A city can spend decades wishing for a stage—or it can build one that becomes the neighborhood’s favorite seat. I sit down with Christine Lee, president and CEO of the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation, to share how Arcadia transformed cafeteria concerts and borrowed auditoriums into a state-of-the-art venue that students and families can claim as their own. From the first blueprints to opening night, this is the story of a community that funded a dream and now fills it with music, theater, and memory.

Tell me what you want to hear at https://ArcadiaFYI.com/

I sat down with Donna Choi, MJ Finstrom, and Diana Bacero as they share the story of the Downtown Arcadia Holiday Fair and why it evokes such a special, hometown feel: a curated mix of makers and local shops, Macy’s on-site with Shiseido facials, hand-thrown ceramics, vintage hand-glittered ornaments, jewelry, charcuterie boards, and specialty foods. Food and drink fuel the stroll with Goki Cafe’s beloved Mexican hot chocolate, Mount Lowe’s seasonal brew and cider, D’Accino wines, and nearby restaurants like All India Cafe and Matt Denny’s ready before or after your shopping run. A live DJ keeps the energy high with surprise giveaways while families bounce between the kids’ zone, face painting, Santa photos, and story time with Mrs. Claus.

Tell me what you want to hear at https://ArcadiaFYI.com/

What makes a city feel like home? In this episode of Arcadia FTY, I follow the journey through Arcadia’s past—where a land deal by Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin set the stage for incorporation in 1903, and where his daughter, Anita, turned ambition into institutions that still shape daily life. Along the way, my guest, Ed Anderson, president of the Arcadia Historical Society, helps us map stories onto streets: County Road becoming Duarte Road, the first racetrack shuttered by law, World War II balloonists training on future fairways, and Santa Anita Park rising from dust to international renown.

Tell me what you want to hear at https://ArcadiaFYI.com/