Local – Page 43 – QuantumTom

Crystal Pier

Ha! There used to be a pier at Hollister Ave! There is, of course, nothing there now to indicate that. The Crystal Pier seems to have been an amusement pier. I found this great photo print at the Library of Congress of a “Bathing Beauty Contest,” and I think you can see the pier inContinue reading “Crystal Pier”

Orgeon and Utah Avenues in Santa Monica

Examining the original street layout of Santa Monica, many of the east-west streets bare the names of US states. Of the lower ten, the prominent exceptions are Broadway, Santa Monica Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard, and Palisades Avenue. As Wilshire and Santa Monica adopted the names of the Los Angeles thoroughfares with which they later connected, theyContinue reading “Orgeon and Utah Avenues in Santa Monica”

The Westside in the 1920s

I just found this amazing set of historical maps of the southland: The David Rumsey Map Collection. I’m still looking over all of these, but so far this is my favorite. This map is titled, “Map of Los Angeles, California. Copyright, by E.F. Hill. (inset map) City of Inglewood.” The degree of detail is astounding.Continue reading “The Westside in the 1920s”

Still on Vacation

My body is back at work, but my mind is still on vacation. What an incredible five days that was – between the beach house and the Radiohead concert. The quality is horrible – I shot this with my Tilt – but what could I do? At least I got this much. This is fromContinue reading “Still on Vacation”

Beach Blanket Blogging

Ah, la plage. How sweet it is to know that while one’s co-workers toil tirelessly in your office, you are engaged in a little beach-side blogging. What a way to close out the summer. Back in March I placed my claim on a pair of tickets for Radiohead’s last performance on the American leg ofContinue reading “Beach Blanket Blogging”