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. ***** The Metro Silver Line opened on 13 December 2009, more than four years after the Orange Line, Metro's only other Metro Transitway (or Metro Liner). Despite its silvery paint … Continue reading Nobody Drives in LA — Silver Line Stroll from Union Station to El Monte
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
Nature’s a language, can’t you read? — Seasons in the Southland
A FEW GENERALIZATIONS ABOUT ANGELENOS While I caution anyone attempting to make generalizations about a group as diverse and large as the 13 million or so people known as “Angelenos,” I have nonetheless made a couple of observations about a much smaller subsection, my Los Angeles friends, that I have to assume share more widely-held views with … Continue reading Nature’s a language, can’t you read? — Seasons in the Southland
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My maiden voyage on the RMS Queen Mary
The other day I went to the RMS Queen Mary for birthday drinks for Lynn Garrett’s birthday. Lynn is the founder and head honcho at Hidden Los Angeles. As the name suggests, Hidden Los Angeles is a highly useful guide to Los Angeles for Angelenos and visitors who presumably have no interest in (or interests … Continue reading My maiden voyage on the RMS Queen Mary
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California Fool’s Gold — A San Fernando Valley Primer
WHERE THE WEST BEGINS AND THE SUNSET ENDS -- THE VALLEY There are numerous valleys in Los Angeles County: the Antelope, Crescenta, Hungry, Peace, Pomona, Puente, San Gabriel, Santa Clara River, and Santa Clarita, to name a few of the better known ones. However, when one hears mention of The Valley it is almost universally recognized as a … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — A San Fernando Valley Primer
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Happy birthday, Hokusai!
This post originally appeared on the Amoeblog. Today is the date traditionally recognized as the birthday of one of my favorite Japanese artists, 葛飾 北斎 (Katsushika Hokusai). Without a doubt, he is one of (if not the) most famous Japanese artists of all time. His best-known work is the ukiyo-e woodblock print series 富嶽三十六景 (Thirty-six … Continue reading Happy birthday, Hokusai!
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Gower Gulch and the sort of beginning of Hollywood
The Hollywood neighborhood emerged as a small village in the late 19th century and was incorporated as its own municipality in 1903. But for most people in the world, “Hollywood” is synonymous with the commercial American film, which established itself there first in an area that came to be known as "Gower Gulch." Before Hollywood … Continue reading Gower Gulch and the sort of beginning of Hollywood
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Nobody Drives in LA — Get Out of the Car: Walking CicLAvia No. 5
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. ***** Los Angeles, like many cities, is experiencing a new level of connectedness. The opening of new train lines, an increase in bicycling events and trails, kayak tours of … Continue reading Nobody Drives in LA — Get Out of the Car: Walking CicLAvia No. 5
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Krazy Kat – One of the kolossal komics in the kontinuum debuted 13 October 1913
INTRO TO KRAZY KAT On 15 October, Google paid tribute to Winsor McCay's comic, Little Nemo in Slumberland, which debuted on that date in 1905. It was a beautiful tribute to one of the greatest comic strips of all time. Just two days earlier, though not celebrated by Google (I don't expect them to honor … Continue reading Krazy Kat – One of the kolossal komics in the kontinuum debuted 13 October 1913
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Happy Birthday, Simeon Solomon
Simeon Solomon was a Jewish Pre-Raphaelite painter. He was born 9 October, 1840 at No. 3 Sandys Street, Bishopsgate, London, England. Were he alive today he'd be turning 172. Solomon was the eighth and last child Michael (Meyer) Solomon, manufacturer of Leghorn hats, and artist Catherine Levy. Two of his older siblings, Abraham and Rebecca, were … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Simeon Solomon
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What a wild, wild scene – A look back at Ditch Parties for Hispanic Heritage Month
INTRODUCTION TO DPS Truancy is presumably exactly as old as education. Some 800,000 years ago in the Middle East, people learned how to start fires. Though an important skill and an entertaining subject, I’m sure that some frustrated student thought to her or his self, “Lame. I’m outta here.” Later truants organized parties during school … Continue reading What a wild, wild scene – A look back at Ditch Parties for Hispanic Heritage Month
Eric Brightwell 