One of the most common phrases used to describe Los Angeles is the term “urban sprawl.” However, often unseen by the masses is the character of each particular area comprising this label. Many an author, city planner, urbanist, cultural anthropologist, artist, and others have tried to provide a definition to neatly define the spread out character and physicality of LA, but there really is no one catch-phrase that can properly define our great urban jungle and oasis.

Last week, I was high up in the Mt. Washington hills. Although I was looking for something I didn’t find, in the pursuit of one thing, something else presents itself.

In this case, it was a bridge.

I’m not going to talk about the bridge, except to tell you the location in the hope that you’ll go there yourself.

That way, you’ll be able to see for yourself all of its small details, so you’ll get a chance to check out the to-die for views that only the Eastside provides the ubiquitous parcels of rolling hills that are part of the physicality of this giant swath of the city.

The San Rafael Bridge is located on San Rafael Avenue, just past the Self-Realization Fellowship’s Headquarters. There’s a few sidewalks to keep you safe from the zoom-zoom of upcoming cars, but it’s not really a pedestrian area. Although the area seems like a great place for either a morning jog or walking your dogs.

Apparently when the sidewalk was rebuilt, there were neighborhood schools involved in its construction. There’s small bits of tile, marbles, and personalized messages including hand prints left behind in the cement, forever to be a part of the community.

Take a moment and imagine bringing your own children to this bridge and being able to share this experience with them. Well that wish is indeed a reality. Personally, I think that’s pretty cool.

The designs sweep about half way across the bridge and, because many of them can’t be seen here, I shared but a few shots with you here:

Not only is Los Angeles the “Great Melting Pot” of a city; its ingenuity and creativeness are unparalleled.

Is it any wonder that Southern California and Los Angeles are one of the greatest areas and city’s in the world? Our creativity really has no bounds sans whatever our minds are made up to tackle and accomplish.

While test driving my Chevrolet Cruze on Friday, I stopped to look around and snap some pictures. As my previous post explained how much I genuinely enjoyed and thought that the Chevy Cruze is the perfect sedan to get around town in both style and safety, plus being able to support “Made in the USA.”

The Silver Lake Reservoir, given its namesake in 1906, is in honorarium of the then Water Board Commissioner, Herman Silver. Even though it looks like you’re seeing one body of water, in actuality, it’s two divided by a spillway.

The smaller upper level, named after the famous 1819 novel Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott, surprisingly, doesn’t supply water to the residents of Silver Lake; but instead provides water to 600,000 homes in downtown and South Los Angeles.

Today, the Reservoir looks much different than it did a few years ago. In 2007, the DWP announced that the Silver Lake Reservoir, along with the Elysian Reservoir, were both contaminated with unusually high levels of the cancer-causing chemical bromate, and were “immediately isolated.”

Three months later and over several weeks, both reservoirs were drained and then, in May 2008, refilled, which took several weeks.

Photo courtesy of Take Sunset

Today, the Silver Lake Reservoir is a popular place for joggers, walkers, locals, and tourists. Although it’s fenced in, the 2.2 mile jogging path is a popular spot for exercise aficionados. It’s also a perfect picture place to spend some time to enjoy the great doors that Los Angeles and Southern California are blessed with.

That’s my Cruze on the far left resting in the shade, as I climbed over the concrete so I could get these photos.

If you happen to be jogging along and wonder why there are 400,000 black balls in Ivanhoe Reservoir, then you’ve come to the right place; they’re designed to shade the water, thus preventing the chemical reaction that forms bromate, which is triggered by sunlight.

So, the next time you’re in Silver Lake, take a look around or better yet, grab your jogging clothes and head for the path.

Along with its 5 music stages, food, entertainment, and tons of fun, the Street Fair will no doubt be a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance sponsors the annual event, which celebrates the diversity of Silver Lake, Echo Park and Los Feliz.

It’s an homage to this area which encompasses a rich ethnographic and lifestyle–with a population that includes such diversity and cultures which include Gen X’s, Gen Y’s, Latinos, Gays, Lesbians, Students, and even a few entertainment moguls.

The highlight of Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance is their special youth program which was “created as a result of the community being pulled apart. People want their communities to be livable again, free of gangs, drugs and violence. The Youth Program has been a success in getting neighborhood youth involved in taking action in the community.”

To date, a few of the projects completed by Sunset Junction include:

• twenty-five murals
• After School Sports and Recreation Program
• Sunset Junction Soccer Club
• job training
• planted trees on Sunset Blvd.
• care of the Fountain and help on building the Triangle Park
• painting local business murals
• graffiti paint-out
• neighborhood clean up

All of these programs are made possible and funded by the upcoming annual Street Fair. 100% of the ticket price–$15.00 online and $20.00 at the gate–goes to support the ongoing efforts of the Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance.

