KCRW Is Outta The Basement: A Farewell To Its Old Digs (PHOTOS)

It was a long time coming, but KCRW is finally in its new studios off of the main Santa Monica College campus. Well, almost. "Press Play" is still originating from the old basement studios this week, and I recorded this week's "Screengrab" segment (my weekly TV chat with Joe Adalian that airs Tuesdays at 8:45 a.m.) in the old studios on Monday — but it was a ghost town. After years of planning, KCRW finally has a new home.

A new home that will finally give the station and its employees room to breathe. Even as it grew, the KCRW staff managed to operate in tight quarters, in the basement below Santa Monica College's cafeteria. Above and below, some views of its music library. Look at all that sweet, sweet vinyl! (CD's in the file cabinets and on the walls as well.)

(And when I say it was a long time coming, it's no joke. I remember bringing the family to KCRW's new building open house in December 2017 -- read about it here. It took longer for the move than anyone expected, but I think everyone finally now sees the light at the end of the tunnel!)

A view of one of the KCRW offices. Not a lot of natural light, and phone reception was always spotty down there. 

One of the studios where I got to record "The Spin-Off" and "Screengrab" over the years.

Not sure what's going to happen to this stuff, but new equipment awaits the station at its new facility.

The hallway as of last week, before the moving boxes came.

A view into KCRW's live studio in the basement.

Some amazing photos of artists who visited KCRW over the years could be found all over the basement -- and have now been transported to the new station.

One of the first things you saw when entering the station: An ever-growing collection of Polaroids taken by notable guests.

Oh, and the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne. His face would be beaming back at you, welcoming you to the basement.

KCRW is leaving just before this fading sign completely peeled off.

My view.

Coincidentally, this is the second time I've been affiliated with a radio station that moved out of a basement. As general manager of Northwestern's WNUR in 1995, I was part of the team that moved our student-run station out of the basement of Annie May Swift Hall and into brand new facilities on its first floor.

Here's an updated look from Monday, with the walls now bare and the staff mostly gone.

Someone had to painstakingly remove all of those Polaroids! Curious to see how they're displayed in the new building.

And that's it! Congrats to everyone at KCRW on making the big move, especially my producer, Kaitlin Parker, and general manager Jennifer Ferro! Can't wait to begin recording "Screengrab" there!

KCRW Open House Reveals The Public Station's Cool New Digs

They're outta the basement! Well, almost. KCRW's long-awaited building is one step closer to officially opening, now that it's been unveiled to the community. An open house on Saturday gave both KCRW staffers and listeners a chance to finally see the new facilities, and imagine what it will look like once operations officially move there next spring.

It's a big deal. KCRW is currently located in a cramped basement under Santa Monica College's cafeteria; it's actually pretty amazing how much gets done in such a small space. The new building, located off campus in a nearby plot of land owned by the college, will give KCRW a chance to breathe — and to grow. It's pretty impressive.

Start with a welcome reception area. There is no such thing at the current station.

High ceilings, and most importantly: Sunlight. Again, in short supply in the current basement.

Looking down from the second floor, countless work stations.

"I will only listen to KCRW."

A tribute to KCRW by superfan David Lynch.

For the opening afternoon, Anne Litt broadcast live.

A mostly empty interview studio that eventually might be used for various programs.

The open-air floor plan.

To always remind staffers of their humble former studios, the breakroom has been christened "The Basement," complete with this photo of the stairs that currently lead down to the station's basement home.

The music library will be quite the highlight.

Pics of Jack Black and Daniel Radcliffe in the stacks.

Where the electrical equipment will eventually live.

One of the most impressive parts of the new station is the downstairs music area, which will include a green room for guests, plus showers (!) for visiting bands. Also, bands will be able to roll their vans right up to the building, allowing them to unload their equipment in a snap. Quite a change from right now, when they often have to haul their instruments across the Santa Monica College campus.

The new performance space at KCRW also promises to be quite a draw, allowing guests to watch and giving bands much more room to perform.

Congrats to KCRW, it's a long overdue upgrade for Southern California's premier public radio station (and yes, I am biased -- don't forget to hear Joe Adalian and I every Tuesday morning during "Morning Edition" for our segment "Screengrab"!).

Hello, Expo Line: We Finally Make the Trip to Santa Monica

No, New York Times, it is NOT the "Subway to the Sea." It's not a subway, first off. (The Metro Purple Line, which could be the "Subway to the Sea" one day, is so far only scheduled to reach as far as Westwood. The NYT hasn't issued a correction yet.)



