Features

Carlos Velasquez, an alumnus of the Addiction Studies program and student of California State University, Northridge’s credential program, posing in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Nov. 3, 2020. Photo by Kamryn Bouyett.Judy Farash, a former addiction studies professor, stands in front of Pierce College on Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills, Calif., on Oct. 15, 2020. Photo by Kamryn...

Psychedelic threads and suggestive advertisements bulge like beer bellies on the Fourth of July across 1.3 miles.   If one isn’t familiar with L.A. culture, some may mistake peacocking locals for models and Dr. Seuss inspired storefronts for film sets.   In reality, it is the boulevard between Beverly Hills and Silverlake that is the Los Angeles epicenter of shopping and...

In the recent film in the long Rocky series, Balboa hands down a piece of advice to his son that accurately portrays life. He states, “Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are. It will beat you...

  The sound of hands pounding on an African drum enticed people to dance as the rhythm of music flowed through their bodies. A celebration of diverse skin colors and culture was on full display at Grand Park in Downtown, Los Angeles. As the sweet smell of incense perfumed the air on Sept. 29, the third annual Head Wraps in the...

Story By: Jessica Conway         No Justice, No peace! No justice, no peace! The chants echoed through the streets on Mar. 19 2011. It was a protest on the streets of Hollywood and Vine, not just for anything but for a change in the world. The streets were filled with thousands of people, young and old of all races, who were unhappy with...

A new spasm of pain surges through a large man’s body lying on the thick padded hospital style table as a consistent buzz resonates through the room. His face scrunches with each touch of the humming machine to the skin covering his ribs. A man with blonde and black dreads leans in closer to note the exact spot he should bring...

Daniel Habas poses with his dogs Honey and Molly by his home in Encino, Calif. Photo by: Adam BaronDaniel Habas poses with his dogs Honey and Molly by his home in Encino, Calif. Photo by: Adam BaronDaniel Habas walks his pomeranian-mix dogs Honey and Molly by his home in Encino, Calif., on May 19, 2020. Photo by:...

A lime green cart bumps along Vanowen Street, a pop of color against the gray concrete. The cart’s bell jingles as the wheels maneuver over the cracks in the sidewalk. With its chipped coat of paint, the wood near the bottom shows its true signs of wear. A man pushes the cart as he honks his horn. The honking serves...

When it comes to trading card games (TCG), many names come to mind. “Magic the Gathering,” “Naruto,” “World of Warcraft” and “Pokemon” are ones that one may mention. “Yu-Gi-Oh!” happens to be the TCG with the highest attendance rate for tournaments, as well as having one of the most popular cartoon shows among the younger crowd. In the TCG scene of...

Panic washes over 21-year-old Alex Koontz when the idea of going to the bathroom approaches. Koontz barely ever passes as a guy so going into the men’s restroom is extremely stressful. It’s even worse to use the woman’s restroom with all the stares and constant whispers. Keeping his eyes to the ground and doing what has to be done is Koontz’s only way out.