This is My Top 5 hidden Gems in L.A. . .and they're all FREE: Whether hidden in plain site or not, these go-to destinations are fun to go and explore, are places a lot of us see on a daily basis, but maybe haven't quite taken the time to understand the significance and relevance behind them. Go be a tourist in your own city, and enjoy these destinations as I give up all goods. There is history everywhere, as long as you know where to look!

#5 (3:30) - The Best Date Spot
#4 (11:30) - The Spiritual Shrine
#3 (22:30) - Europe in L.A.
#2 (32:00) - The Best Food Market in L.A. is at a Temple?!?!
#1 (39:30) - The Backbone of L.A.

Impactful, important, historical... these are the characteristics I tapped into the most when putting together my intimate list of top 5 songs that define L.A. I enjoyed digging into the meanings of the lyrics, and researching the origins of these classics.
#5 (8:06) - The Song you Thought would be #1

#4 (15:17) - Hip Hop's Ode to the Metropolis

#3 (21:03) - The Outlier, Geographically and Musically

#2 (25:46) - A True L.A. Classic

#1 (31:30) - Did you KNOW this Song was about L.A.?

BONUS SONG (37:45) - We Love it!

A major announcement came out of L.A.’s backyard this week: the resort that ushered in the Modern Era of Las Vegas will be shutting its doors forever.

The impact that the Mirage had on Las Vegas was like no hotel since the Flamingo opened in 1946 and kicked off The Strip, and it literally changed Vegas as a town, a community, and is single-handedly responsible for turning into a world-class metropolis. Here’s the story of the impact of the Mirage on the city that 4.8 million people from Los Angeles visit each year.

Ever wondered about life in the I AM Studios? And what actually goes into creating over 1,000 episodes of L.A. in a Minute and In a Minute w/ Evan Lovett? I take you behind the scenes for a day - and a week - in the life of documenting Los Angeles history & culture. From the drops for KNX to full episodes for social to recording in a closet (!), I am giving you the real day-to-day on creating my show. You know how they say if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life? Well, this is truly a labor of love.

Perhaps most importantly, stick around for the Love Story of my lifetime (34:00)

These are the streets that MADE Los Angeles, the streets that have history and a story to tell - AND importance in our daily commute and lives.

• 2:13 - Intro
• 5:02 - “The Longest Stretch of Businesses in the World"
• 9:57 - “The Most Beautiful Street in L.A.”
• 15:19 - “The Main Artery”
• 21:17 - “The Metropolitan Main Street”
• 30:27 - “The Birthplace of Los Angeles”

Situated in the geographic center of L.A., Griffith Park is not just the largest urban park in the U.S., but the home of dozens of FREE and FUN activities with history to match. Take a day - actually take a week! - to explore Griffith Park and you’ll see why this is the best FREE Thing to do in L.A.

*The Story of Griffith J. Griffith (7:16)

*The Curse of Petranilla Feliz (10:31)

*Griffith Observatory (15:20)

*The L.A. Zoo (18:50)

*The Abandoned Zoo (24:00)

*Travel Town (27:30)

*The Greek Theatre (31:18)

The Annual UCLA Quality of Life in Los Angeles Index just came out. . .and it’s the lowest score in the history of the study. This is on the heels of Mayor Bass’ “State of the City” address, which also raised some red flags. So I want to know how YOU feel about your Quality of Life in L.A.? Are you better off than you were last year? Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of L.A. I want to hear from you!

L.A. is the supermarket capital of the U.S., and markets like Erewhon & Trader Joe’s are called the “Hippest Hangouts in L.A.” So how did L.A.’s lineage of grocery stores lead to a world where Grocery Shopping is actually Cool?

• 2:47 - date night at the grocery store
• 10:00 - Ralphs
• 12:56 - Smart + Final
• 15:29 - Vons
• 20:20 - Gelson’s
• 24:39 - Trader Joe’s
• 32:10 - 99 Ranch
• 34:53 - Vallarta
• 37:22 - Erewhon