Sonic Trace Finishes Construction of Portable Sound Booth “La Burbuja”

KCRW Storytelling Project Records Stories from Mexicans and Central Americans in Los Angeles

It’s official – La Burbuja is finished and Sonic Trace’s portable sound booth is ready to record stories!

“The Bubble” has made its first stop at Guelaguetza Restaurant in Koreatown and will be open Monday – Thursday from Noon – 6:00pm through December 6th.

The multi-platform storytelling experience, produced by Anayansi Diaz-Cortes and Eric Pearse Chavez, begins in the heart of Los Angeles and crosses into Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Part radio, part video, part mapping project, Sonic Trace asks ¿Por qué te vas? ¿Por qué te quedas? ¿Por qué regresas? Why do you go? Why do you stay? And, what makes you return?

La Burbuja made a sneak-peak recording debut at the restaurant in early August, to help celebrate Sonic Trace’s successful Kickstarter campaign which garnered enough backers to fund the building of the silvery orb. Part of KCRW’s Independent Producer Project, the project is co-produced with AIR, Inc. through the national Localore initiative, and sponsored by the Awesome Foundation.

The design, La Burbuja, was the brainchild of Hugo Martinez and Christin To, co-founders of MAT-TER Design + Build Studio who submitted their designs as part a competition sponsored by KCRW’s DnA. The call for entries challenged builders, architects, designers and creatives to submit proposals to design a portable sound booth to record stories for the Sonic Trace project – all for under $5,000.

Now, after weeks of hard work, La Burbuja has its final coat of chrome finish and is ready to record!

For inspiration, check out the latest five-part Sonic Trace radio series on the Sonic Trace blog. The stories trace Zapotecas in LA and show how a small part of Koreatown has become a hub for these indigenous Oaxacans.

For more information on Sonic Trace please visit their blog at www.kcrw.com/sonictrace or on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sonictrace

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About KCRW
KCRW 89.9FM, licensed to Santa Monica College, is an NPR affiliate based in Southern California. The Santa Monica-based nonprofit represents cutting edge radio at its best, presenting an eclectic mix of independent music, news, talk and arts programming. The terrestrial signal serves Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura Counties, as well as parts of San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, and Santa Barbara Counties and the greater Palm Springs area. KCRW’s programming is internationally renowned and available worldwide via KCRW.com, including three streaming channels, 27 podcasts and archives of our locally-produced programs and live band performances. Hear KCRW music online, all the time, on the ALL music stream Eclectic24.

About SONIC TRACE
Sonic Trace is part of Localore, a national initiative of AIR–Association for Independents in Radio — with principal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It is produced in partnership with AIR and Zeega. The broadcast home of Sonic Trace is KCRW’s Independent Producer Project. A very special thanks to the Awesome Foundation for helping us fund La Burbuja.

About Localore/Association of Independents in Radio (AIR)
Sonic Trace is part of a national initiative of AIR, the Association of Independents in Radio, Inc. designed to bring new journalistic and technical ingenuity to extending public media service to more Americans. From Chinese restaurants in Boston, to shuttered factories in Dayton, to the oilfields of North Dakota, to Bay Area startups, the ten Localore production teams are working with their public station incubators to uncover ground-up stories of America in transition. AIR is a creative brain trust made up of more than 860 media makers from across the US and 20 countries worldwide who are re-imagining and reinventing public media and journalism for the 21st century. Its programs are designed to identify, cultivate, and deploy gifted talent for the benefit of citizens across the U.S. Learn more, and follow the work underway in the field at AIRmediaworks.org

About Guelaguetza Restaurant
Guelaguetza Restaurants is dedicated to the advocacy of Oaxaca’s culture in Los Angeles through its art, music and most importantly, food and drinks. Please visit our two locations to experience all Oaxaca. Our eldest location is in Koreatown and our most recently addition inside Plaza Mexico in the city of Lynwood.
3014 W Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90006

Station Announcement

Stephen Merchant to Join Colin Hanks, Marc Maron, Kumail Nanjiani, Retta & MORE!

Stephen Merchant Brings Wealth of Talent to Storytime for Grownups

Colin Hanks Hosts KCRW Show at Riot LA Comedy Festival

SANTA MONICA, CA., September 14, 2012 – KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) is excited to announce that Stephen Merchant will join their comedy showcase, Storytime for Grownups, which takes place as part of RIOT: LA’s Alternative Comedy Festival. Merchant, the co-writer and co-director of the British sitcom The Office, is also known as the co-host of The Ricky Gervais Show and was formerly the co-writer, co-director and a co-star of Extras. Merchant will share his own 7-minute story at the special benefit event, hosted by actor Colin Hanks.

