She works on Skid Row, lives in a notorious South LA neighborhood, and keeps her head on a swivel — If your first introduction to the Jungles, the nickname of the lush Baldwin Village neighborhood, is via the Oscar-winning Training Day, you’ll probably be nervous visiting there. And for sure you may feel the urge to park your car under a bright street lamp if you arrive on a chilly…

Sammy on music he loves, why no one he knows rides a bike, and the ups and downs in his neighborhood. — If you like this episode you need to thank Brooke Wetzel, the amazing florist who we chatted with last month. When that interview was over she said she had recommendations for two future guests: her mom and her 14 year-old son. Well, last week we were blown away with Brooke’s…

And she’s been her own woman ever since. Meet Lindsey Haley, now of Castle Heights. — Lindsey Haley is the mother of Brooke Wetzel. You may remember Brooke from our South Robertson episode. Much like her daughter, Lindsey is a soulful, caring, extraordinary woman who has seen a few things and was nice enough to share some with us. Let’s begin with something she said about…

Julie Wolfson on that bold caffeine claim, getting her start at LAist, and what’s cool in her Hancock Park neighborhood. — Julie Wolfson is full of energy, joy, curiosity, and love. Her adoration of LA is contagious and it spills out onto the pages of outlets from Cool Hunting, KCET, Los Angeleno, and the LA Times. In this chat we talk about art, living in the heart of the city, raising…

Brooke Wetzel is a ray of sunshine, a breath of fresh air… now if only the experts could agree which neighborhood she lives in. — Brooke Wetzel lives in walking distance of Hamilton High School where she and her husband met blah blah blah years ago. They rent a house in a neighborhood they say they could never afford to buy today even though she has her own flower business and he is a lawyer. …

The multi-talented world traveler has experienced magic and wants to help others find their truths — Is Phoenix Cotner a free spirit? The best kind. Is she a sought-after model? Sure, but she’s way more than that. Is she a textbook example of the nature-loving modern hippie stereotype people sometimes pigeonhole spiritual Topanga Canyon residents as being? Sorta. The great thing about Phoenix, like so many…

You’ve seen Bruce Baek as the assassin in HBO’s The Flight Attendant, but is this Sherman Oaks resident Batman’s future foe? — On TV Bruce Baek is silently spooky. He’s quiet and scary. Maybe more than a little ominous. But in person he’s generous, polite, respectful, and funny. Turns out he’s a pretty good actor after all. Bruce comes to LA by way of New Jersey. He’s a complicated and driven man…

Loren Stephens loves books, writing, and the small-town vibe of her world famous neighborhood — Sometimes you’ll meet someone with impeccable taste, style, and manners. It makes you realize how much you’re lacking in those important areas. Earlier this month we were invited into the chic westside home of Loren Stephens, the accomplished author and editor who has resided in Brentwood since the 1980s.

Native Angeleno, Valley Girl, and tireless politico, might just be knocking on your door one day. — The first thing you notice about Katherine Tattersfield is her beautiful smile. It could be disarming or confusing because her image on Twitter is one of an energetic rabble rouser for progressive ideals, unafraid to take on conflict head on. …