Los Angeles native Mimi Slawoff will discuss her new book, “Oldest Los Angeles,” at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m.
Blending history and some local travel, “Oldest Los Angeles” takes readers on a journey through the past to the oldest buildings, businesses, and neighborhoods in the City of Angels. The pages open with a walking tour of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, a district that marks the city’s birthplace in 1781 when a group of 44 immigrants formed a farming community. What started as a humble pueblo evolved into a vibrant metropolis that’s home to over 10 million people and 185 languages.
In the book, you will learn about the whimsical Looff Hippodrome on the Santa Monica Pier, why Pink’s Hot Dogs names some menu items after celebrities, and where to find a 250-year-old grapevine that’s still producing grapes! Visit the gated Rockhaven women’s sanitarium in a residential neighborhood, and California’s surprising gold discovery in Santa Clarita – also home to a nearly forgotten ghost town. Read touching family stories about the first Mexican restaurant, El Cholo; the oldest confectionary shop, Fugetsu-Do; and why the Palacios were determined to save the oldest children’s bookstore against all odds.
Seen through the lens of veteran travel journalist Mimi Slawoff, “Oldest Los Angeles” is both informative and engaging with insider stories and nuggets of fun facts.
The event at Vroman’s Bookstore is free to attend and open to the public.
For more information, call (626) 449-5320 or visit www.vromansbookstore.com/
Vroman’s Bookstore is at 695 E. Colorado Blvd.
