About 5 — 5 PLACES

Episode (14 + 2)

Mike Sonksen, aka Mike the PoeT, is an acclaimed poet, professor, journalist, historian and tour guide. He teaches at Woodbury University, where he serves as the Coordinator of the school’s First Year Experience Program. He has published over 500 essays and poems, most recently two excerpts in Dear California: The Golden State in Diaries and Letters, edited by David Kipen (Stanford University Press, September 2023). He has delivered over 2,000 poetry readings, served as guest speaker at over 100 academic institutions, appeared on radio and television and hosted events in locations like Grand Performances and Getty Center. The second edition of his latest book, Letters To My City was just published by Writ Large Press in Summer 2023.

Watch to the end to hear Mike speak one of his extraordinary original poems on Los Angeles, “Los Angeles A to Z”.

Discover more of Mike’s work via his instagram, and Linktree, and find other relevant links below in the notes.

This is our first “plus-two” interview! In each episode, we ask our interviewees to name someone whom they in turn would choose to ask about the five places that define Los Angeles for them. Artist Laurie Lipton, our episode 8 guest, chose art critic Shana Nys Dambrot as her plus one. To watch or listen to Laurie interview Shana about her five places, check out her interview and episode here. Shana then chose Mike, making this our first plus-two. Stay tuned for Mike’s extraordinary interviewee, who will be our first plus-three.

Show notes and Mike’s Five Places:

1. Cascades park in Monterey park.

2. Beyond Baroque, Venice. Mike also mentions: the LA-founded punk band X, the extraordinary Wanda Coleman, aka “the L.A. Blueswoman”, Scott Wannburg, S.A. Griffin, Tom Waits, Allan Ginsberg, Michael C. Ford, and Jim Morrison.

3. Judy Baca’s Great Wall of Los Angeles, about which Mike has recorded this video: “Whose Story Do We Tell?” Also mentioned: Stefano Block, the graffiti artist formerly known as CISCO, and the bell hooks book All About Love.

4. Los Angeles City Hall. Also mentioned, Phillipe’s restaurant, since 1908!

5. Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Temple in Boyle Heights. East First street. Brooklyn Avenue. Nisei week festival in Little Tokyo.

Honorable mentions:

Leimert Park Village

Suehiro restaurant in Little Tokyo and Robert Vargas mural

Cerritos Library

Spoon House Japanese Italian restaurant in Gardena – whether you like Japanese Italian-food or not, this Jonathan Gold review is a joy to read. As is Jonathan Gold’s Pico Project!

Whom would you choose to ask about their Five Places? The great Lynell George.

Related Links / Also Mentioned in this episode:

Mike Sonksen’s prose poem: “For Mike Davis”

Nelson Algren (“Before you earn the right to rap any sort of joint, you have to love it a little while.” - Chicago: City on the Make)

Joan Didion

Robert Arenevar – muralist

The Roots’ Illadelph Halflife album for sunset drives.

“Seven Books to Help Understand Judith Baca’s Great Wall of Los Angeles and L.A. Itself”, by Mike Sonksen

Memorial to the Victims of the 1871 Chinese Massacre

Glenn Kaino’s show, Aki’s Market, at the Japanese American Museum

The Hood Historian

Huell Howser, as Mike says “respected human dignity. He let others shine.”