Notes from the Westside
Canyon life, neighborhood guides, market thoughts, and my monthly "10 Good Things" — a few things worth knowing from a 4th-generation Santa Monica Canyon native.
Comparing the LA Westside's Best Neighborhoods
Santa Monica Canyon, Rustic Canyon, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Venice — how they differ, and who each one suits.
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The History of Santa Monica Canyon
From the 1839 land grant and the Long Wharf to the Uplifters, the Eameses, and four generations of one canyon family.
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The History of Rustic Canyon
Abbot Kinney’s eucalyptus, the Uplifters Ranch, Will Rogers’ hideaway, the Murphy Ranch, and an artists’ colony in the meadows.
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Ten Good Things
This month: getting ready for El Niño, Mary Oliver on joy, Tod Papageorge’s 1975 LA, and the Korean psychedelic band Leenalchi.
Published September 29, 2026 Read the issue
Ten Good Things
This month: Winnie-the-Pooh's farmhouse, a dark-sky map, Bill Nighy's ill-advised podcast, and a Mold-A-Rama at the Central Library.
Published August 15, 2026 Read the issue
Ten Good Things
This month: a wild experimental house in the Bay Area, Herbie Hancock on Danish TV, apres beach spots, and the Night of Destruction.
Published July 25, 2026 Read the issue
Ten Good Things
This month: David Hockney's iPhone art, the 25 best tacos in LA, a Bolinas macramé saga, and my new Ocean Park listing.
Published June 17, 2026 Read the issue
Ten Good Things
This month: a costume designer’s stitch-by-stitch breakdowns, Charles Phoenix, Westside happy hours, and the one and only Joe Frank.
Published May 31, 2026 Read the issueGet "10 Good Things" in your inbox
Ten things worth knowing about Westside real estate, canyon life, and the market — once a month, no noise.
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