Children under 12 and and seniors over 65 are granted free admittance. In addition, if you live nearby at one of the local Silver Lake residences, you’ll also be able to attend the Street Fair at no charge.

Here’s a look at last year’s Street Fair:

So, mark your calendars for next weekend, from 11:00am to 11:00pm on Saturday, and 11:00am to 10:00pm on Sunday.

Who says Los Angeles’ neighborhoods aren’t people friendly?

Some of the steps are hidden, others are in plain sight, some have been illegally sequestered by the local homeowners, more than a few are famous in their own artistic, historical, and cultural domain.

Currently, there’s over 200 sets of stairs in and around the Los Angeles area; and there’s no doubt that they’re several that are yet to be discovered.

The City’s most famous stairs are the Music Box Steps, made famous in the 1932 Laurel and Hardy short comedy film. Hauling a piano up a flight of stairs is never easy, but Laurel and Hardy manage to make it harder, and funnier than one could imagine.

At the start of the uphill climb on Vendome Street, there’s a small plaque commemorating both the movie, the Music Box and stairs, and Laurel and Hardy.

At the top of its grand total of 131 steps, you’re able to see many of the sights of the city you probably weren’t able to see before, and of course, your legs will get quite the workout at the same time.

For the homeowners in the houses that border the steps, climbing them is just part of their daily routine. As I was walking down, a woman emerged from her house with two large white dogs in tow, ready for her daily walk.

If you’d like to learn more about the many staircases in Los Angeles, Dan Koeppel’s Big Parade site is a wonderful resource.

And if you’re not on the Eastside, there’s quite a few steps on Westside. In fact, I discovered a great way to get to the beach via a set of steps.

Steps are a great literal, physical, allegorical, architectural, metaphysical, and a way to get from here to there.

To others they’re just a hassle.

In any case, when Travelin’ Local, we’re on top of the local cool spots so that you know when and where to go to find the things to do and places to go to fit into your lifestyle.

It’s located in Highland Park/Hermon and is the only California trailer park that has historical designated status in the entire nation.

If you didn’t know it was there, you’d probably pass right by it leaving it unseen and untouched. The locals like it that way, By the way, it’s called the Monterey Trailer Park, Los Angeles’ Historical Cultural Landmark #736, located at 6411 Monterey Rd.

On it sits 1.7 acres of indelible, beautiful, and unique Los Angeles history.

It’s origins go back to 1923, when Elmer Drummond, who owned a gas station just down the road, decided to conceive and build an “auto camp,” which allowed drivers to stop for the night, in order to get some rest in one of its 10 original buildings or set up their own camp, and then continue on their respective journeys.

A precursor to today’s motels, auto camps were mainly meant to park automobiles, such as the Model T, which were equipped with a tent, cooking tools, portable chairs, and adventure.

Some automobile owners viewed themselves as pioneers and reveled in their ability to camp on the outskirts of towns, or anywhere along the road. Camping was also inexpensive, and many vacation destinations offered no other type of accommodation. Source: National Parks

As time passed, “campgrounds” and the precursor to “modern” motels, starting springing up, thus negating the value of an auto camp; so the Monterey Auto Camp evolved into the Monterey Trailer Park.

Now, once you step onto the road leading down to the Monterey Park, you’re suddenly surrounded by tall Monterey pines, Cypress pines, and a pair of California redwoods, to name a few. In front of you are about 22 RVs, a few dating back to the 1950s, and a couple of the original buildings used in the auto camp, which have been converted to private residences, remain intact.

Be that as it may, none of the one-of-a-kind residences were given the historical designation. That was given to the Park itself.

What is most surprising about this story is that the owner of Monterey Park isn’t the person who sought its historical status. In fact, he opposed it.

Another long term resident, a travel trailer historian of sorts, who wanted to purchase the Monterey Trailer Park, failed to secure whatever blessings he needed to achieve his dream. So if he couldn’t own it, he wanted to make sure that everybody could, so he moved to have the park designated as a historic landmark–thus tying the hands of the owner from making any significant changes to the property.

With the support of the Los Angeles Conservancy and the Highland Park Heritage Trust, Monterey Trailer Park gained a unique place in Los Angeles history in April of 2002.

After visiting there and researching the Park, I can understand the decision. Los Angeles is sometimes joked about because our “history” is so new, but on the other hand, it’s also quite unique and the definition of “historic” becomes only one of situational relevancy and loses its meaning. In other words our history here in Los Angeles, is just as old to us as the other parts of of the nation that may have colonial roots.

After all, when Travelin’ Local, our iconic and Southern California archetypes are borne of a fierce independence!

One problem that’s the subject of much lore, is that living in such a large city that is so spread out, is not getting the opportunity to visit other parts of the city and learn about them.

