iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

For Week Without Driving, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Rec & Parks, and Nobody Drives in LA are presenting a ride-in movie night at Silver Lake's Sunset Triangle Plaza (at the junction of the former Los Angeles Ostrich Farm Railway and the Pasadena & Pacific Railway). Metro is free that day for Clean Air Day

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

I visited and explored Playa del Rey in my latest California Fool's Gold which somehow is the first in since 2023 (when I did Miracle Mile, Torrance, and Elysian Heights). Where should I go next? Brea has the most votes... followed by Sawtelle - but vote for any ericbrightwell.com/2026/04/23/c...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

I wrote this a couple of days ago, on Lunar New Year (and Mardi Gras). It's basically an essay about Chinatowns and soft power -- and an excuse to compare maps of Chinatowns around the world with American military bases around the world. ericbrightwell.com/2026/02/17/c...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

🇳🇿Happy Waitangi Day! Today's "No Enclave" celebrates New Zealand's national day. Los Angeles is home to the largest community of Kiwis in the US. 🇳🇿 ericbrightwell.com/2026/02/06/n...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Happy Kenyan Independence Day! Metro Los Angeles is home to one of the largest communities of Kenyan Americans -- the subject of this edition of "No Enclave" ericbrightwell.com/2025/12/12/n...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

A reader of “Ask Silver Lake,” Ruta Vaisnys, inquired about another historic Silver Lake Library, the Hyperion Station Library. Read the updated post! ericbrightwell.com/2025/10/21/a...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Next month's "Ask Silver Lake" will be this post, about Silver Lake's _original_ libraries... one of which still stands and is seeking a tenant... maybe you! ericbrightwell.com/2025/10/21/a...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

For this month's "Ask Silver Lake" we consider the 2014 resolution passed by the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council that declared that Silver Lake was NOT part of the Eastside. The question remained, then, of what region Silver Lake IS part of. ericbrightwell.com/2025/08/20/a...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

Today's "No Enclave" is about Welsh Los Angeles -- one of the most invisible minorities in Los Angeles. You've probably heard of Welsh immigrant Griffith J. Griffith, though. And what about Llewellyn Iron Works? The Lloyd Wrights? Tom Jones? Catherine Zeta-Jones? ericbrightwell.com/2025/07/24/n...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Alright, against my better judgement, I tackled the requests for an "Ask Silver Lake" about the fence and access to the reservoir. I trust you'll all play nice and politely comment with any corrections before I give it to the SLNC for their newsletter. ericbrightwell.com/2025/06/19/a...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

An "Ask Silver Lake" about Silver Lake's only garden apartment complex... the, um, Silver Lake Garden Apartments. There are plans to build residential blocks in their yards which, if nothing else, will make this island in the city a garden apartment no more. ericbrightwell.com/2025/05/21/a...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

The penultimate Silver Lake Walk is scheduled for May the 4th, 10:00 am, beginning and ending at Glendale / Locksley

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

I shelved this post after missing Greek Independence Day earlier this month... but then I decided to finish it when I heard about the impending closure of Papa Cristo's. Here it is: No Enclave -- Greek Los Angeles. ericbrightwell.com/2021/04/17/n...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

The next of the #SilverLakeWalks will take place on 5 April, beginning at 10:00. Schindlers, the smallest community garden, historic gay bars, the birthplace of the oldest Asian American theater company, buried streams, mass transit, the community’s only pedestrian plaza, and more!

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

My latest "Ask Silver Lake" -- about efforts to transform an asphalt island into a greenspace -- with a bit of the area's long, surprisingly dramatic, agricultural history. Enjoy! ericbrightwell.com/2025/03/26/a...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

The second of six #SilverLakeWalks. Dayton Heights and South of Sunset (SOS). Not too many stairs, not as much architectural discussion — but civil rights history, multicultural history, cinema history, and a break for bagels. www.eventbrite.com/e/silver-lak...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

No. 2 of 2024's Top 20 -- The Mystery of Princess Leda Amun-Ra, Hollywood’s Legendary Acid Witch. An unsolved mystery... ericbrightwell.com/2024/10/14/t...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

No. 4 of 2024's Top 20 -- Indian Los Angeles Los Angeles is home to a large -- and (strangely) largely overlooked -- Indian American community. ericbrightwell.com/2024/04/02/p...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

No. 6 of 2024’s Top 20… Something for the listeners of Conan Needs a Friend (and Summer S’mores) ericbrightwell.com/2024/08/14/c...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

No. 7 of 2024’s Top 20 Jamaican Los Angeles ericbrightwell.com/2024/02/02/n...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

No. 9 of 2024's Top 20 -- introducing «Nobody Drives in LA» -- the podcast for and by multi-modal, car-free (and car-lite) Angelenos. Shout outs, too, though, to: Bike Talk (@biketalk.bsky.social) SGV Connect Transiting Los Angeles Walkin' About ericbrightwell.com/2024/09/17/n...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

No. 10 of 2024's Top 20 -- a reminiscence about the Paisley Lounge -- the secret cannabis lounge we created inside of the sign above the front entrance of Amoeba Music which, although Amoeba is gone, may still be there. ericbrightwell.com/2024/07/24/t...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

No. 11 of 2024’s Top 19 — a look at Silver Lake’s Station No. 56 (now Edendale) which celebrated its 100th birthday in August. ericbrightwell.com/2024/08/22/a...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

