Brian De Los Santos
The City of Angels has been (mostly) good to me. Yes, I’m that friend who — sometimes annoyingly — reps L.A. hard.
And maybe that paid off?
I’m the host of a new LAist Studios podcast, How To L.A. It’s a dream job for this city boy. I get to help Angelenos discover, explore, affect change and connect with our beautiful — yet complicated — city. I don’t have all the answers, but let’s find them together.
As an Angeleno via Mexico (I was born in Veracruz, Mexico and came here when I was 2), it’s important to me we tell the stories of our unique communities here in L.A., and we reflect them accurately.
Fun fact: I was an intern in our newsroom when I was 21. I returned to our news organization in 2014 — working in digital and audio — and then was back again in 2021 as editor of LAist.
I’ve spent hot summers in the 818, lived in KTown where a waft of delicious food is constant and grew up near West Adams/Mid City at a time when racial tensions were high in the 1990s. When people ask me why I love L.A., my answer is simple: It’s not the beautiful mountains, Hollywood or skyscrapers, it’s the communities and their stories that make living in the region a rich experience.
What's your favorite thing about L.A.? Send me a note. ✌🏽
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Red Ortiz was inspired by graffiti at a young age. Now he collaborates on art projects throughout L.A. -
Alex Cottrell joins us for a new How to LA food series, Down To Feast.
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Wondering how to fill your calendar this month? We got you.
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In this Oscar-winning doc, a homegrown Angeleno and LAUSD grad highlights the work of instrument technicians who support the music program where he learned his craft.
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Sure it sounds daunting, but we have a few tips for you to keep in mind — you might have fun!
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Owner Angelle Laigo brought back the city’s first record store in 20 years.
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Midnight Hour is a musical hub in the city of San Fernando. The space also transforms into a venue supporting local artists, like photographers and musicians.
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Co-owners Ray Limon and Stanley Swinger say the longer they operate in the area, the more they learn how instrumental this community was to L.A.’s art and music scenes.
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Learn about the volunteers hitting the streets each day to provide services to the unhoused.
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Alonzo "Lonzo" Williams recounts how it all started with sounds of funk.
