Author: Emmanuel

Northeast of the greater L.A. area and Pasadena is Eaton Canyon Falls, a popular hiking destination. Clocked in at 3.5 mile round trip, with only 375 feet of elevation, the Eaton Canyon Falls trail is a short hike for a beautiful view. At the top of the hike lies the eponymous Eaton Canyon Falls,  Requiring no fee or permit, Eaton Canyon falls provides a pleasantly frugal opportunity for a great time outdoors.

Photo Credit: Outdoor Project

Just a quick jaunt from Los Angeles, Eaton Canyon Falls posses a rustic history in contrast to the bright lights of the city. The Eaton Canyon Falls earned the name“El Precipicio” by the Spanish settlers due to the steep gorges lining the canyon. Now, the canyon is known as Eaton Canyon after Judge Benjamin Eaton, the man who built the original Fair Oaks Ranch House just a short ways from Eaton Creek. Using the creek to irrigate his fields, Judge Eaton went on to grow grapes, raise livestock, and become a major proponent of the Mount Wilson Toll Road.

Today, the Eaton Canyon Falls provides a curious opportunity for visitors, or residents, to the Pasadena area. Starting in the accessible Eaton Canyon Nature Area, the trail to the Eaton Canyon Falls begins up a dry creek bed named Eaton Wash. This area of the trial is open, well-maintained, and quite an easy trip, popular with dog-walkers, families out for a stroll, or those interested in visiting the Eaton Canyon Nature Center. Pack the sunscreen, because this section of the hike is exposed to the sun with only a little bit of cover!

After a ways, the trail enters a small wood and meets at a junction with the Horse Trail. Keep to your left, and continue on for just over a mile. The trail will meet with the historic Toll Road, a dirt hiking trail running to the peak of Mount Wilson. Continue on left, and pass below the large white concrete bridge. At this point, the hike becomes more arduous, requiring criss-crossing the creek numerous times up a narrow canyon. Just a little ways further, and you’ve made it!

Photo Credit: Victor Leung

The Eaton Canyon Falls are more than worth the trip, providing a simple and august example of the San Gabriel Mountains’ ability to produce curiosities so close to the city. The canyon itself squeezes together, allowing only the creek to continue down from the trail’s summit into a 40ft waterfall. This waterfall feeds into a small pool just a short distance from the trail’s end. Not only is the waterfall a pleasant sight after the hike up, but the pool itself is frequented by hikers or residents seeking a cool dip in the pond after working up a sweat on the hike.

If you’re looking for a new adventure, a fun family outing, or the chance to see new sights, visit the Eaton Canyon Falls!

Real Estate Unlimited takes pride in serving those curious about South Pasadena real estate, including the exciting opportunities in the surrounding community. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about South Pasadena, purchasing a new home, or Eaton Canyon Falls.

Old Pasadena lies in the heart of L.A to the east of Arroyo Seco park. Old Pasadena is the cosmopolitan and commercial heart of Pasadena. Like many cities in the greater L.A. area, the neighborhood has a storied past, but today presents a wonderful opportunity to shop, peruse, and enjoy yourself in a recently renewed district.

Photo Credit: Around Town Pasadena

Old Pasadena began as a mecca of academics, industry, and art. Originally, the neighborhood had the zero/zero postal intersection of Fair Oaks Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. At that spot, the first business of the Indian Colony was established: J.D. Hollingsworth’s general store. At the beginning, the Indiana Colony (as Old Pasadena was originally titled) was a quiet farming community centered around Orange Grove Boulevard. As more settlers arrived, the community decided a schoolhouse was necessary to further the education of their children. The Fair Oaks schoolhouse was created, but quickly moved further outside of the town once the Indiana Colony’s town center became too busy to be safe for children.

The Indiana Colony continued to grow gaining a number of prominent buildings like the Hotel Carver, St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, and the Castle Green. But by the 1930s the town begun to decline. By the 1970s, the neighborhood was unrecognizable to those living in or near the district today: low-income housing, failing businesses, and all of the crime and strife that comes with hard times in an urban environment. However, the neighborhoods redemption came through the most unlikely of saviors. Parking meters. Hoping to control the sprawl of urban traffic in Old Pasadena, the city petitioned local business leaders to install meters with the added benefit of directing all meter revenue toward renovation of Pasadena.

