L.A.'s Eastside: Where do you draw the line?

“ I moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 1989. The first apartment I shared with friends was in Los Feliz -- just steps from the corner of Vermont and Franklin. The House of Pies, the 7-11, the Onyx coffee shop (which is no longer there). Before moving to Laurel Canyon, where I currently reside, I lived in a bunch of different areas in the LA area: Los Feliz, Burbank, Koreatown, Beverly Glen, Westwood, Mar Vista, and now in West Hollywood/Studio City area. I even attended LACC back in the day and spent A LOT of time around the Mid Wilshire area, downtown, Echo Park, and Silver Lake. I also taught at CSULA for a few years and am also familiar with El Sereno and East LA areas.

From my experience, in watching the city change over the years, all the the different areas, I can tell you that the Westside, is so, so very different from everything "East of Vermont" and "Downtown". In fact, even "East" Hollywood is considered the "East" side for Westsiders and Valley folks.

To me, parts of Downtown are included in the "Eastside", although Downtown is sort of a unique "bubble" inside of both the "Eastside" and "Southside" of LA.

For me, the Borders of the "Eastside" are everything East of Vermont and South of Franklin, all the way to (and including) Alhambra, stopping at (and not including) San Gabriel. The Eastside does not, however, extend south of Wilshire, which to me becomes Mid-City and the Southside.

Furthermore, the Eastside also stretches diagonally (on it's southern border) from Wilshire and Vermont, through Downtown, and includes the areas Westlake, Boyle Heights, East LA, and Monterrey Park, stopping at (and not including) Montebello.

Just my .02. Either way, I think the debate itself celebrates the cultural and historical significance of the area which is so rich and vibrant in its diversity.

” — Jonah Schlackman from Laurel Canyon (currently), Feb. 18, 2014, 9:38 a.m.