A Love Letter to Los Angeles Amidst the LA Wildfires

If it wasn’t already obvious from the title of my blog, I was born & raised in Los Angeles. The past few weeks have been nothing short of devastating and an incredibly overwhelming experience to say the least. It’s been five weeks since the Palisades & Eaton fires erupted. It’s been five weeks since we learned about the extent of the destruction that imprinted itself across our city in one short night and would continue to do so for days to follow. It’s been five weeks of panic, anxiety, shock, grief, resilience, fortitude, fear, struggle, strength, reflection, and deep hope for the future. On this Valentine’s Day – I felt compelled to write this post for my own emotional release, for everyone personally affected by these wildfires, for every single Angeleno, and for all those with deep ties to LA.

MY HISTORY WITH LOS ANGELES

As mentioned in previous posts, my parents immigrated from separate corners of the globe to Pasadena, California in the 1970s. After getting married, they lived & worked in Santa Monica before buying a home in the hills of the Arroyo Seco at the intersection of Northeast LA & the San Gabriel Valley. I attended grade school in the neighborhood of Eagle Rock, high school at a magnet program in East LA, and college by the beach at Loyola Marymount University. As a working adult, I spent countless hours commuting to and from the westside. Despite losing hours of my life to traffic, I personally love that I have spent so much time driving through such a wide swath of this expansive metropolis I call home.

Outside of school and work – I have always enjoyed visiting friends & family who live throughout LA County and the surrounding regions. I have had the privilege of getting to experience the vast array of nature, art, architecture, and fantastic food our Southern California community has to offer. I have significant memories of time spent in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, & Altadena. These were vibrant neighborhoods with deep histories & good people. The road ahead will be long and arduous, but I have no doubt that these historic communities will once again return to their former glory in the years ahead.

REFLECTING ON MALIBU

• In my youth, summers were spent at Zuma. As far as beaches go, we never went anywhere else to swim since the water was always clean, the sand was wide, and the waves were big. As a result of our frequent trips to Zuma Beach, many hours were spent in the car driving along PCH, sitting in traffic, and listening to music. The Malibu coastline was and will forever be one of my favorite places on earth despite the scorched ruin currently dotting this iconic, Southern California highway.
• As a young adult, I enjoyed going to Happy Hour at Moonshadows whenever I found myself in Malibu. Unfortunately, this beloved restaurant located at 20356 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265 is now no more. Fingers crossed, they are able to rebuild.
• Some dear family friends, who I call aunt & uncle, lived right above PCH in a beautiful house off of Big Rock Drive. Their backyard had a gorgeous view of the Pacific and was a relaxing place to gather with loved ones. They, like so many, were evacuated from their residence. Fortunately, they are safe & sound, but their Malibu home suffered significant damage. They are currently living in Santa Monica with their daughter as they figure out next steps.

REFLECTING ON THE PALISADES

• So many meals with my immediate family & visiting loved ones have been enjoyed at Gladstones. This storied, Pacific Palisades restaurant has survived the pandemic, endless rumors of closing down, and now thankfully the wildfires with only minimal damage to a portion of the property. I have no doubt that this landmark restaurant will serve as a familiar, safe haven for the residents of both the Palisades & Malibu during the rebuilding process ahead.
• I remember having to draw my “dream home” as part of some project back in high school. My ideal house at the age of fifteen had a tennis court and a pool with a cascading waterfall. I specifically remember that this dream home of mine was also located in Pacific Palisades. As someone who was born & raised in LA, I clearly did not consider Beverly Hills or Bel Air the place to be. My teenage self chose a particular paradise known as the Palisades. My teenage self was keenly aware of the beauty and charm this neighborhood had to offer.
• Speaking of living in the Palisades – I was seriously considering buying property in my early thirties. However, as we all know – Southern California real estate is quite expensive and flat land to build on is nearly impossible to find. As someone who admires the idea of living tiny, I began looking into modern, mobile homes for sale in the Palisades Bowl. I found two darling units but never pulled the trigger. I look forward to the day residents are able to rebuild so I can once again consider moving into this sweet and vibrant oceanfront community.

