John Marshall High School, 3939 Tracy Street, Los Angeles
The façade of this classic school showed up in the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Mask, Wonder Years, Rebel Without a Cause, Grease, The Fisher King, Naked Gun, Reservoir Dogs, Space Jam…well, you’re certain to get that funny feeling.

1300 Block of Carroll Avenue
This little street of lovingly-restored Victorian homes in Angelino Heights appears constantly onscreen. A short list: The Thorn Birds, Earthquake, Salem’s Lot, Nickelodeon, Of Mice and Men, Deuce Bigelow, and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

The Carousel on Santa Monica Pier
Near the beginning of The Sting, Robert Redford finds Paul Newman hiding out in a brothel housed in a carousel in 1930s Chicago: really, of course, it’s our carousel with a little makeup. In the movie, Redford quizzes the madam as she sweeps the white staircase on the west side. Many other flicks have been shot here: you feel ghosts in every corner.

Echo Park Lake
Dozens of great films have been shot here. Jack Nicholson rows the lake near the beginning of Chinatown. It also appears in L.A. Confidential, Pulp Fiction, True Confessions, the Grifters, and of course, Echo Park.

Security Bank Building, 6381-6385 Hollywood Boulevard
Okay, not a movie set, but Raymond Chandler’s iconic L.A. detective Philip Marlowe had his fictional office on the sixth floor of this classic granite building. Marlowe appeared in, among other films, The Big Sleep, Lady in the Lake, The Long goodbye, and Farewell My Lovely. Gives me chills to pass it.

Two books to carry: Hollywood Escapes by Harry Medved & Bruce Akiyama and Hollywood: The Movie Lover’s Guide by Richard Alleman. Both used for sources on the above.

Now I’m not a food connoisseur, but I do know a good taco when I meet one. Here are some of my top picks.

Alameda Swap Meet (44th and Alameda, LA, 90058)
An incredibly festive place and there are so many places to score awesome tacos here, it’s tough to know where to start. The main “restaurant” alone sells so many kinds you’d need a month to try them all (the fried potato tacos are special!) – though most of the “variety” meats (buche, anyone?) don’t appeal to a gavacho like me. They also make fantastic aguas frescas (watermelon is my fave) and sell bags of freshly made churros.

Kogi Tacos (find them at kogibbq.com)
Don’t miss this trendy Korean (that’s right) taco truck when it rolls into your neighborhood. Their short rib tacos are sweet, spicy and crunchy (it’s the cabbage) and highly addictive…make sure you only have enough money for no more than three or you will regret it. Please learn from my mistakes.

Cactus (many locales, I haunt the stand at 950 Vine Street, 90038)
My old standby. For me, Cactus’ dry carnitas is just right. I cannot tell you why their tacos filled with tiny fried shrimp are so damn satisfying, but they ARE. I do know that their salsa is HOT.

Jack in the Box
Their greasy, deep-fried taco-like things are the greatest late-night-out-drinking food EVER. And no, I have no idea what that substance is inside of them, but I know its delish. I still have a couple of 2-for-99-cents coupons laying around from high school.

Stand on the north side of Olympic between Oxford and San Marino in Koreatown (usually there nights between 7 and 10)

NOTE: Since I wrote this, my little taco angel has disappeared. I hope he’s OK…maybe he’s gracing your street corner!

I don’t know his name, but the little man behind the homemade grill makes a mean carne asada taco. If you get there early enough, he often grills little onions with the meat and he’ll give you a few to go with your tacos. Don’t forget the radishes and pickled Jalapenos…they’re not too spicy.

As a music fan, I have a love/hate relationship with lists.  I always grumble through putting together a “top 10” of anything and if you ask me to rank them in order… forget about it.  That said, there’s nothing I love more than talking about my favorite tracks, albums, etc and I realized if I were to do any sort of “top 5” I needed to start at the beginning. My own beginning with music.  It’s about the way these songs make me feel.

