Liz Ohanesian

Cute erasers are a popular item at Daiso.; Credit: Liz Ohanesian

How the Japanese Store Daiso Became a Phenomenon

Liz Ohanesian
I made my first trip to Daiso almost two years ago, shortly after the Koreatown store opened. My friends had long been raving about the Japanese chain store, which already had spots in other parts of greater Los Angeles, for its selection cute items and low prices. "Almost everything is......
L.A.-based DJ

New Tumblr Documents Women and Their Music Gear

Liz Ohanesian
Back in January, a Pitchfork interview with Björk (by former L.A. Weekly contributor Jessica Hopper) revealed a lot about the iconic musician. But one point that jumped out for many readers regarded her work in the studio. As she explained, Björk handles plenty of the production duties herself, including making her own......
Blk Grrrl Book Fair organizers Skira Martinez and Teka-Lark Fleming stand outside of Cielo.; Credit: Liz Ohanesian

Race Meets Feminism at the New Blk Grrrl Book Fair in South L.A.

Liz Ohanesian
When Teka-Lark Fleming, an Inglewood-based journalist, essayist and poet, started work on Blk Grrrl Book Fair last fall, she contacted various organization to see if they would be involved in the project. The responses didn't match what she had in mind. Some people asked to set up literacy trucks or......
Phantoms; Credit: Photo by Mike Selsky

Electronic Duo Phantoms Got Out of Acting and Into the EDM Scene

Liz Ohanesian
Kyle Kaplan and Vinnie Pergola of EDM duo Phantoms were living the teen actor life — balancing high school with TV gigs and industry kid parties — when their paths crossed. Kaplan had appeared in Hannah Montana, CSI: Miami and other assorted shows and pilots. Pergola had done commercials and......
Art Laboe (seated

Want to Make a Dedication to Art Laboe? Here's How

Liz Ohanesian
When Art Laboe's near-nightly shows were dumped from 92.3 FM during a format shift earlier this month, Los Angeles was left without a voice that is part of the fabric of the city. The 89-year-old DJ has been a radio staple for decades, a champion of new music in the early......
The Must's Cholo Fried Rice with pork.; Credit: B. Douglas

New York Promoter Plans to Open Teragram Ballroom in Downtown L.A.

Liz Ohanesian
Downtown Los Angeles is getting a new concert venue a little that's a little off the beaten path. Teragram Ballroom is the latest project from the team behind New York's Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge, along with Broadway Bar's Joe Baxley. The 9,000-square-foot space has a capacity of roughly 600......
Colette; Credit: Courtesy of the aritst

Chicago House Star DJ Colette Says "DJing Is Not Gender-Specific"

Liz Ohanesian
Inside a Studio City coffee spot, Colette recalls the weekend she first took to the turntables. She threw a party at her Chicago home, turning the kitchen into a scene resembling a nightclub. After the guests were gone, the gear remained, so Colette grabbed her vinyl and started playing. It......
Nichole Peeples of Santa Cruz transforms her poodle

These Dog Groomers Turn Their Poodles Into Works of Art

Liz Ohanesian
One by one, the dogs take the stage at Pasadena Convention Center. Right now, they look like the canine equivalents of teens who went a little crazy with jars of Manic Panic. Each is covered in thick, frizzy fur and splotches of multi-colored hair dye that forms abstract patters across......