Neighborhood Discovery: Angelino Heights

I took a class in Land Use law and learned about the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone ordinance in Los Angeles. The HPOZ ordinance designates certain Los Angeles neighborhoods as "Historic" and provide for review of proposed exterior alterations and additions to historic properties within designated districts. Los Angeles adopted the HPOZ ordinance in 1979, and designated the neighborhood of Angelino Heights the first HPOZ.

Angelino Heights was planned as Victorian style neighborhood in the late 19th century. it contains some of the best remaining examples of Victorian-era architectural styles in Los Angeles, as well as later examples of Craftsman and Mission Revival styles. The 1300 block of Carroll Avenue is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and contains the highest concentration of 19th century Victorian homes in Los Angeles

It's a symptom of the sprawling and balkanized nature of Los Angeles that while I've known about Angelino Heights for 25 years, I've never been to that neighborhood . . . until yesterday: I got lost driving in downtown LA, and next thing I know, I was on Carroll Avenue. I immediately noticed the unmistakable Victorian buildings there. The cute and elegant gingerbread homes are so recognizable which is probably why this neighborhood was designated as historic and worth preserving in the first place.  I got out of my car and took a stroll.

While there are beautiful and well preserved homes in Angelino Heights, the fact that I noticed some dangerously dilapidated historic homes makes me wonder whether the code mandated up-keep is expensive. It must be a pain to have to obtain a permit every time some maintenance work needs to be done on one's home.

Anyway, Angelino Heights is extremely quiet and charming, and definitely worth a visit. I hear that Christmas lights there are incredible too.

Arcana Books on the Arts: A New Book Store on the Westside

Coffee table book about Chinese junks

Not too long ago, I discovered this new book store in Culver City: Arcana Books on the Arts. http://www.arcanabooks.com/. This independent book store carries everything you can imagine about art. While browing the shelve: If there is a trend in art, there's an art book documenting it, and you can find it at Arcana.

Ever since the big chain book stores such as Barnes and Noble, Borders, Brentano's, and Crown Books left my neighborhood, it seems like only the small and specialty book stores are still hanging in there. Sam Johnsons Book Shop, which is a used book store, Children's Book World, catering to kids, and now, Arcana.

Tattoo of 1970s Tokyo

I miss the feeling of being able to browse a book store's physical books, flip through the pages, and read the covers to sample the content. It's just different browsing on line.  I have to admit, too often I end up going on the internet to buy books at a much cheaper price than at book stores. Sometimes, I just go to the library to borrow books. I admit, this habit of chasing less expensive books are probably what contributed to the demise of brick and mortar book stores. But then again, who wants to over pay for something that most don't have the space to keep and will donate or toss after they're done reading it? I used to think that any book is worth keeping. I don't think that anymore.

But Arcana found a niche: While most of its books are brand new and can probably be found cheaper on the internet, some of the art books are probably out of print already and are just so gorgeous too look at that you can't help but make an impulsive purchase. The beautify art work depicted is just too irresistible to browse over and over again, and I would think twice before tossing them, knowing they are probably hard to find elsewhere.  (I have to admit though, no matter how great the photography is of original art work, it can't compete with the original art objects hanging on walls, or wherever they come from).

This Christmas, I will make a special effort to support my neighborhood book stores and purchase Christmas presents from them lest they disappear from my neighborhood too.

Buy a book as a gift this holiday season!