Secret Stairs - Alta Loma Terrace

This week the Secret Stairs book took us to a really great new neighborhood



This was an area that has homes w/ no cars allowed. The Hollywood hillside is dotted with homes that you can only access by walking through shady over hanging lanes



There is even an elevator built into the hillside for the 30 some odd homes that make up the Alta Loma Neighborhood.



You may even recognize part of the area from The Long Goodbye.

Secret Stairs - Hollywood

There is this great book out right now called Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles. It is an urban adventure all it's own.



The book is filled with over 30 step by step guided tours through scenic neighborhood, involving great architecture facts & history of the surrounding area. Along the way, lots of staircase hiking.



Taking three of us this particular evening, on a wonderful journey through one of the original planned neighborhoods for Hollywood... nicknamed here Hollywoodland. Exploring the neighborhood just north of N. Beachwood Dr.



Many of the planned routes will take the traveler on a winded journey up a flight of stairs, but is well thought out by the author, a walk through the narrow streets of the terraced homes before the adventurer has recouped for the next flight.


[this home is located in Silver Lake, CA]
Another adventure into a part of Los Angeles I've never experienced... till now. More to come soon.

Getty for a New Year

Spent a great afternoon at the Getty. Anyone who's been before can attest to it being wonderful for more than just the amazing culture the walls contain.

I recently discovered this while walking the halls this time, s a Joseph William Turner original painting. An artist that has been around quite some time, but I had only recently discovered some of his pieces. This was my first encounter in person.

Signatures of past artists. Click to enlarge