Author Archives: Alissa

Bobak Ferdowsi: Life on Mars

Yesterday I posted some background on my LA Weekly People Issue story about Margot Ocañas, the city’s new pedestrian coordinator. Today, I’d like you to meet my other interview subject, Bobak Ferdowsi. But you probably know him better as Mohawk Guy, the … Continue reading

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Margot Ocañas: Walking the walk

Some of my favorite assignments, hands down, are for the LA Weekly’s People Issue, the annual glossy-covered edition featuring the city’s most fascinating Angelenos. This year I wrote two profiles, and they’re both such special People (with a capital P) … Continue reading

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Five things to know about The Big Parade

This weekend I’ll be logging somewhere around 20 miles and 50 or so public stairways on my FuelBand as part of the massive urban walk from downtown to the Hollywood sign known as the Big Parade. This is my fifth parade—daaaaamn!—and although I’m … Continue reading

Posted in building, reading, walking | 6 Comments

Haterating: “The Californians: Karina Returns”

I was devastated when Kristen Wiig left Saturday Night Live last year because it meant the loss of one of most quotable SNL characters in recent memory. “Are you out of your MIND? The 405 will be totally JAMMED!” has … Continue reading

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A face only a mother could love

Wishing a very Happy Mother’s Day to one very good-looking mom, from one very weird looking baby. She still looks pretty much exactly like this photo of her, by the way. And sometimes I still look exactly like I do … Continue reading

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The Medium is the message

As a kind of post-CicLAvia/pre-Bike Week commemoration, I published my first piece over on Medium this week, which happens to be about biking. Medium is a new platform for reading and writing and I couldn’t be more excited to use … Continue reading

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Haterating “Leaving Los Angeles”

When I posted yesterday’s inaugural LA Haters post, I honestly thought it would be a series I’d add to maybe once or twice a month. Little did I know that more anti-LA vitriol was already seeping out of the internet … Continue reading

Posted in building, designing, reading | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

KCRW reporters have great names, too

Earlier this week I read a story that you might have seen as well: Why NPR (and PRI and American Public Media) reporters have such great names like Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, Renee Montagne, Ira Glass, Chana Joffe-Walt, Dina Temple-Raston, Guy Raz, Kai Ryssdal, Lourdes Garcia-Navarro, Neda … Continue reading

Posted in DnA, reading | 4 Comments

April in May

One of my favorite transit stops in the city, by far. And for those of you who don’t understand my headline pun, here’s more information on “hand holding a bowl of rice.” More street walking.

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Hi Los Angeles Hater! Rating “LA’s Alternate Realities”

Every few weeks a big story about Los Angeles lands on the internet, hoping to deliver the ultimate citywide diss while lazily employing half-century-old stereotypes. Usually we laugh it off because we’re shallow losers and, like, who has time to read … Continue reading

Posted in building, designing, reading | Tagged , , | 22 Comments