I AM SO PROUD OF THIS

i've made a personalized google map of silver lake and surrounding areas, which shows the apartments we're considering with details about them, along with a smattering of local businesses, restaurants, and bars that sounded interesting to me.



here's a quick key:

• purple markers -- the apartments we like best
• blue markers -- other potential places we could rent
• knife and fork -- restaurants
• $$$ -- banks
• martini glass -- bars
• theatre masks -- music venues
• milk and apple -- grocery stores
• paper bags -- liquor stores

i'm going to keep updating the map when we find new apartment listings, or hear about other local businesses that sound interesting. eventually, i'm planning to add markers that show bus routes and more specific information about the businesses listed.

there's a link on the sidebar called "my map of silver lake," if you'd like to see it in the future.

fun!

OKAY, BASICALLY

i have charts and spreadsheets and lists that cover any imaginable subject relating to this move, and here are a few of the highlights, informatively:

LOCATION:
silver lake, los angeles -- a neighborhood that is just east of hollywood, it's community-oriented (meaning it's actually feasible to walk to a restaurant or store) and mostly residential. it's filled with hipsters and musicians, so i think i won't be completely out of place riding my bike around. i might, however, start wearing leggings and boots and green eyeliner.

fun fact: the first american apparel store was opened in echo park, just south of silver lake, and its factory is still there. discounts? i hope so.

here's a helpful photo tour of the silver lake area, complete with hilarious "german" "beer garden" -- laist neighborhood project: silver lake

HOUSING:
joe and i will be living with my friend rachel, and we're looking for a two bedroom apartment, preferably with a porch or balcony or other outdoor space so we can enjoy the sunshine (and smog). we've found some promising listings on online rental sites, which rachel can check out when she arrives around the 24th.

EMPLOYMENT:
good question.

TRANSPORTATION:
joe and i are both attempting to do this without cars, which is basically a sin in los angeles. i'm going to buy a bike and a bus pass and make it work, even if i get some funny looks from drivers.

la is obsessed with motor vehicles, but i've found lots of websites that are about living carless in the city. this is one of the most helpful: car free la

PICTURES ARE HERE!

in addition to starting this blog, i decided to organize and upload some of my photos to picasa -- it seems like the easiest way to keep everyone up to date. if you'd like to see them, here is the link. you can also view them at any time by clicking the link labeled "my photos (picasa)" on the right sidebar of this page.

i'm still working on updating the captions and dates for each of my albums, but at least the images are available, and hopefully i'll finish that soon. in the meantime, you can look at pictures of europe or boston, or our camping trip -- if there are no labels, fill in the blanks yourself. kind of like mad libs, except you don't need to know what an adverb is.

TESTING 1 2 3

this is the beginning of a blog that i am starting for family & friends, to document the things that happen in silver lake, california.