Hi there,

Did you celebrate Caesar Salad’s 100th anniversary this 4th of July? I did not.

Okay, enough chit-chat. Let’s get into it. This July, we have three Summer Nights in DTLA, all very reachable by public transportation. Time to put your Metro card to use. 

📋Included in this week’s field guide:

• This Saturday’s Summer Nights at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes ft. El Conjunto Nueva Ola: ECNO and KCRW DJ Wyldeflower
• Morning Becomes Eclectic producer Anna Chang’s “walkable” afternoon guide to DTLA

THIS SATURDAY: LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes ft. El Conjunto Nueva Ola: ECNO and KCRW DJ Wyldeflower

You’re in for a treat. We’ve got an evening of cumbia¹ from across the continent. Curated by music journalist Betto Arcos, CUMBIA SOMOS will showcase the rich and diverse sounds of cumbia from its origins in the region known as Montes de María, Colombia, to the urban centers of every Latin American city, including Los Angeles. Bring your dancing shoes!

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes presents the first solo museum exhibition of artist Jaime Muñoz. Featuring large-scale mixed-media paintings and ink diagram drawings, Muñoz’s body of work navigates themes of labor commodification, the conflict between colonial history and notions of modernity, and reveals nuanced narratives often overlooked. Through his decorative and symbolic imagery, he challenges myths about the American experience. Don’t miss Jaime Muñoz: Truth Is A Moving Target.

Since we’ll be hanging out in DTLA this month I reached out to Anna Chang, perhaps one of the coolest people at KCRW, to give us some recommendations. She will not lead you astray. She’s a producer on Morning Becomes Eclectic, has her own music discovery podcast TurnOnTheAC, and from what I can tell from her IG, is very involved with a live comedy show that is also maybe a sandwich. 

She understood the assignment and provided walking instructions! Also conveniently on Google Maps.

Ok, so one of the few parts of LA that I find actually enjoyable to walk through is downtown. DTLA is pretty massive with so much to see and do, so I'm gonna focus my guide on a mini walking tour I've created on the eastern half of the DTLA bubble (mainly Arts District and Little Tokyo) starting south, going north, parallel to the LA river, ending at Union Station/LA Plaza for Summer Nights. You can do this entire walk in 45 minutes, but for leisurely stopping throughout the day, here's a loose timeline that I recommend:

**Come with comfy shoes, an empty stomach, and an empty KCRW tote bag because we're GOING SHOPPING (+ EATING + DRINKING). 

📍2:00 PM – SHOPPING @ SUEY SEW SHOP

Incredible spot with high-end upcycled clothing, gorg fabrics, linens/upholstery, and very well-priced second-hand offerings. Pro-tip: drop off your stained or under-worn white items and get them dyed at Suey's community dye bath! (colors change monthly) 

Walk up Mateo St. and stop at the corner or turn right on 7th St.

📍2:30 PM – LUNCH ~pick your fighter~ 

BURGER + BEER @ ERB

Solid drinks and bites on a sunny back patio, with especially good seating for big groups! 

OR

SANDWICH + COFFEE @ BREAD LOUNGE

Delicious fresh pastries, coffee, and sandos *get the Ho Barcelona* — also, cute outdoor seating! 

Walk up Mateo St. until you hit Palmetto St., turn left, then right up S. Hewitt St. until 4th St. where you'll turn left. On this leg of the walk, you'll pass through parts of the Arts District filled with lots of gems along the way, so make stops wherever piques your fancy. 

📍3:30 PM – MIDDAY SNACK / REWARD FOR WALKING @ AVENUE 26

Tacos with all the salsas and fixin’s you could ever want and need + a free hot potato!

Walk north on Alameda St. until you hit 2nd St, where you'll turn left, now you're in Little Tokyo. 

📍4:00 PM – SHOPPING @ GOING UNDERGROUND RECORDS²

Cool independent record shop serving up new and used vinyl and cassettes. Love that you can find brand new albums from your favorite contemporary artists on vinyl — a perfect gift or treat-yourself moment. 

📍4:30 PM – DRINK @ WOLF AND CRANE

Fancy and creative craft cocktails where they specialize in Japanese whisky. The "Yuzu Penicillin" is truly chef's kiss!

📍5:00 PM – FINAL LEWK SEE @ SPACE CITY VINTAGE 

An array of vintage repping every decade, style, and item in huge variety. Perfect if you're looking for a cool graphic tee, an outrageous jacket, or an accessory you absolutely do not need but will supply the extra drip you need for Summer Nights. 

Walk 14 minutes north on Alameda St. and you'll hit Union Station (on the right) or LA Plaza (on the left). Or be appropriately lazy and take a 4-minute Uber. 

📍6:00 PM – DANCING @ LA PLAZA (July 13th) / UNION STATION (July 20th and 27th) FOR SUMMER NIGHTS!

Thank you, Anna!

Let me know if you try any of these places and I’ll forward to Anna. It will make her day. Have a favorite place in DTLA or something near an upcoming Summer Nights party? Share it with me and maybe I can turn this Google Map into a crowdsourced resource for you all. 

Have a great rest of your week,

Nathalie Hill

Your Summer Nights Field Guide Ranger

1 – Don’t know what cumbia is? Here’s a quick explainer video from KCRW DJ Raul Campos.

2 – You can cross “visit record shop” off your KCRW Summer Bucket List Bingo card!

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