Documenting my pocket of Los Angeles
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 →
A belated but heartfelt wish for the new year. Thank you Grand Park (and the LA County powers that be) for hosting a public celebration that didn’t require a $30 cover charge that was easily accessible by public transportation. Sure there were some hiccups which hopefully will be improved upon December 31, 2014… but it... Continue Reading →
I not only indulge in the amazing feast spread out over Thanksgiving but I relish in the family stories shared over a long weekend with the family. Stories shared over Thanksgiving have more time to soak, marinating over multiple nights so that the next day's conversation is richer (...almost as rich as the soft warm cinnamon... Continue Reading →
I finally finally walked all around Echo Park Lake today! I live on the lake and was heartbroken when I broke my foot a week before the lake reopened in June. All summer, I've watched from my window everyone paddle along the new cleaned-up lake…feeling like a kid sequestered in summer school while friends frolic... Continue Reading →
I had a lovely Saturday visiting several Westside-ish landmarks (& friends) with mom. We started with brunch at Ray's at LACMA, followed by the Granny Squared exhibit covering the entire Craft and Folk Art Museum building. I come from a line of women who know their way around a crochet hook, knitting needle, embroidery thread,... Continue Reading →
Victoria Bernal 