Recently, Old Pasadena has reinvented itself as “The Real Downtown,’ a walking-friendly shopping district that can truly claim the title of Los Angeles satellite. Now an impressive place, the neighborhood boasts a hopping nightlife, bountiful shopping opportunities, and a level of safety and security that many neighborhoods would covet. Here are some of the opportunities available in Old Pasadena today:

Photo Credit: Mapio

For those looking for a sip of something special, stop by the Bird Pick Tea & Herb. Based on a their grandfather’s stories of birds with acute senses and the ability to pick the finest tea leaves for nourishment, Bird Pick strives to offer a vast selection of teas and accessories discovered from around the world – some as far as China. Rooted deep in Chinese culture, Bird Pick strives to meet the new market of health-conscious lifestyles. Try unwinding at the tea bar, or pick up a bag of your favorite brew at Bird Pick.

At Lucky Brand, they know that jeans are much more than just denim and grommets. Aimed at free-thinkers, artists, and dreamers, Lucky Brand jeans claims to make jeans for dancing, working, jumping, and rocking. If you’re looking for denim with attitude, check out Lucky Brand.

Have a sweet tooth? Try Mignon Chocolate. Founded in 1910 in the Ukraine, the family run company traveled across the world (being known as the King of Chocolate in Iran) before arriving in Los Angeles in 2002. As third generation chocolatiers, Mignon’s is sure to satisfy any craving for coco!

These are just a sample of the hundreds of stores available in Old Pasadena. Stop by today to experience the old in a brand new way!

Real Estate Unlimited is the best stop for any questions about South Pasadena real estate or the plethora of opportunities in Old Pasadena. Please give us a call!

Arroyo Seco Park is a breathtaking slice of woodland to the west of South Pasadena. Offering over 22 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding, Arroyo Seco Park has something to offer anyone living in L.A. The Arroyo Seco is open to all comers, including walkers, hikers or joggers. From well-maintained paved paths, to rough trails, the Arroyo Seco is sure to satisfy that outdoor-wanderlust no matter the occasion!

Photo Credit: Wild Recovery

The Arroyo Seco is centered on a dynamic stream that starts in the heights of the San Gabriel Mountains and flows down into the communities of LA Canada Flintridge, Altadena, Pasadena, South Pasadena, and Los Angeles. There the stream joins the Los Angeles River and continues on to the Pacific Ocean. Cutting a fantastic canyon, many of the communities can identify the Arroyo Seco stream as a the birthplace of their culture, history, and unique identity.

The Arroyo Seco park is divided into three large sections all found along the main stream. To the southwest of Pasadena is the area known as the Lower Arroyo Seco. South of the Colorado Street bridge, the Lower Arroyo is a natural preservation area and a cultural landmark. The canyon walls host a plethora of different wildlife, and the secondary trails include oak woodlands, coastal scrubland, and riparian habitats. Some of the Lower Arroyo Seco hotspots include the Bird Sanctuary, a memorial grove, and an archery range.

North of the Lower Arroyo Seco and west of Pasadena proper is the Central Arroyo Seco. The most active and colorful portion of the Arroyo Seco, Central Arroyo Seco is 470 acres of well maintained park for golfing, swimming, running, biking, and more! The most popular trail on the Central Arroyo Seco is known as the Rose Bowl Loop. At 3.3 miles long, this trail circles the Rose Bowl Stadium and the fairways of the Brookside Golf Course. Featuring colored pavement that indicate the safe-zones for both pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, the Rose Bowl Loop offers spectacular views throughout the Arroyo in comfort and safety. For something a little more off the beaten path, try the John Crowley and Tad Williams trails. Other great features of Central Arroyo Seco include the Rose Bowl Stadium and the Kidspace Children’s Museum.

Photo Credit: Danielle Longo

The northernmost element of the Arroyo Seco is the Hahamongna Watershed Park. Made up of 300 acres of wildland, the Hahamongna Watershed Park joins the northern elements of Pasadena and L.A. in transitioning between city, and the foothill communities near the Angeles National Forest. The Park includes a large number of interconnected trails, picnic facilities, restrooms, playing fields, and the world’s first disc golf course! The basin behind the nearby Devil’s Gate Dam supports a wide and rich environment, the perfect refuge for numerous wildlife and bird species.

Stop by the diverse Arroyo Seco for the national park experience only a few blocks away from the big city!

Real Estate Unlimited has been serving the L.A. area for over 30 years. For more information about the Arroyo Seco, or help with your real estate needs, contact us today!

Like any great neighborhood, Echo Park is an excellent place to get an education! Today we’re exploring the various schools in and around Echo Park. Echo Park offers non-traditional high schools, youth academies, and plenty of traditional elementary schools.

