No Enclave — Iranian Los Angeles

INTRODUCTION Nowruz took place last week on a blustery Sunday. Nowruz is the New Year of Zoroastrians and in Iran as well as much of Central and West Asia. It's often, in fact, referred to as Persian New Year. A bit ago, someone bemoaned that I hadn't written a No Enclave about Iranians or Persians. … Continue reading No Enclave — Iranian Los Angeles

Happy 818, or, San Fernando Valley Day!

Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography's Map of the San Fernando Valley Although the date format of most countries is "day/month/year," the US, as we know, likes to fly in the face of global conventions and go its own way (see also: British Imperial Units, Fahrenheit, and American football). Because of our quirky date format, American nerds … Continue reading Happy 818, or, San Fernando Valley Day!

Los Angeles Linguistics Part 2: Regional Differences

Most metropolitan areas -- at least the ones I'm familiar with -- are divided both into neighborhoods and larger, multi-neighborhood administrative divisions or regions. Paris has its arrondissements, New York City its boroughs, Busan and Seoul have gu (구), Taipei has qū (區), St. Louis and New Orleans both have wards, Mexico City has municipios, and on. Their names vary, then, but the concept is generally the … Continue reading Los Angeles Linguistics Part 2: Regional Differences

A San Fernando Valley Playist

So the bad news is that I missed out on CicLAvia — The Valley. Cream Soda (my bicycle) was in the shop (nothing serious) and I was dog-sitting on the Eastside. I thought about bringing and walking the dog there but they’re not allowed on Metro buses or trains and there were further complications too that I … Continue reading A San Fernando Valley Playist

The Nobody Drives in LA Guide to CicLAvia — The Valley

With bicycles, buses, ferries, planes, rideshares, sidewalks, subways, taxis, and trains at Angelenos’ disposal, why would any sane person choose car-dependency? Nobody Drives in LA celebrates sense and sensibility in transportation. ***** Tomorrow, 22 March, from 9am and 4pm, a stretch of Lankershim and Ventura boulevards will be closed to motorized traffic for CicLAvia - The Valley. At just 8.85 … Continue reading The Nobody Drives in LA Guide to CicLAvia — The Valley

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring North Hollywood, The Gateway to the Valley

INTRODUCTION  After focusing on eight Eastside neighborhoods whilst house-sitting in El Sereno, I've returned to the polls to determine where to explore. I've heard the vox populi and therefore visited North Hollywood -- only my fourth piece on a San Fernando Valley community thus far. It was a hot, somewhat hazy, and thankfully breezy January day … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring North Hollywood, The Gateway to the Valley

California Fool’s Gold — A San Fernando Valley Primer

WHERE THE WEST BEGINS AND THE SUNSET ENDS -- THE VALLEY  There are numerous valleys in Los Angeles County: the Antelope, Crescenta, Hungry, Peace, Pomona, Puente, San Gabriel, Santa Clara River, and Santa Clarita, to name a few of the better known ones. However, when one hears mention of The Valley it is almost universally recognized as a … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — A San Fernando Valley Primer

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Burbank

This blog entry is about the Los Angeles County community of Burbank. For this episode, I was accompanied in the CARDIS by frequent traveling companion, Shimbles. We were originally to be accompanied by Matt Masocco, but he was called into Amoeba to work at the last minute. It was a hot, muggy day in Los Angeles. … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Burbank

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Sherman Oaks

Sherman Oaks from Mulholland This blog is about the Los Angeles neighborhood of Sherman Oaks. To vote for other communities (as many as you'd like) to be the subject of future entries, leave a comment. Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography's hand-drawn map of Sherman Oaks, available on art prints and a variety of merchandise Sherman Oaks … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Sherman Oaks

Daytripper

Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Mission Hills... legendary places whose evocative names suggest a laid-back, bucolic pastoralism seemingly at odds with the bustling, bohemian art scenes and glamorous high fashion lifestyles the residents. A short tour down the fabulous and heretofore unknown Ronald Reagan Highway (118) and you'll find yourself in the historic town of San … Continue reading Daytripper