But the Metro Expo Line DOES reach the sea, and that's been one of the big game changers this year when it comes to public transportation in Los Angeles. We recently finally rode the length of the Expo line, from 7th Street downtown, all the way to the ocean.



A few snap observations: As the Metro itself has admitted, the Expo Line needs more train cars, at least on the weekend. Apparently the additional train cars have been ordered... but for now, the trains are crowded. And on the weekend, people are mostly heading to the very end -- meaning the train gets busier and busier up until the end of the line.

Thankfully, having started at the beginning of the line, we had seats.



Next: Keep your fingers crossed you get a newer train car. On the way down, we road in an older train, built in the late 1980s and probably been in use since the Blue Line first opened in 1990. The air conditioning was not existent, making the car hotter and hotter as more people climbed on board. (We had a newer train on the way back, and it was cool riding.)



The ride itself is very pleasant, and offers interesting views of the city -- including Exposition Park and its museums, and a great view of the Hollywood Hills (including the Hollywood sign) during the elevated sections.



Things get pretty crowded at the end of the line, as crowds disembark and wander every which way into Santa Monica. But to be so close to the ocean, it's a dream come true -- our TRAIN to the sea has arrived!



Most importantly, the Expo Line has now CHANGED THE GAME when it comes to the Great Los Angeles Walk! For the first time this year, there will be an easy rail option to get to and from the start and finish lines!

Rate-A-Restaurant #372: Stickhouse (Santa Monica)

Restaurant: Stickhouse

Location: 223 Broadway (Santa Monica)

Type of restaurant: Dessert (Gelato)



We stipulated: After taking a journey on the Metro Expo line to Santa Monica, we wanted an ice cream treat. We walked by Stickhouse -- and the concept was intriguing enough (unique gelato flavors on a stick!) that we walked in.



They stipulated: "A carefully considerated but simple idea: what about putting freshly made artisan gelato on a stick? Such a goal was finally achieved in 2006 with patented automatic machine which produces a high quality artisan gelato on a stick according to the best Italian tradition: daily made with genuine ingredients. A great tradition has been reinvented thanks to Italian creativity and technology, and in 2009 a new franchising project was born: Stickhouse."



What we ordered: Mike: Banana gelato with white chocolate; Maria: mint gelato with chocolate; Evan: Banana gelato with chocolate; Nathan: Mint chocolate gelato with chocolate. All $4.50 each.


High point:  The gelato was indeed tasty -- rich, but not too rich -- and we loved the variety of flavor choices.

Low point:  A lot of menu items weren't available -- including the "Cupido" (sorbetto on the outside, gelato on the inside), which I would have bought.



Overall impression: In hindsight, I wouldn't have dipped my gelato in chocolate. It was fine, but it took away from the gelato flavor. (Plus, it was unnecessary extra calories.) But they didn't even give the option.

Will we return: Quite possibly. Stickhouse's Santa Monica location is the only one so far in the United States (it's mostly overseas), but another is opening soon in Hollywood.

It's Safe to Visit the New Dunkin' Donuts in Santa Monica Now

The crowds have finally died down at the region's first Dunkin' Donuts (in at least 20 years). Located at 12th and Wilshire in Santa Monica, Dunkin' Donuts' first revived L.A.-area outpost has seen long lines since it opened a few weeks ago. But not anymore (at least on the weekdays). I was there on Monday, and managed to grab a box of Munchkins and a coffee without any wait.



And here's a nice bonus: They were all out of pumpkin Munchkins, but the worker threw in a free pumpkin donut just 'cause.



Previously on Franklin Avenue:

April Fools: No Dunkin' Donuts in Burbank... Yet (March 2014)

Dunkin' Donuts' California Invasion Begins: Our First Taste (November 2013)

It's True: Dunkin' Donuts Comes to California in 2015 (January 2013)

Dunkin' Donuts Finally Returns to California - But There's A Catch (February 2012)

Is Dunkin' Donuts Finally on the Way to Los Angeles? (January 2012)

Dunkin' Donuts to Southern California: No Free Donut For You (May 2010)

Rumors of Dunkin' Donuts Coming to L.A. Have Been Greatly Exaggerated (June 2009)

Dunkin' Donuts Moves Closer to Los Angeles (August 2008)

Dunkin Donuts Opens L.A. Shop... In My Dreams (May 2008)

Dunkin' Tease at the L.A. Times (April 2008)

Turns Out Not Having Dunkin' Donuts in L.A. Is a Blessing (July 2007)

Still No Dunkin' (September 2006)

Dunkin' Again? (December 2005)

Time to Make the Donuts... And Doublecheck Your Facts (October 2003)