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 • 11:00

Listen • 11:00

So How Did The City Of LA (And Then The County) Get So Big?

#189: When we say "L.A.," what are we talking about exactly? The city? The county? One of the 88 cites within the county? Or how about the unincorporated areas?

It's all pretty complicated. So how did it get to be like this? As it turns out, one of the answers is water.

LAist's LA Explained reporter Caitlin Hernández joins us to help explain.

Check out Caitlin's reporting:

Do You Live In LA City, LA County Or Another City Altogether? Yeah, We’re Confused Too. Here Are Some Basics
Listen • 9:31
Listen • 9:31

Where To Get Outdoors Pt. 2 REDUX
#134: Some of you might be out shopping today. Or just chilling after a big Thanksgiving meal.

But might we suggest you go for a walk? The great thing about Los Angeles is that you can do the urban thing – go to museums, clubs, concerts and eat at good restaurants – AND you can get out in nature whenever you want... or need.

Over the last year, we’ve asked listeners for some of their favorite places to hang out outdoors. Here are some of those suggestions:
- Greystone Mansion (Beverly Hills)
- Huntington Central Park (Huntington Beach)
- Sandstone Peak (Santa Monica Mountains)
- Ascot Hills Park (East LA)
- Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (Culver City)
- Beverly Gardens Park (Beverly Hills)
- Palos Verdes Beach (Rancho Palos Verdes)
- Wattles Garden Park (Hollywood)
Listen • 16:28
Listen • 16:28

Social Calendar: What We’re Enjoying In LA
#188: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re trying something new and hanging out with friends and colleagues from L.A. who are checking out interesting, fun, new happenings in the city.

Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and LAist visual journalist Samanta Helou Hernandez

Here’s what each person pitched for YOUR social calendar:
- The Broad exhibition Desire, Knowledge and Hope (With Smog)
- Family Party: Diaspora Dialogues from producer Anita Herrera
- The John Waters exhibit Pope of Trash at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
  
  If you wanna tells us what you’re doing on your weekends, holler at us howtola@scpr.org
Listen • 18:59

Listen • 18:59

Tortas, Congee and Mulled Wine: Local Chefs Transform Thanksgiving Leftovers

#187: Today were talking about one of our favorite subjects: food! And specifically, dinner party leftovers.

Some folks even say el recalentado — a gathering where folks eat leftovers — is the most fun part of a holiday celebration.

But the question remains: what to do with all that leftover food from Thanksgiving?

Associate food editor for LAist Gab Chabrán joins us yet again with some hot tips from some local chefs for tasty dishes like empanadas, crunchy turkey carnitas tortas and mulled wine sangria.

The Chefs: Theresa Montaño, Otoño; Elvia Huerta and Alex Garcia, Evil Cooks; Ryan Wong, Needle; Kristin Colazas Rodriguez, Colossus Bakery; Aaron Melendrez, Uptown Provisions
Listen • 19:04

Listen • 19:04

The Cult Of Erewhon

#186: Erewhon is almost too L.A. not to be a parody. It's beautiful and organized and ridiculously expensive. Yet hoards of people shop there – and get the infamous Hailey Bieber smoothie – every day.

We speak to the LA-based New York Magazine writer Kerry Howley who recently published a story about the store's history and why its developed such cult following in this city. How to LA host Brian de Los Santos also takes hist first trip to Erewhon with producer Megan Botel to try the smoothies and dish about the store and its vibe.

Guest: Kerry Howley, features writer for New York Magazine

Check out Kerry's story here.
Listen • 12:34

Listen • 12:34

The Rent Freeze is Over

#185: The rent freeze in Los Angeles is coming to an end, and residents in rent controlled apartments may find their rent going up by 4-6% after a recent city council vote. Brian De Los Santos talks to LAist housing reporter, David Wagner about why this rent hike is happening and what the long term effect may be on the city's residents and landlords.

Guest: David Wagner, LAist Housing Reporter
Listen • 21:18

Listen • 21:18

It's Givingggg...How To Host A Great Friendsgiving!

#184: It's almost officially "the holidays" with Thanksgiving coming up. Now the holidays hit everyone differently … maybe you love them. Maybe you don’t. You might be missing family, or not at all.

However you feel, it’s nice to connect with folks and now we have an excuse to do it.

There are a lot of transplants in LA, and for whatever reason, a lot of people can't be with family for this holiday. Insert: FRIENDSGIVING!

Hear from the LAist crew over their own Friendsgiving party. We'll talk about connection, friendship and give you all sorts of tips and tricks to pull off your own Friendsgiving this year.

Guests: Gab Chabran, LAist's food editor; Jason Wells, managing editor of daily news at LAist; Caitlin Hernández, LA Explained reporter for LAist; Chanelle Berlin Johnson, director of audience engagement at LAist; Nereida Moreno, digital equity reporter at LAist
Listen • 23:00

Listen • 23:00

Documenting The City At '5 mph': Meet Photographer Elon Schoenholz

#183: If there’s one thing Los Angeles has, it’s character.

To really see the liveliness of the city, sometimes it takes an artist’s eye.

In the latest episode of How To LA, podcast host Brian De Los Santos hops in a car with homegrown photographer Elon Schoenholz to talk about how he sees the city and how the city shows up in his art.

It’s all a part of an occasional HTLA series centering on artists, mostly painters and photographers, who tell the story of Los Angeles through their works. Lately, for Schoenholz, that’s meant capturing the city from the seat of his car.

He recently published some of this work in a "zine" titled "LA at 5 mph." Join us on a dreamy drive with him through downtown with a camera...

Guest: L.A. Photographer Elon Schoenholz