L.A. Taco had a front-row view to catch snaps of Usher, Erykah Badu, Ella Mai, Daniel Caesar, Kali Uchis, and more at the Smooking Grooves Festival in at the Queen Mary.

Photos: Smokin’ Grooves Fest 2019 ~ Long Beach

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<p>J.W. Hendricks is a half-Venezuelan photojournalist based in LA. His work has primarily focused on social and labor movements, and has been featured in publications such as CalMatters, Boyle Heights Beat, and The Intercept.</p>


J.W. Hendricks

The crowd dances and moshes as La Resistencia performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025.

Culture

After ICE’s Show of Force, Ska-Punk Fans Reclaimed MacArthur Park This Weekend

L.A. TACO STAFF

The Runts performing their last show at LodgeRoom in Highland Park.

5 Independent L.A. Concert Venues We Like To Get High At

<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

<p>L.A. born and raised. Probably at a show or overspending money on food.</p>


Miguel Maldonado-Velasco III

The Garden's fans camped in front of the barricade since the show started at 4 PM.

Live Music

Clown-Faced Fans Swarmed The Garden’s ‘One Strange Night In Orange County’ Festival

<p>A.k.a. Afroxander; Editor-At-Large (formerly 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.</p>


Ivan Fernandez

Juanes Reminds Us of the Power of Love and Unity at the Hollywood Bowl

The singer of LA ska band Chencha Berrinches throws his hands up at the crowd onstage at Levitt Pavilion

Events

Levitt LA Is Back! 10 Free Summer Concerts in MacArthur Park

<p>Abraham Marquez is a freelance writer from Inglewood and a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). He is a 2021 USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism Fellow. He writes about social movements, sports, politics, and immigration. Instagram: @abemarquez02</p>


Abraham Marquez

Guitarist Tom Morello under a red light onstage at Echoplex in Echo Park, with abassist to his left

Tom Morello Unites B Real, Pussy Riot, K. Flay and More to “Defend L.A.” at The Echoplex

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Celebrating the Taco Lifestyle in Los Angeles, CA

L.A. TACO

<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>
<div></div>
<div>IG: <a id="m_-8957504711371111195plusReplyChip-0" class="gmail_plusreply"></a>@ivan_ehlers</div>


Ivan Ehlers

Comix

Sunday Taquitos #31: “For Sale: Basketball Team, Never Won” (Plus Bonus Taquitos!)

Aisha Wallace-Palomares

Update: Adelanto Detainees Sign Letter Demanding Authorities Investigate Processing Center’s Water Quality Issues

<p class="p1">An award-winning journalist covering ICE and immigration raids. Host of the Daily Memo. ‘Where Memo Torres Eats’ on Apple Maps. Seen on Netflix, occasionally on KCRW. 3rd-gen landscaper. Proud son of an immigrant. Golden Bear.</p>


Memo Torres

Kavanaugh stop. Photo via Memo Torres for L.A. TACO.

This Case Has the Power to Stop L.A.’s ICE Raids. Here’s What Happened This Week

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

<p>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.</p>


Hadley Tomicki

Taco Members Only

Sobuneh and Tacos 1986 Are Making Breakfast Tacos Together For Only 6 Days Next Week

<p>Stephanie Mendez is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and producer based in the LBC. Her work has appeared on ABC News, TODAY, E! News, SPIN, and more.</p>
<div class="yj6qo"></div>


Stephanie Mendez

a man in a jersey posing at a desk with a gaming computer

Sports

Ten L.A. Gamers Tell Us How to Make Money Playing Video Games For a Living

<p>Erwin Recinos is a seasoned visual artist with an eye for capturing life as a working commuter aboard public transportation in and around Los Angeles. For 20 years now, Recinos has been documenting the urban landscape, street culture, and Hispanic communities of Los Angeles utilizing his daily routine and the city of Los Angeles as an inspiration. Recinos also works with popular food and event websites such as LATACO.com and Eater LA to capture the cuisine and culture that is so important to the city of Los Angeles and across Southern California.</p>


Erwin Recinos

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Shawn Stern playing at the Terragram Ballroom on Sunday, May 18th, 2025.