This piece was originally written for “Ask Silver Lake.” “Ask Silver Lake” is dedicated to exploring the history and insights of our community. If you have questions or ideas you’d like us to consider, please drop a comment or send them to outreach@silverlakenc.org. The Silver Lake Branch Library, temporarily closed All the best Silver Lakers know and love … Continue reading Ask Silver Lake – Silver Lake’s Original Libraries
Author: Eric Brightwell
Eric Brightwell is an essayist, rambler, explorer, cartographer, and guerrilla gardener. He lives in Los Angeles, not because he was born here, but because he chose to... for all of the things for which its famous: its verticality, its mass transit, its diversity, its schools, its liminal spaces, its architecture, its wildlife, its museums, its night markets, its cinemas, its theaters, its enclaves, its restaurants, its bars, its libraries, &c
Nobody Drives in LA — The T00b N00b Gr00p R1d3: E Line Edition
THE TUBE NEWB GROUP RIDE: E LINE EDITION INTRODUCTION A few months ago, Nobody Drives in LA asked our listeners to "ask us anything." One of the respondents submitted: "What bus or train experience would you take someone on to give them a good first impression of transit in LA? I have often said the … Continue reading Nobody Drives in LA — The T00b N00b Gr00p R1d3: E Line Edition
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Ask Silver Lake — Live Music Venues of Silver Lake, Present and Past
This piece was originally written for “Ask Silver Lake.” “Ask Silver Lake” is dedicated to exploring the history and insights of our community. If you have questions or ideas you’d like us to consider, please drop a comment or send them to outreach@silverlakenc.org. When you think of Los Angeles communities known for their famous music … Continue reading Ask Silver Lake — Live Music Venues of Silver Lake, Present and Past
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The Semi-Tropic Spiritualist Association, with historian Eric Brightwell
Happy Spooky Season! Join me tomorrow, on 4 October from 13:00-14:00 in a presentation about the Semi-Tropic Spiritualists, their tract, and the Semi-Tropic Park. If you need a brief introduction. The Semi-Tropic Spiritualists Association was an early 20th-century utopian and Spiritualist collective (essentially Victorian era hippies or ravers) that established a campground and community in … Continue reading The Semi-Tropic Spiritualist Association, with historian Eric Brightwell
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Nobody Drives in LA — the A Line Extension to Pomona
On 19 September 2025, Metro's A Line Extension to Pomona opened to the public. That day, there was an event called Rock the Rails which offered free music, free rides, and free food at the new stations. I decided to check it out and made an event for a "group ride." I was joined by … Continue reading Nobody Drives in LA — the A Line Extension to Pomona
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Where Fools Fear to Tread — Visiting Portmerion, Wales
Back in June, I visited Wales for the first time. I took the train to Portmerion. For the uninitiated, here’s what Wikipedia has to say: Portmeirion (/pɔːrtˈmɛriən/;[1] Welsh pronunciation: [pɔrtˈmei̯rjɔn]) is a folly[2] tourist village in Gwynedd, North Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Dwyryd in the community of Penrhyndeudraeth, 2 miles … Continue reading Where Fools Fear to Tread — Visiting Portmerion, Wales
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No Enclave — Los Angeles Transplants
It’s often said that Los Angeles is a city of immigrants. Although the same is almost never said of refugees, it should be. Together, immigrants and refugees account for roughly 35% of Angelenos. And while native Angelenos are often discusses as if they're as rare as rain, California-born Angelenos actually account for about 52% of … Continue reading No Enclave — Los Angeles Transplants
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Ask Silver Lake — If Silver Lake isn’t in the Eastside, Where is it?
This piece was originally written for “Ask Silver Lake.” “Ask Silver Lake” is dedicated to exploring the history and insights of our community. If you have questions or ideas you’d like us to consider, please drop a comment or send them to outreach@silverlakenc.org. INTRODUCTION On 5 February 2014, the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council considered a motion … Continue reading Ask Silver Lake — If Silver Lake isn’t in the Eastside, Where is it?
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No Enclave — Welsh Los Angeles
INTRODUCTION I had originally planned to post this on 1 March -- Saint David's Day -- the feast day of David, the patron saint of Wales. Obviously, that didn't happen so I filed it away for next year... or the year after that. But I'm heading to Wales early next month so I've been boning … Continue reading No Enclave — Welsh Los Angeles
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Los Angeles Neighborhoods Map
Screenshot of Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography's map of Los Angeles Neighborhoods, Communities, and Southern California For whatever reason, one of my most evergreen posts is "New York City Neighborhoods Map," a post I wrote and map that I made when laid up in bed with a brain-fogging bout of COVID. The fog has long-cleared but … Continue reading Los Angeles Neighborhoods Map
Eric Brightwell 