5 Steps To Becoming an Independent Radio Producer

5 Essential Books about Los Angeles

By Kevin Roderick, Editor of LA Observed

2010 was a good year for additions to the canon of books about greater Los Angeles – the city itself, plus the metropolis of ten million or so people that live in that sea of lights you see flying into LAX at night. History, architecture and the back story of those people are themes that run through this year’s books. For the discerning Angeleno, here are five books that would add some luster to any shelf. [more...]

5 Nostalgic Christmas Specials

By KCRW DJ Marion Hodges

As I started to think about the specials that stood out most from my childhood, I realized that they were the same specials that were making countless other top five lists. Now don’t get me wrong, I could extol the virtues on “A Charlie Brown Christmas” to a greater extent than any of you would likely care to read (this year was the first in as long as I can remember that it wasn’t on the the background while decorating my Mom’s tree). “Frosty the Snowman,” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” also hold dear places in my heart, but still, I decided to dig a little deeper. What were the other televised treats that lit up my young face? Here are five that I was thrilled to re-explore this year. [more...]

5 Movies that take place around Christmas, but aren’t about Christmas… they’re about GUNS!

By KCRW DJ Mario Cotto

As a kid… long before I ever visited L.A., I always thought that Christmas in L.A. must be awesome! Awesome, because the sun still shines super brightly and people wrap lights around their palm trees (which looks pretty funny.) And awesome because that’s when cops in L.A. get insanely heroic. In fact, around the holidays… it seems that since time immemorial “good guys” all around the world,  get put into really difficult situations that would typically shatter ordinary dudes, but somehow “good guys” make it through. It could be the Spirit of Christmas… but I think that it’s actually about how many GUNS you have at Christmas. This list will give you a rundown of how many guns you should have, how to use them, and how to handle dire situations with really bad dudes. [more...]

5 Great Gifts for the Art Lover

By KCRW Art Talk Host, Edward Goldman

To make your life a little bit easier during the Christmas frenzy, here is a wonderful array of art books to give as holiday gifts. Trust me, your friends and family will be amused and entertained.

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