For me, this music is the reason I do what I do.  Some represent a moment in time, some represent emotion, but they all are pieces of music that stop me dead in my tracks.  They are intensely personal and are my own poetry.

The Beatles – “For No One”
I first heard this song on the eve of my 10th birthday.  I was in the 4th grade.  My family was going to Disneyworld for spring break and I had just discovered the Beatles through my best friend’s aunt.  I asked for one of their albums and my parents chose Revolver for me.  Wow.  I listened to the cassette of Revolver over and over again in the caron one of those old portable cassette players.  When I heard this song (and album) I knew it was about something big and something important but I didn’t quite understand what it was.  I could tell that it was the saddest song about lost love I had ever heard without knowing what lost love was.  Even at that age, I somehow got the irony of being at Disneyworld while listening to Revolver. This is where it all started.

The Kinks – “Waterloo Sunset”
Not long after I moved to Los Angeles, I was driving on Mulholland at about 2:30 in the morning by myself.  Gary Calamar was on KCRW and he played “Waterloo Sunset.”  I pulled over, looked at the view and just listened to the music and felt very in love with that time and place.

Debussey – “Claire de Lune”
To me this song is about peace.  If everyone in the world could listen to this piece of music at the same time, I’m fully convinced that all of our world’s problems would be solved.  How can you listen to “Claire de Lune” and feel angry or feel like going to war or feel like not taking really good care of your children?

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass – “A Taste Of Honey”
This devastates me in a dance-around-the-living-room-and-have-a-party kind of way.  It reminds me of long summer evenings in Virginia, a house full of people having fun — laughing, eating, cocktails for the grown-ups and catching lightning bugs for the children.  I play it as much as possible for my son, Guy.

Johnny Cash – “If You Could Read My Mind”
This is a Gordon Lightfoot song from the 70’s.  Although this story has nothing to do with this particular song, I think of it when I hear Johnny Cash perform “If You Could Read My Mind.”  I saw June Carter Cash perform at the Troubadour in the late 90’s and she brought Johnny Cash on stage to do “Ring of Fire”  The love and devotion they had for each other and the way they looked into each other’s eyes is what struck me most about the performance.  True love.

When I heard this particular song it was about three years after both of their deaths on Johnny Cash’s posthumous release, American V, one of his last collaborations with Rick Rubin.  The feeling in his voice at the end of his life and the lyrics of the song never fail to turn me inside out.  A true American master.  Listen to this under headphones.  You will weep.

I absolutely love to travel.  Currently I’m up to 16 countries and it’s a bit of an addiction, I admit, but to quote the wise Anne Litt — “it’s a great problem to have.”  I have been thinking back on all my travels — from horrible hostels and 13-hour train rides to some of the most euphoric sunsets and food that doesn’t make you miss your momma’s cooking. So I present to you the top 5 places around the world where you seem to lose track of time.

1) Barcelona, Spain:

My absolute favorite city in the world (thus far). As a city by the beach, it’s a lot like Los Angeles…but way better. It’s rich in history, amazing landscapes, great venues for live music, stunning museums, beautiful people. Barcelona oozes cultural appeal. A few highlights:
La Ramblas is a thoroughfare with lots of street theater, much like 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, and it ends at the beach, just like our Sunset Boulevard.

All the Antoni Gaudi architecture, La Sagrada Familia to Casa Vicens…it’s all simply stunning and transformative. For example, the Gaudi park, Park Guell, is like Alice in Wonderland for adults — you wander about for hours examining all his structures as if you were in a museum.

2) Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica:

This place is a true getaway in every sense of the word. Tucked away on the southern Caribbean coast of the country, nearly bordering Panama, Puerto Viejo is ALL ABOUT CHILL!

Just south of the main commercial district is a “green” resort called Almonds and Corals, where the rooms are elevated so that you can see spider monkeys in the tree canopy and are awakened by the sounds of howling monkeys. This isn’t some official advertisement for the resort, but if you do go, you will not be disappointed.

