Take Fountain: A Night of Non-Fiction Readings presented by LARB

Join the Los Angeles Review of Books at the historic PRS Library for a night of readings as a part of the YesterdayLA series!

Take Fountain: A Night of Non-Fiction Readings in the PRS Library!

Part of PRS's YesterdayLA 2026, our monthlong celebration of our beloved city's rich and diverse past.

LARB presents a night of readings that celebrate the hidden gems and oddities that make L.A. endlessly fascinating. Much like the writing it produces, L.A. is a city unlike any other—its peculiar geography, its infamous highways, the shared and fragmented realities sprawl begets.

Here, throngs of eastbound traffic spill into vast mountainous expanses; going westward, thick smog disappears into misty ocean vapor. This is a city that bears witness to the glamorous and the mundane, and which sits atop a fault line. How strange, how remarkable!

The evening will have readings of non-fiction works from L.A. writers Nikki Darling, Jordan Guevara, Tejal Rao, Greg Ruben, and Oliver Wang.

Tickets: $15 (in person only event)

Please email events@prs.org or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.

Nikki Darling is a writer, artist, and high school teacher who serves on the MFA writing faculty at Antioch University. She is the author of the novel Fade into You (Feminist Press, 2018) and the forthcoming The Call Is Coming from Inside the

House. She is currently completing her third novel, Supercali/Fragilistic. Her poem “A Street Called Dolores Huerta” was adapted into a song by Alice Bag and inspired the creation of Dolores Huerta Square in Boyle Heights, an achievement for which she received a certificate of recognition from the City of Los Angeles. She lives in L.A. with her cat, Panzone, and her dog, Raspberry Beret Darling.

Jordan Guevara is a native Angeleno, born and raised in Historic Filipinotown. He recently earned his MFA from Antioch University. He is the winner of Lunch Ticket’s Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction, and his work has appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books and elsewhere. When not writing, Jordan spends his time getting to know the residents at his local cat sanctuary. Jordan currentlyresides in Los Angeles with his wife and two rescue cats.

Tejal Rao is a chief restaurant critic for The New York Times. She has won two James Beard Foundation Awards for restaurant criticism and a Vilcek Prize in creative promise. She was previously a restaurant critic at The Village Voice and later at Bloomberg News. Before that, she worked as a translator, copy editor and cook. Tejal lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter and two extremely food-

motivated dogs.

Greg Ruben is a native Angeleno who makes short documentaries and video essays about Los Angeles—its history, landscape, architecture, culture, and people. Through investigations of unsung communities, forgotten places, and everyday Angelenos, his videos explore how the city's past shapes its present. He's built an audience of over 150,000 across Instagram and TikTok.

Oliver Wang is a professor of sociology at California State University, Long Beach and the author of Legions of Boom: Filipino American Mobile DJ Crews of the San Francisco Bay Area and Cruising J-Town: Japanese American Car Culture in Los Angeles. In 2025, he curated the exhibition Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community for the

Japanese American National Museum. Wang writes on music, arts, and culture for outlets including NPR, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the Los Angeles Times, and KCET. He has co-hosted podcasts including Pop Rocket and Heat Rocks and is currently developing a project on songs of

Asian America.

ABOUT YesterdayLA

This July, the Philosophical Research Society celebrates our beloved city’s rich and diverse past with YesterdayLA, a month-long exploration of unique stories and works of art that have become part of the fabric of Los Angeles history. The landscape of our city is changing faster than ever before. By examining the LA of yesterday, we invite Angelenos to gather together to not only look back but forward to the possibilities of our great city’s tomorrow.

Throughout its 90+ year history The Philosophical Research Society has stood as a sanctuary for those seeking truth and enlightenment, with its doors open to Angelenos who have created great works of art and innovation, political movements, and spiritual evolutions across the eras. YesterdayLA will explore the fascinating stories of our city’s past with the continued spirit of curiosity that has stood as the pillar of PRS’s mission.

CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed by the presenters are solely those of the presenter and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Presentations are intended for informational and entertainment purposes.

ACCESSIBILITY

PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to events@prs.org before showtime and we will be happy to assist you.

REFUND POLICIES

All sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges for PRS events, except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test.

In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.

PARKING​

We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking. Street parking is available on Griffith Park Blvd. and (after 7 PM) on Los Feliz Blvd. Limited parking is available onsite at PRS in the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east). For ADA assistance, please reach out to us in advance via email (events@prs.org) or phone (323.663.2167) and provide an email or number we can contact you at.

PRS EVENT POLICIES

• We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
• Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers.
• We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore and take your seats.
• Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events.
• No filming, audio recording or mobile phone recording of events, screenings, concerts or other programs by audience members is allowed without permission.
• There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds.
• We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code.
• Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events.
• Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.