A Look Back at the Depeche Mode Riots

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Watts Riots (or Watts Rebellion, depending on your point of view). In that riot, 3,438 Anglenos were arrested, 1,032 were injured, and 34 died. This year (but not today) is also the 25th anniversary of another, less serious uprising, the Depeche Mode Riots, in which five to seven … Continue reading A Look Back at the Depeche Mode Riots

California Fool’s Gold — A Westside Primer

JUST ANOTHER DAY IN WEST SIDE LA -- THE WESTSIDE A view of the Westside from my dirigible Around the world, the mere mention of the word "Westside" prompts people to throw up a "W" hand sign, in imitation of many west coast and west coast-affiliated (Tupac was, after all, a native of East Harlem) pop-rappers … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — A Westside Primer

California Fool’s Gold — A Midtown Primer

JUST LIKE MIDTOWN TRAFFIC -- MIDTOWN  A detail of Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography's map of LA County showing Midtown's location Midtown is a small but bustling area of Los Angeles surrounded by the larger regions of Hollywood to the north, the Westside to the west, South Los Angeles to the south and the Mideast side to … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — A Midtown Primer