Alyssa Toledo
Freelance reporterAlyssa Toledo is an award-winning queer Latina writer, director, and editor from California's Central Coast. She came to KCBX in April 2024 as a freelance reporter, who focuses on covering the arts. After studying film at Allan Hancock College and Cal State Fullerton, she dove into the film industry, spending several years assisting on Netflix's hit series, "Outer Banks." Aside from reporting at KCBX, Alyssa is wrapping up her latest feature film, "Toledo," which draws from her own Latin upbringing on the Central Coast.
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The Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville has been a cultural mainstay of the Central Coast for nearly 50 years. Known for its lively performances and deep community connections, the theater offers an unforgettable experience that keeps audiences coming back year after year. -
Across San Luis Obispo, drag has moved from the margins into the spotlight, with local performers and private venues leading a cultural movement. The events reflect SLO’s evolving queer culture, blending art and identity in creative spaces—even as LGBTQ+ rights come under attack in other parts of the country. -
Founded in 1924, the Monday Club of San Luis Obispo is celebrating 100 years of history, service, and community impact. Since its inception, this civic organization has been dedicated to promoting civic engagement, education, and the arts—all centered within its iconic building designed by renowned architect Julia Morgan. -
For nearly 20 years, pianist and composer John Novacek has been a fixture at Festival Mozaic, captivating Central Coast audiences with his versatile performances. As he prepares for his final series of concerts as Artist-in-Residence, the festival will honor his many contributions. -
Just in time for the election, political satire is making waves in San Luis Obispo, where legendary street artist Robbie Conal is headlining a new exhibition at The Bunker. The show, a mix of sharp wit and pointed critique, brings together works by Conal and local artists eager to express their views on the nation's political landscape. -
The first documented rugby game in the U.S. took place in 1874, in Boston, between McGill and Harvard universities. Fast forward to today, and American rugby is growing at an impressive rate. KCBX’s Alyssa Toledo took a look at one local club that’s been at the forefront. -
It’s only a couple of hundred miles between the Walt Disney studios in Burbank and the Central Coast, but the journey has been transformational for noted animator Mauro Maressa, who is recreating himself in Cambria. -
An art exhibit showcasing paintings of beautiful local landscapes will also provide an opportunity for people to support land conservation throughout San Luis Obispo County. It will be at the Octagon Barn, a historic building in SLO, on August 9 and 10. -
This month, the Palm Theatre in downtown San Luis Obispo has become the SLO Film Center. The Theater has been a beloved independent movie house since it opened its doors in 1988. Now, the nonprofit San Luis Obispo International Film Festival is running the theater — leasing it from owners Jim and Patty Dee, who are retiring. -
A Chicano-band based in the Salinas Valley, called Flaco El Jandro, recently released recordings in hopes of winning National Public Radio’s 2024 Tiny Desk Contest. Winners of the contest have a chance to highlight their talent by going on a national tour. Flaco El Jandro didn’t win this year’s competition, but that isn’t stopping front-man Alejandro ‘Flaco’ Gomez from releasing more music.
