I’m leading a series of walks in Silver Lake called… “Silver Lake Walks.” The idea came from the Silver Lake Branch Library‘s Friends of the Silver Lake Library and the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council‘s Outreach Committee. I’ve created six walks that touch upon architecture, civil rights, film history, and more. Each of these walks is open to the public who, it is hoped, will provide helpful feedback of the walks which will then be incorporated into a collection of self-guided walking tours for the use of the public. I plan on updating this post with images as the walks are conducted.
WALK NO. 1 – DAYTON HEIGHTS & SOUTH OF SUNSET
4.38 miles (7.05 kilometers)
In fewer than five miles, explorers will trace a section of the original western border of Los Angeles, encounter vestiges of Silver Lake’s historic Japanese and Cuban enclaves, visit Silver Lake’s largest park, climb stair streets featured in early comedic films, and learn about civil rights history that re-shaped the nation.
WALK NO. 2 – EDENDALE & THE BERKELEY HILLS
Walk length: 4.08 miles (6.57 kilometers)
Walkers on this route will visit Edendale, the the original hub of West Coast filmmaking. They will also encounter some of the finest architectural work of Richard Neutra, as well as some fine Streamline Moderne homes from William Kesling. The walk also includes the home of America’s first drag superstar and the home in which one of the first modern gay rights organizations was founded.
WALK NO. 3 – IVANHOE & THE MORENO HIGHLANDS
4.86 miles (7.82 kilometers)
Ivanhoe was a 19th Century tract named after Sir Walter Scott‘s novel of the same name that leant its name to the community and a reservoir before the construction of the Silver Lake Reservoir — as well as provided the names of many of the community’s streets. It also includes the Moreno Highlands, an area named after Spanish American film star, Antonio Moreno, whose Crestmount Estate was built in the Moreno Highlands in 1923. In this exploration, participants will also visit the Silver Lake Reservoir — which leant its name to the neighborhood after after its construction. Along the way, walkers will encounter several examples of architect Gregory Ain‘s work.
Walk No. 4 – MIXVILLE AND SILVER LAKE HEIGHTS
Walk length: 4.31 miles (6.94 kilometers)
This walk is centered around the areas of Mixville and Silver Lake Heights. Mixville was the name of an historic western movie ranch located in the area and named after cowboy star, Tom Mix. Silver Lake Heights was a tract opened circa 1921. Along this walk, you will climb Silver Lake’s longest stair street, visit the abandoned right-of-way of an historic train line, and pay a visit the Silver Lake Meadow.
WALK NO. 5 – PRIMROSE HILL & SILVER LAKE VILLAGE
Walk length: 4 miles (6.43 kilometers)
Along this walk, adventurers will explore the area around Primrose Hill and the commercial area known as Silver Lake Village. Primrose Hill is a 19th Century tract known for its homes built by pioneering Asian American architects. Silver Lake Village is a commercial area that, for many years, was home to an iconic music venue known by a variety of names.
WALK NO. 6 – THE TWO PLAZAS: SUNSET JUNCTION & SUNSET TRIANGLE
Walk length: 4.62 miles (7.44 kilometers)
Silver Lake’s Sunset Junction and Sunset Triangle are both relics of the neighborhood’s historic rail transit. The latter, today, is the neighborhood’s only pedestrian plaza. The former is perhaps best known for its central role in queer history. The walk also includes visits to the city’s smallest community garden, a channelized stream, the birthplace of the country’s oldest Asian American theater company, plus many exemplary works by architect Rudolph Schindler.
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Eric Brightwell is an adventurer, essayist, rambler, explorer, cartographer, and guerrilla gardener who is always seeking paid writing, speaking, traveling, and art opportunities. He is not interested in generating advertorials, cranking out clickbait, or laboring away in a listicle mill “for exposure.”
Brightwell has written for Angels Walk LA, Amoeblog, Boom: A Journal of California, diaCRITICS, Hey Freelancer!, Hidden Los Angeles, and KCET Departures. His art has been featured by the American Institute of Architects, the Architecture & Design Museum, the Craft Contemporary, Form Follows Function, the Los Angeles County Store, Sidewalking: Coming to Terms With Los Angeles, Skid Row Housing Trust, the 1650 Gallery, and Abundant Housing LA.
Brightwell has been featured as subject and/or guest in The Los Angeles Times, VICE, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Magazine, LAist, CurbedLA, Office Hours Live, L.A. Untangled, Spectrum News, Eastsider LA, Boing Boing, Los Angeles, I’m Yours, Notebook on Cities and Culture, the Silver Lake History Collective, KCRW‘s Which Way, LA?, All Valley Everything, Hear in LA, KPCC‘s How to LA, at Emerson College, and at the University of Southern California. He is the co-host of the podcast, Nobody Drives in LA.
Brightwell has written a haiku-inspired guidebook, Los Angeles Neighborhoods — From Academy Hill to Zamperini Field and All Points Between, that he hopes to have published. If you’re a literary agent or publisher, please contact him.
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