Documenting my pocket of Los Angeles
On Mother’s Day, I led a women’s history walking tour through downtown Los Angeles in honor of my own deceased mother. Mom was a passionate advocate for documenting women’s stories in Los Angeles. Sharing these stories seemed like the best way to honor her memory, especially since I incorporate her research into the tour script.... Continue Reading →
I spent part of National Storytelling Week (January 26 - February 2) immersed in the art of storytelling—radio storytelling. After a week-long Transom workshop in New Mexico, I produced, narrated, and edited my own radio segment that aired on Santa Fe’s KSFR on February 21, 2019. The piece features Santa Fe’s former City Historian Ana... Continue Reading →
Before I fully dive into the new year, I always reflect on the last one, listing accomplishments, milestones, challenges, disappointments, etc. While these reflections remain private, I did want to document here some of the historic and/or notable places I moved through this year. This is definitely not an exhaustive list but just a few... Continue Reading →
A nice surprise to see my photo pop up in a KPCC story: The story is here, and my original photo here.
Sharing this post I crafted for the Arboretum Library's Instagram: On March 10, 1841, poet Ina Coolbrith was born. In 1915, she was crowned California’s first poet laureate which is the same year Luther Burbank named his Crimson Eschscholtzia for her (this image comes from the @californiastatelibrary). Coolbrith praised the California Poppy with her 1893... Continue Reading →
A #FBF in honor of today’s National Take a Hike Day. As mom was downsizing, she would photograph and write an essay about items that were hard (usually for me) to let go. So, mom photographed her now-vintage boots along with her Sunset Magazine articles and photos about hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains. Mom’s... Continue Reading →
Spent Father's Day weekend cleaning clutter stacked in the library. This may not seem a monumental task worth mentioning but I've been struggling to find a place to write in the house (away from distractions). After a year in mom's house, I can now research, write and produce in the space that gives me the most inspiration (and... Continue Reading →
On August 2, 1769, Gaspar de Portola's expedition camped alongside the LA River and named it in honor of the feast day "Our Lady of the Angels of Porciuncula." On this day, 245 years later, I stepped deep into the Los Angeles river for the first time, kayaking down the river in the Sepulveda Basin. While... Continue Reading →
When I approached the Police Academy's Revolver Café (drenched from the pouring rain), I wondered, "What strange lighting they have..." And by strange, I meant "what very very dark lighting they have." Disoriented, I wandered into the darkness, as a couple of male voices yelled "Welcome to the party!" Moments after, the waitress clarified that... Continue Reading →
One highlight of Valentine's Day in Los Angeles was speed dating along Metro's Red Line. I'm not much for speed dating but couldn't resist experiencing our transit system's attempt at playing cupid. Kudos to Metro for its innovative thinking around the role of transit in a city. While the event itself may not have resulted... Continue Reading →
Victoria Bernal 