Information Sources, Los Angeles

Particularly, L.A. loves Farmer's Markets. There is usually a nice mix of people who come to get exotic fruits and veggies, as well as prepared foods, fresh flowers, funky clothing and jewelry and various eccletic knick-knacks. There are various versions of the original on 3rd St (which is featured on my set of West Los Angeles pages), though they cannot compare. Still it is worth hunting out some if you happen to be elsewhere in L.A.

Downtown L.A.

(Financial District)

along 5th St in front of Central Library
This is a great one I have attended regularly. Food includes tamales (Mexican), Greek /Middle Eastern favorities like kebobs, baklava, hummus....
Wednesdays, from 11AM to 3PM

(Chinatown)

700 Traction (near 3rd and Rose intersection), in the Arts District
Saturday, from 9AM- 2PM... near downtown!

Other Farmer Markets of Greater L.A. listed on website!

In L.A. COUNTY (not neighboring Orange, San Bernadino and Riverside as of yet), there is a brand new way to call for help on the road.

# 399 is a new code that has just been implemented and utilized within L.A. county that is meant for motorists in a bind, especially on the freeway, who happen to have a cell phone. The bind would be a case such as a driver having a flat tire who has pulled to the side of the road. A call to #399 would be to have assistance for the driver. Note that #399 is only accessible by using a cell phone.

The code is helpful to take relief off the very occupied 911 system. Routine problems on the road will be eased with #399 but for very threathening situations, such as a car being hit and blocking traffic flow, a call to 911 is still the better option!

#399 is available in English, Spanish and does extend itself to service other languages. L.A. is home to speakers of about 150 languages!

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What's in an area code: personality (if you are in southern California) !

Once upon a time, well in mid-20th century to be more precise, all of L.A. county was under one area code for telephone-- 213. Nowaways because of ridiculous population growth and the cell phone craze, the county has ....oh, I have to count....a whomping 7 individual codes with a very likely "..and counting".

With all of the additions through the years come a kind of wickedly fun humor that comes from area code identification or personification.

Nowaways, the 213, perhaps, is not as strong an identity as others. This is partly because it is hard to define a distinct personality to the loosely connect parts that it represents. However, 213 is an original, baby! Mainly, the 213 covers parts of downtown (but not the entire heart of the city) and communities like Wilshire (Center), Koreatown, Mid-City and West Adams.

With "213" I give an example of how a local may refer to it:

Ex: "That guy- he's an original, like the 213"

213 invokes originality and with this, a kind of realness that commends admiration and respect, like a mother. All of L.A. all began with her

So, just like in a name, there is everything in an area code- not just the numbers themselves!

(More talk of area codes are found in these local custom tips)

I just found the site below - I so needed this last time I was inbetween jobs. It lists not only places that are always free, but places with monthly "free days." For instance, you can get into the LACMA for free the second Tuesday of every month. Good to know! So print this list and add it to your calendar.

Here's a rundown of popular AM dial choices (subject to change, check website for updates):

570 AM KLAC- sports talk featuring Laker, Raider, Avenger and UCLA games, Fox Radio, Dan Patrick (of ESPN fame) and that fiery hothead (and hottie) Jim Rome

640 AM - Hear political heavyweights from the right talk in lefty L.A. , namely Rush Limbaugh

690 AM Extra- en espanol

710 AM- ESPN Radio (Disney), catch USC football and baseball, also many national pro ball games and commentary

790 AM - Get your fix of Don Imus and Sean Hannity

830 AM- official Angels of Anaheim baseball station, plus Duck games and, yes, even Notre Dame football (I mean, why sorry Notre Dame in L.A?)

870 AM- various news opinion, including Dennis Miller and Dennis Prager

980 AM- Headline news

1070 AM- news perspective, with top of the hour news (much from CBS Radio) and frequent L.A. traffic updates (a must listen-to if driving in L.A.!)

1090 AM The Mighty- Home of the San Diego Padres, Mighty Ducks, SDSU, Del Mar Race Track
(San Diego based, may be available in some LA areas)

1150 AM KTLK- Hear the lefties talk in lefty L.A.

1330 AM- ESPN Deportes en espanol, home of the Angels of Anaheim, the LA Lakers, NFL, Chivas soccer, Super Liga soccer, US soccer and LA Avengers

1510 AM Station of the Stars- Inland Empire (East of L.A. based) station that is home of the MLB Angels of Anaheim baseball team

1540 AM The Ticket- sports radio, get Charger and Raider games

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Important to know while in the car in L.A. :

1. Look out for pedestrians. Yes, contrary to popular belief, there are people who actually walk and cross the streets here in Los Angeles. Note that you, as a driver, do not actually rule the highway. (Pay special attention in the Valley SanFernando Valle. The streets tend to be very wide here).