No. 12 of 2024’s Top 19 — my account of an exploration of Bunker Hill with John Yi ericbrightwell.com/2024/02/02/d...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

No. 13 in the Top 19 of 2024 is a post about a visit I made to the Huntington to visit the Japanese garden's new/old Shōya House... and to the Chinese garden, to see how it's looking now that it's had some time to get settled. ericbrightwell.com/2024/02/02/s...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

No. 14 of this year's Top 19 Music Box Steps Day and Silver Lake’s Stair Stars of the Silver Screen Silver Lake is famous for its stair streets and its role in development of the film industry. More than once, they famously crossed paths. ericbrightwell.com/2024/10/11/a...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Now, No. 15 of this year's Top 19... about the first train in Silver Lake -- one designed to convey gawkers to Griffith Park to gander at ostriches. ericbrightwell.com/2024/04/02/n...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

No. 18 in this year's Top 19 is another "Ask Silver Lake" -- this one about the Mattachine Steps (named after an early gay rights organization) and efforts to obtain recognition for the Julian Eltinge Steps (named after America's first drag superstar). ericbrightwell.com/2024/07/09/a...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Next hike with the Full Moon Coven… open to all moon hike lovers!

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

I’m leading a walk of the Primrose Hill and Silver Lake Village areas of Silver Lake on 7 December. If you’re interested, please sign up! www.eventbrite.com/e/silver-lak...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 22/10/2024

Just updated: The mega-post about Gothic Los Angeles! The vamps, goths, occult bookstores, novelty horror pop, hot rod monsters, celebrity witches, horror hosts, horror punks, deathrockers, Universal monsters, and more! ericbrightwell.com/2020/10/28/%...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 15/10/2024

Who was Princess Leda Amun-Ra -- an "acid witch" who conducted dark lysergic ceremonies for several years at her castle in the Hollywood Hills? Where did she come from? And where did she go? ericbrightwell.com/2024/10/14/t...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 12/10/2024

That undeniably trashy, faded, blue box has been on the building almost for maybe longer than it hasn't. A twisted part of me wants to save it, too. Maybe put "Mutual of Omaha" back on one side, "Asahi" on another, and "Samsung" on another. But by all means, remove it from this Deco beauty.

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 04/10/2024

Annual Spooky Season consultation with the Semi-Tropic Spiritualists 🔮 👻 ericbrightwell.com/2023/10/13/h...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 11/09/2024

Feliç Diada! 11 September National Day of Catalonia. Spain's long history in California is well-known. Less known is the prominence of Catalans in the state and its most populous city. ericbrightwell.com/2024/09/11/n...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 03/02/2024

The other day, Evan from L.A. In a Minute asked me if I had any tidbits about Los Angeles's Jamaican community and said that there was next to nothing written that he could find. I looked and couldn't find anything either. And thus a new No Enclave was born. ericbrightwell.com/2024/02/02/n...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 03/02/2024

About two weeks ago, I a led a walk with John Yi on and around Bunker Hill on a mid-winter evening. We were joined by about twenty fabulous, intrepid Angelenos who braved a pretty heavy drizzle to get to know the city a bit better. ericbrightwell.com/2024/02/02/d...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 22/12/2023

Top 23 of '23: No. 2 California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Torrance After a long break for COVID, I got back to my California Fool's Gold series and an exploration of Torrance was my second-most viewed story of 2023. ericbrightwell.com/2023/06/15/c...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 21/12/2023

Top 23 of '23: No. 3 — The Mountains and Hills of Metro Los Angeles 2023's third-most read post was about the mountains of Los Angeles. From sea level to the peak of Mount Lukens, Los Angeles has the greatest elevation range of any city on Earth. I thought I’d always be surfing but ended up hiking.

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 19/12/2023

Top 23 of '23: No. 5 -- Pee-Wee Herman Day A post was about what should be Pee-Wee Herman Day -- Buxton's birthday, the anniversary of Large Marge's death, and the day Pee-Wee's bike was stolen. Sadly, Paul Reubens died just a few months after. RIP Paul Reubens. Long live P.W. Herman!

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 19/12/2023

There are certainly people who dislike the Los Angeles City flag (left), designed by Roy E. Silent and E.S. Jones in 1931. But does anyone like the Los Angeles County flag (right), designed by Kenneth Hahn in 1967 (and adapted in 2004 with the new seal)?

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 19/12/2023

Top 23 of '23: No. 6 This year's sixth-most read piece was a look at Twin Peaks for Twin Peaks Day (24 February), following my own return -- after a 25 year absence -- to Twin Peaks (Fall City, North Bend, Snoqualmie, and Spring Bend). Happy Twin Peaks Day ericbrightwell.com/2023/02/24/h...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 16/12/2023

Top 23 of '23: No. 9 A Snapshot of San Francisco This year's ninth-most viewed piece was a reflection on San Francisco, which I visited in January. ericbrightwell.com/2023/02/15/w...

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Eric Brightwell @ericbrightwell.bsky.social · 14/12/2023

Top 23 of '23: No. 10 Black Pioneers of Silver Lake This year's tenth most viewed post was about two next door neighbors, friends, and pioneers in their respective fields of law and architecture: Loren Miller and James Homer Garrott. ericbrightwell.com/2023/02/19/t...

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