ABOUT ME My name is Eric Brightwell. I was born in Iowa City but mostly grew up in the country, outside of Columbia, Missouri. I first visited Los Angeles in 1998, during a road trip across Western US. At the time "knowing" Los Angeles only through distorted media representations and tired stereotypes, I had almost … Continue reading Eric Brightwell for Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Region 6 Representative
Tag: silver lake
No Enclave — Cuban Los Angeles
As of 2018, Latinos comprised an estimated 47.7% of Los Angeles's population. 75% of Latino Angelenos were of Mexican ancestry. Salvadorans comprised about 8% of Latino Angelenos. Guatemaltecos comprised about 5% of the Latino Angeleno population. Los Angeles is, additionally, home to the largest populations of Mexicans, Salvadorans, and Guatemaltecos outside of their respective homelands. I'd … Continue reading No Enclave — Cuban Los Angeles
Art in the Streets — The Happy Foot/Sad Foot (1986-2019)
For more than three decades, the Happy Foot/Sad Food sign has loomed over the intersection of Benton Way and Sunset Boulevard. Although designed as an advertisement for Sunset Foot Clinic, it became a symbol of the Mideast Los Angeles hinterland between Silver Lake and Echo Park. The Happy Foot/Sad Foot Sign reminds me a bit … Continue reading Art in the Streets — The Happy Foot/Sad Foot (1986-2019)
Homes Fit for Heroes — The Brigham Residence/Tokio Florist
With Homes Fit for Heroes, I normally celebrate multi-family housing. Every so often, however, I find a single-family home worth singing the praises of. Such is the case, I reckon, with the mansion at 2718 Hyperion Avenue which I re-visited for the first time after a roughly decade-long absence. In a way, it's multi-family housing … Continue reading Homes Fit for Heroes — The Brigham Residence/Tokio Florist
Houses of the Hallows — Bethany Presbyterian Church
A few weeks ago I was moseying around the Silver Lake Farmers Market when I noticed that the doors of the old Bethany Presbyterian Church were open and so I temporarily set aside any cravings I might've had for pupusas, empanadas, or banchan and instead made a beeline for the temple. After all, as Jesus told … Continue reading Houses of the Hallows — Bethany Presbyterian Church
Urban Rambles — The Passeggiata in Los Angeles and the Silver Lake Reservoir Stroll
I'm not sure when I first heard about the passeggiata -- a sort of ritualized stroll which takes place along the coasts and in the town squares of many Italian villages. I'm a fan of walking customs around the world, such as competitive pedestrianism, forest bathing, rambles, and walkabouts -- so, of course, the passeggiata is right … Continue reading Urban Rambles — The Passeggiata in Los Angeles and the Silver Lake Reservoir Stroll
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
There It Is, Revitalize It — Visiting the Silver Lake Reservoir
The other night (24 June), the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and outgoing (in both senses of the word) city council member Tom LaBonge arranged to have the gates of the Silver Lake Reservoir unlocked for a few hours and thus the South Dam was briefly opened to the public. Despite the … Continue reading There It Is, Revitalize It — Visiting the Silver Lake Reservoir
Urban Rambles — Exploring the area along Hoover and Virgil with Marvin
Los Angeles is often characterized as a city in which one simply cannot exist without a car. And yet, as the millions of Angelenos who bicycle, take public transit, or walk will tell you, driving a car is no way to get to know the city. Since Los Angeles County is even larger than the … Continue reading Urban Rambles — Exploring the area along Hoover and Virgil with Marvin
No Enclave — Kitsch and Kultur: Exploring SoCal Bavaria
Diversity has long been part of the fabric of Los Angeles and Southern California. Humans first arrived here at least 13,000 years ago and more than 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 No Enclave — Kitsch and Kultur: Exploring SoCal Bavaria