Unlike traditional stand-up shows, Storytime for Grownups is a unique evening of comedic monologues, in a format similar to the popular storytelling series The Moth. An eclectic mix of guests take the stage including WTF podcast host ,Marc Maron Indoor Kids podcast co-host Kumail Nanjiani, Parks & Recreation actress Retta, Maria Bamford star of Comedians of Comedy and many more. Each will share a personal, funny and often touching tale with the audience.

Tickets to Storytime for Grownups, sold separately from RIOT LA festival passes, also include access to THE LOT, an outdoor food and vendor market. KCRW Presents THE LOT which will host LA’s favorite food trucks and provide free beer to entrants. Dozens of local vendors will also set-up in THE LOT selling hand crafted and vintage jewelry, clothing, accessories, art, knick knacks and numerous other indescribables, all carefully curated by the Tin Box Of Curious Artifacts. THE LOT will also feature giveaways, activities and surprises from RIOT LA sponsors.

RIOT: LA’s Alternative Comedy Festival, is a celebration of the underground comedy community and all that makes it unique. The first of its kind in Los Angeles, RIOT LA was born out of the need to share LA’s vibrant comedy scene with the world.

For more information on the event, including a full list of presenters and to purchase tickets, please visit www.kcrw.com/riotla. Proceeds from Storytime for Grownups ticket sales will benefit KCRW.

For more information on RIOT: LA including schedules, please visitwww.riotla.com

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Events

Pre-Sale Tickets for KCRW’s Halloween Party Masquerade on Sale Now

Masquerade Returns!

KCRW’s Halloween Costume Ball and Dance Party is Back for a 4th Year

The annual Halloween fundraiser returns to the Park Plaza on October 27, 2012

Pre-sale tickets are available starting TODAY

http://www.kcrw.com/masquerade

**Press on Masquerade 2011**

“KCRW’s annual Masquerade party has pretty much become the go-to Halloween event of choice here in LA.” – Media Bistro

“This year’s KCRW Ball may have come the closest one can get to the experience of William Randolph’s famed costume parties at the Hearst Castle during the decadent 1920’s. No matter which way you looked, there was no shortage of jaw dropping transformative wonder.” – LA Record.

“Between the DJ sets, stilt walkers, late-night snack options, and festive decorations, KCRW’s annual Halloween costume ball, Masquerade, was a hit.” – LA Magazine

“The sold out party was stuffed to the brim with those who were dressed to impress, varying from Puritan to exhibitionist and everything in between. The real focus of the evening was, however, the music.” – LA Weekly

SANTA MONICA, CA., September 7, 2012 — KCRW’s Halloween costume ball and dance party Masquerade will return on Saturday, October 27 and pre-sale tickets are now available. The annual fundraiser, held at the Park Plaza, includes five themed rooms with music provided by KCRW’s own skilled selectors and other high-profile DJs and live bands.

Ghost stories, food trucks, interactive experiences by Lucent Dossier and more add to the appeal of this blockbuster event, which has sold out every year. Proceeds for the event support the public radio station’s programming.

Pre-sale tickets to Masquerade will be $65 for KCRW Members and $75 to the general public. Only a limited number of tickets available at early bird prices. Tickets will then cost $85 in advance and $100 at the door.

The event is 21 and over and all tickets are general admission.

WHAT: Masquerade: A Halloween Costume Ball & Dance Party for KCRW

WHEN: Saturday, October 27, 2012

WHERE: The Legendary Park Plaza in Downtown LA– 607 South Park View Street

TIME: 9pm to 2am

DETAILS: http://www.kcrw.com/masquerade

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Rachel Reynolds– KCRW
(310) 314-4625
rachel.reynolds@kcrw.org

Assets:

Events, Station Announcement

KCRW’s 4th Annual Good Food Pie Contest Saturday, Sept. 8

MEDIA ALERT

KCRW’s 4^th Annual Good Food Pie Contest To Take Place Saturday, Sept. 8

WHAT:

KCRW’s 4^th Annual Good Food Pie Contest

Join over 280 bakers for the family-friendly event who have entered their pie creations in hopes of winning the ultimate baking battle. Attendees get a FREE piece of pie and FREE admission to LACMA that day for anyone wearing an apron!