3) Koh Lanta, Thailand:

Thailand is truly a hippie’s haven and I’m a true hippie at heart. I was amazed by how many people I met there who were “just passing through” and ended up staying for up to 10 years.  There’s a mystique about Southeast Asia, and Thailand in particular, that’s difficult to put into words.  Koh Lanta, on the Andaman Sea, is an island where one of my fantasies came true — staying at a beach bungalow, I walked out to the sand, looked left…looked right…and there was not a soul in sight.  Imagine you on a beach that looks like a Corona commercial — hot tropical sun and some of the most pristine water you’ll ever see in your life.  Thailand baby, no place like it.

4) Cinque Terre, Italy:

Cinque Terre, or ”The Five Lands,” sit on the coast between Pisa and Genoa.  The five villages can only be reached by boat or train and  are connected by a walking trail, with the shortest hike between any two being about 25 minutes.  The mountainside trek is right above the point where the Mediterranean and Tyrrenian Seas converge.  Italy declared the region a national park and it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  As long as these two distinctions remain, there will never be any large hotel or restaurant chains.  Every business in Cinque Terre is a true “mom and pop” and I can say without hesitation that Italy has the best food in Europe and Cinque Terre has the best food in Italy.

Being from a large metropolis, such as Los Angeles, when you’re in a town with no cars, no roads, no McDonalds, no Starbucks, and a summer high season of about 500 people, it is very easy to completely lose any sense of time or space.

5) Brasil:

Okay, the fact that I listed a country as opposed to one particular city, as I did with the other four, should tell you a lot about the country. Some may say I have saved the best for last. The most amazing thing about Brasil is it’s people’s philosophy on life. Work to live, not live to work.

Greetings all! My name is Laura Shumate. I am KCRW’s Drive Director and I absolutely love the Pledge Drives – the 11-day event where the entire station, business communities and listeners all come together to help keep this vital resource alive and kicking. If you’ve ever participated as a pledge drive phone volunteer, then you know the drive is all that – alive and kicking! Wonder what I’m talking about? Well, here are my 5 Favorite Things about the KCRW Pledge Drives:

1. Coffee

I have one vice. It’s not even a vice. It’s a pleasure. I have one pleasure and it is caffeine. I enjoy it most in its completely invigorating form – coffee. So I’m understandably excited that the pledge drives feature “The Endless Cup,” a constant flow of coffee on tap, provided by one of L.A.’s many fine coffee providers.  We feature three distinct flavors: strong, regular and decaf. Damn good coffee. And hot too!

2- Food

I have a second pleasure/vice and that’s eating. The debate is open as to whether eating is actually a vice or necessity, but during the drive it’s a regular Fellini “Roma” debacle. KCRW pledge drives feature the generous support of restaurants throughout L.A. On any given day you will see a variety of the following (in no particular order): muffins, bagels, s’mores, tamales, pizza, pasta, seafood, farmers market fresh fruit, vegan, brownies, vegetarian, raw, Indian, Italian, Greek, Mexican, hamburgers, sausages, ice cream – yeesh… I’m full.

3- What’s Happening!

Subscription drives are where KCRW raises the “Lion’s Share” of our annual budget. So it’s very important that our on air pitchers are able to convince the 1,000s of listeners to call in and support. But how? With stuff! But not just any stuff – premiums! Valuable stuff from the latest and greatest of what’s happening in Los Angeles and beyond. The drive staff and I take note everything from what’s just opened to where you just went and we contact these outstanding businesses to offer a gift certificate in exchange for listener support. Vacations, spas, restaurants, stores and CDs… If you want to know what’s going on in L.A., listen to the drives – we got it! And if you support KCRW you can get it.

4 – Community

KCRW is a non-profit, member funded radio service. Without a supportive community, it’s difficult to imagine how KCRW might exist. But during the drives we see an outpouring of support and we see it in droves. From the businesses that donated their gift certificate, to the listener that pledged for it, to the phone volunteer that took their pledge, to the restaurant that fed the volunteer… This is what I find most satisfying about the KCRW subscription drives. The community that comes together to ensure that KCRW may continue for another year.

