with.

We realize it's a LOT but don't trip — we got you.

LAist has a new Voter Game Plan, up today. It's a super helpful voter guide with information on what’s on the ballot and it includes short cuts broken down by issues that really matter to Angelenos — like public safety, the climate emergency and affordable housing.

Today, we're talking about a big one: homelessness.

Guest:
- Brianna Lee, Engagement Producer of Civics & Democracy for LAist
Listen • 15:35

Listen • 15:35

Finding The Beat: Music In The San Fernando Valley

#228 - We're continuing our exploration of music in L.A. Today, we head to San Fernando to check out the sounds of punk, cumbia, boogie and rock at the musical hub The Midnight Hour Records. It's part two of a three-part series. You can check them all out in the feed.

Guest: Sergio Amalfitano, owner The Midnight Hour

Read more here: The Midnight Hour Records Shop Is A Love Letter To Northeast Valley Kids

Music in this episode:

Rhythm Song (Live) - Ritchie Valens
Come On, Let’s Go - Ritchie Valens
La Bamba - Ritchie Valens
Leave it Alone - Cosmic Joke
Dream A Little Dream - The Perez Bros.
Blame It On The Boogie - The Jacksons
Me Vale - Maná
Para Elisa - Los Destellos
Truly Truly Yours - The Perez Bros.
West Coast Poplock - Ronnie Hudson
Lower - Mal Form
Shattered - Fatal Wounds
Number One - God’s Hate
Grid Walker - Greenwitch
Kamikaze - Cosmic Joke
Butterfly Effect - Tough Front
7th - Jason Ayala
Pools of Water - Tough Front
Listen • 26:25
Listen • 26:25

LA Lit: Indie Booksellers Share More Recs On Best Books About The City
#227: Today, we’re once again enlisting some local independent booksellers to help us understand L.A. better. This time we headed to Tía Chucha's Centro Cultural & Bookstore in Sylmar, Octavia's Bookshelf in Pasadena, Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena and Reparations Club near West Adams.

Books mentioned:
- "Ask the Dust" by John Fante
- "Mercurochrome: New Poems" by Wanda Coleman
- "Always Running" by Luis J. Rodriguez
- "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
- "Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler
- "The Lost Cause" by Cory Doctorow
- "KAOS Theory: The Afrokosmic Ark of Ben Caldwell" by Robeson Taj Frazier with Ben Caldwell
- "There Goes the Neighborhood" by Jade Adia
- "The White Boy Shuffle" by Paul Beatty
- "South of Pico: African American Artists in Los Angeles in the 1960s and 1970s" by Kellie Jones
Listen • 20:29

Listen • 20:29

Finding The Beat: Music In West Adams And Leimert Park

#226: Today we're exploring the past and present music of our city — from West Adams to Leimert Park — through the lens of musical hubs High Fidelity Records and The World Stage. It's part of a three-part series.

Read more in LAist: In West Adams, High-Fidelity Record Store Serves The Historic Jazz Community

Guests: Ray Limon and Stanley Swinger, co-owners of High Fidelity Records in West Adams, and Dwight Trible, jazz singer and executive director of The World Stage in Leimert Park.

Music from this episode:

Tears of Sorrow and Rage - Young Jazz Giants
California Swing - Paul Howard’s Quality Serenaders
High School - The Brat
Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A
The Hillbillies - Kendrick Lamar, Baby Keem
With You - Terrace Martin
Just A Girl - No Doubt
Baby Love- The Supremes
My Funny Valentine - Miles Davis
Seize the Time - Elaine Brown,
Invisible - Ornette Coleman
Amnesia - Blu
Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Love You Bad - Dinner Party
Passin’ Me By - The Pharcyde
PHASES - Vel Nine, NugLife
Lookin Out - Huey Briss, Josef Lamercier, Nikobeats
Gift of Life - Brainstory
Tabula Rasa - Earl Sweatshirt, Armand Hammer
Impressions - John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy
Justice - Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra
Remind Me - Patrice Rushen
At Last - Barbara Morrison
323 Go Crazy - Dom Kennedy