The other day, I visited one of my favorite places in Los Angeles — The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens (or, “The Huntington” to you and me). For anyone who hasn’t visited, the Huntington is the former estate of railroad magnate, Henry Edwards Huntington (1850-1927). After Huntington’s death, the mansion opened as the … Continue reading Southland Parks — Visiting the Huntington’s Chinese and Japanese Gardens
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
No Enclave — Exploring Jamaican Los Angeles
INTRODUCTION The other day, Evan Lovett of L.A. In a Minute asked me if I knew any history or tidbits about the Jamaican community in Los Angeles. If you somehow aren’t aware of L.A. in a Minute, take a check it out now. Anyway, as far as Jamaican Los Angeles went, I had little information. … Continue reading No Enclave — Exploring Jamaican Los Angeles
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DTLA Bunker Hill Walk with John Yi
Late last year, California State Assembly candidate John Yi asked me if I’d like to lead a walk of a Downtown neighborhood within the borders of Assembly District 54. I immediately agreed. John had already led a walk of Koreatown. I’d attended his walk of Little Tokyo, led by Kevin Keizuchi. It was just a … Continue reading DTLA Bunker Hill Walk with John Yi
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DTLA Walk with John — Bunker Hill Edition
On Saturday 20 January 2024, I’m going to co-lead a walk of Bunker Hill with State Assembly candidate, John Yi. We will meet at Metro's Civic Center/Grand Park Station in Gloria Molina Grand Park. To avoid confusion, make certain (if you come by train) that you exit in the Grand Park entrance/exit. There’s also an … Continue reading DTLA Walk with John — Bunker Hill Edition
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California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Elysian Heights
INTRODUCTION The other day I explored Elysian Heights, a small neighborhood in Mideast Los Angeles that’s usually characterized as being part of Echo Park — despite its having been subdivided before Echo Park was even constructed. It wasn’t exactly my typical California Fool’s Gold exploration but rather part of a group walk that I led … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Elysian Heights
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Hear on LA, the Republic (or Kingdom), of Los Angeles, its Provinces (or Counties), and their Capitals
I was recently a guest on Tony Pierce’s podcast, Hear in LA (Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube -- or read on the Hear in LA website) . Toward the end of our discussion, Tony proposed Los Angeles becoming its own country. We didn't discuss what sort of state it would be, I don't … Continue reading Hear on LA, the Republic (or Kingdom), of Los Angeles, its Provinces (or Counties), and their Capitals
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Plaza del Valle & All Valley Everything
A map of Plaza del Valle with rules listed below I was recently a guest on a new podcast, All Valley Everything, hosted by Albert Corado and featuring a rotating cast of co-hosts. For the episode on which I was a guest, the co-host was Veronica Shirley, of Valley Girl Hiking Club. Albert asked me … Continue reading Plaza del Valle & All Valley Everything
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Houses of the Hallows — The Semi-Tropic Spiritualists and the Semi-Tropic Park
INTRODUCTION Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography's official map of Elysian Heights, available reproduced on a wide variety of merchandise and in art prints of various sizes. The other day, the Los Angeles Public Library posted a short clip of me talking about my map of the Elysian Heights neighborhood — crafted from interview footage shot for … Continue reading Houses of the Hallows — The Semi-Tropic Spiritualists and the Semi-Tropic Park
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Nobody Drives in LA — The California Cycleway
INTRODUCTION If, like me, you ride a bicycle in Los Angeles, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard of the fabled California Cycleway — an elevated, wooden bicycle tollway that existed for an all-too-brief moment at the dawn of the 20th Century — before the Age of the Automobile. The California Cycleway is legendary — … Continue reading Nobody Drives in LA — The California Cycleway
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Ask Silver Lake — What Becomes of a Decommissioned Reservoir?
A reservoir is constructed in Silver Lake. After decades of service, the city determines that the water in it isn’t fit to drink and that reservoir is obsolete. It is decommissioned. The city decides to turn it into a park. Not everyone is happy with this plan. Sound familiar? Perhaps, then, you already know the … Continue reading Ask Silver Lake — What Becomes of a Decommissioned Reservoir?
Eric Brightwell 