INTRODUCTION For this chapter of California Fool's Gold, I explored the city of Whittier. Whittier is a city in Southeast Los Angeles (County), separated from the San Gabriel Valley to the north by the Puente Hills and sharing a border with Orange County to the southeast. As of the 2020 Census, it had a population … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Whittier
Los Angeles’s Corner Drugstores & Independent Pharmacies
The corner drug store isn't what it used to be, although I'm not sure when it stopped. Probably quite a few years before I was born... although there are still a few hanging 'round. I'm talking about the drugstores that Norman Rockwell celebrated in his characteristic manner and Edward Hopper naturally managed to make seem … Continue reading Los Angeles’s Corner Drugstores & Independent Pharmacies
1972 in Music — 50 Years Later
Happy New Year! It's now 2022. That means -- assuming my math is correct -- it's been 50 years since it was 1972. And so, as I do ever year, I've made a playlist of music from that year -- not just my favorite eight tracks or anything like that -- a playlist of ALL … Continue reading 1972 in Music — 50 Years Later
Swinging Doors — Los Angeles’s Oldest Bars
INTRODUCTION In 2018, I made a map of Los Angeles's oldest restaurants and wrote a bit about them. It proved relatively easy because there was lots already written on the subject. When I started writing about Los Angeles's oldest bars, it proved much more difficult. Not only could I find no serious effort to draw … Continue reading Swinging Doors — Los Angeles’s Oldest Bars
Mist & Iron — Visiting Paauw, or, Palomar Mountain
INTRODUCTION After Desert Daze, my friend Mike Morgan found himself in a dilemma. Namely, he had more firewood than he knew what to do with and so proposed camping somewhere. I suggested Palomar Mountain because it's struck me as a magical place the few times I've passed over it on the way to and from … Continue reading Mist & Iron — Visiting Paauw, or, Palomar Mountain
Nobody Drives in LA – North Trail Canyon Road with Mike Morgan [Pilot Episode]
A couple of years ago I had an idea for a Nobody Drives in LA series of some sort -- in addition to the weblog series, that is, which I've been writing for years. My conception was of taking transit, riding bikes, or walking with Angelenos who are car-free -- both of in the vein … Continue reading Nobody Drives in LA – North Trail Canyon Road with Mike Morgan [Pilot Episode]
Ghosts of the Silver Lake Reservoir
A few years ago, whilst researching the history of the Silver Lake Reservoir, I was rather surprised to learn that several people had drowned in it early in its history. Where there's water, I suppose, there are drownings -- I'd just never thought about it before -- and when the reservoir began filling in 1907, … Continue reading Ghosts of the Silver Lake Reservoir
No Enclave — Puerto Rican Los Angeles
Many -- perhaps most -- Angelenos know that Los Angeles is home to the largest populations of Mexicans, Salvadorans, and Guatemalans outside of their of their respective homelands. I know that I wasn't surprised to learn that the next largest Latino community in Los Angeles is of Honduran Americans. I was surprised, though, to learn … Continue reading No Enclave — Puerto Rican Los Angeles
No Enclave — Chumash Los Angeles
INTRODUCTION Before the Spanish invasion of the region, what’s now California enjoyed the highest human population density north of what is today Mexico. Today, Los Angeles is home to more people of Native ancestry than any other metropolitan area in the US, a population which includes peoples indigenous to Southern California as well as people … Continue reading No Enclave — Chumash Los Angeles
Azuki’s Second Birthday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXQ7eMmBBXg 27 September we observed Azuki Dingus's second birthday. Being a rescue, no one knows her exact birthday but as she seemed to be about four months old when she left the pound in late January 2020, this is when her birthday is traditionally observed. Of course Alan was there. At the end, there's a … Continue reading Azuki’s Second Birthday
Eric Brightwell 