REFLECTING ON ALTADENA

• As a teenager, my friends and I would go to the top of Lake Avenue to journey into the Enchanted Forest. This journey always took place in the dark of night since this mysterious piece of land was apparently haunted and we were apparently brave. No ghosts were ever spotted, but the walk was always thrilling nonetheless. As a mature grown-up, this once scary forest formally known as the Cobb Estate became a lovely place to hike on sunny days. The homes surrounding this popular trailhead were, unfortunately, lost in the Eaton Fire, and I’m sure that majority of the trees and beautiful foliage that lined this mountainside property are gone as well. The flora will soon regrow, & I hope that the nearby homes will be rebuilt so this beloved place can become even more enchanting than before.
• As a young adult and as recently as this past St. Patrick’s Day (March 17, 2024) – I loved grabbing a beer at the Rancho Bar located on 2485 North Lake Ave. Altadena, CA 91001. It was a no-frills, neighborhood joint with the friendliest of folks & the chillest of atmospheres. It was sadly lost in the Eaton Fire.
• I recently donated a bunch of working electronics & home goods to Boys Republic Thrift Store located on 2261 North Lake Ave. Altadena, CA 91001. The employees were incredibly kind & utterly grateful for my donation. I am sad to report that this nonprofit store that helped so many at-risk youth is unfortunately, no more.
• My boyfriend & I spent the latter half of his birthday celebration at the Good Neighbor Bar on October 13, 2024, as we watched Game 1 of the Dodgers vs. Mets playoff series with our dear friends. This brand new establishment survived, and the owners are living up to their name by working hard to support their new community. They recently reopened so I stopped in for Happy Hour this past week. The mood was somber at first but plenty joyful after some friendly conversation with our bartender and a few sips of my gimlet. If you find yourself in West Altadena, please visit this lovely establishment & the attached Wine & Spirits Shop located at 2311 Lincoln Ave. Altadena, CA 91001. And if you’re a fan of Roman-style pizza, Triple Beam does regular pop-up events out in the parking lot. You won’t be disappointed!
• Both my mother & grandmother were cremated at Mountain View Funeral Home & have a grave marker in this historic cemetery located at 2400 N Fair Oaks Ave. Altadena, CA 91001. A few buildings & many trees on the property were destroyed, but all of the tombstones, markers, and mausoleums made it through. The soul of this hallowed place is alive & well.
• My dad & brother have spent countless hours at the Altadena Golf Course located at 1456 E Mendocino St. Altadena, CA 91001. If visiting family wanted to play a quick round, this is where my dad took them. It was a favorite place amongst local golfers and has sadly suffered significant damage. The golf course and adjacent Altadena Country Club are now serving as a hub for the EPA and National Guard.
• My childhood best friend grew up steps away from the above mentioned Golf Course and Country Club. Since the age of nine, I have spent a significant amount of time in this particular home. From birthday parties to holiday gatherings – clarinet lessons to spontaneous cups of coffee – this house holds a very special place in my heart and in the hearts of everyone close to the Garcia Family. It was a two story home with a brick chimney, blue door, and Mickey Mouse shaped pool. A mature orange and avocado tree shaded the large front yard during family barbecues. This corner lot was never gated or fenced in. In fact, a low brick wall with an entry-way cutout outlined the property conveying the message that everyone was always welcome inside. It was a multigenerational home full of love and cherished memories. It was and will continue to be a beloved place for those who had the pleasure of stepping foot into the house that once stood on 1314 E. Calaveras Street in Altadena, California. Despite losing their house and majority of their possessions, the Garcias remain grateful and hopeful for the future. If you would like to help the Garcia family, please click here.
• Mr. Garcia’s mom & sister reside off of Fair Oaks Avenue – a few blocks west of Calaveras. This mother-daughter duo have lived happily in their shared home for 25 years, but in one quick stroke of horrible luck another Garcia house was lost to the Eaton fire. If you would like to help Aunty Bobbie & Grandma Becky, please click here.
• I attended Bellis Music Camp for seven summers prior to starting college. A bulk of my fellow campers were from the Pasadena area. My camp friend & counselor, Amanda Edwards, lost her brand new Altadena home in the wildfire. If you would like to help Amanda, her husband, and newborn baby – please click here.

The memories are endless and I could go on, but I’ll stop for now. So many lives have been affected by these fires in one way or another, and it’s sometimes hard to know how to help & even how to ask for help. There’s never just one right answer or method, but hopefully – the links below can offer some assistance to those who may need it.

WHERE TO GO FOR SUPPORT

• LA Disaster Relief Navigator
• LA County Recovers
• LA Emergency Management Department
• LA City Wildfire Information & Resources
• Mental Health Services
• LA Animal Services
• Pasadena Humane Society

HOW YOU CAN HELP

• World Central Kitchen
• LA Food Bank
• Direct Relief
• Altadena Girls

If you had a favorite restaurant or small-business in any of the neighborhoods that burned down, I urge you to look them up online to see how you can directly support them.

To sum this post up – my heart breaks for the LA homeowners, renters, and businesses who lost their property in these fires. My heart breaks for those who cannot go to work & have to search for new employment. My heart breaks for all the youth who have to adapt to going to school on a new campus & the early childhood trauma of losing so much so quickly. My heart breaks for those who didn’t lose their home but are still displaced and dealing with severe smoke damage and/or lack of basic utilities. My heart breaks for the brave firefighters and first responders who feel like they did not do enough despite putting their lives & long term health on the line for millions of residents who were and continue to be utterly grateful for their unmatched selflessness & courage. My heart breaks for the 29 beautiful lives lost to these horrendous wildfires.

I know from first hand experience that severely, broken hearts can indeed be mended. Scars remain, but with time – love heals all. It is my sincerest hope that the generational families & small business owners who are the heartbeat of this city will rise from the ashes, rebuild, and live happily once again.

The City of Angels shall & will prevail.