Tag: los angeles county communities

Los Angeles Neighborhoods โ€” From Academy Hill to Zamperini Field and All Points Between

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 2 Comments

INTRODUCTION Los Angeles Neighborhoods โ€” From Academy Hill to Zamperini Field and All Points Between is a collected series of haiku, sijo, and Twitter-inspired descriptions of 1,036 communities in Los Angeles County. Naturally, it includes all 88 cities โ€“ but also the unincorporated communities and census-designated places; the enclaves and exclaves; suburbs, exurbs, boomburbs, and … Continue reading Los Angeles Neighborhoods โ€” From Academy Hill to Zamperini Field and All Points Between

California Foolโ€™s Gold โ€” The 10th Anniversary

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 2 Comments

2017 marks the tenth anniversary of my explorations of the neighborhoods and communities of Los Angeles and Southern California. In the past decade, I managed, although not planned, to explore and write about exactly 100 communities for my California Foolโ€™s Gold series. When I began writing about Los Angeles neighborhoods, there were a few others … Continue reading California Foolโ€™s Gold โ€” The 10th Anniversary

Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography — Map of Los Angeles Neighborhoods and Los Angeles County Communities

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 1 Comment

I worked on the actual map for about six weeks but I've been mapping Los Angeles since about 2007. Most of the maps are done with ink, oil paint, or water colors but computer maps do have their advantages. For example, it's a lot easier to change this map than it is a painted one, … Continue reading Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography — Map of Los Angeles Neighborhoods and Los Angeles County Communities

Pan-Asian Metropolis — An Introduction to the Asian Pacific Islander Communities of the Southland

~ Eric Brightwell ~ Leave a comment

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

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Culver City, The Heart of Screenland

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 46 Comments

ALL ROADS LEAD TO CULVER CITY Imagine for a moment that you are a contestant on the game show Jeopardy! and you were presented with the answer, "This community's slogans have included 'The Motion Picture Capital of the World,' 'The Heart of Screenland,' and 'Where Hollywood Movies are Made.'" If you're like me you'd probably ask, … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Culver City, The Heart of Screenland

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring East Pasadena

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 7 Comments

TO SEE MY HOME IN EAST PASADENA This neighborhood exploration is about tiny East Pasadena. Despite its name, East Pasadena is an independent community and no more a part of the city of Pasadena than are South Pasadena or Altadena. Historically, it was a much larger community but through many annexations it has shrunk to … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring East Pasadena

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Santa Catalina Island and Avalon

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 13 Comments

Two weeks ago I made my first visit to one of Californiaโ€™s Channel Islands, Santa Catalina Island. For those that donโ€™t know, Southern California is home to an archipelago of small, rugged islands off its coast. My 2012 New Yearโ€™s resolution was to visit one or more of the Channel Islands. Having failed to realize … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Santa Catalina Island and Avalon

Pan-Asian Metropolis — East of the Eastside, the Far Eastside

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 4 Comments

All around the world large, multicultural cities often contain recognized, small, distinct ethnic enclaves. Los Angeles, by some measures the most diverse city in the universe, is no exception. These neighborhoods are often more ephemeral than others -- coming and going in a reflection of changing patterns of immigration, marginalization, assimilation and development. In the … Continue reading Pan-Asian Metropolis — East of the Eastside, the Far Eastside

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring El Monte, the End of the Santa Fe Trail (or at least some trails)

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 21 Comments

INTRODUCTION TO EL MONTE Valley Boulevard and Peck Road -- Welcome to El Monte El Monte is a city in the middle of the San Gabriel Valley. As of the last census (in 2010), its population was 113,475. It contains the neighborhoods of Arden Village, the Auto District, Downtown, Five Points, the Flair Business District, … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring El Monte, the End of the Santa Fe Trail (or at least some trails)

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Altadena, the Community of the Deodars

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 37 Comments

INTRODUCTION TO ALTADENA When people hear the disyllabic sounds, โ€œaltaโ€ and โ€œdena,โ€ I would wager that most of them think of the well-knownย City of Industry-based Alta Dena Dairy, which was started by the three, Missouri-born Stueve Brothers in Monrovia, California in 1945. Oddly, more than five minutes of internet research hadnโ€™t helped me figure out … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Altadena, the Community of the Deodars