Photo Credit: 2006 IC CE200 (Former Pine Bush #561) First Student #060561

A great example of the variety of educational opportunities available in Echo park is the School for the Visual Arts and Humanities. The School for the Visual Arts and Humanities is a four-year sequence of courses focusing on creative and academic potential. Despite divorcing itself from the traditional high school experience, the School for the Visual Arts and Humanities is dedicated to a rigorous college preparatory education anchored in the arts.

If you require something a little more focused for your high-school age student, consider the Dream Center Academy, a non-traditional private Christian school located at the Dream Center in Los Angeles. The Dream Center Academy focuses on pedagogy through technology, experiential learning, and student-teacher relationships. The school conforms to California state standards, and emphasizes practical life and leadership skills.

The Downtown Magnets High School is a non-traditional high school aimed at educating future business leaders. Downtown Magnets High School’s mission is to ensure that every student graduates prepared for college with critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity skills. All students should graduate ready to have a successful 21st Century career and become a contributing member to the global community.

Opened in 1999, the New Covenant Academy started small – only eleven students – but not serves more than 175. Following the philosophy “it takes a village to raise a child” the New Covenant Academy aims to be a community in which each child can develop fully due to caring and nurturing adults who support student learning and achievement.

Photo Credit: Clifford Math and Technology Magnet

Consider the Clifford Math and Technology Magnet school for younger children. The school aims at providing a first class education through the strategic use of technology to advance mathematical reasoning, problem solving, and communication. Clifford Math and Technology Magnet is committed to opening, maintaining and strengthening ties amongst staff, parents, and the community.

Much like the neighborhood, a number of schools have their own quirks of history. Elysian Heights Elementary school is a traditional elementary school that provides a safe, child centered academic environment, but is most famous for a cat named Room 8 that came to school with the students in 1952. For the next sixteen years, Room 8 kept the school and the students company, eventually passing away at the ripe age of 22. Room 8 is still memorialized in drawings, painting, and other such homages to this day.

Whether planning for the future, or hoping for a new start, consider Echo Park’s wide variety of educational opportunities for your child!

Real Estate Unlimited is here to serve your real estate needs. Contact us for help finding the perfect home, or getting a feel for the right neighborhood to raise a family.

Part of Echo Park’s great eats, luxurious parks, and vintage finds is L.A.’s historic Filipinotown. This neighborhood boasts a diverse and fascinating legacy that lasts to this day. Whether you’re swinging by for great food, to tour one of the fascinating historic landmarks, or just explore the district, Filipinotown is a must see for anyone near Echo Park.

Photo Credit: LA Curbed

More than just another neighborhood in L.A., Historic Filipinotown was created in 2002 by a resolution intended to promote “economic, civic, commercial, cultural, industrial, and educational interests of local residents, business owners, and other stakeholders.” Filipinotown itself is made out of two L.A. districts, Silver Lake to the northwest and Echo park to the southeast.

Filipinotown is the first official geographic designation by any city outside the Philippines honoring Filipinos. In 1920, a wave of Filipino immigrants made up mostly of young unmarried men, arrived in Los Angeles due to American agricultural industries’ need for workers, especially in California. Many of the workers faced racial stigma, forcing them to band together in communities of like-minded individuals. For more than two decades, the Filipino community lived in Little Manilla. Opening restaurants, barbershops, and pool halls, the Filipinos lived and socialized together in Little Manilla.

Today, Historic Filipinotown has changed along with Los Angeles. Although still maintaining a large Filipino population, Filipinotown is now minority Filipino, the old population being overshadowed by ethnically Mexican and Central Americans. However, out of the 600,000 Filipinos living in Los Angeles, 10,000 continue to call Historic Filipinotown home.

Visiting Historic Filipinotown? Be sure to stop by the famous landmarks:

The Filipino Christian Church and St. Columbian Filipino Catholic Church stand as a testament to the religious history of Historic Filipinotown. Supposedly, the quarters from which the churches grew were the original starting point for the neighborhood! As one of the first Christian churches established to serve Filipino Americans, a number of key organizations in the American Filipino community use the churches as a locus point.

Photo Credit: Leyland S.

Don’t forget to check out Unidad Park, one of the most recognizable landmarks in Historic Filipinotown. The design for Unidad Park was conceptualized by leaders of the Filipino community and based on the artwork submitted by mural artist Eliseo Silva. Unidad Park features a traditional Dap-ay used by students, a sandbox for young children, and barbecue grills for use by families and parties.

