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How To LA
We’re here to help curious Angelenos connect with others, discover the new, navigate the confusing, and even drive some change along the way. Host Brian De Los Santos brings you stories about L.A., for L.A., by L.A. — with your help. Like you, we know this city is unique, and that’s why it’s one of the reasons we love it.
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Episodes
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Listen 50:06This 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.
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 SteamThis 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 24:30Hey there! After 317 new episodes, the How to LA team is turning the page. We won't be producing weekly episodes anymore, but you'll hear our reporting on LAist 89.3 FM, on our website and on social media. Before we exited the party, we wanted to hang out with our homies, comadres and contributors one last time.
Thank you for lettings us in your homes, speakers and communities. Follow along at LAist.com/newsletters and Instagram.
Guests:
Gab Chabrán, LAist food editor
Cato Hernández, LAist reporter
Joshua Letona, LAist social media producer
Erin Stone, LAist reporter
Antonia Cereijido, LAist Studios host
Monica Bushman, LAist Studios producer
Victoria Alejandro, LAist Studios producer
Hasta luego, friends ❤️Hey there! After 317 new episodes, the How to LA team is turning the page. We won't be producing weekly episodes anymore, but you'll hear our reporting on LAist 89.3 FM, on our website and on social media. Before we exited the party, we wanted to hang out with our homies, comadres and contributors one last time.
Thank you for lettings us in your homes, speakers and communities. Follow along at LAist.com/newsletters and Instagram.
Guests:
Gab Chabrán, LAist food editor
Cato Hernández, LAist reporter
Joshua Letona, LAist social media producer
Erin Stone, LAist reporter
Antonia Cereijido, LAist Studios host
Monica Bushman, LAist Studios producer
Victoria Alejandro, LAist Studios producer
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Listen 1:19Photographer Merrick Morton got his start taking portraits of LA street gangs in the 1980s, cementing that world in history when few took the time to document these people's lives. He photographed people on the street, at home and even in prison.
After decades of taking photos, Morton got his first solo show at Eastern Projects in LA's Chinatown neighborhood. There's also a new book "Clique: West Coast Portraits from the Hood, 1980-1996" that's available from Hat & Beard Press.
Merrick Morton On Photographing LA Street GangsPhotographer Merrick Morton got his start taking portraits of LA street gangs in the 1980s, cementing that world in history when few took the time to document these people's lives. He photographed people on the street, at home and even in prison.
After decades of taking photos, Morton got his first solo show at Eastern Projects in LA's Chinatown neighborhood. There's also a new book "Clique: West Coast Portraits from the Hood, 1980-1996" that's available from Hat & Beard Press.
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Listen 26:35#279: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about the interesting, fun, new happenings in the city.
Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and Janice Llamoca, an audio producer and host. You might have heard her work on Latino USA, Vice AND she was the host of the amazing LAist Studios podcast Party Crews: The Untold Story.
Here’s what each person pitched for YOUR social calendar:
- The Hollywood Bowl: check out Maestro of the Movies with John Williams
- Pro Tip! Get a shuttle pass and BYOB (wine and beer only)
- Theodore Payne Foundation: learn about native plants, take a garden tour, buy some plants, take a workshop!
- Check our your neighborhood bars that give the true down home vibe!
- In West Adams (Brian's hood), check out Chulita, Johnnys, Delicious Pizza and Alta
- Gold Room and Bar Flores in Echo Park
- Or Bar in WeHo
- Hot Dog at El Cid in Silver Lake
#279: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about the interesting, fun, new happenings in the city.
Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and Janice Llamoca, an audio producer and host. You might have heard her work on Latino USA, Vice AND she was the host of the amazing LAist Studios podcast Party Crews: The Untold Story.
Here’s what each person pitched for YOUR social calendar:
- The Hollywood Bowl: check out Maestro of the Movies with John Williams
- Pro Tip! Get a shuttle pass and BYOB (wine and beer only)
- Theodore Payne Foundation: learn about native plants, take a garden tour, buy some plants, take a workshop!
- Check our your neighborhood bars that give the true down home vibe!
- In West Adams (Brian's hood), check out Chulita, Johnnys, Delicious Pizza and Alta
- Gold Room and Bar Flores in Echo Park
- Or Bar in WeHo
- Hot Dog at El Cid in Silver Lake
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Listen 16:30#278: Today we have an update to a story we brought you back in November of last year (#191: 'It's Really Hot Out Here.' What LAUSD Is Doing To Cool Down Schools). LAist Associate Editor Aaricka Washington brings us up to speed on efforts to increase the amount of green space on school campuses in Los Angeles.
LAUSD's Plan To Cool Down Schools Is Finally Here#278: Today we have an update to a story we brought you back in November of last year (#191: 'It's Really Hot Out Here.' What LAUSD Is Doing To Cool Down Schools). LAist Associate Editor Aaricka Washington brings us up to speed on efforts to increase the amount of green space on school campuses in Los Angeles.
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Listen 0:47Lowriders are getting the spotlight this spring in Los Angeles. A new exhibition called "Best in Low" opened on May 12 at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
And if fine art is more your thing, you can check out the work of artist and lowrider owner Jacqueline Valenzuela at “Arts at Blue Roof” in South L.A. (it's open through June 1).
