Matt Kemp, who got the &#8220;MVP&#8221; chant previously reserved for Kobe Bryant. We didn&#8217;t fly a banner over Dodger Stadium this year but otherwise it was a great day at Chavez Ravine for opening day, as it always is. Despite some gloomy weather predictions, the game time temperature was a perfect 74 degrees. The Dodgers…

Dodgers Opening Day 2012

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<p>Professional punk and Editor-In-Chief for James Beard Award-winning L.A. TACO. Associate Producer for JBA-winning Las Crónicas Del Taco. Former restaurant scout for Jonathan Gold. Co-author of &#8220;Oaxaca: Home Cooking From the Heart of Mexico (2019, Abrams) and &#8220;Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling&#8221; (2023, Abrams).</p>


Javier Cabral

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<p><span style="font-weight: 400">Blending her time in the kitchen as a line cook with her passion for storytelling, Lauren Bethke writes about community, inclusivity and the city she loves the most—Los Angeles.</span></p>


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Lauren Bethke

<p><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif">Emilio Valdez is a street-level photographer with a special interest in documenting the ever-changing neighborhoods of Central and East Los Angeles</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif">. His work focuses on bringing the past and present discrimination of marginalized people of color to light.</span></p>


Emilio Valdez

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Party Pics

This Clown Sex Party Creampied 12 Brave Souls in DTLA (for Charity)

Sean Maung

<p>Julianne Le graduated from UCLA in 2025 with a major in English and minor in Asian American Studies. Maybe it&#8217;s because she isn&#8217;t jaded yet, but she is super eager to peek into the overlooked corners of L.A. and write about them. Le is the former editor-in-chief of UCLA&#8217;s Pacific Ties Newsmagazine and was a finalist for the Associated Collegiate Press&#8217; &#8220;Podcast of the Year&#8221; award in 2024.</p>


Julianne Le

Photo Essay

Photo Essay: East Hollywood Gay Club Famous for Its “Vaquero Nights” Turns 35

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<div dir="ltr">Shylah Featherstone is a journalism student at Cerritos College and an intern at L.A. TACO, where she covers food, culture, and community stories across Los Angeles. Passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices, she hopes to build a career in multimedia journalism that connects people through thoughtful storytelling.</div>
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Shylah Featherstone

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Events

The First Native Powwow Comes to Cal State LA After 79 Years. Here Is What I Learned From Attending

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An Art Show Honoring Sex Work Is Hidden Inside a Fashion District Gallery

The Country’s Most Famous Strip Club Hosted Its First Trans Night and We Were There

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<p dir="ltr">Jake Hook is a local food historian in Los Angeles. They run the Diner Preservation Society, dedicated to highlighting the city&#8217;s traditional food culture. Follow him on Instagram at @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dinertheory/">DinerTheory</a>.</p>
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Jake Hook

Opinion

Brick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street Vendors

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These Wok-Fired Asada Tacos Are Available For Five Days Only, Starting Tonight

<p>Sam Ribakoff is a reporter, journalism teacher, communicator for labor unions, and a nice guy from Long Beach.</p>


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Sam Ribakoff

Politics

Becerra Vs. Hilton: Which Gubernatorial Candidate Disgusted Us Less at Last Night’s Debate?

<p>Héctor Zaldívar is the head of a print magazine and art/music publication titled Dead Relatives. Completely written and designed by Zaldívar, every month subscribers are mailed in-depth stories on different subcultures from graffiti in Latin America to hardcore punk to lowrider culture and back.</p>


Héctor Zaldívar

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Joe Altmann’s ‘Gladiators’ Captures DIY Culture from L.A. to Saigon

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<p>Izzy Ramirez is a Los Angeles-based staff reporter with L.A. TACO, documenting immigration enforcement and state power as it unfolds on the ground. Their work centers real-time alerts and long-term public archiving throughout the Southern California region.</p>


Izzy Ramirez

<p>Jaylyn Preslicka is a reporter from the greater Los Angeles area who specializes in investigative reporting. She has covered immigration, health, politics, and policy for various outlets.</p>


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Jaylyn Preslicka

News

Read This If Your Loved One Has a Final ‘Removal Order’

<p>A.k.a. Afroxander; Editor-At-Large (formerly Weekend Editor) at L.A. Taco and a lecturer at California State University San Bernardino &amp; San Diego State University. He has covered arts, culture, history, politics, and sports with an emphasis on Latin America and its U.S. diaspora for over two decades.</p>


Ivan Fernandez

<div>Ivan Ehlers is an Ecuadorian-American cartoonist and writer. He is a regular contributor to <i>The New Yorker</i>, <i>MAD Magazine</i> and the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>.</div>
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Ivan Ehlers

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L.A. Taco Guides

‘How Fascist Is Your L.A. Sports Team?’: A Guide by L.A. TACO

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<p>I enjoy exploring every corner of Los Angeles, looking for art wherever I can find it.</p>
