Los Angeles Alleys in Books and Blogs

Photo: Doug McClintock in Downtown LA. All Images via: ##http://www.losangelesalleys.com##Los Angeles Alleys.##

One of the quiet debates that I hear in Los Angeles is whether or not our city is ugly.  Some argue that the design of our streets has taken the natural beauty of Los Angeles and made it ugly.  While there is some truth in this, I find there are so many beautiful streets and communities to more and balance out some of the ugliness in other areas.

Entering the debate is Jeremy Oberstein, known to some of you as a former contributor to LAist and current staffer to Councilman Krekorian, but he’s also the creator of Los Angeles Alleys: The Book and Los Angeles Alleys: The Blog.  The Book is twenty pages of beautiful shots of some of Los Angeles’ alleys and covers all corners of the city.  If you’re interested in buying the book, you can at the above link, or can actually view the book in its entirety.  Buying the book isn’t just a statement that you think Los Angeles is a beautiful place, but it also supports local artists and will doubtless be the most interesting coffee-table book you’ll ever own.

The beauty of our streets may be up for debate, but apparently you can find some real gems in our alleys.

For more images, click here to see the entire book, or view three more favorite alley pictures after the jump.

Photo: Jeremy Obserstein in Los Feliz All Images via: ##http://www.losangelesalleys.com##Los Angeles Alleys.##
Photo: Justin Sangani in Mid-City. All Images via: ##http://www.losangelesalleys.com##Los Angeles Alleys.##
Photo: Elaine Layabout in Chinatown. All Images via: ##http://www.losangelesalleys.com##Los Angeles Alleys.##

Filed Under: Art

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

The Week in Livable Streets Events

|
Big week, let’s get right to it. Monday – End your Monday with a walk and architecture tour of Beverly Hills sponsored by L.A. Walks. The walk is a two mile loop of great architecture, public artworks and secret alleys in Beverly Hills led by Ellen Lutwak. The walks starts at 5:30. Get the rest of […]

A Changing South Park Plans for “Livable Alleys”

|
Through cinematic distortion, alleys are seen as hubs where criminals engage in drug dealing, whacking, and even murder. In reality, most city alleys are wasted, often unkempt spaces cluttered with toilets and mattresses due to illegal dumping. Despite this reality, alley spaces offer great, unrealized potential, says the South Park Business Improvement District (BID). As […]

Eyes on the Street: Another Green Alley to Open Soon in South L.A.

|
The hundreds of miles of alleys that run through South Los Angeles often look more like dirty dumping grounds than inviting places to stroll. Littered with furniture and other debris, overgrown with vegetation, lacking pedestrian lighting or other amenities, and occasionally gated off to limit nuisance activities, they generally feel isolated and unwelcoming. A demonstration […]

Active Streets Participants Explore Vermont Square in South L.A.

|
“This is such a pretty neighborhood!” It was a comment I heard several times over the course of the Active Streets event held at Vermont Square park (48th and Budlong) last weekend. For people unfamiliar with South L.A., the neighborhood appeared to have defied expectations. It certainly defied stereotypes — the winter sky shimmered, the […]

Los Angeles Walks Moseys into Leimert Park, Speaks with Residents about Aspirations for Their Neighborhoods

|
“My son calls it “Poo-poo Island,” said Heather Presha of Stocker Plaza, a sizeable grassy island at the intersection of 8th and Garthwaite Aves. She was presenting her group’s summary of the issues of concern and areas of opportunity in her neighborhood to the approximately 25 community members and pedestrian and health advocates gathered at […]