INTRODUCTION Most of my essays about Los Angeles begin similarly. A question is asked, an answer is hard to find or is deemed inadequate, and then I head straight down a rabbit hole. This one began when a friend asked a question that involved Altadena and a street there with a Japanese name. She then … Continue reading Pan-Asian Metropolis — Pasadena’s Lost Chinatown
Tag: Chinatown
Nobody Drives in LA — The Los Angeles Grand Tour
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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Mist & Iron โ Visiting Radio Hill
If you can't see the forest for the trees, Los Angeles might only seem like an exclusively horizontal city. The fact of the matter is, however, that no city on earth has greater difference in elevation, from below-sea-level Wilmington to 1,544 meter tall Mount Lukens. Tallest in the county is Mount San Antonio but even … Continue reading Mist & Iron โ Visiting Radio Hill
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Pan-Asian Metropolis — An Introduction to the Asian Pacific Islander Communities of the Southland
Diversity has long been part of the fabric of Los Angeles and Southern California. Humans first arrived hereย at least 13,000 years ago and more thanย twenty Native American nations made their home here before the Spanish Conquest. The Spanish pueblo of Los Angeles was itself founded by people of Native, African, European, and mixed ancestries and … Continue reading Pan-Asian Metropolis — An Introduction to the Asian Pacific Islander Communities of the Southland
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Tim & Eric Present: To Live and Deejay LA
Tim "Modern Brit" Shimbles (Amoeba employee and frequent traveling companion on California Fool's Gold) and yours truly are going to DJ a set ofย "locals only" music called To Live and Deejay LAย on 12 May at the Melody Lounge in Chinatown. (Click here to join the Facebook event page). Los Angeles is a big place... bigger … Continue reading Tim & Eric Present: To Live and Deejay LA
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No Enclave — Exploring the Remains of Los Angeles’s Little Italy
Los Angeles and Orange counties are home to many official and unofficial (but widely recognized) ethnic enclaves, including Cambodia Town, Chinatown, Filipinotown, Koreatown, Little Armenia, Little Arabia, Little Bangladesh, Little Brazil, Little Ethiopia, Little India, Little Osaka, Little Russia, Little Saigon, Little Seoul, Little Tokyo, Oaxacatown, Tehrangeles, and Thai Town. Attempting to gain official recognition are … Continue reading No Enclave — Exploring the Remains of Los Angeles’s Little Italy
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California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Dogtown
Pendersleigh & Sons' Cartography's map of Dogtown INTRODUCTION Dogtownย (or as the city would rather you refer to it -- the "North Industrial District")ย is both one of Los Angelesโs oldest and most obscure neighborhoods. Itโs also occasionally referred to as either Naud Junction or Mission Junction, after two area junctions of the Southern Pacific Railroad, the … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Dogtown
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Nobody Drives in LA — Get Out of the Car: Walking CicLAvia No. 5
Withย bicycles, buses, ferries, planes, rideshares, sidewalks, subways, taxis, and trains at Angelenosโ disposal,ย why would anyย sane personย chooseย 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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California Fool’s Gold — A Downtown Los Angeles Primer
BEAT CITY DOWNTOWNย As regular (and probably irregular) readers of Eric's Blog know, I'm a bit of a Southern California wonk and a big part of my focus is writing about the culture, character and history of the many diverse communities ofย Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Although so far there have been around 800 votes … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — A Downtown Los Angeles Primer
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California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Chinatown (ๆดๆ็ฃฏๅไบบ่ก)
FORGET ABOUT IT, JAKE Rooftops of Chinatown Cathay Manor (where I've wanted to party since moving to Los Angeles A quiet street in Chinatown Chinatown (ๆดๆ็ฃฏๅไบบ่ก) is Los Angeles neighborhood located in Downtown's northern end. To vote for other Southern California communities to be the focus of future explorations, let me know which in the … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Chinatown (ๆดๆ็ฃฏๅไบบ่ก)
Eric Brightwell 