Etan Does LA

#33: Colonial House (Hollywood)

November 9, 2021

West Hollywood apartment tower with a storied actor clientele, by architect-to-the-stars Leland Bryant https://youtu.be/DkHcn7vTfe8 Added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 15, 1982 Got $5500 a month[…]

#30-32: Zwebell Courtyard Apartments (Hollywood)

November 8, 2021

Architecture

A trio of fanciful, Spanish-influenced courtyard apartments designed in the '20s by the untrained husband-and-wife duo Arthur & Nina Zwebell Celebrating my return to the office for the first[…]

#29: Andrew McNally House (Altadena)

November 7, 2021

Architecture

UPDATE, 1/11/25: The Andrew McNally House burned down in the Eaton Fire that destroyed most of Altadena. Andrew McNally House entranceMe, my mom and the NRHP plaque at the[…]

#28: Zane Grey Estate (Altadena)

November 5, 2021

Architecture

The Zane Grey Estate is an inspired Mediterranean Revival home once occupied by the author of the classic western Riders of the Purple Sage

#27: Christmas Tree Lane (Altadena)

November 4, 2021

Nature

A 100+ year holiday tradition that began with a handful of deodar cedar seeds from Altadena's founding family, the Woodburys Added to the National Register of Historic Places on September[…]

#26: Case Study House 20B (Buff, Straub & Hensman – Altadena)

November 3, 2021

Architecture

Buff, Straub & Hensman's post & beam home for one of Hollywood's all-time great graphic designers

#24 & #25: Walter D. Valentine Cottage B & Keyes Bungalow (Altadena)

November 2, 2021

Architecture

A luxe cabin by 1/2 of Greene & Greene and a pristine craftsman "airplane" bungalow, both in Altadena Altadena is chock full of great, and occasionally important, residential architecture.[…]

#23: Pacific Electric Railway Company Substation No. 8 (Altadena)

November 1, 2021

Transportation

This power station once sent tourists to the top of the Altadena mountains by train & funicular on the famous, defunct Mount Lowe Railway. It's now a Mennonite thrift shop.

#21 & #22: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House & Lloyd Wright’s Sowden House (Los Feliz)

October 31, 2021

Architecture

Special for Halloween: A pair of Mayan revival homes with spooky connections from a master architect and his son Happy Halloween! For stops #21 & #22 in my Etan[…]

#20: Farnsworth Park (Altadena)

October 30, 2021

City Planning

UPDATE, 1/11/25: The William D. Davies Memorial Building and amphitheater burned down in the Eaton Fire that destroyed most of Altadena. Added to the National Register of Historic Places[…]

#19: Andrés Pico Adobe (Mission Hills)

October 27, 2021

Pioneers & Settlers

One of the oldest extant homes in LA. Though it's rather misleadingly named. Added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1966 The Andrés Pico Adobe is[…]

#18: Lopez Adobe (San Fernando)

October 26, 2021

Pioneers & Settlers

The retirement home of one of the San Fernando Valley's OG power couples Added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 6, 1971 The charming Lopez Adobe was[…]

#17: Mission San Fernando Rey de España (Mission Hills)

October 25, 2021

Missions

The birthplace of the San Fernando Valley. A place of light and darkness. Mission entrance, complete with anti-abortion signReredos at the Mission San Fernando Rey de EspañaConstructivist art commemorating[…]

#16: Venice Branch Library (Venice)

October 25, 2021

Architecture

It's not much to look at now. But that's not the point. https://youtu.be/v7UVLn8XNss Added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 19, 1987 After a visit to the[…]

#15: The Venice Canals

October 23, 2021

City Planning

Like the Italian version, but with more modernist architecture. And ducks. Added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 30, 1982 The Venice Canals were the vision of[…]