Valenzuela's art often focuses on women in the lowrider community.
"For so long, women in the space were just looked at as eye candy," Valenzuela told the LAist Studios podcast How To LA. "And yeah, some women do own cars and model with their cars. That's amazing. There's also women that don't model with their cars and sometimes they're not given that platform. So I strive to do that in my art practice."
You can hear more from artist Jacqueline Valenzuela on the How To LA podcast.
L.A. Museums Put A Spotlight On LowridersLowriders are getting the spotlight this spring in Los Angeles. A new exhibition called "Best in Low" opened on May 12 at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
And if fine art is more your thing, you can check out the work of artist and lowrider owner Jacqueline Valenzuela at “Arts at Blue Roof” in South L.A. (it's open through June 1).
Valenzuela's art often focuses on women in the lowrider community.
"For so long, women in the space were just looked at as eye candy," Valenzuela told the LAist Studios podcast How To LA. "And yeah, some women do own cars and model with their cars. That's amazing. There's also women that don't model with their cars and sometimes they're not given that platform. So I strive to do that in my art practice."
You can hear more from artist Jacqueline Valenzuela on the How To LA podcast.
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Listen 19:06Jacqueline Valenzuela is a 26-year-old interdisciplinary artist and lowrider car club co-founder who often features women in the lowrider community in her art. We met up with her at the Kolor Studio, the studio/auto body shop where she works with her fiancé in the City of Industry.
Jacqueline Valenzuela is a 26-year-old interdisciplinary artist and lowrider car club co-founder who often features women in the lowrider community in her art. We met up with her at the Kolor Studio, the studio/auto body shop where she works with her fiancé in the City of Industry.
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Listen 25:06#276: Merrick Morton is one of the first people to document Chicano gang culture in L.A. He also photographed women in prison, Latinas at kickbacks, and people on death row. Almost all of his photos capture something that you might not expect: a tenderness, a realness.
We meet up with Merrick at the Eastern Projects gallery in Chinatown, where an exhibit of his work titled "Un-Rehearsed" is on display, to talk about his art and how he started photographing these communities.
If you want to see some examples of his work, check out this article on LAist.com.
Or - come see the free show in person! It's running until May 18th.
Photographer Merrick Morton Cemented 80s Gang Culture In History#276: Merrick Morton is one of the first people to document Chicano gang culture in L.A. He also photographed women in prison, Latinas at kickbacks, and people on death row. Almost all of his photos capture something that you might not expect: a tenderness, a realness.
We meet up with Merrick at the Eastern Projects gallery in Chinatown, where an exhibit of his work titled "Un-Rehearsed" is on display, to talk about his art and how he started photographing these communities.
If you want to see some examples of his work, check out this article on LAist.com.
Or - come see the free show in person! It's running until May 18th.
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Listen 0:48After 25 years of providing costumes to high school students and industry professionals alike, Valentino’s Costume Group is closing its doors.
The shop struggled through the pandemic and two Hollywood strikes, launching a GoFundMe last fall to help pay the rent. But the recent death of Valentino’s co-owner Will Brattain last month makes it very difficult to keep the business open, says owner Shon LeBlanc.
For more, check out LAist.com: https://laist.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/staple-of-las-theater-community-valentinos-costume-group
Popular LA Costume Shop 'Can't Just Go On'After 25 years of providing costumes to high school students and industry professionals alike, Valentino’s Costume Group is closing its doors.
The shop struggled through the pandemic and two Hollywood strikes, launching a GoFundMe last fall to help pay the rent. But the recent death of Valentino’s co-owner Will Brattain last month makes it very difficult to keep the business open, says owner Shon LeBlanc.
For more, check out LAist.com: https://laist.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/staple-of-las-theater-community-valentinos-costume-group
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Listen 19:38#275: Go back to the movies with us!
It's heating up in the city, so Revival House continues with a classic of spring and summertime in L.A. — a film at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Run by Cinespia, you can picnic and catch a revival film on the iconic grassy knoll. What keeps people coming back year after year? What's the history of it all? Listen along to find out.
Learn more about the cemetery tour here: https://www.cemeterytour.com/
Find more about Cinespia here: https://cinespia.org/
Guests: Cemetery tour guide Karie Bible, Cinespia founder John Wyatt.
Revival House: Movies Under — And Among — The Stars At Hollywood Forever#275: Go back to the movies with us!
It's heating up in the city, so Revival House continues with a classic of spring and summertime in L.A. — a film at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Run by Cinespia, you can picnic and catch a revival film on the iconic grassy knoll. What keeps people coming back year after year? What's the history of it all? Listen along to find out.
Learn more about the cemetery tour here: https://www.cemeterytour.com/
Find more about Cinespia here: https://cinespia.org/
Guests: Cemetery tour guide Karie Bible, Cinespia founder John Wyatt.
Support & Credits
Brian De Los Santos, Host
Victoria Alejandro, Producer
Megan Botel, Producer
Monica Bushman, Producer
Evan Jacoby, Producer
Aaricka Washington, Associate Editor
Megan Larson, Executive Producer