Los Angeles Linguistics Part 1 — A Tale of Two Neighborhoods

There is a casualness and imprecision practically intrinsic to Los Angeles. It's only in this city that I've encountered people who aren't sure what neighborhood they live in. What's more, they seem undisturbed, it's all "Los Angeles," after all, an abstract city where many residents are seemingly less concerned with where they actually live than where they park their cars. Business … Continue reading Los Angeles Linguistics Part 1 — A Tale of Two Neighborhoods

Southland Parks โ€” Visiting Granada Park

A week ago I visited Oโ€™Melveny Park, often said to be Los Angelesโ€™s second largest park โ€” but actually its fifth. A few days later I visited the actual second largest park, albeit of Alhambra, not Los Angeles. That communityโ€™s Granada Park is a pleasant community park second in size only to Almansor Park. ***** … Continue reading Southland Parks โ€” Visiting Granada Park

Swinging Doors โ€” A Guide to Winter Warmers

Though technically still autumn, itโ€™s now felt like winter for over a week here in Los Angeles. The days are very short and on the long cold nights itโ€™s been dipping into the single digits. Weโ€™ve been blessed with a little bit of rain here and there and the Santa Ana Winds have been whipping up leaves and … Continue reading Swinging Doors โ€” A Guide to Winter Warmers

Southland Parks โ€” Visiting Oโ€™Melveny Park

Iโ€™d wanted to visit Oโ€™Melveny Park since first getting wind of its existence several years ago and seeingย repeated references to its beingย the second largest park in Los Angeles (afterย much better known Griffith Park). However, whereas I can easily walk or ride my bicycle to Griffith Park, Oโ€™Melveny is about fifty kilometers from Pendersleigh and public … Continue reading Southland Parks โ€” Visiting Oโ€™Melveny Park

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Palms

Palms is a neighborhood that founded as an agricultural and vacation community in 1886. Today itโ€™s mostly comprised of apartment buildings, crisscrossed with commercial corridors, and the most densely populated community on the Westside. Itโ€™s also home to many of my favorite Westside establishments so the realityย that I found exploring the actual neighborhood somewhat unpleasant … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Palms

No Enclave โ€” Exploring Islamic Los Angeles

Iโ€™m not religious. I am curious about my fellow humans, however, andย the various ways in which we attempt to understand our world. I suppose it's partly forย that reason that Iโ€™ve always been fascinated by mythology and religion.ย My curiosity has ledย me toย read a few religious texts, including the Bhagavad Gita, Bible,ย Gospel of Thomas, Hagakure,ย Phrases and Philosophies … Continue reading No Enclave โ€” Exploring Islamic Los Angeles

Swinging Doors โ€” Visiting The Verdugo

Verdugo Bar is located in the Glassell Park neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles at 3408 Verdugo Road. Verdugo Road (along with Verdugo Canyon, Verdugo City, the Verdugo Hills, Verdugo Park, and the Verdugos region) is named after Josรฉ Marรญa Verdugo, Spanish soldier and landowner to whom Rancho San Rafael was granted in 1784. Andrew Glassell … Continue reading Swinging Doors โ€” Visiting The Verdugo

Swinging Doors — Footsies

Footsies is a bar in theย Cypress Park neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles. Iโ€™ve been going there with wavering semi-regularity for about 17 years โ€” as many as Iโ€™ve lived in Los Angeles. Online historic information about the bar is minimal and Iโ€™d love to fill it in more, so leave comments if you can help … Continue reading Swinging Doors — Footsies

No Enclave — Exploring Colombian Los Angeles

As of 2015, an estimated 48.4% of Angelenos were โ€œHispanic of any race.โ€ The majority of Hispanic and Latino Angelenos are of Mexican heritage but the region is also well known for being home to the largest populations of Salvadorans and Guatemalans outside of their home countries. Often overlooked are the regionโ€™s smaller Latino populations, the subject of this series of No … Continue reading No Enclave — Exploring Colombian Los Angeles

No Enclave — Exploring Chilean Los Angeles

As of 2015, an estimatedย 48.4% of Angelenos wereย โ€œHispanic of any race.โ€ The majority ofย Hispanic and Latino Angelenos are of Mexican heritage but the region is also well known for being home to the largest populations ofย Salvadorans andย Guatemalansย outside of their home countries. Often overlooked are the regionโ€™sย smaller Latino populations, the subject of this series of No … Continue reading No Enclave — Exploring Chilean Los Angeles