The following article was written for the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council's "Ask Silver Lake" series -- โAsk Silver Lakeโ is dedicated to exploring the history and insights of our community. If you have questions or ideas youโd like us to consider, please drop a comment or send them to outreach@silverlakenc.org.' Jose in front of 1420 … Continue reading Ask Silver Lake — Silver Lake’s Bungalow Courts
Tag: Los Angeles
California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Mentryville
INTRODUCTION The other day I found myself in Santa Clarita with a couple of hours to kill. I Googled "best restaurants in Santa Clarita" -- knowing full well that Google has been a mostly garbage search engine for years -- completely corrupted as it is by paid advertisements and SEO. I'm sure that there are … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Mentryville
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Nobody Drives in LA — The Ostrich Farm Railway
THE OSTRICH FARM RAILWAY Detail of Map of the City of Los Angeles, 1887, depicting the route of the Ostrich Farm Railway [Note: This essay was written for and originally appeared in the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council newsletter] Today Silver Lake is, by most accounts, moderately well served by mass transit. The website, Walk Score, … Continue reading Nobody Drives in LA — The Ostrich Farm Railway
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Pan-Asian Metropolis — Indian Los Angeles
INTRODUCTION Despite its historic and cultural importance, there seems to be surprisingly little out there about Metro Los Angelesโs sizable Indian community. Los Angeles is, after all, known for its unparalleled ethnic diversity โ especially of Asian communities โ and India is the most populous nation (Asian or otherwise) on Earth. But, for whatever reason, searching … Continue reading Pan-Asian Metropolis — Indian Los Angeles
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DTLA Walk with John โ Bunker Hill Edition
On Saturday 20 January 2024, Iโm going to co-lead a walk of Bunker Hill with State Assembly candidate, John Yi. We will meet at Metro's Civic Center/Grand Park Station in Gloria Molina Grand Park. To avoid confusion, make certain (if you come by train) that you exit in the Grand Park entrance/exit. Thereโs also an … Continue reading DTLA Walk with John โ Bunker Hill Edition
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Hear on LA, the Republic (or Kingdom), of Los Angeles, its Provinces (or Counties), and their Capitals
I was recently a guest on Tony Pierceโs podcast, Hear in LA (Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube -- or read on the Hear in LA website) . Toward the end of our discussion, Tony proposed Los Angeles becoming its own country. We didn't discuss what sort of state it would be, I don't … Continue reading Hear on LA, the Republic (or Kingdom), of Los Angeles, its Provinces (or Counties), and their Capitals
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Ask Silver Lake — What Becomes of a Decommissioned Reservoir?
A reservoir is constructed in Silver Lake. After decades of service, the city determines that the water in it isnโt fit to drink and that reservoir is obsolete. It is decommissioned. The city decides to turn it into a park. Not everyone is happy with this plan. Sound familiar? Perhaps, then, you already know the … Continue reading Ask Silver Lake — What Becomes of a Decommissioned Reservoir?
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Seth & Eric’s Airconditionless Adventure — 9-21 August 1998
INTRODUCTION 13 August 2023 was the 25th anniversary of my first visit to Los Angeles. All those years ago, I wrote entries in a journal. At first, the accounts of the days' adventures had a diaristic air. After a few days on the road, however, I started just jotting down one and two-word notes with … Continue reading Seth & Eric’s Airconditionless Adventure — 9-21 August 1998
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SLHC Interview with Eric Brightwell, Silver Lake entrepreneur and cartographer.
I was interviewed, as suggested by the title (not mine) by the Silver Lake History Collective. Have a watch, if you've got fifty minutes to spare (or 25, if you increase the playback speed). https://www.youtube.com/embed/Id4QGJx8gHw Support Eric Brightwell on Patreon Eric Brightwell is an adventurer, essayist, rambler, explorer, cartographer, and guerrilla gardener who is always seeking … Continue reading SLHC Interview with Eric Brightwell, Silver Lake entrepreneur and cartographer.
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On The Los Angeles Times’s “The Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf: 110 essential Los Angeles books”
In advance of the 2023 L.A. Times Festival of Books, 95 writers compiled a list of essential "Los Angeles Books." I reckon it's a good, if not very surprising list -- not that the number of surprises has anything to do with a list's quality. A few author, including Aldous Huxley, Joan Didion, and Raymond … Continue reading On The Los Angeles Times’s “The Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf: 110 essential Los Angeles books”
Eric Brightwell 