5 – Fun!!

The pledge drives are a blast! KCRW is manned by a committed group of hard-working, intelligent and very funny folk. It’s in our nature to have a good time – even during a pledge drive. We’re enjoying delicious fare, making new friends, answering tons of phone calls, showing off our basement digs, watching our favorite KCRW personalities sing for their supper…We laugh, we cry, we give away iPod Touches and we get to share in the satisfaction that we’re all helping to keep KCRW on the air one more year.

Sign up to join the fun: http://www.kcrw.com/join/drive-signup/volunteer

Pledge Drive Image from El Daybeh’s Flickr Photostream

I’ve always believed that the way you dress is an expression of who you are — it didn’t help growing up surrounded by four sisters and going to French schools!
So, I decided to pick 5 clothing lines and designers that are coming up and taking their craft seriously.

1. Nom de Guerre

This New York-based label has been flourishing for the last 5 years now — city chic meets army classic. It’s all made in Japan. Hipper than hipsters.

http://www.nomdeguerre.net/

2- Chatav Ectabit

All the garments are made in India and are unisex. It redefines cool casual wear that looks effortless.

http://www.chatavectabit.com/

3- Coming Soon

Parisian-based label from legendary Japanese designer Yohji Yamamato’s daughter! 21st century clothing

4 – Warriors of Radness

This Los Angeles-based company is taking 60’s surf wear to a whole other level.

http://www.warriorsofradness.com/home

5 – Beams International

Only retailed in Japan, this store/label is what fashion should be about — affordable, good quality clothes that are, stylistically, looking forward with an appreciation and an understanding of the past.

My name is Michael, and I am a (mostly) recovering vinyl junkie. There was a time in the not so distant past where I’d spend whatever money I had on records. Rent, food money, clothing expenses, all were secondary to an insatiable need for vinyl. Nowadays I’m not nearly as crazily addicted as I used to be, but I still appreciate a great record store.

Unfortunately, great record stores are becoming a thing of the past, so please, keep the vinyl alive and make sure to support your own local independent record stores. If you find yourself in close proximity to any of THESE stores, make sure you saved up a little extra moolah and set aside 3 or 4 hours (or more) to do your diggin’ right and feed your own vinyl habit.

5. Good Records
218 East 5th Street
New York, NY 10009
(212) 529-2081
http://www.goodrecordsnyc.com/

DJs who I respect rave about both the jaw-dropping quality of records and the service from the staff at NYC’s Good Records. Like a number of stores opened by Hip-Hop DJs, they stock a diverse variety of funky fare from all over the world, new and old, and specialize in rare pieces, particularly from Africa.

4. Jazz Record Mart
27 East Illinois
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 222-1467

Bar none, this is the single best record store in the country for Jazz and Blues. For a store only focused on two genres, it’s very well stocked with cheap and mid-range titles to begin your collection plus a separate smaller "collector’s" section with titles you rarely ever see.

3. Record Man
1322 El Camino Real
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 368-9065
http://www.recordman.com/

DJs always referred to the guy who owned this store as the "Record Nazi," solely in reference to the Seinfeld "Soup Nazi" character. I don’t think he ever actually said "No records for you!," but I’d always hear stories about how he would look at the records, then look at the person and say something like "For you, this one’s is $30, I can’t sell you this one, and this one is $50." I never got this treatment, he just looked the records up in a book. Sorta disappointing.

Aside from the legend, this is absolutely one of the best stocked record stores I’ve ever been in. If you didn’t have a list coming in, you’ll go completely blank amongst all the vinyl gems.

2. Bagatelle Records
260 Atlantic Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 432-7534

A crate-diggers paradise, with records semi-sorted, boxed, stacked and piled everywhere (there’s even hidden panels in the shelves that reveal even more records behind them!). I once spent 3 hours going through probably 1,000 45s at this spot – and that wasn’t even 1/20 of the 7" collection! It really does require a whole day, maybe two, to comb through this store fully, but I guarantee you will find something on vinyl here you’ve been looking for.

