Our top stories of 2019

A butterfly invasion. Nostalgic photos of 1970s LA. A new law to help renters. And more. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [View on the web]([Click to view images]( This year, we chronicled the restoration of the iconic Brady Bunch house, waxed nostalgic, showed you where Tarantino's love letter to 1960s LA was filmed, showcased some of the city's best architecture and homes, and explained a new law designed to help renters in 2020. Here, seven of our most-read stories of 2019, plus two of my favorites stories of the year. — Jenna Chandler, editor [Click to view images]( [Rain brings millions of painted lady butterflies to Southern California]( In the spring, millions of butterflies fluttered around Los Angeles, feasting on plants that proliferated in the wake of an exceptionally wet winter. Swarms of painted ladies were spotted across Southern California, from the Walk of the Fame to South Bay beaches. [alt_text]( [Here’s how California’s rent control law will work]( On January 1, the state will begin to regulate how much Californians’ rent can increase every year. The rules, however, will vary for cities that already have rent control laws—and that makes things pretty complicated. We broke down the rules. [alt_text]( [HGTV’s restoration of Brady Bunch house unveiled—and they didn’t mess it up]( A crew of HGTV stars spent eight months renovating a pink ranch house in Studio City that appeared in almost every single episode of the Brady Bunch. Of course, HGTV turned the renovation into a TV show all of its own. [alt_text]( [‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’: Mapping Tarantino’s LA fairytale]( Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has been described as the director’s love letter to late ‘60s Los Angeles. Here, a map of some of the film’s major locations, which include swinging nightspots, drive-in theaters, hillside getaways, and secluded movie ranches. [alt_text]( [LA officials break ground on LAX people mover]( Set to start running in 2023, the automated shuttle system will connect to a future light rail station along the under-construction Crenshaw/LAX Line, finally creating a rail connection to the world’s fourth-busiest airport. [alt_text]( [An urban oasis]( Both a National Historic Landmark and a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, the sprawling Village Green complex is an affordable “garden city” in the heart of Los Angeles. [alt_text]( [1970s photos capture a vanishing LA]( Under the name “The Family Acid,” one family has photographed and compiled thousands of images of Los Angeles from the 1960s through the 1990s. As contributor Marissa Clifford writes, they immortalize ephemeral moments in an ever-evolving city. [alt_text]( [Editor's pick: They loved the house. Then they tore it down. The neighbors cried.]( A Hancock Park couple sold their Tudor-style home to a buyer who they believed would cherish it for a long time. But almost as soon as escrow closed, the new owners tore it down. [alt_text]( [Editor's pick: An illustrated guide to breeze blocks]( Once you know what they’re called, you’ll start noticing them all over Los Angeles. Here’s a guide to get you acquainted with one of the grooviest features of midcentury modern architecture. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Curbed]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences](, or [unsubscribe]( to stop receiving emails from Vox Media. View our [Privacy Notice]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2019. All rights reserved.