The Eastside Hoodies

The Eastside is a region of Los Angeles County. It includes the communities of Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights -- as well as numerous smaller communities like Belvedere, Brooklyn Heights, City Terrace, Eastmont, Happy Valley, Hillside Village, Maravilla, Rose Hill, and University Hills. I wrote a primer, for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2011. https://ericbrightwell.com/2011/03/30/california-fools-gold-an-eastside-primer/

Hope you like it.

Our next stop.

I drew this map of Asian American-dominated suburbs of the San Gabriel Valley in the style of 18th Century Chinese Cartographer, Mo Yi Tong. As communities have grown more Asian, demographically, I've added them to the original map. https://ericbrightwell.com/2013/05/14/east-of-the-eastside-the-far-eastside-at-the-amoeblog/

Rose Hill is a small neighborhood in Los Angeles's Eastside, nestled between Lincoln Heights, Happy Valley, and El Sereno. I explored it, with my feline companion, Dooley, in 2014. https://ericbrightwell.com/2014/01/21/with-shanty-pads-squatting-on-mud-hills-exploring-rose-hill/

Boyle Heights is a neighborhood on Los Angeles's Eastside. Once it was thought of as the "Ellis Island of the West," on account of its diverse population of Jews, Japanese, Russians, Mexicans, and others. I explored for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/01/28/california-fools-gold-exploring-boyle-heights/

City Terrace is a small neighborhood on Los Angeles's Eastside. In 2013, I explored it, with a dog named Dooley, for a piece that appeared in my series, "California Fool's Gold." https://ericbrightwell.com/2013/12/24/been-up-to-city-terrace-to-see-whats-a-happening-exploring-city-terrace/

University Hills is the name of the small, hilly Los Angeles neighborhood dominated by the campus of California State University, Los Angeles. It's also home to the city's tallest public stairway, though... and some other stuff. I explored in 2014 on a dog walk for my series, "California Fool's Gold." https://ericbrightwell.com/2014/01/08/as-i-look-back-on-my-education-exploring-university-hills/

This was the first watercolor map that I did -- and the first bird's eye view map. I was inspired by some 19th-century bird's eye view maps that I'd been looking at, some East Asian landscape art, and the fact that Happy Valley's neighborhood borders are formed more by hills than streets.

Back in 2014, I explored the Northeast Los Angeles neighborhood of Glassell Park. I made this map with ink and oil paint; and included it in a piece for my series, "California Fool's Gold." https://ericbrightwell.com/2014/08/05/breadbaskets-and-head-gaskets-exploring-glassell-park/

Ascot Hills Park, in the El Sereno neighborhood, is a modest park in Los Angeles's Eastside -- but one of my favorites. It doesn't have much shade but makes up for it with a subtle charm -- rolling hills, nice views of the city, and mysteriously attractive radio towers. https://ericbrightwell.com/2015/03/25/southland-parks-visiting-ascot-hills-park/

Lincoln Heights is a neighborhood in Los Angeles's Eastside. It was once home to a large Italian population which spilled over from Little Italy (now Chinatown). Vestiges include San Antonio Winery and Lanza Brothers' Deli. I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2012. https://ericbrightwell.com/2012/03/08/california-fools-gold-exploring-lincoln-heights-the-pueblos-bedroom/

Hillside Village is a small, mostly residential community in Los Angeles's Eastside. It's located on the site of a former race track and home to the excellent King Torta. I explored it with a dog named Dooley for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2013. https://ericbrightwell.com/2013/12/27/run-to-the-hillside-exploring-hillside-village/

Simple Illustration of the Rock of Gibraltar from the east side

El Sereno is a neighborhood in Los Angeles's Eastside. I chose the Papyrus font -- which I will never do again because I loathe it -- because it fits with the name, "El Sereno" for several reasons. For one, it's the font used on Joss Whedon's "Serenity." I explored for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2012. https://ericbrightwell.com/2012/09/13/california-fools-gold-exploring-el-sereno-last-of-the-independent/