1. Groove Merchant
687 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 252-5766

While it’s tiny compared to behemoths like Amoeba, you will never find a record store that has more top quality records than Groove Merchant. Owner Cool Chris finds mega rare records that no one else has, like `spend your kid’s college money’ rare records, but he also has sells a number of solid records for much more reasonable prices than similar dealers. This is the store that you must go to if you consider yourself a "serious" collector. Even if you just want to foster a deeper appreciation of multiple genres, spend a few hours at Groove Merchant, browsing, listening to records and, most importantly, talking about some of the best music ever recorded.

(Honorable Mention)
Records L.A.
5654 W. Adams Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
(213) 399-9806

This spot, which just opened in Oct. 2009, has so much potential I call it "Groove Merchant South," because it has the same mix of high quality rare titles and way too affordable gems, especially on 45. Stop by, let traffic die down, and give in to your need for fresh vinyl.

I never respond to requests for five best books of the year — there are too many and I wouldn’t trust anyone to have read  enough of them to know the best.  I’m comfortable choosing my five favorites, so here they are:

Bookworm’s Five Favorite Books of 2009

1.  The Magicians by Lev Grossman (Viking)

A complete surprise to me.  A first novel that’s sort of a Harry  Potter for grown ups.  Brilliantly constructed, even post-modern, it’s a  real treat.

2.  The Confessions of Edward Day by Valerie Martin (Nan A,
Talese/Doubleday)

Everyone always overlooks Valerie Martin, and she’s great.  This one  is a novel about acting and schizophrenia, Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of stuff.  If you haven’t read her famous book, Mary Reilly (they made a bad movie out of it), try this one.  Or her last, Property, a really terrifying novel about slavery.  Or A Recent Martyr, a book about sainthood and plague set in New Orleans.  Really, you can hardly go wrong with Valerie  Martin.

3.  Your Face Tomorrow by Javier Marias (New Directions)

This is an espionage novel as Henry James might have written it.  It’s  a trilogy in three volumes,the last of which has just been published.  Read
them in order.  Marias was recommended to me by John Ashbery and when it comes to weird, thrilling books he is a connoisseur.  I read all three  volumes in around ten days straight and couldn’t put them down.  Marias  came to America for the first time in twenty years recently, so Bookworm has an upcoming interview with him.

4.  Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann (Random House)

This one won the National Book Award, so it may not be news to you, but it’s the book with the greatest emotional breadth that I’ve read this  year. It’s set during the high-wire crossing of the World Trade Center  towers, so the ghosts of 9/11 hover over the novel, but it’s so oblique, so well structured and so moving that you experience a strange deja vu as you  read.

5. Nog, Flats and Quake by Rudolph Wurlitzer ( Two Dollar Radio  )

A throwback.  These three novels were published in 1968, 1970 and  1972 respectively.  Each book is short, but dense and trippy.  If you  want to know what it felt like to be a reader in the late 60’s and early  70’s, when so many new experimental works were put out by mainstream  publishers, these books are great places to start.  Nog even had a blurb  from Thomas Pynchon (”the novel of bullshit is dead!”), Flats wore its Samuel  Beckett influence proudly on its sleeve, Quake took us through a slo mo pomo  earthquake in L.A. Together they provide a tour of the dissolution of  identity that was daily life in the late sixties.

Please let me know your favorite books published this year.

Michael Silverblatt

You’ve heard from KCRW’s tastemakers and personalities and now we want to hear from you. As we reflect on ’09, we want to know your 5 favorite books. Comment below and let us know which books you couldn’t put down this year.

A must for the serious reader, KCRW’s Bookworm showcases writers of fiction and poetry – the established, new or emerging – all interviewed with insight and precision by the show’s host and guiding spirit, Michael Silverblatt.