2. Tune in to the radio to stations like KNX 1040 for trafic updates on the highway. These can be really useful.

3. Try not to be trendy like many L.A. people and tailgate. It's really annoying!

4. Don't be another "lookie-lou" people by slowing down or stop in your tracks just to look at accidents on the freeway.

5. It is advisable to stay in the right lanes if you like to be a slow "Sunday" kind of driver.

6. Give carpool lane violators the evil eye whenever possible.

6. Pack up and stow away your GPS devices before exiting the car.

7. Get used to slow up on the 101, even during the middle of the day on a Sunday.

There are two free weekly newspapers that are the local 'what's on' guides: The LA Weekly and the City Beat. The LA Weekly is larger, and is a very comprehensive paper with tons of listings and lengthy articles of local interest, while the City Beat has a more truly 'in-the know' quality.

Hip people read the City Beat for the more out-of-the-mainstream articles and reviews, but EVERYONE reads the Weekly as the 'find-anything-and-everything' guide. Both are found everywhere, from newstands to boxes on the corners to bars and restaurants.

Although radio is, arguably, no longer the most important medium for communication here in the city (and moreover of the US), radio does serve a great purpose: to help commuters unwind while dealing with traffic on the highways and streets. In L.A. the car radio is essential, almost as necessary as the rear view mirror (well, not quite!).

Perhaps, a way to judge a city is to get acquainted to her radio frequency . So, how does L.A. rate? Rather diverse but very eclectic and funky! I would say "very diverse"- except it is in some aspects too monotonous to merit clear diversity.

When coming here, it would be good to know the lowdown of kinds of stations. I'm quite the flipper of stations but here are a good mix of some on which I stop from time to time:

myFM- 104.3 ( adult contemporary music, lots of 90s pop/soft rock songs, some favorite plays are Madonna & Sting, maybe the most diverse station for overall popular music)

KOST- 103.5 (like myFM but much more into the love songs, very Phil Collins & Chicago happy!)

KIIS- 102.7 (pop/top 40, praise or blame this station for having Ryan Seacrest of American Idol do the morning show live!)

KCRW- 89.9 (eclectic music/political commentary based from Santa Monica. Experimental and eclectic alternative music from less commercial artists are favored. Some world music is played. This is also the outlet for progressive media, NPR.)

KLOS- 95.5 (classic rock, mostly 70s and 80s rock but 90s coming more into play. Hear Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Rush & Pink Floyd here)

More stations on next tip!

Los Angeles is home to one of the world's great newspapers - the LA Times. It's well worth picking up a copy while you're there. Check out the website at www.latimes.com. You have to register these days, but at least it's free...

More FM station lowdown:

KGGI 99.1 (modern contemporary R&B/ hip hop/electro-dance pop. Hear Rihanna, Flo Rida, Nicki Minaj, etc)

KROQ 106.9 (alternative rock, most popular & commercial of the alternative stations. It host popular yearly concerts, such the the Weenie Roast, which draw famous acts. Tune into No Doubt, The Killers, The Cure, Linkin Park...)

JACK FM 93.1 (a kind of godsend for someone like me plays such contrasts of music song by song. Go from hearing a conga pop Gloria Estefan tune to "Bohemian Rhapsody" to radio-friendly rap to an 80s Def Leppard power ballad as if it isn't strange at all!)

The Sound FM 100.3 ( a newer option playing adult contemporary rock, like songs by Peter Gabriel, Tom Petty and Dave Matthews Band)

K-Earth Oldies 101 101.1 (classic pop/rock, think "Love Me Do" by the Beatles and similar)

Go Country! 105.1 (a newer station dedicated to country music, both modern/contemporary and classic country played throughout the day. Get your fix of Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood and George Strait among others!)

Super Estrella 107.1 (musica en espanol, listen to popular pop/rock in Spanish by Mana, Cristian Castro, Selena, Shakira, etc )

Radio stations constantly change. Check updates on website and recheck on web search. I'll try to update as well.