IT'S FEBRUARY Gloomy Day 1565 by Pieter Bruegel, the Elder As with all of the months of the year, even short February is packed with its share month-long observances. There are well-known observances, obscure ones and frankly some ridiculous ones whose very existence annoys me. If you live somewhere with a temperate climate in the Northern … Continue reading Happy February — here’s your line-up of month-long observances and ways to celebrate with music, movies and games
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
California Fool’s Gold — Exploring El Monte, the End of the Santa Fe Trail (or at least some trails)
INTRODUCTION TO EL MONTE Valley Boulevard and Peck Road -- Welcome to El Monte El Monte is a city in the middle of the San Gabriel Valley. As of the last census (in 2010), its population was 113,475. It contains the neighborhoods of Arden Village, the Auto District, Downtown, Five Points, the Flair Business District, … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring El Monte, the End of the Santa Fe Trail (or at least some trails)
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California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Irvine, Orange County’s City of Innovation
INTRODUCTION Irvine skyline For a while now Irvine has shared the top spot on my poll (see the end of the post to vote) but I’ve put it off because of the time required to explore such a sprawling, distant city. There was also a time when most of my blog’s non-Los Angeles fans … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Irvine, Orange County’s City of Innovation
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Nobody Drives in LA — Exploring the Course of the Crenshaw Line
With bicycles, buses, ferries, planes, rideshares, sidewalks, subways, taxis, and trains at Angelenos’ disposal, why would any sane person choose car-dependency? Nobody Drives in LA celebrates sense and sensibility in transportation. For this auto-less adventure, I decided to explore a train line that doesn't yet exist -- but will before too long if all goes according to plan. In January … Continue reading Nobody Drives in LA — Exploring the Course of the Crenshaw Line
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That’s not amazing — California’s Gold, Huell Howser, has passed away
I am utterly gutted to hear that Huell Howser has passed away. I heard the news as I was writing about my exploration of Irvine for this blog, and simultaneously planning on exploring the route of the Expo Line Phase II tomorrow. If it weren’t for Huell, I may not have had the idea of … Continue reading That’s not amazing — California’s Gold, Huell Howser, has passed away
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Happy (belated) birthday, Joe Orton
Yesterday, had he not died in 1967, would've been the 79th birthday of my favorite, English, comic playwright, Joe Orton (provided he didn't pass away for some other reason in the intermediate years). Saffron Lane council estate being built in 1927 John Kingsley "Joe" Orton was born 1 January in Leicester to William A Orton and Elsie … Continue reading Happy (belated) birthday, Joe Orton
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And drouthy neibors, neibors meet – Drinking and dining and drinking at the Tam o’ Shanter Inn
Tomorrow I'm dining at the Tam o' Shanter Inn in the Northeast Los Angeles neighborhood of Atwater Village. I needed to write about something and haven't yet been able to finish my piece about Irvine so here you go... A tam o' shanter is a 19th century nickname for a traditional sort of brimless, usually wool, … Continue reading And drouthy neibors, neibors meet – Drinking and dining and drinking at the Tam o’ Shanter Inn
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Happy birthday, Edvard Munch
Today is the 149th birthday of Norwegian painter and printmaker, Edvard Munch. Munch was born 12 December in the village of Ådalsbruk in Løten, in 1863. His father was a doctor named Christian Munch and his mother was Laura Catherine Bjølstad. He was often ill as a child and reportedly drew to occupy his considerable … Continue reading Happy birthday, Edvard Munch
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California Fool’s Gold — A North Orange County Primer
SHE HAD ORANGE RIBBONS IN HER HAIR -- NORTH ORANGE COUNTY It comes as something of a dismaying surprise to me how casually many seemingly intelligent Angelenos freely dismiss Orange County. Iv'e grown used to (if still somewhat surprised by) the out-dated chauvinistic attitude of New Yorkers and San Franciscans. But while those widely and … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — A North Orange County Primer
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Piko Piko – A look at Picopop on the 34th birthday of Yellow Magic Orchestra’s debut
Back in 1978, on 25 November, pioneering Japanese group, Yellow Magic Orchestra released their influential, eponymous, debut full-length. The album and group are widely credited with being very influential on the development of several music genres, including ambient, chiptune, electro, hip hop, house, J-pop, synthpop, and techno, to name a few. The band (also known as YMO) were … Continue reading Piko Piko – A look at Picopop on the 34th birthday of Yellow Magic Orchestra’s debut
Eric Brightwell 