Winners will be chosen by a star-studded panel of Los Angeles’ BEST bakers, chefs, restaurateurs, food critics and personalities! (please see list below)

Plus, KCRW DJ Anne Litt will be on the decks providing the perfect soundtrack to the day’s festivities.

WHEN:

Saturday, September 8, 2012

** Media Check-in: 1:00pm **

Public Festivities: 2:00-4:00pm

WHERE:

LACMA

5905 Wilshire Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90036

WHO:

* Huell Howser * Michael Voltaggio * Ilan Hall * Krista Simmons * David LeFevre * Sherry Yard * Zoe Nathan * Karen Hatfield * Russ Parsons * Jonathan Gold * Kris Morningstar * Shannon Swindle * Josh Graves * and MANY more!

MEDIA OPPS:

Media will have an opportunity to take pictures of over 280 pies, bakers, and our panel of guest judges. We’ll also have interview opportunities with our judges.

** Interviews MUST be scheduled before Saturday **

Media Coverage Invited

Media Contact:

Alyssa King

KCRW

Alyssa.King@kcrw.org

Programming, Station Announcement

Warren Olney Takes On The World

KCRW Flip Flops Its Midday Programming

SANTA MONICA, CA., September 4, 2012 – KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) announced today its signature public-affairs program To The Point will change places with The World. Starting Monday, Sept. 10, Warren Olney’s daily news program will air between 1 and 2 p.m. PST on 89.9 FM and KCRW.com. PRI’s The World will start an hour earlier at noon following KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic.

“We’ve been thinking about this change for over a year. We think it will provide better service to our audience to follow The World with Warren,” said KCRW News Director Gary Scott. “We’ve been building our news department and this change, while small, can really help to highlight our new efforts.”

In the last year, KCRW has expanded its newsroom with the addition of All Things Considered host Steve Chiotakis and producer Avishay Artsy in addition to morning producers Saul Gonzalez and Darrell Satzman. Social-media producer Caitlin Shamberg joined the team to add a layer of engagement as editor of the Which Way, LA? blog and To The Point producer. Most recently, journalists Anna Scott and Evan George have joined Warren’s team under managing producer Sonya Geis.

The programming change will take place following this week’s live To the Point broadcast from the Democratic National Convention.

Co-produced by KCRW and Public Radio International, To the Point is nationally syndicated. It will air on KCRW at 89.9FM and at www.kcrw.com Monday – Friday at its new time of 1:00pm PST starting September 10.

The schedule change will not affect when the show airs in other markets. Please check local listings. To see a full list of syndicated stations or for more information on To the Point please visit www.kcrw.com/tothepoint.

The World, a daily, hour-long weekday news magazine, covers an array of topics including news, features, interviews and music from across the globe. It will air on KCRW at 89.9FM and kcrw.com Monday – Friday at its new time of noon PST on September 10. For more information on The World please visit: www.theworld.org

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Alyssa King – KCRW
(310) 314-4627
alyssa.king@kcrw.org

Programming, Station Announcement

“To the Point” Broadcasts Live From the Conventions

TO THE POINT BROADCASTS LIVE FROM THE CONVENTIONS

KCRW Sends News Team to Tampa and Charlotte

SANTA MONICA, CA, August 27, 2012 – KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) will be covering the Republican and Democratic Conventions live from Tampa and Charlotte. To the Point, the signature public affairs show hosted by Warren Olney, will be broadcasting the one-hour show live for the next two weeks starting today, August 27. KCRW producers will also provide on-the-ground reports and will inform listeners what others are saying at the To The Point 2012 Election Coverage page.

Guests on today’s To the Point include:

Michael Shear – Chief correspondent for New York Times Caucus blog
Bruce Fein – Senior policy advisor to the Ron Paul campaign
Sal Russo – Chief consultant to the Tea Party Express
Major Garrett – White House correspondent for the National Journal
Gary Langer – President of Langer Research Associates and a pollster for ABC News
Wayne Slater – Senior political writer for the Dallas Morning News

Additional KCRW 2012 election coverage includes the weekly To the Point segment Red State Blue State which airs every Monday on the show. Host Warren Olney discusses politics and the presidential campaign with Carla Marinucci from the San Francisco Chronicle and Wayne Slater from the Dallas Morning News to hear both sides of the issues.

