How young adults are defining success differently from their parents, the unveiling of Echo Park's new 'micro-neighborhood,' Bao Nguyen's 'Live From New York!'
Supporting LAPD's officers, while keeping them in check
Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Police Commission found that an officer was unjustified in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Ezell Ford last summer. That finding contradicts an earlier conclusion reached by LAPD Chief Charlie Beck that the officer was following protocol. After the commission reached its decision, Beck recorded a video message to share with the rank and file.
Retired LAPD Sgt. Cheryl Dorsey, community advocate and expert on police culture, discussed the delicate balance between supporting the LAPD, while keeping officers in line.
Click on the blue player above to listen to the interview.
How Millennials are defining success
A new poll from National Journal and Heartland Monitor finds that young people are having a tougher time getting started in adulthood, and are starting to define success differently from their parents. Ron Brownstein from the National Journal joined the show to explain.
Click on the blue player above to listen to the interview.
Antique LA menus serve up the city's food and cultural history
You know the old adage you are what you eat? If that's the case, what better way to understand a city's evolution than to look at its menus.
That's just what USC Professor Josh Kun has done.
He pored through the archives at L.A.'s Central Library for a fabulous new book, "To Live and Dine in LA."
Through these menus, he says we can better understand the city's cultural and food history. The library's exhibition launches on Saturday, June 13.
Kun will moderate a panel discussion with chefs Joachim Splichal, Cynthia Hawkins and Ricardo Diaz on Sunday, June 14 at 3pm. It takes place the Central Library's Mark Taper Forum, and more info on how to attend here.
The inside and back cover of the menu from a 1895 banquet hosted by the LA Chamber of Commerce. Click the images for a larger view. (courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library Special Collections)
The inside and back cover of the menu from the legendary Brown Derby restaurant, dated 1953. Click the images for a larger view. (courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library Special Collections)
Will the new Blackbirds housing development change Echo Park?
Los Angeles is filled to the brim, quite literally, with single family homes.
We're walled off by gates and driveways, fenced in backyards keep us separated from our neighbors. Now, a development company called Local Construct hopes to create a new kind of community within L.A. that they're calling a microneighborhood.
"The name Blackbirds actually comes from the rooflines that we have if you look at the elevation from outside of this home it looks like a silhouette of a bird," says Casey Lynch one of the developers on the project. "And when you're inside the home you can see these really interesting high ceiling volumes that provide really nice open light and airy spaces."
They've build a cluster of 18 new homes, permitted as part the city's Small Lot Subdivision Ordinance, which allows for several smaller homes on a single property. They were designed by local architect Barbara Bestor.
They're expected to sell for between $795,000 - $1,100,000. And their sizes range from about 1500 square feet to more than a couple thousand.
Perched on top of a tall hill overlooking Echo Park, the homes go on sale this weekend.
Alex Cohen spoke with Lynch about the impact that these houses have on Echo Park, whether this is gentrification and the types of people he expects to buy the homes.
To hear the whole interview click on the audio embedded above.
If you'd like to see additional photos of the housing project, you can check them out here and here.
Pride ads are here, but they're not just for LGBT people
L.A. is all gearing up for its Pride celebrations this weekend.
But if all the rainbow colored flags in West Hollywood didn't tip you off that we're in the middle of Pride Month, perhaps you caught Target's online campaign?
Happy Pride month, everyone! Who or what do you
in? pic.twitter.com/CtQSOAyTSd
— Target (@Target)
Happy Pride month, everyone! Who or what do you #TakePride in? pic.twitter.com/CtQSOAyTSd
— Target (@Target) June 5, 2015
Adidas also introduced rainbow colored footwear to celebrate.
Maytag tweeted out its own photo of the Maytag Man with a rainbow to show its support, too.
Who knew washers and dryers were gay friendly?
Marketing to LGBT people isn't all that new. What is new is how much corporations are putting into their own campaigns because, while LGBT people only make up 3.5 percent of the population, there are a wealth of customers influenced by these ads.
Bob Witeck, president of Witeck Communications and expert in LGBT marketing, says gay-friendly ads have a tremendous impact among Millennials – even those who don't identify at LGBT.
Witeck argues that gay-themed ads have a positive effect on this generation because they are statistically more tolerant. He also says these campaigns are a great "bang for your buck" for corporations looking to improve their image among that demographic.
Meanwhile, he believes that the blowback by those opposed to LGBT people rarely materializes.
Hear more by clicking the audio player up top.
'Live From New York!' documentary traces 40 years of SNL history
Last month, "Saturday Night Live" concluded its 40th season, making it one of the longest-running network programs in the U.S.
Each week, the show moves at a breakneck speed— frantically developing sketches throughout, performing them live each Saturday night and then swiftly moving on to the next show.
Recently, filmmaker Bao Nguyen had the chance to slow things down a bit and closely explore SNL's DNA.
The result is a new documentary titled "Live From New York!"
The film traces the show's evolution from its scrappy, experimental beginnings to a comedic institution which persists in an age where few people watch anything live.
To hear the full interview with Bao Nguyen, click the link above.
"Live From New York!" opens in theaters June 12th.
Looking back at the life of LA Mayor Tom Bradley
In 1973, Los Angeles became the first American city to do something that would have a huge political effect. Voters elected Tom Bradley, an African American man, as mayor.
His life and political career are highlighted in the new documentary, Bridging the Divide, one of the films this will be showcased this weekend at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
We talk to the director of the film, Lyn Goldfarb as well as his eldest daughter, Lorraine Bradley.
Tree care: Extra tips to keep your trees alive in the drought
TreePeople Senior Arborist Linda Eremita shares extra tips on how to keep your trees healthy in California's drought.
KPCC's Sanden Totten provides the full picture on caring for trees and the impact of urban tree loss during the drought. Click here to read his piece.
In California's drought, can sex sell water conservation?
Officials are taking various avenues to encourage Californians to conserve water, like good ol' facts and figures, or even messages that convey a sense of guilt.
But the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has announced a revamped version of their drought campaign, which first took a sexy turn last year. This year's campaign features messages like this one:
Click image for full size
And this one:
Click image for full size
Andrea Scott, a marketing professor at Pepperdine, explained what messages are effective for encouraging water conservation.
City of Dublin, CA approves $36 million water complex
In Dublin, California, construction is underway for a massive $36 million water park known as the Emerald Glen Aquatic Center.
Plenty of criticism has followed. Lori Taylor, public information officer for the city of Dublin, explained more.
Click on the blue player above to listen to the interview.
Weekend on the cheap: A festival for everyone!
OK, Angelenos — put that June gloom behind you because it's Friday. Clouds can't get us down.
KPCC's Kristen Lepore joins Take Two with her picks for the best ways to spend your days off, from LA Pride, a craft cocktail fest and a dog fest.