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]
Author: Eric Brightwell
Eric Brightwell is an essayist, rambler, explorer, cartographer, and guerrilla gardener. He lives in Los Angeles because he loves it -- not because he was born there. He doesn't really care about street art, sleb culture, sunshine, and prefers mass and active transit to cars.
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
The Stylers
INTRODUCTIONFor fans of a particular era of Chinese-language pop-rock, in particular the excellent Singaporean pop-rock of the 1960s and '70s, there's one name one finds written on records by many of the era's greatest artists -- The Stylers. They backed many of the Singapore's leading lights including Lena Lim, Lisa Wong, and Yao Su Rong. … Continue reading The Stylers
No Enclave — Exploring Honduran Los Angeles
Hondurans are the eighth largest group of Latin Americans living in the US in the US and, after Salvadorans and Guatemalans, the third largest population of Central Americans in the US. However, whereas Los Angeles is home to the largest populations of Salvadorans and Guatemalans outside of El Salvador and Guatemala, the same cannot be … Continue reading No Enclave — Exploring Honduran Los Angeles
Happy 818, or, San Fernando Valley Day!
Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography's Map of the San Fernando Valley Although the date format of most countries is "day/month/year," the US, as we know, likes to fly in the face of global conventions and go its own way (see also: British Imperial Units, Fahrenheit, and American football). Because of our quirky date format, American nerds … Continue reading Happy 818, or, San Fernando Valley Day!
No Enclave — Australian Los Angeles
Today was Australia Day from 1915 til 1935 (when it was moved to 26 January) and Los Angeles is home to far more Australians than any other American city. According to the Australian Consulate-General, there are about 44,000 Australians living in Metro Los Angeles -- more than twice as many as live in second-place New … Continue reading No Enclave — Australian Los Angeles
Nobody Drives In LA — Celebrating Ten Years Since Kicking My Car Habit
Today marks the tenth anniversary of my not owning a car. On 18 July 2011, my 1990 Suburu Loyale nicknamed the C.A.R.D.I.S. (Car And Relative Dimensions In Space) blew a head gasket or two somewhere around Niland. It sputtered its last just past North Palm Springs, near the windmills. I had it towed to Desert … Continue reading Nobody Drives In LA — Celebrating Ten Years Since Kicking My Car Habit
Eric Brightwell 