To the Point is a fast-paced, news based one-hour daily national program that focuses on the hot-button issues of the day, co-produced by KCRW and Public Radio International. The nationally syndicated show airs live on KCRW 89.9FM and kcrw.com Monday – Friday at 12:00pm.

To see a full syndication list of stations please click HERE. For more information on To the Point please visit: www.kcrw.com/ttp

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Alyssa King – KCRW
(310) 314-4627
alyssa.king@kcrw.org

Events, Station Announcement

KCRW’s Left, Right, & Center LIVE

KCRW Presents Left, Right, & Center LIVE

Tickets On Sale Now Evening Hosted by Matt Miller and Robert Scheer

Election season is in full swing and KCRW is presenting a LIVE edition of our civilized, yet provocative radio debate Left, Right & Center. Enjoy witty, irreverent, no-holds barred repartee from our fearless hosts as they tackle today’s headlines, head on.

Sunday, November 11 at 6pm
“Election ’12: The Morning After”
Broad Stage, Santa Monica

Join us as our hosts ask the question “What’s next?” for the newly elected president.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to kcrw.com/lrclive

ABOUT OUR HOSTS:

Matt Miller is a weekly columnist for the Washington Post, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress; and a contributor and guest host for MSNBC. He’s author of The Two Percent Solution: Fixing America’s Problems In Ways Both Conservatives and Liberals Can Love and The Tyranny Of Dead Ideas: Revolutionary Thinking for A New Age of Prosperity. Miller served as a White House budget advisor in the Clinton Administration.

Robert Scheer is Editor-In-Chief of the award-winning winning politics website, Truthdig.com and a nationally syndicated columnist. Over nearly a half century in journalism, including 3 decades at the Los Angeles Times, Scheer has distinguished himself as a correspondent and columnist. Scheer is a professor at USC’s Annenberg School of Journalism and Communications. He’s authored 9 books, most recently, The Great American Stick-up: How Reagan Republicans and Clinton Democrats Enriched Wall Street While Mugging Main Street.

Events, Station Announcement

Top Chef Triad Joins Panel of Pie Tasters

TOP CHEF TRIAD JOINS PANEL OF PIE TASTERS

Huell Howser Also Named a Judge For KCRW 4^th Annual Good Food Pie Contest

SANTA MONICA, CA., August 26, 2012 – KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) is pleased to announce the final names for the 4^th annual Good Food Pie Contest which include television personality Huell Howser who has agreed to be a taste-tester alongside an esteemed panel of palates. A notable Top Chef Triad also joins the group including Top Chef Michael Voltaggio of Ink restaurant, Top Chef Ilan Hall of The Gorbals and Top Chef Masters judge and LAist Food Editor Krista Simmons. Chef Kris Morningstar and Pastry Chef Josh Graves of Ray’s at LACMA and the newly opened Coffee + Milk cafe and bakery also at LACMA round out the list for the star-studded panel.

The Good Food Pie-A-Day festivities which include daily pie photos and recipes from renowned pastry chefs, bakers, cookbook writers and listeners on the Good Food blog and will continue in the weeks leading up to the contest which takes place on September 8.

For the second year, the event will take place at LACMA and will feature a special art-themed pie category. This year, bakers can submit pies inspired by Metropolis II by Chris Burden who coincidentally, our own Good Food on the Road host Jonathan Gold, once worked for as a studio assistant. He also shared what he thought a pie in the category might look and taste like in Saturday’s episode of Good Food with Evan Kleiman.

In addition to receiving free admission to LACMA for wearing an apron that day, attendees can participate in the apron fashion show which will take place shortly after the festivities kick off.

To more information and to see a complete list of judges for the 4^th Annual Good Food Pie Contest please visit www.kcrw.com/pie. For all things pie and to check out the Good Food Pie-A-Day blog posts, please visit: www.kcrw.com/goodfood

Jonathan Gold shares his thoughts on a Metropolis II inspired pie

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Alyssa King – KCRW
(310) 314-4627
alyssa.king@kcrw.org

About Good Food Pie Contest:

Now in its fourth year, the Good Food Pie Contest started in 2009 when KCRW Good Food Host and Chef Evan Kleiman set out to make pie. As a chef and restaurant owner for over 25 years, Evan finally realized it was time to take on the delicious dessert. That summer, Evan made a pie a day and blogged about it on KCRW’s Good Food Blog. Her passion set off a pie fervor across LA and the Good Food Pie Contest was born. Good Food has since become a platform for all things pie – Evan has interviewed pie experts from across the country on-air and continues to chronicle her pie adventures on the Good Food Blog.