I hear stories of Westsiders who never get to the Eastside, and visa versa. Southlanders don’t go to the Valley, and Valley people don’t go to Pasadena.

It’s really a shame that we aren’t able to try make a more sustained effort to travel to other neighborhoods; but this dilemma is not without reason–traffic, our busy schedules and responsibilities, and and just plain old time, are all limiting factors.

However, today, I discovered a wonderful video over at Lorange Blog. I’m new follower of Lorange’s musings, but I’m really looking forward to reading more and more about what she’s posting:

The East Side of Los Angeles on a Sunny Day from clark vogeler on Vimeo.

It makes one think very serous about always moving because every area in our vast city has a different tale to tell.

Its décor is thematically Mexican–with its colorful pictures on the wall, to hand-made napkin-holders on each table. It’s a family oriented establishment, as exemplified by the family sitting at the table next to us, who were busy trying to keep their two young boys from continually wondering away. I had dinner with my girlfriend here, after a long day of shooting murals in East Los Angeles for my Mapping Los Angeles Public Art project.

We started the meal with wonderful homemade chips and salsa, and my mouth was watering with joy. Their food is authentic Mexican cuisine, so be prepared to shed your “Taco Bell” mentality. More seriously, though, the restaurant, although small, is large in its menu and choices. I ordered Pollo en Chile Chipotle, and my girlfriend chose Tampiquena, which included a salad, rice, and beans.

Next up was a freshly made garden salad with light lemon dressing. It was pure and simple yet in that, it was satisfying to know that perfection is always in the small things in life.

The Tampiquena was moist, tender, and delicious, and with its delicately fried onions and Spanish rice, I thought that the cook was not only well versed in cooking good food, but food that’s otherwise known as “comfort food.” In that fact, I was both pleased and satiated because it was so good. The refried beans were firm yet moist, and tasted exactly what one would expect.

My girlfriend’s Pollo en Chile Chipotle, was cooked well with marinated chicken, and served with rice and beans. Added with the perfect aroma of spicy salsa, together its mixture proved to be an extremely tasty amalgamation of flavors and ingredients. Each meal is served with a choice of freshly made corn or flour tortillas, which, when used to eat the chicken, melts in one’s mouth.

The service here is great; a kind and smiling waitress took our order, was timely in bringing us each part of it, and came back several times to make sure we had everything we needed.

Although one can always find fault at a restaurant for whatever reasons, at this establishment, having an authentic Mexican dinner for 2 with tip, for under $20, is a hidden treasure. While I’d like to keep it a private secret; for Travelin’ Local’s readers, it’s named El Huarchito, and it’s located at 3010 North Broadway, in East Los Angeles, CA.

The Metro’s Gold Line Extension features include:

• Six miles of new rail, which allows those residents better access for public transportation
• Connections directly to the existing Metro Gold Line to Pasadena, without the need for a transfer
• 8 totally new stations (2 underground at Soto and Mariachi Plaza)
• Metro’s continued dedication for public artworks at its stations
• Twin tunnels underneath Boyle Heights
• An initial $898 million investment for the East Los Angeles residents
• The culmination of Metro’s construction dating from 2004
• It’s opening by the end of 2009
• An estimated travel time between Union Station and Atlantic Station of only 17 minutes
• The use of electrical grids powered overhead the rails by catenary wires

A Map of the New Metro Gold Line Extension for East Los Angeles

View LA Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension in a larger map

At the eastern gateway of the new route, the Atlantic station uses bold entry pavilions and dynamic, illuminated platform canopies. The canopies will provide shade to the estimated 13,000 riders who will use this Extension daily. It’s architecturally stunning, blends into the neighborhood, and more importantly, it’s for the benefit of the oft neglected community residents.

The East LA Civic Center stop features the parallel and linear field of California Golden poppies side by side to the new rails—providing a visual and vibrant tribute to nature in the midst of the latest transportation technology and inner city living.

At the Maravilla Station, the arched canopies match the architecture, color, and texture of the nearby, “Our Lady of Lourdes Church.”

By the way, a warning about this station–King Taco is across the street so be aware of your travel times and don’t forget to bring dinner home!

From the Honorable Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigos, on Metro Safety:

Pay careful attention to your surroundings

Obey all traffic signals and warning devices.

Always look both ways and listen for the train before crossing the tracks.

Never run to catch a train.

Never jaywalk, use the crosswalks.

Do not run red lights or make illegal U turns.

Always wait behind the limit lines.

Be safe! Source: Metro.net

I’ll leave you with this section from Metro’s East LA Civic Center stop–words to live by:

Travelin’ Local salutes the Metro, the great citizens of East L.A. and Los Angeles, Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, and those that try and make our lives and city a better place, a little bit at a time, and every single day—it’s not easy but then again it shouldn’t be.