Greater Streets — Los Angeles Squares, or When is a Square Not a Square?

If you ever walk, bicycle, or take public transit in Los Angeles, you’ve no doubt noticed those nearly ubiquitous tan or beige-colored signs with brown lettering, a City of Los Angeles seal, and text designating an intersection or section of road a “square.” If you’re a motorist, you may’ very well have missed them, because … Continue reading Greater Streets — Los Angeles Squares, or When is a Square Not a Square?

Los Angeles’s Oldest Surviving Restaurants

I made a map of Metro Los Angeles's oldest extant eateries based on a piece written by Nikki Kreuzer for The Los Angeles Beat titled "Offbeat L.A.: The Oldest Surviving Los Angeles Restaurants... a Master List of the Vintage, Historic and Old School." The Los Angeles Beat piece seems to have received a fair amount … Continue reading Los Angeles’s Oldest Surviving Restaurants

Houses of the Hallows — The Self Realization Fellowship Mother Center

Last Monday I visited the Self Realization Fellowship Mother Center (headquarters) with my friends Tammy Jean Park and Mike Morgan. I first explored the center's grounds in 2012, as part of a California Fool’s Gold exploration of the Mount Washington neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles. The historic building, long home to the Self-Realization Fellowship, was built … Continue reading Houses of the Hallows — The Self Realization Fellowship Mother Center

The Music of Mr. Rogers

INTRODUCTION I started researching this piece a while ago. I've been a fan of Mr. Rogers's music since I was a young child. It turned out to be surprisingly difficult to write because just as the depth of Mr. Rogers's television program wasn't always appreciated, the brilliance of his music has largely been overlooked. You … Continue reading The Music of Mr. Rogers

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Big Bear City

  After eleven years of exploring Los Angeles County, and eight of exploring Orange County, I finally explored elsewhere in Southern California for California Fool's Gold a week ago, when I visited the small San Bernardino County town of Big Bear City with my friend, Mike. We first stopped at Running Springs for a bathroom … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Big Bear City