About KCRW:
KCRW 89.9FM, licensed to Santa Monica College, is an NPR affiliate based in Southern California. The Santa Monica-based nonprofit represents cutting edge radio at its best, presenting an eclectic mix of independent music, news, talk and arts programming. The terrestrial signal serves Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura Counties, as well as parts of San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, and Santa Barbara Counties and the greater Palm Springs area. KCRW’s programming is internationally renowned and available worldwide via KCRW.com, including three streaming channels, 27 podcasts and archives of our locally-produced programs and live band performances. Hear KCRW music online, all the time, on the ALL music stream Eclectic24.

Assets:

Bakers serve slices of pie to contest attendees

Programming, Station Announcement

KCRW Sets Goal To Donate 150,000 Meals During Summer Pledge Drive

KCRW SETS GOAL TO DONATE 150,000 MEALS DURING SUMMER PLEDGE DRIVE

Radio Station Partners with Los Angeles Regional Food Bank for Second Time

SANTA MONICA, CA, August 16, 2012 – KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) is pleased to announce they will again partner with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in an effort to fight hunger in the Los Angeles community. After partnering with the organization for their Winter Pledge Drive earlier in the year, the station set an ambitious goal to donate nearly twice as many meals during their Summer Pledge Drive which begins today.

“More than 1.7 million residents of Los Angeles County are food insecure and struggling to put food on the table for themselves and their families,” said Michael Flood, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “These are people that experience the lack of food multiple times throughout the year. This may mean having to involuntarily skip meals, go hungry and for parents, forgo eating so their children have food. We are excited to join KCRW in battling this fight against hunger in our community.”

“KCRW has always been an organization that makes LA a better place to live. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is the same,” KCRW General Manager Jennifer Ferro said. “We are so happy to offer our members the chance to give up a gift for themselves and instead provide a gift of food to people truly in need in our region.”

When KCRW first partnered with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in January, supporters were given the option to donate meals instead of receiving a premium gift. For every $10/month donation to the station during the 9-day drive, 40 meals were in turn donated to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. KCRW was able to donate over 80,000 meals during that time.

The KCRW fall pledge drive runs through Friday, August 24. To support KCRW please visit www.kcrw.com/join.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Alyssa King – KCRW
(310) 314-4627
alyssa.king@kcrw.org

Events, Programming

KCRW Presents Special Edition of The Moth Mainstage

KCRW PRESENTS SPECIAL EDITION OF THE MOTH MAINSTAGE

Benefit Performance Features Evening Of Live Stories and Music

SANTA MONICA, CA, August 13, 2012 – For one night only, KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) is pleased to present a special edition of The Moth Mainstage. Taking place at the historic Avalon Hollywood, “Carpe Diem: Stories of Our Most Vital Moments” features some of the best storytellers around for an evening of live stories without any notes.

Following the performance, KCRW DJs and The Moth storytellers will host an after party at the adjacent Bardot. Top level ticket holders will have a chance to sip complementary beer & wine and chat with The Moth storytellers after the performance. KCRW DJs Chris Douridas and Travis Holcombe will be on the decks each spinning live sets throughout the evening.

A limited 5-week run of The Moth Radio Hour began airing yesterday on KCRW and will continue Sunday mornings through September 9. The radio series features the best stories contributed from The Moth with the special episodes beginning with a collaboration with the World Science Festival.

A limited number of pre-sale tickets for the The Moth Mainstage event are available for purchase today, Monday, August 13 at the KCRW website. Additional tickets will be released for the December 5 event in the upcoming months. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible. For more information and to purchase your pre-sale tickets, please visit www.kcrw.com/themothlive.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Alyssa King – KCRW
(310) 314-4627
alyssa.king@kcrw.org

About KCRW

KCRW 89.9FM, licensed to Santa Monica College, is an NPR affiliate based in Southern California. The Santa Monica-based nonprofit represents cutting edge radio at its best, presenting an eclectic mix of independent music, news, talk and arts programming. The terrestrial signal serves Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura Counties, as well as parts of San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, and Santa Barbara Counties and the greater Palm Springs area. KCRW’s programming is internationally renowned and available worldwide via KCRW.com, including three streaming channels, 27 podcasts and archives of our locally-produced programs and live band performances. Hear KCRW music online, all the time, on the ALL music stream Eclectic24.