Despite being up very late last night, I actually managed to hear the alarm this morning and get up in time to attend another wonderful cemetery walking tour sponsored by The Studio for Southern California History.
This
month we explored Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights, one of Los Angeles'
oldest cemeteries. Built in 1877, Evergreen is one of the city's
largest cemeteries, with 300,000 gravesites. City pioneers like Biddie
Mason, the Workmans, Hollenbecks & Van Nuys families are buried
here as well as lesser known but equally fascinating Los Angelenos.
This free, on-going series is lead by two of my friends, Steve Goldstein and Joe Walker.
Joe's under the weather these days (Get Well Soon, Joe!) so he wasn't
there today, but many other friends - old and new - made it out.
Afterwards we warmed up from the cold weather over a delish Mexican
lunch down the street at El Tepeyac. The burrito I ordered was the size of a small child. I'm still full. Forget doggie bag, it was more like a pony, lol.
See photos from the day here.
Following are a list of the remaining 2008 dates and background information. Hope to see you out there!
May 3: LA Pet Memorial Park in Calabasas, 10 am to 12 pm
Location:
5068 N. Old Scandia Lane, Calabasas, CA 91372, twenty miles northwest
of Hollywood in Calabasas. This tour explores this cosy memorial park
to some of the region's pets.
September 7: Calvary & Home of Peace Cemeteries, 10 am to 12 pm
Location:
4201 Whittier Blvd, LA. This tour explores two faith based cemeteries
where many LA residents, famous & not, reside including Jose Diaz,
the true victim in the Zoot Suit murder case of 1942, his probable
killer (who died in 1971 after holding up a bank), infamous L.A.
mobster Jack Dragna, lots of stars, and, (almost for sure), the
technical advisor on "American Me" who was murdered in 1993 by the
Mexican Mafia.
October 4: Westwood Village Memorial Park, 10 am to 12 pm
Location:
1218 Glendon Ave, Los Angeles CA 90024 (Entrance). This cemetery is
over 100 years old, but until 1962, no "famous" burials had taken place
yet, then Marilyn Monroe came. The very small cemetery is just off
Wilshire Blvd & Glendon Ave, behind high-rise office buildings
& a movie theatre.
November 1: Hollywood Forever, 10 am to 12 pm
Location:
6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038 Meeting Place: at the
front gates. Hollywood Forever (formerly Hollywood Memorial Park) holds
more history per square foot than an archeological dig in Babylon. You
actually feel its 100 years of existence as you roam the grounds &
ancient mausoleums & watch the geese & cranes in the lake.
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