Historic Filipinotown also hosts the Filipino American WWII Veterans Memorial, dedicated to the 250,000 Filipino and 7,000 Filipino American soldiers who fought for the United States in World War II. Five slabs of black granite commemorates the history of the veterans, from the battlefields in Europe and Asia, to the fight for equality in the United States.

If you’re interested in visiting Filipinotown for the first time, or want to experience the best the district can offer, stop by August 6th for the 14th Annual Filipinotown Festival running from 9am – 6pm!

Real Estate Unlimited has been serving the neighborhoods around the Historic Filipinotown for over thirty years. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of downtown L.A., or would like help with your real estate needs, please get in touch!

Victor Heights is a hidden-gem of L.A. tucked just southeast of Echo Park. The neighborhood is known for its mystery and isolation, despite being in the center of Los Angeles. This quirky neighborhood is a mixture of Chinese and Hispanic neighborhood and rapidly developing townhouses and upscale neighborhoods.

Victor Heights is set largely on a large slope, giving a great view of the L.A. skyline. Despite being known for being disconnected from the rest of downtown, the neighborhood is connected to Chinatown by the bridges on Alpine, Sunset, and College. Echo Park and the Dodger’s stadium are also only a short walk away!

Photo Credit: Eric Brightwell

Victor Park has a history much more contemporary than most neighborhoods. Most famously, in 1992 a resident named Betty Oyama lived and coined the neighborhood the “Forgotten Edge,” because, as she said, LAPD couldn’t find Victor Heights. Stepping up to fill the vacancy left by the authorities, Betty Oyama successfully fought to establish a neighborhood watch. Nowadays, the most likely people to be prowling the streets are numerous production assistants that aide a number of films and TV shows being filmed in Victor Heights. Unlike some of the other downtown neighborhoods, Victor Heights lacks any real homogeneity in the architecture. Instead, in Victor Heights the dominant aesthetic remains a mix of major housing developments, family built-bungalows, and Spanish Colonial Revival houses.

The neighborhood’s demographics are a picture of L.A. writ large. The population is mostly older Italians and Croatians that originally formed the neighborhood, supplanted by the newest wave of Asian and Latino immigrants. Most recently, lured in by new development and the appeal of the old-school reputation, younger professionals and hipsters have begun appearing in Victor Heights.

Although certainly a quirky mix of cultures and styles, Victor Heights also possesses a few odd natural quirks that draw in some bizarre wildlife. Feral parrots and wild peafowl wander the neighborhood, bringing an odd twist to inter-city life.

Photo Credit: Eric Brightwell

Victor Heights is almost entirely residential, but the no-nonsense Hispanic street-food styled Guisados provides homestyle braises on handmade corn tortillas. Featured in our Echo park dining guide, Guisados strives to make tacos “Just the way my mom used to make them.” Guisados takes its name from the classic Hispanic street vendor scene. Try the Steak Picado, pairing flank steak with green bell peppers and bacon, while the extremely spicy Chiles Toreados offers habanero, serrano, jalapeno, and thai chiles on black beans.

If you’re looking for a slice of sleepy residential L.A. that retains the mystery and history of a older era, be sure to check out Victor Heights.

Victor Heights and Echo Park have been served by Real Estate Unlimited since 1980. If you’re new to the neighborhood, are interested in real estate help, or just want to get to know us better, feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

The Echo Park neighborhood boasts great parks, thrifty vintage stores, and great dining locations. Thankfully for those looking for a caffeine fix, the coffee is even better! Whether you’re looking for a morning pick-me-up, looking for a location to enjoy the latest best-selling novel, or a moody scene to have a cerebral conversation, Echo Park has you covered.

Photo Credit: Woodcat Coffee

Check out the Woodcat Coffee Bar at the center of Echo Park. Named after the old Scottish nickname for a hare, the Woodcat offers a wide variety of classic coffee beverages. Woodcat also takes pride in serving Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters’ beans, ensuring that all the drinks are not only locally-sourced, but also extremely delicious.

The Open Space is a combination coffee shop and theater that caters to a wide variety of crowds. The traditional theater crowd is sure to be pleased by a constantly rotating schedule of plays, from classical theater to the most cutting edge avant-garde. The Open Space also hosts business meetings, parties of all varieties, and acts as a local comedy club. If you’re looking for theater or a show, be sure to get caffeinated while you enjoy the gig at The Open Space.

