‍When Dr. Lori Aliksanian moved to South Park nearly 12 years ago, opening a business here wasn’t part of the plan. She was already traveling to downtown almost every week from the South Bay and was drawn to a clean, walkable, and vibrant neighborhood, with plenty of restaurants, entertainment, and things to do. As a young woman and dog owner, South Park offered the kind of urban lifestyle she was looking for.

If you're a regular at Ideology or Awesome Coffee, you've probably walked past Nifemi Aluko working from his laptop. The work happening on that laptop has led to five books, a weekly newsletter, and a business helping founders tell better stories.

For more than seven years, Abdulkamal "AK" Abdullahi has called South Park home. You might spot him around the neighborhood catching the E Line to work, grabbing dinner and drinks at Prank Bar, or simply out running errands. But lately, many of his neighbors have come to know him for something else: bringing the flavors of his childhood in Nigeria to kitchens across the country.

Tanja Gylfadottir is a delightful person and a licensed Esthetician whose skills include facials, skin care therapy and consulting, eye-brow shaping and dyeing, eye lash dyeing, waxing, and coming soon, full body waxing. She is a skin care professional who specializes in cosmetic treatments to improve the health and appearance of skin for both women and men.

 South Park Neighborhood Association (SPNA) added three members to the executive board in February. The board now consists of seven members who live and play in South Park and are devoted to the livability of our neighborhood. The 2026 Board reorganized in April.

I would like to introduce you to Susan Shum who is the newly elected Chair of the South Park (now known as the Social District) Business Improvement District Board (SPBID

South Park resident Candice Cable is a nine-time Paralympian.  She is the first woman to medal in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.  In addition, she is a six-time winner of the Boston Marathon women’s division and winner of the first four Los Angeles Marathons.  That’s quite a history of accomplishment – tied closely to an inspiring life.

‍ ‍If you’ve been in the neighborhood more than a few days you have no doubt noticed this month’s South Park Personalities – Gina and her loyal French Bulldog, Honey.

Most of us in South Park know Derrick McMillon as the affable and cheerful “gatekeeper” at the Prank Bar on 11th and Hope.  Anyone walking by his post at the entry to the popular patio bar receives a quick smile and a friendly greeting.  He has become so popular that during his recent lengthy absence the local conversation often turned to, “I wonder where Darrick is?  I hope he’s OK.”