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There’s a wonderful new exhibit up at the Central Library—a vaster collection of Leo Politi’s original paintings from his celebrated book Bunker Hill, Los Angeles: Reminiscences of Bygone Days (Desert-Southwest Publishers, 1964). Since you’re on this site, you’re likely familiar with Politi’s work, up to and including his Bunker Hill book. Should you not have a copy,Continue reading “Leo Politi! Bunker Hill!”

There is, as you are doubtlessly aware, a Marsak-penned Bunker Hill trilogy— And while I am certain you own the best-selling, award-winning Bunker Hill, Los Angeles (makes a great Christmas gift! buy yours here!), it may just be you have neither Bunker Noir! nor Marsak’s Guide to Bunker Hill—or you do, but your architecture-loving cousinContinue reading “The Bunker Hill Books: a Holiday Sale-abration!”

This Sunday! Come on out to the Rare Books LA Antiquarian Book Fair in (the unbelievably gorgeous and important) Union Station! I’ll be lecturing about the Bunker Hill book and the work that went into its production, in On Archives and Archivists: Building Bunker Hill, my overly-illustrated, terribly-talky talk about spelunking libraries, chasing private collections,Continue reading “Talking Bunker Hill Archives at the Rare Book Fair!”

Each of Marsak Manor’s five felines is possessed of markedly distinct opinions and temperament. So, the kitties having perused our recently-published Marsak’s Guide to Bunker Hill, I asked them to discuss their favorite building. Read what they have to say, below:  PUMPKIN PATCH “The Subway Terminal is my favorite, as its design references the glories ofContinue reading “Cats: On Architecture”

I’ve written about Cooper Do-nuts for two years, but has anyone listened? Of course not, as simple truths are both unacceptable and unwelcome to fact-denying government ideologues and their gullible subjects. Oh well! See the previous posts: Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4. For the greater summation of all these posts, see My Final WordsContinue reading “Cooper Do-nuts FINALE”

Last summer a couple of my Strasbourgeois pals from Association Relative à la Télévision Européenne were in town to shoot a short feature about the ever-important John Fante. Fante, of course, famously lived on the Hill, where Third Street ended at Bunker Hill Avenue, in an apartment house named the Alta Vista (which Fante renamedContinue reading “Fante & Me on Arte TV”

(Having recently published Marsak’s Guide, I thought it would be fun and instructive to post about some of the interesting extant structures on our modern Bunker Hill, as featured in the book. Today, a few words and pictures about the Bonaventure. Will we be going inside the Bonaventure on the tour, one week from now? OFContinue reading “The Bonaventure!”

So, there’s much movement afoot regarding Cooper Donuts, and as I have covered that topic at length (this then this then this), it seems only fitting we dive back in, with these two things: 1. The City of Los Angeles is voting tomorrow to name Second and Main “Cooper Donut/Nancy Valverde Square,” and 2. thereContinue reading “Cooper Donuts…AGAIN”

Out now! Two years in the making, Marsak’s Guide to Bunker Hill is the only illustrated guidebook to each and every intriguing structure atop today’s post-redevelopment Bunker Hill. You see, after Bunker Hill, Los Angeles and its companion Bunker Noir!, I thought it high time that—à la eponymous guidebooks like those of Murray, Baedeker, Fodor,Continue reading “NEW! Marsak’s Guide to Bunker Hill!”

Spectrum showed up at the Flight the other day, where esteemed anchor Jada Montemarano asked some questions about what it is and why it’s great. Take a look here! On a related note, I also hold forth on the Flight in a video from some years ago, here: