THE EXCHANGE was started in 2005, with six artist from different areas of the United States. The participants of The Exchange pair off into six groups of two, trading names and personal styles through sketches. The sketches are drawn and traded between the artist. They are then painted by the receiving artist in their particular…

The Exchange ~ Los Angeles

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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

A nude model has food put on her by a hand with long nails

Events

Microdosing World Peace at Downtown L.A.’s Michelin Restaurant-Themed Sex Party

<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

a man poses with an array of artistic sex toys

This Modern-Day Digital Jester Is an Absurdist Sex Toy Artist

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Comix

Sunday Taquitos #27: Losing Bet and Mercenaries

<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

a woman with tattoos holds up a tattoo flash sheet she has created

7 Tattoo Artists in L.A. Resisting ICE Through Flash Sheets

Sunday Taquitos #26: Obnoxious Experienced

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


Ivan Ehlers

Sunday Taquitos #25: Nuclear Codes and Presidential Pardons

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L.A. TACO

<p>Lexis-Olivier Ray is an award-winning staff investigative reporter for L.A. TACO known for holding powerful people in Los Angeles accountable and his reporting on Los Angeles culture. As well as an artist and filmmaker. In 2022, the Society of Professional Journalists&#8217; Los Angeles chapter named Ray one of their &#8220;distinguished journalists.&#8221; In 2023, Ray won a second place Anthem Award in their Health Innovation category for a texting service geared towards the unhoused community and service providers that he launched in 2021 with L.A. TACO and Subtext. Ray was a 2020 USC Center For Health Journalism (CHJ) Data Fellow. As well as a 2022 CHJ Impact Fellow. As a freelancer, Ray has contributed to the L.A. Times, Men&#8217;s Health Magazine, KCET and SFGATE.</p>


Lexis-Olivier Ray

City of L.A.'s public records request website photographed with a piece of glass to distort the image.

Taco Members Only

Investigations Newsletter: LAPD’s Public Records System is ‘Broken’

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Food

These L.A. Restaurants Are Speaking Out After The Influencers They Paid Ghosted Them

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


Blazedale

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Media

OpEd: How To Strengthen and Grow Californians’ Access To Trusted Local News

<p class="p1">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.</p>


Memo Torres

Aisha Wallace-Palomares

<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

DAILY MEMO

Daily Memo: Adelanto Hunger Strike Expands to East Wing, As Staff Tempts Strikers With Burrito

Mr. Jay

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<p>Jared Cowan is a photographer who also writes and podcasts extensively about L.A. filming locations. He is the co-founder of My Valley Pass, through which he leads film tours of the San Fernando Valley and Pasadena. Jared is also the co-editor of the recent book &#8220;World Film Locations: Los Angeles Volume 2&#8221; and the editor of the upcoming &#8220;World Film Locations: Philadelphia.&#8221;</p>
