Last Friday, lovely Jill celebrated her 26th birthday with friends, lovers, co-workers and general party-crashers. Having run through past pirate, music video, and superhero parties, a foray into musical theatre was naturally the next costumed coming-out to carouse and conquer. Among the debauched and hard-drinkin&#8217; guests were a smoking-hot Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney Todd, some…

Jill’s 26th Birthday ~ Mid-City

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L.A. TACO STAFF

Janette Villafana is an award-winning bilingual multimedia journalist. Her heart lies in community-based reporting, and her work is highly centered on showcasing and uplifting community voices, with a significant focus on the Latino community. She developed her beat at L.A. TACO, covering street vending communities in Los Angeles. Past work has been featured on NBC, LAist, Latino Rebels, and more. She is currently featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington in an exhibit titled “¡De última hora! Latinas Report Breaking News.”

Janette Villafana

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Michael Lorenzo Porter is a Los Angeles-based writer and artist whose work explores identity, community, and the arts. His storytelling blends sharp commentary with a deep love for the city’s layered histories and vibrant street life.

Michael Lorenzo Porter

Fish and chips at Rick's Fish Market in Mid-City.

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Memo Torres is the Director of Engagement and multimedia journalist for the James Beard award-winning L.A. Taco. He is also the host of the Daily Memo and writes for Apple Maps’ ‘Where Memo Torres Eats in L.A.’ You can see him on Netflix&#8217;s Taco Chronicles and Pressure Cooker.  You can hear him on KCRW’s ‘Good Food’ occasionally. He was a finalist for the Ruben Salazar Award for Latino journalists and a former third-generation landscaper.

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El Taco 5 y 10, large corn tortilla wrap cut in half and filling a styrofoam container with a grilled jalapeño laying on top and lemon wedges on the side.

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The Giant Taco Hiding Under The 10  Freeway

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/watman_/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andrew Watman</a> is an Independent Food &amp; Drink Writer covering the most indulgent bites LA has to offer. Getting to know the people behind the food in this city has made this LA transplant feel right at home on the West Coast. He also writes about the latest innovations in kitchen technology. Find Andrew at the newest boba spot in town, slurping on ramen or coming up with a new way to refine a martini.

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One of L.A. TACO&#8217;s co-founders, Hadley Tomicki is a writer and editor on food, travel, and culture whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, UrbanDaddy, High Times, and many other places.

Hadley Tomicki

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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.

Izzy Ramirez

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Will Barboza is a writer from Los Angeles who specializes in covering fan communities and nerd culture. His articles have appeared in VICE, Playboy, IGN, and other online outlets where geek-centric stories are told.

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Abraham Marquez

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Julianne Le is a recent grad from UCLA where she majored in English and minored 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.

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A.k.a. Afroxander; Weekend Editor at L.A. Taco and a lecturer at 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.

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Mid-City

Caitlin Melgar is a 23-year-old journalist at Cal State Long Beach and a life-long resident of L.A. County. She loves listening to jazz, soul, and house music while she writes about health or food-related topics.