Hey everybody,

Molly here, your KCRW Insider and your go-to for everything happening in and around KCRW. Here’s a dash of what you’ll get in the newsletter this week:

• In the studio: The Swedish-Argentinian singer-songwriter José González brought his guitar to KCRW HQ and got intimate with us
• In the community: A live taping of The Sam Sanders Show at Dynasty Typewriter!
• Around the watercooler: The best vintage furniture finds in Highland Park, according to Abby Johnson
• In other news: What separates a recipe developer from a food influencer?

But first, Summer Nights is officially here! We had our members-only kickoff on Monday at Maydan Market, and it was such a lovely time. It’s a gorgeous global marketplace, filled with seven different food businesses that each bring a different flavor to the space, literally. Thai fried chicken and noodles from Golden Mountain Chicken, coastal afro-mexican from Maléna, Oaxacan specialties from Lugya’h, and the list goes on. And the decor is BEAUTIFUL. I’m such a sucker for intricate tile, and Maydan Market really knows how to do tile.

Tyler Boudreaux and Jason Bentley brought the musical magic as usual, and our KCRW community created a super vibrant dance floor. I know people say nobody dances in LA, but that is simply not the case at KCRW events.

At our kick-off, I was behind our Street Team booth with Azalea, our new Community Outreach Coordinator, and a few of our wonderful volunteers. Shoutout Fredy, Morgan, and Nicole! When you come out to a Summer Nights party, be sure to come by the booth to check out all the cute merch. And if you’re a member, you can get a limited edition keychain while supplies last.

It’s wild, I know, but RSVPs to our next two Summer Nights parties (Cabrillo Marine Aquarium & La Brea Tar Pits) are full to the brim. If you act quickly, you can still snag some final RSVP spots for our party with Cabrillo. La Brea Tar Pits RSVPs are closed, but we anticipate we'll be able to open some additional spots the week of the event. Keep your eyes peeled!

In the meantime, we have so many more parties this summer, including a return to CAAM on Saturday, June 20th, and our exciting ‘90s-themed dance night at ASU FIDM Museum on Friday, June 26th. Get your RSVP in now while the gettin’s good.

What I love about these events is that they're all entirely different: unique venues, DJs spinning eclectic tunes, a variety of food vendors, and different regions across LA. While many factors differ from event to event, one thing stays the same: a feel-good vibe amongst a community of great people.

Hope to see you at a Summer Nights soon!

-Molly

In the Studio

Margaret Cho is a trailblazer. She burst onto the scene in the ‘90s, performing at nightclubs and later starring in the ABC sitcom All-American Girl, the first network show to center on an Asian American family. On The Sam Sanders Show, Margaret reflects on the impact of her groundbreaking show, how she sees her role as a mentor for younger comedians, and why she’s still optimistic about comedy even as it swings to the right. Plus, she shares how standup helped her get through a very intense rehab experience.

The Swedish-Argentinian singer-songwriter José González delivered a beautifully- intimate performance in the KCRW Annenberg Performance Studio. With only his meticulous guitar playing and his incredible vocal storytelling (in multiple languages, we might add), he filled the space with so much emotional depth.

Filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura joined Elvis Mitchell to discuss his latest film, Third Act, which follows his father, acclaimed director Robert A. Nakamura, as he reflects on his life and career while navigating a recent Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. For his treat, Tadashi celebrates a documentary that looks at the birth of a local culture.

KCRW In The Community

On Sunday, June 7th, KCRW's Art Insider, Carolina Miranda, will be talking about LACMA’s design with an esteemed panel organized by Punch List Mag, LA Material, and the New York Review of Architecture. It's a lively public forum for Angelenos to process their complicated feelings about the new David Geffen Galleries at LACMA.

If you love The Sam Sanders Show, you won’t want to miss this live event on June 28th! Join Sam Sanders, Eliot Glazer (New Girl, Broad City), and Traci Thomas (The Stacks, NPR’s Here & Now) for a live taping of The Sam Sanders Show as they debate the best of the decade in a live ‘90s Nostalgia Bracket showdown. And it’s at Dynasty Typewriter, one of the coolest venues in LA.

Around The Watercooler
(Staff Recs)

Abby (Development team): Sunbeam Vintage
Over the weekend, I stopped by Sunbeam Vintage in Highland Park. This Latinx woman-owned shop is packed with incredible mid-century finds, both vintage and new. They're currently downsizing and moving, so everything in their Figueroa showroom is 20% off (in-store only). I scored a beautiful demilune table for a steal and am already tempted to go back this weekend. It's the perfect place for a weekend treasure hunt!

Magnolia (Art & Design team): Siam Sunset
I'm a big Thai food enthusiast, and I tried my first Thai breakfast on Sunday in Thai Town! It was so yummy and unlike anything I have had before. This place is open from 6 AM to 4 PM. I recommend the pork porridge, BBQ pork over rice, and fish filet soup, nom nom.

Nathalie (Audience team): The Mart Collective
This large antiques shop in Venice is great if you’re looking for something for the home that does not resemble West Elm. Or a gift that is not a flamingo estate candle set. I took my four-year-old here over the weekend because we needed something to do, and we left with a large globe lamp. Maybe take a Claritin before you go… that’s some real vintage dust.

In Other News

Second Helping is Good Food’s weekly Substack installment that shares high-profile and obscure food news that can affect your daily lives. This week, Good Food’s Elina Shatkin writes about the distinction between recipe developers and content creators, and more food one-on-ones in this versus-themed post.

One area where people are cautiously optimistic about the rise of AI is healthcare, especially its ability to read scans like mammograms, because AI can potentially be used to detect things human doctors may miss. Tech journalist Joanna Stern sits down with Madeleine Brand on Press Play to talk about her AI mammogram. And she wrote about the experience in her new book, I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI for Almost Everything.

PSA: Recent Phishing Scam Alert

Unknown individuals are impersonating KCRW employees, soliciting funds via emails and texts. The message invites recipients to participate in an interview and requests a booking or production fee, falsely representing this as a KCRW opportunity. KCRW will never solicit or accept money in exchange for coverage. Please do not respond, click links, or send payment. Always verify unexpected messages before taking action. KCRW staff email addresses will always come from @kcrw.org. This is a widespread issue. Be vigilant. 

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