The Grand Tour, for the unfamiliar, was a custom that arose in Britain in the mid-1600s, which involved upper class young British men touring around Europe as part of their cultural education. By the 1800s, the custom had spread from the British upper classes to the nouveau riche of Europe, the Americas, and the Philippines. … Continue reading Nobody Drives in LA — The Los Angeles Grand Tour
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Pan-Asian Metropolis — 220-ish Asian Angeleno Artists
It's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and so I thought it might be nice to shine a spotlight on some of Metro Los Angeles's many Asian American artists, the subject of this week's post. It was a bit of an undertaking for many reasons. There are and have been many Asian American artists who've at … Continue reading Pan-Asian Metropolis — 220-ish Asian Angeleno Artists
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No Enclave — Kazakh Los Angeles
This week's post is about Kazakh Los Angeles. Since it is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the primary focus is on ethnically Kazakh Angelenos. However, as Kazakhstan is a multi-ethnic society, a few "white" Angelenos with roots in Kazakstan are included too. INTRODUCTION I first became aware of Kazakhstan (าะฐะทะฐาััะฐะฝ) as a child when I … Continue reading No Enclave — Kazakh Los Angeles
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No Enclave — Guamanian Los Angeles
INTRODUCTION May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and in honor of that observance, this week's post is about Guamanians in Los Angeles. BRIEF HISTORY OF GUAM Pendersleigh & Sons' map highlighting the location of Guam within the American Empire Guam (CHamoru: Guรฅhan) is an island in the Micronesia sub-region of the western Pacific Ocean. … Continue reading No Enclave — Guamanian Los Angeles
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Nobody Drives in LA — The Great Metrolink Four Counties Ride
Last Friday was Earth Day. In honor of the day, Metro, Metrolink, (and doubtless many other local mass transit agencies) offered unlimited fare-free rides. I've read a couple of articles in the past in which the authors stated that they were riding every Metro line (although in both cases they meant Metro train lines, not … Continue reading Nobody Drives in LA — The Great Metrolink Four Counties Ride
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Cannabis Los Angeles
I have always been an explorer and when I was about eight years old, I became aware of and interested in drugs. In second grade, my main subject of interest was dinosaurs. Dinosaurs were a gateway to Pleistocene megafauna. After Pleistocene megafauna, I began innocently experimenting with legal substances. I started drinking coffee (with lots … Continue reading Cannabis Los Angeles
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Those Useless Trees — Guerilla Gardening with Agave
If you've ever walked anywhere in Los Angeles other than to and from a car, you've no doubt noticed that there are dirt squares along many sidewalks into which the city occasionally plants trees. I don't know what the technical name of these squares is or even if they have one. I think that I've … Continue reading Those Useless Trees — Guerilla Gardening with Agave
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Los Angeles Swap Meets
In February, Catalina Villegas reported for Spectrum News that the vendors at the North Hollywood Swap Meet were given notice that they had until 31 March to vacate the building in which some of them had worked for more than 25 years. Instead of taking the news quietly, a group of vendors, aided by The … Continue reading Los Angeles Swap Meets
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No Enclave — Iranian Los Angeles
INTRODUCTION Nowruz took place last week on a blustery Sunday. Nowruz is the New Year of Zoroastrians and in Iran as well as much of Central and West Asia. It's often, in fact, referred to as Persian New Year. A bit ago, someone bemoaned that I hadn't written a No Enclave about Iranians or Persians. … Continue reading No Enclave — Iranian Los Angeles
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Take ’em To The Bridge — Visiting the Taylor Yard Bikeway and Pedestrian Bridge
As someone who rides on the Los Angeles River Bicycle Path not infrequently, I've been closely and eagerly tracking the progress of the Taylor Yard Bikeway and Pedestrian Bridge. When I found out that it officially opened on 5 March 14 March, I took the next convenient opportunity (yesterday) to check it out. Approaching the … Continue reading Take ’em To The Bridge — Visiting the Taylor Yard Bikeway and Pedestrian Bridge
Eric Brightwell 