Tierra Mia Coffee is a no-nonsense coffee house that emphasizes the experience of a perfect cup of coffee. Aiming to provide the “freshest and best coffee, beverages, and pastries” Tierra Mia roasts all of their coffee beans in-house on a 1957 Probat roaster! Many of their drinks blend traditional American coffee culture with Latin American tastes, offering drinks like the Cubano con Leche, the Mocha Mexicano, or the Coco Loco Latte. Tierra Mia also aims for creative latte art with each drink, ensuring their drinks are as great to look at as they are to drink.

Photo Credit: The Blue Bottle Facebook

Visit The Blue Bottle for a taste of history in each cup of coffee. The Blue Bottle is named for the original coffee house in Central Europe opened by one Franz George Kolshisky, famed for his daring escapades during the period of Ottoman Empire expansionism. The Blue Bottle aims for the ultimate coffee experience, promising that no coffee beans older than 48 hours are sold to customers, ensuring each cup is at the perfect level of flavor. The Blue Bottle also offers delivery and carry-out service, so that you can enjoy your favorite coffee blends at home.

FIX is a full-kitchen cafe, offering a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu. They offer a wide variety of classic coffee drinks, and also serve wine, beer, and a number of other beverages. FIX maintains the hipster acethetic, but the friendly staff ensures that all visitors will feel welcome. Try their breakfast sandwich, featuring a brioche bun, fried egg, bacon, and arugula. For those on a budget, swing by and grab a two dollar bagel, or splurge and pick up a jalapeno cheddar bagel with cured lox, tomato cucumber, and cream cheese.

Take some time this summer to track down the best coffee houses in Echo Park!

Real Estate Unlimited has been serving Echo Park and the L.A. since 1980. Contact us if you have any questions about Echo Park, real estate needs, or the best coffee houses on the block.

Echo Park is known for food, theater, and great parks. But for those willing to dig, the neighborhood also offers a plethora of vintage stores bursting with clothes, furniture, and music for the thrifty shopper. If you’re looking for a great deal, or hoping to update your closet with a little vintage flair, swing by Echo Park for a vintage extravaganza! 

Photo Credit: TAVIN Boutique

A great example of the vintage offerings in Echo Park is TAVIN Boutique. Opened in 2009, Tavin specializes in vintage bohemian and Gypset lifestyle clothing. The boutique also carries a number of designer brands, like Sonia Rykiel, APC, Christian Dior, and Comme Des Garcons. TAVIN also imports Baluch dresses from Afghanistan and stocks Vietnamese indigo style pants, dresses, and jackets. Not interested in clothing? Try TAVIN’s large selection of handpicked jewelry, shoes, boots, and belts. Named for for the owner, Erin Tavin, TAVIN Boutqiue aims to reproduce the feeling of wandering the streets of New York or Paris in Echo Park.

Lemon Frog Shop plays it much more casual. Styling itself as a vintage bazaar, Lemon Frog advertises its ability to find rare, one-of-a-kind, clothing and accessories for every budget. The bazaar brings in fresh stock each day to lure in the dedicated shoppers. The store offers a variety of styles, including hippie, disco, punk, glam, mod, and bohemian. Boasting an extensive collection of shoes, high heels, platforms, and boots, Lemon Frog also carries a wide selection of jewelry and accessories. While Lemon Frog aims to stock mostly high-end clothing, the bazaar also has a $10 or less selection to tempt even the slimmest of wallets.

Photo Credit: Lemon Frog Shop

XL3 Vintage Clothing boasts an enormous selection of pre-owned sports wear. Opened in 1994, XL3 treats their reputation and customer service very seriously and offer jackets, shirts, shoes, and jerseys from every sport imaginable. Looking for a Kobe Bryant Lakers jersey? How about a Denver Broncos John Elway NFL Champion jersey? Then XL3 has you covered!

The Left Bank is a family owned and operated shop in Echo Park. More than just clothing, Left Bank offers modern gifts, and have curated stocks of designer, vintage, and contemporary resale clothing and accessories. Operating like a true thrift store, The Left Bank also accepts donations, customer sales, and trades.

If the workin’-cowboy ascetic is more your thing, check out Raggedy Threads, located just southeast of Echo Park. Established in 2002, Raggedy Threads carries a wide selection of quality workwear and denim.

Want more info on great vintage finds in Echo Park? Contact Real Estate Unlimited for the best tips on shopping in the area or help for you real estate needs!